The Magic Thieves

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

Total-e-bound www.total-e-bound.com

Copyright ©2010 by Serena Yates First published in 2010 NOTICE: This eBook is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution to any person via email, floppy disk, network, print out, or any other means is a violation of International copyright law and subjects the violator to severe fines and/or imprisonment. This notice overrides the Adobe Reader permissions which are erroneous. This eBook cannot be legally lent or given to others. This eBook is displayed using 100% recycled electrons.

2

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

CONTENTS Scrolls of Vengeance Dedication Glossary Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen About the Author Total-E-Bound Publishing ****

3

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

A Total-E-Bound Publication ****

**** www.total-e-bound.com **** The Magic Thieves ISBN #978-0-85715-375-3 (C)Copyright Serena Yates 2010 Cover Art by Lyn Taylor (C)Copyright December 2010 Edited by Delaney Sullivan Total-E-Bound Publishing This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author's imagination and should not be confused 4

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Total-E-Bound Publishing. Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Total-E-Bound Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution. The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork. Published in 2010 by Total-E-Bound Publishing, Think Tank, Ruston Way, Lincoln, LN6 7FL, United Kingdom. **** Warning: This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has been rated total-e-burning.

5

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

Scrolls of Vengeance MAGIC THIEVES **** Serena Yates **** [Back to Table of Contents]

6

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

Dedication **** To all the honest people who spend some of their hard-earned money on books so that authors can write the stories they need to write. Thank you! **** [Back to Table of Contents]

7

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

Glossary Algor city Bak'omir family name (linked to lightning) cam thief Dok'lal family name (linked to water) Fifthday Friday Firstday Monday Fourthday Thursday Ged'opek family name (linked to air) kas strong loyd force loyst wipe, destroy muyd magic muyd'cam magic thieves Muyd'omir family name (linked to lightning) Muyd'Othar Magic Shield Muyd'pol magic test, usually given to five-year olds Muyd'Zel Magic Key nut world odiz earth olal water omir lightning opek air othar shield ozaz fire Pak'odiz family name (linked to earth) payd council 8

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

pol test rah mind Rah'Loyst re-programming procedure, destroys memories reyd assembly Secondday Tuesday Seventhday Sunday Sixthsday Saturday Tah God Tah'Algor name of the capital city of Tah'Nut Tah'Loyd Law Forces Tah'Muyd temple in the magical realm Tah'Nut name of the planet Tah'Payd Magic Council Tah'Reyd Ruling Assembly Ten'lasam family name Thirdday Wednesday urr loyal Vs'urr family name Xoh'kas family name, current rulers zel key **** "It has been said that history is written by the victor. The Scrolls of Vengeance will record all of history—so that none of its lessons are forgotten." From the opening paragraphs of the Tah'Nutian Scrolls of Vengeance, Tah'Nut, year 0. 9

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"A thief thinks everyone steals." Edward W. Howe, Late 19th to early 20th Earth centuries. From the opening paragraphs of the Terran Scrolls of Vengeance, Earth, year 2015. [Back to Table of Contents]

10

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

Chapter One **** Everything changed on the day true magic came to Earth. At first, most humans were shocked to discover that interdimensional gateways were real rather than the stuff of science fiction and fantasy. A few courageous scientists were sent to explore the phenomenon, accompanied by military protectors. When the first people emerged from the swirling colours of the gateway, everyone was relieved that the 'aliens' looked so human. They identified themselves as diplomats from the planet of Tah'Nut and conveyed a message of peace and an offer of help with humanity's problems. After a week of adjusting to a new world order, the human consensus was gratitude. Magic may not have been what most had expected from a different dimension, but there was hope that it might help avert many of the global threats that were about to overwhelm humanity's ability to deal with them. Everyone thought the gateway's appearance and the Tah'Nutian offer of help was a serendipitous miracle. Elryk Muyd'omir knew better. The Tah'Nutian government had no intention of selflessly helping the humans save their planet. The price of total subjugation to their will hadn't been mentioned yet, but it would become obvious soon enough. The cruelty of the current government was the only reason Elryk had left his 11

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

home planet. He'd refused to work with the illegally ruling Xoh'kas family. As a consequence, they'd declared him an enemy of the law, making him a wanted man. His only choice had been to find a suitable planet outside the magical realm, one that was unknown to the Xoh'kas or anyone else on Tah'Nut. He wanted to make it as difficult as possible for them to find him, so he looked for a planet with no magic at all. When he'd found Earth, he'd used the gateway to briefly connect the two planets. Three years ago almost to the day he'd finally escaped, closing the gateway down from Earth's end as soon as he'd made it through. Earth had become his home, and even though he'd had to do without his magic, he'd been mostly happy here. He'd never had many friends on Tah'Nut, so he didn't miss them. He'd made a few new friends on Earth, and wasn't looking forward to leaving them behind. Unfortunately, he hadn't succeeded in hiding his whereabouts well enough, nor in closing down the gateway permanently. He knew that its appearance wasn't a lucky coincidence, miraculous or otherwise. It was the result of a concerted effort to track him down. Now that the Tah'Nutian Law Forces had located his refuge, he needed to make a decision—accept his punishment or fight. Elryk stood on the white sands of his favourite beach and stared out over the stillness of the blue-green ocean waves. The sun was high in the sky, creating an almost oppressive heat. There wasn't even a breath of wind in the physical world. The magical realm was another matter. Now that the 12

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

gateway gave him access again, he could feel its energies expanding outward. As soon as they touched him, the Law Forces would be able to pinpoint his location. Hiding wasn't an option much longer. "You're going to leave, aren't you?" Parker Stokes was his best friend, sharing his beach house with him and keeping Elryk company when not working as a physicist. "I'm sorry." Elryk saw no other way. Even though the gateway had opened on the other side of the planet, the energy would eventually envelop this entire planet, just like it surrounded Tah'Nut. "When the gateway energies reach me, there'll be no escape. The Law Forces will come for me, and if they find out that you helped me hide, your punishment will be as severe as mine. I can't risk that." "You've always said this might happen." Parker smiled, showing the dimples so at odds with his serious demeanour. "I wish there was something I could do to help. For the first time in my life, I wish I was a wizard, not a scientist." "I'm glad you're a scientist." Elryk smiled. "We may not have science on Tah'Nut because we never needed it to help us. Magic was always a much easier solution. But having seen what science can do if used correctly, I can't help but think that it may come in handy at some point." "You'll know where to find me when that happens." Parker patted Elryk's arm. "I may not be able to help you fight them in a magical battle, but I'd love to support you in some other way. My fingers are itching with the need to do something useful. To help you stop them." 13

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"I can't fight them, not yet." He sighed. "I'd hoped that my magic would return more quickly now that the gateway is open. But it seems that I need more time to recharge than I thought. I can do a few spells, the simple ones they teach kids, but the ones requiring more power are still beyond me." "So it's like a muscle that hasn't been used for a while?" Parker looked thoughtful. "Something like that." Elryk nodded. Leave it to Parker to find a way of translating what was happening into scientific terms he could understand. "But when it does come back fully, you will fight them, right?" Parker's green eyes shone with the force of his conviction. "You can't let those Xoh'kas 're-programme' you and make you a mindless zombie." Elryk had told Parker the whole story of his useless resistance against the dictatorial rulers and its consequences when they'd caught him. The Xoh'kas had spent the last two hundred years since they'd come to power via a coup refining, not just their level of control over the population, but the punishments that were used when someone didn't do what they wanted. His friend had sworn to never tell another soul. While Parker had been disgusted with the political situation, he'd been fascinated that magic existed in another dimension. The physicist in him had unsuccessfully tried to develop an explanation. With the gateway open, he was sure that Parker was going to be studying the phenomenon until he was satisfied he could explain it in terms any physicist could understand and relate to. 14

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"Yes, I'll fight." Elryk snorted. The Law Forces were sure to hand him over to the Xoh'kas. He wouldn't really have a choice but to fight unless he was ready to accept losing his personality. The Rah'loyst procedure was a cruel mind invasion technique developed and refined by wizards working for the Xoh'kas. It was designed to wipe the victim's memory and personality, then neutralise his magic. Permanently. The ruling Xoh'kas family may have wanted more docile citizens, but Elryk shuddered at the thought of losing his personality. Anything was better than that. "Good!" Parker slapped him on the back. The man's lean frame was deceptive, and his strength was tangible in his touch. "They don't deserve to control your Ruling Assembly." "I never thought they did." Elryk sighed. "I just wasn't ready to step up and face them three years ago. I'm not a fighter, you know?" "I know." Parker nodded, his black hair bobbing around his patrician face. "But you can't let them take over Earth as well. We've got so many problems of our own, we can't even agree on which is the most urgent. And I don't just mean the unprecedented levels of pollution." "Right." Elryk grimaced. "You've certainly managed to make life difficult for yourselves. You do realise that magic isn't going to solve everything, don't you?" "Obviously." Parker grinned. "Science is going to play a role." Elryk nodded. "Goodbye, my friend." Parker smiled and stepped away. 15

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"Thank you for everything." Elryk smiled and turned back towards the ocean for one last look. It was time. He had to return to Tah'Nut to try and fight the oppressors more effectively than he had done previously. The gateway was the only way back. It was heavily guarded, so he had no hope of sneaking through without getting caught. Giving himself up would be faster, less painful, and would hopefully mean they'd leave him conscious. Every scrap of control was important. Once through the gateway, his magic would hopefully come back fully and more quickly than if he stayed on Earth. He'd somehow have to find a way to escape the Law Forces before they erased his memory. Whether that was before they imprisoned him or after remained to be seen. He took one last breath of the salty ocean air. Mentally reaching out to the currents emanating from the gateway to increase his power, he wove the spell that would transport him straight into the Tah'Nutian Law Forces Commander's temporary office on Earth. There was no point in dealing with anyone but the very tip of the command structure. Nothing happened for a few seconds. Then the pain stabbed into the very centre of his brain. It was harsh, blinding and incapacitating. He sank to his knees, uselessly gasping for breath. He squeezed his eyes shut against the suddenly hurtful intensity of the sunshine. Shit. This wasn't supposed to hurt. And why was he still on the beach? "Are you okay?" Parker's voice sounded as if his friend were speaking through a layer of cotton. 16

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"I have no idea." He opened his eyes slowly enough to allow them to get used to the light. "This isn't what's supposed to happen." "I guess not." Parker came closer and reached out a hand to help him get up. "Do you have any idea what went wrong?" "Not really." The pain slowly ebbed away as he stood on the sand, trying to get his balance back. "There was a blinding flash of pain instead of the usual slight discomfort when using a transportation spell, and I'm dizzy." "It almost sounds like you strained the 'magic centre' in your brain." Parker shook his head and grinned. "I can't believe I just said that. We don't even know if that's how it works." "It's as good an explanation as any." He rubbed his temples to try and chase away the pain. It stubbornly remained almost as intense as it had been right after he'd attempted the spell. "The question is how to fix it?" "Well, with a 'normal' strain it depends on the severity. You'd let the muscle rest, ice it if it's swollen and then do stretching exercises to rebuild strength." Parker frowned. "These strains often happen when there's been no proper warm-up of the muscle. Maybe that's what happened here?" "You mean that I went into it without proper preparation?" Elryk grinned. "That actually does make sense." "It does?" Parker's eyes widened. "Considering the fact that I haven't done any magic in three years, yeah. If you're right and there is a 'magic centre' in my brain, it's probably atrophied by now." He couldn't believe he hadn't thought of that. "And all I've done for the 17

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

last few days is some minor experimenting to see how much of my ability had returned. So it's no wonder a transportation spell, as simple as it would have been for me to do under 'normal' circumstances, was too much." "I can see how it happened." Parker's grin revealed perfectly straight white teeth. "You're not used to thinking like that. From what you told me your magic has always been with you, as long as you can remember." "That's it." He nodded. "Now I know what to do. I need to run through the preparatory exercises we teach children when they first discover their magic. Like with any skill, doing magic requires practice. We don't let them jump into their first spell unprepared, so I shouldn't have tried that either." Once he'd settled into the familiar rhythm, running through increasingly difficult exercises, he quickly became more confident. After less than an hour, he was ready and nodded at Parker one last time. When he tried the spell again, it worked as expected. **** Kaythan Vs'urr looked up from the magic-based threedimensional map of Earth that he'd been studying. His teams had already searched more than half the planet. He knew it would be much easier to find the criminal once the gateway's energies expanded far enough to touch him, but Kaythan wanted no help for this. He was a trained member of the Law Forces, and he preferred not to have to rely on magic to do his job anymore than absolutely necessary. 18

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

But time was fast running out. The gateway's energies expanded more each day and would soon envelop the entire planet. He wasn't sure what had interrupted him. There'd been a jolt of power, a crackling sizzle in the air. Almost like an attempted transportation spell. He frowned, irritated by the unexpected disturbance. It was highly irregular for anyone to transport straight into an office, even if this one had been hastily built and was only temporary. He'd probably imagined the whole thing. Who could possibly be attempting to transport into his office? He went back to staring at the maps and quickly lost track of time as he developed new ideas and instructions for his search teams. A bright flash pulled him back into reality. This time he was sure it was a full transportation spell, the yellow flash accompanied by the distinct rumble undeniable signs. He looked up and froze in place. Smouldering black eyes stared at him. They belonged to a tall, muscular man with long black hair, a classically chiselled face with a high forehead and a strong, beardless chin and jaw. His skin was white, almost translucent. His lips were the deep red of winter roses just before spring. In short, Kaythan was looking at the wanted criminal he'd been sent to Earth to capture. The man—no, wizard—stood in the middle of the room, hands relaxed at his sides, acting as if he'd been invited over for some social occasion. Kaythan's mouth dropped open. Elryk was not at all what Kaythan had expected. His superiors had warned him about the potent wizard, who'd 19

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

been branded an outlaw of the worst kind, headstrong and evil. He'd mentally prepared himself for any and all tricks the 'traitor' was going to throw at him. The wizard in front of him fit the physical description he'd been given down to the last gorgeous molecule of his perfect body. Kaythan swallowed. Crap. He was going to have to be careful about betraying the undeniable attraction he felt. The pictures had been one thing, but the wizard's physical presence was ten times more powerful. It was too early to risk telling the wizard what was actually going on. He couldn't reveal his plans before he got them both to safety. Nobody in power could know about his real reason for taking this assignment until it was too late for them to do anything about it. What surprised him, beyond the fact that the wizard had come here of his own free will, was the lack of aggression in his body language. Elryk's whole attitude radiated a quiet peacefulness that touched Kaythan's warrior heart. It didn't fit the image of a cruel outlaw that was the currently accepted truth on Tah'Nut. Not that he could show it. Their actions were being chronicled, so he was being watched and evaluated just as much as Elryk. He closed his mouth and hardened his gaze. He had a role to play if he wanted to get them out of here alive. He walked up to the wizard, his heavy steps making Elryk wince. But the wizard stood his ground. His chin stayed up and his dark eyes were undeterred. "So, wizard, you've come to turn yourself in?" Kaythan's voice sounded gruff even to his own ears. 20

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"Why else would I be here?" Elryk shook his head and sneered. "I'm curious, is this the level of intelligence I can expect during the upcoming interrogations?" "Not good enough for you?" Good, there was at least some fight left in him. They would need that if his plan was going to work. "Hardly a challenge." Elryk shrugged. "Not that I expected anyone of any intellectual ability to be part of this operation." "Is that so?" Kaythan raised his eyebrows, presenting the right effect for the visual chronicling equipment. "You do realise that showing this sort of disrespect of the Law Forces will get you into trouble? Even a citizen of hitherto unblemished reputation can't get away with criticism like that." "You don't say!" Elryk laughed. "I see that nothing has changed. Looks like the Xoh'kas have still got everyone, including the Law Forces, under their thumbs." "Now, now, there's no need to insult us." Kaythan had difficulty keeping a smile off his face. The wizard's reputation for impertinence towards authority was clearly not undeserved. "You're in enough trouble as it is." "Would not insulting you reduce my predicament?" Elryk snorted. "Don't get me wrong, it's not that I care. I'd just like to know." "Based on your file, I'd wager that nothing short of a miracle could reduce your 'predicament.'" He grinned, making sure he seemed appropriately disdainful. "However, there's still plenty of potential for making it worse." 21

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"Really?" Elryk crossed his muscular arms across his broad chest. "Do tell me what could possibly be worse than the painful Ray'loyst procedure which wipes people's personality?" "You don't want to know." He shuddered, careful to keep a neutral facial expression. He'd seen some of the torture inflicted before the deletion of a prisoner's mind. Since the prisoners never remembered any of it after receiving the new 'programming,' some of the guards took that as licence to 'experiment' on the prisoners before they destroyed their memories and personalities. Nobody was ever the wiser because there were never any witnesses left to talk about what had really happened. "Probably not." Elryk nodded, agreeing with him for once. "So, to get back to why I'm here. Aren't you going to arrest me and put me into restraints or something?" Oh, the wizard had no idea. Just thinking of him naked, all tied up, powerless to prevent anything that Kaythan was going to do to him, made him rock hard in his uniform pants. Double crap! He couldn't stand here sporting an erection. He was supposed to arrest the wizard and get him back to Tah'Nut. Even if it was for the benefit of his own agenda, he had a plan to follow and a job to do here. "Why, are you going to try and run away after turning yourself in?" He pulled the magic-suppressant handcuffs from his belt and opened them. "Maybe not right now." Elryk shrugged and held out his hands. "But I might change my mind." He ignored that last remark as he cuffed the wizard, making sure the device adjusted itself properly and didn't cut 22

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

off the circulation. The words made him wonder whether the wizard was planning something other than giving up and turning himself in. It almost sounded as if he wasn't quite ready to truly surrender. "Believe me, you can change your mind all you want, wizard." He made sure the sneer was captured by the chronicling device in the corner. "There will be no escaping justice this time." At least not in the way Elryk was possibly imagining it. He'd given as good as he got verbally, but a few brave words weren't going to convince Kaythan that the wizard would actually stand up and fight for what he believed in. His biggest worry was that Elryk would cave in, just like three years ago when he'd fled rather than confront his enemies. "Well, stop your childish posturing, then, commander, and let's get moving." Elryk grinned back, clearly unrepentant. "I'm sure your superiors are getting impatient." Kaythan gritted his teeth with the effort not to tell his 'prisoner' the truth of what he thought about his superiors. He couldn't risk giving his plan away too soon. He left written instructions for his second in command before turning back to the ominously quiet wizard. Silently, he took the man's arm and started marching them towards the portal. He'd have to get him out of here, take him to a location where they could talk without being overheard, and find out how prepared he was to stand up for what was right. Kaythan's plan for stopping the magic thieves and getting rid of the illegally ruling Xoh'kas would only work with the help of the most powerful lightning wizard currently alive. Now that 23

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

he had that wizard under his control, he'd need to make sure the other man understood what was at stake. The magic thieves needed to be stopped, that much was certain. By siphoning off the magic, they were able to spread magic abilities to more people. Many thought that was a good thing. But other than free magic, it also meant more and more unqualified people used it, including the elusive magic thieves who didn't care about the damage they did to the balance of the magical realm. Kaythan couldn't stand the fact that those thieving vermin were only tracked down and punished when they stole from someone important to the Xoh'kas. Most people accepted that their Ruling Assembly had only 'limited resources' to pursue the thieves and that it was better to 'focus on the big offenders,' who stole magic in a major way. You couldn't really control something as intangible as magic anyway, or so the majority believed. That sure as hell didn't make it right to let them go on unhindered, though. "You found him, sir?" The young guard was wide-eyed as his hand inched towards the sword at his belt. The second guard was a little older but looked no less shocked. His hand had reached his sword a lot faster, though. "Indeed." Kaythan glanced at both guards. "There is no need for weapons. As you can see, the criminal has been secured." Elryk snorted and Kaythan had a hard time suppressing his amusement. The wizard obviously didn't know what was good 24

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

for him. Anyone other than Kaythan would have punished him for the lack of respect. Kaythan let it slide. The guards couldn't withdraw their hands from their weapons fast enough. Being slow to follow orders was not a trait for a survivor. "I'll be escorting the prisoner through the gateway myself to avoid any further delays." Not to mention a chance for anyone to interfere and take over from him. "I expect you to notify officer Ten'lasam immediately. He is to take over command until I return. There are instructions in my office." Kaythan waited long enough to see the two men nod before he stepped up to the portal, Elryk in tow. "Ready?" He looked at the wizard. Elryk looked even paler than usual but he nodded, his eyes huge as he stared at the gateway without so much as a blink. "Are you okay?" He was risking exposure by showing this much concern, but something looked really off. "Sure." Elryk nodded mechanically, still fixated on the colourful surface of the pulsating gateway energies. He didn't have a choice. Even though he couldn't quite believe that Elryk even knew what he was talking about, he was going to have to take the wizard's word for it. Taking a deep breath and clearing his mind of as many extraneous thoughts as possible, he took one last look at Elryk before grabbing the man's arm and stepping into the gateway with him. The trip was only going to take a few seconds. Surely nothing could go wrong in such a short time?

25

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

The scratchy tingling along his skin as the energies enveloped him was what he expected. So was the low rolling thunder in his ears and the scent of burnt hair. What wasn't normal was the jolt that went through Elryk as he collapsed. The wizard went limp immediately, and Kaythan barely managed to catch him before he fell and hurt himself. What the fuck was going on here? [Back to Table of Contents]

26

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

Chapter Two **** Elryk came to very slowly. Reality seemed to be fuzzy around the edges. His head hurt so badly he wanted to scream. It was dark but he couldn't open his eyes. As far as he could tell he lay on his back on some soft surface. Wasn't he going to be taken somewhere? He was sure he wasn't supposed to be lying in what felt like a bed. Why couldn't he remember any details? And why was the pulsing behind his temples matched by an equally painful ache between his legs? What the hell was going on? "You're okay." The sudden appearance of a voice made him panic. Who was that? Where was he? What had happened? "Don't worry, you're safe here. Just breathe for a while and give your body time to recover." That was easy for him to say, whoever he was. Elryk was ready to jump out of his skin as the headache got worse, now accompanied by a tingling itch at the back of his neck. Shit, but that didn't feel right. "You had a nasty shock when we used the gateway to travel back to Tah'Nut. You lost consciousness for a few seconds after we entered. I don't know what caused you to collapse, but I suspect it has something to do with your magic." The voice sounded familiar. 27

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

It even made him feel safe. How was that possible? It had gone straight to his groin, and had made the ache between his legs even worse than it had been when he'd first woke up. It pulsed every time the man spoke. How ridiculous was that? His sense of smell was next to return. The musky scent that assaulted his brain was overwhelming. It was strong, male, with an underlying note of sandalwood and leather. He took a deep breath and the scent seemed to travel straight to the itchy place at the back of his neck, stabbing into it to make the pain flare up. Next, it made his cock throb in response, increasing the pressure in his balls. How was it possible for him to be this aroused from hearing a voice and smelling another man, as familiar as he seemed to be? Worse than the arousal was the pain it seemed to cause. It was quickly becoming close to unbearable. He moaned. "Ah, your voice is back." The man chuckled. "That's a good sign." "What—where..." Elryk swallowed past the pain in his parched throat, still trying to open his eyes. He'd had it with the darkness and the not knowing who the hell was talking to him. "Easy." The man slid a straw between his dehydrated lips. "Have some water. Your throat probably hurts because you've been unconscious for quite a while. Drinking this will help relieve the discomfort." Elryk sipped the ice-cold liquid gratefully, wishing it would reduce the pain in his head, neck and groin as well. But of course, it didn't, being just water. He tried to open his eyes. When he succeeded, the bright light almost blinded him. 28

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

He was in a large, well-lit room, sunlight streaming in from floor to ceiling windows on his left. The walls and ceiling were painted a light blue, with one wooden door looking as if it lead to a bathroom, the other to a hallway. Only trees were visible outside. He could hear birdsong that was uninterrupted by traffic noise. It didn't look or sound as if he was in the capital city Tah'Algor. Wasn't that where he was supposed to be? The man sitting to his right, one deliciously muscled thigh on the bed, looked at him with a hesitant smile. Rugged looking, with a square jaw and a straight nose, his face exuded strength. His eyes were the deep blue of the ocean right before a storm and his full lips were as red as ripe cranberries. Short, dark-brown hair and skin the colour of golden olives made Elryk's mouth water. He'd be at least sixfeet-five when standing, and the man's broad shoulders and muscular, well-trained body made the ache between his legs flare up. "Kaythan." Elryk's memory came back in a rush, making his head hurt even more. Shit. This was the man who'd taken him prisoner so he could return him to the Xoh'kas. But why hadn't he done that yet? That wasn't his only problem, though. The Law Forces Commander had gotten to him from the very first moment they'd met, making him wish they weren't enemies. He'd felt an irrational longing to get to know this man, to be in the man's arms and kiss him, that had made his knees weak. He still felt that same longing now, only it was ten times worse. 29

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"You remember my name." The smile broke through and lit up Kaythan's face, making his eyes twinkle. "Uhm, aren't you supposed to hand me over to the Xoh'kas?" Elryk frowned. "You did arrest me, didn't you? I think I remember you restraining me before you took me to the gateway." "Do you want me to hand you over to those idiots?" Kaythan's eyebrows rose. "Huh? Are you the same Law Forces Commander who put handcuffs on me and threatened me with 'worse than torture'?" Elryk shook his head trying to clear it, wincing with the shooting pain that stabbed the back of his eyeballs. "Not that I'm complaining, but are you even allowed to think of them as idiots, never mind say something so traitorous out loud?" "I'm not their puppet. I never was and never will be." Kaythan flinched, anger briefly clouding his eyes. "You could have fooled me!" He didn't know what to believe anymore. His current location definitely wasn't a prison, and there were no guards around, so maybe the man wasn't who he'd seemed? But who was he and what was his agenda? How did Elryk fit into any of this? "Look, this may sound weird, but what I said and did in that office was all an act. I had to make it seem real until I could get you away from the chronicling equipment. If the Xoh'kas had suspected that I wasn't planning to turn you in, they might have stopped me." Kaythan blushed but refused to look away. 30

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"An act?" Now he'd heard it all. Yet it made hope surge in his heart and increased the pounding between his legs. "It was pretty damned convincing." "I assure you, I only did it because I had no choice." Kaythan swallowed. "I've been planning this for a long time, ever since I found out that you'd refused to become head of the Magic Council. Only someone against the absolute power of the Xoh'kas would refuse such a well-regarded position." "Only someone willing to be a complete puppet would be stupid enough to accept." He was going to speak his mind. He couldn't get into any more trouble with the Xoh'kas than he already was. So even if this was a trap to get him to reveal himself, he could only be 'reprogrammed' once. "You're right." Kaythan grinned. "But that act of refusal made me hope you might become an ally in my plan to defeat the thrice-damned magic thieves. Then, of course, before I was able to contact you, you decided to run and make things very difficult for me." "I made things difficult for you?" The man was obviously deluded. "Yes, by running away. So the magic thieves are still at large and the Xoh'kas rule unopposed." Kaythan looked at him as if all of that was his fault. "I agree that someone will need to take them out at some point. Both the Xoh'kas and the magic thieves are evils Tah'Nut can do without." Elryk took a deep breath. His gut told him he could trust this man. "All I could do back then was refuse to become their puppet on the Magic Council. They would have breathed down my neck the entire time. Shit, 31

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

they even took my lover hostage to make me do what they wanted." "But they didn't succeed." Kaythan's gaze was full of admiration. It gave Elryk the courage to continue talking about the events that had led to his leaving Tah'Nut. "No, I couldn't give in. Not with their plans for taking away even more rights from everyone than they already had. So I tried to negotiate with them, but they wouldn't even listen. When I kept refusing, they killed Zolak in cold blood. I'll never forgive myself for letting that happen." Elryk closed his eyes for a moment. It still hurt that he'd failed his lover so badly. He should never have allowed them to kill him. Surely there was something he could have done to stop them. "It wasn't your fault." Kaythan's voice was soft. "Yes, it was. I should have stopped them." He didn't know how, but he should have tried harder. "So why did you run?" There was no accusation in Kaythan's tone, just curiosity. Elryk couldn't have endured this man's disdain. "I was angry. I had to flee before the rage took over. I was very close to losing control over my magic. And I didn't want to kill innocent people by unleashing uncontrolled lightning magic on them." He swallowed. He'd almost not made it through the portal in time. Uncontrolled lightning magic held the worst potential for destruction of all the forms of magic available to wizards. Luckily, the energies inside the gateway had absorbed the 32

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

ones coming from him and the potential catastrophe had been averted. "I know. I still think that it wasn't your fault and I'm sorry you had to suffer like that." Kaythan's hand covered his and squeezed his fingers in silent support. The tingling itch at Elryk's neck became painful and the fire between his legs flared up. Kaythan's eyes widened at the same time. "What the fuck?" Kaythan withdrew his hand. The other man stared at him as though he'd caused the problem. Shit. It almost felt as if they were connected somehow. This wasn't supposed to happen. In fact, it hadn't happened to anyone in almost two hundred years. He only knew about the phenomenon because the old books he'd studied when learning some rare spells had all referred to it. According to those sources, connections between potential sexual partners called mate bonds had been known throughout Tah'Nutian history. Nobody had ever figured out what triggered them. They formed as often between partners of the same sex as between those of different sex. The early theory that they only served to make bonds between breeding couples stronger had been disproved centuries ago. Instead, they were known to have served as additional support for many existing alliances, and had occasionally been useful to overcome hostilities between warring factions. They had always been honoured, even when they were controversial. Everyone knew better than to try and interfere, since that only ended in death and destruction. 33

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

He was exhibiting all the signs of a mate bond in its early stages—his aching groin, the tingling itch at the back of his neck, and the flaring of desire every time he looked at or smelt Kaythan. From Kaythan's reaction to their touch just now, the other man wasn't any better off. "This can't be happening!" Elryk wanted to rant and rage. This was not a man he could be bonded to. Maybe they weren't enemies any longer, but surely they could never be more than allies at the best of times. On top of that, he was a wizard and Kaythan was a soldier. The two almost never mixed. They hadn't even been 'easy' combinations in ancient times, never mind during more recent centuries. But the symptoms were unmistakable. Shit. There was nothing he could do to prevent any of what was about to happen. Many throughout history had tried to find an antidote to unwanted mate bonds. Other than killing one or both of the people involved, there was no remedy. Not even magic could stop it. **** Kaythan took several deep breaths, trying to calm his insistently throbbing cock the hell down. He'd found the wizard attractive from the first moment he'd met him, but this level of arousal from a mere touch of hands was absurd. "What did you just do to me?" He unsuccessfully tried to hold back his growl. This was more than annoying. "Maybe I shouldn't have touched you, but I didn't mean any harm. Punishing me by causing this sort of—discomfort is just cruel." 34

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"I didn't do anything." Elryk closed his eyes. "And just for your information, I'm having the exact same problem." "So what's happening?" He was going to get to the bottom of this. He didn't care whether it was intentional or a coincidence, it needed to stop. "Maybe you didn't do anything, but something is definitely wrong." "You don't know the half of it." Elryk swallowed and opened his eyes. "I believe that what we're both feeling is the beginning of a mate bond trying to form between us. For some reason that is entirely beyond my understanding or control, we seem fated to be mates." "Mates?" Ridiculous! Kaythan frowned. That was the stuff of ancient myths and legends. Only children and crazy people still believed in that sort of nonsense. "I believe so." Elryk looked miserable. "What makes you think that?" Admittedly, the screaming arousal he felt was probably a big hint, as was the increasing pressure between his legs. "The typical symptoms are all there." Elryk shrugged. "Just to make sure we're on the same page—what exactly are they?" He wasn't willing to follow some vague feeling or the wizard's say so. He needed something more tangible as evidence—as in a whole list of evidence. "Do you feel an itching pain at the back of your neck?" Elryk lifted his hand to put pressure on his own neck, as if trying to rub it away. "Yes—yes I do." He hadn't noticed it until now. The ache between his legs seemed more urgent. But it was definitely there. 35

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"Do you feel a flare of arousal when you look at me or when you're close enough to catch my scent?" Elryk still didn't look away. "Yes." He didn't like the direction this was taking. It had been particularly bad when he'd come out of the gateway, holding the unconscious wizard in his arms as he activated the transportation device. Focusing on getting them to safety, away from the guards stationed at the Tah'Nutian end of the gateway as quickly as possible, should have been his only concern. It had been an exercise in self-restraint to think of anything other than kissing the other man. It hadn't gotten much better since then, and their touching just now certainly hadn't helped. It was beginning to look as though his resistance to the idea of mate bonds was doomed to failure in the face of reality. "Is your groin hot and painful? Are your balls tight and do they feel as if they're ready to explode?" Elryk blushed. "Yes, damn it. And it's getting worse by the second." Were they going to get to the part where Elryk told him what to do to stop this anytime soon? "That means we're compatible and that a mate bond is trying to form." Elryk looked even more dejected now that they'd gone through the list. Granted, this mating stuff wasn't a reason for celebration, but did the other man have to look as if the world was about to end because of it? Surely Kaythan wasn't that bad of a prospect, was he?

36

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"We're compatible? You can't be serious!" If that wasn't the most ludicrous idea in a long time, he didn't know what was. "It doesn't look that way to me, either. But there's apparently something in our bodies' and mental energies that the power in the gateway has picked up on. Supposedly it's never been wrong." Elryk managed to stiffen his back, even lying down, and narrowed his eyes. "You don't have to sound so much like the injured party here. It's not like I'd planned to get mated. Certainly not to a soldier." "Well, excuse me for being inconvenient." Could this wizard get any more arrogant? "But the whole thing simply isn't possible, never mind what you think. I suspect that it only ever happened in people's imaginations anyway, even in historical times when mate bonds were supposedly prevalent. We've made a lot of progress since then. The fact that there hasn't been a reported mate bond in at least two hundred years supports the theory that it's just an old wives' tale." "There hasn't been a mate bond ever since the Xoh'kas took over, that much is true." Elryk nodded. "The leading hypothesis is that they did something to the gateway because the mate bonds interfered with their plans to make alliances based on their political interests rather than the 'whims' of the gateway's energies. Since that power is linked to our magic, it stands to reason that it also has something to do with mate bonds. It may have been something they did, but quite a few scholars think it's just as likely to have been some other sort of interference, like a natural disaster. Nobody ever found out for sure." 37

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"Okay, let's assume that mate bonds are real. Just for argument's sake. Tell me why this is happening to us now?" There might be worse things than having the wizard as his mate. If the man—and yes, he was no longer just a wizard— could only stop hating him for being a Law Forces Commander, Kaythan might enjoy getting to know him better. Spending time with him would certainly be interesting. Based on what he'd seen of the man so far, he was bound to be a fascinating partner. "I think it's because we first touched when we went through the gateway. I wasn't in full control of my magic when I went in, so I must have fainted from the sudden power surge." Elryk waited for him to nod before he continued. "When you caught me, enveloped by the energies of the gateway, the touch must have triggered the mate bond. Which means that whatever the Xoh'kas did to the gateway must only affect people on Tah'Nut, itself." "So what do we do about it?" Surely they weren't going to just—mate. "We either fight it and die, or we give in and live. As a mated couple of, that is." Elryk's lips drew into a tight line and his eyes narrowed. "What? That's our choice? I'm not just going to follow some damned instinct like an animal! An artificially induced one at that!" Not that he'd mind fucking the gorgeous wizard but he wanted it to be his choice, not the need to follow some primitive impulse set in motion by the power in the gateway. "I'm sorry you don't like it." Elryk turned his head away. 38

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

Was that pain in the other man's eyes? Shit, Kaythan hadn't wanted to hurt him. He just needed time to adjust. It wasn't as if he hadn't found the man attractive even before this mate bond nonsense had happened. "Why did you bring me here?" Elryk turned back to him, all traces of emotion gone from his eyes and face. "And where are we anyway?" "What?" That wasn't at all what he'd expected. "You're just going to drop this mating thing?" "Your reaction told me everything I need to know. I'm not going to force anyone into a relationship, especially not one I'm not overly fond of myself. There's no point in us wasting time and energy talking about this, so I suggest we use what time we have left wisely." Elryk glared at him. "I'm still not sure I can trust you, being a Law Forces Commander and all. But I want to find out what it is you think you can accomplish by taking me to some remote location rather than handing me over to the Xoh'kas like you were expected to." "What time we have left?" All Kaythan was able to focus on was the other man's well-toned body under the sheet, his black glossy hair surrounding his head like a dark halo on the pillow. He wanted to kiss him. Thinking clearly was becoming more and more difficult. "Has your brain stopped working already? It's a little early for that." Elryk was definitely impatient. Why was it easier for the other man to deal with this almost debilitating level of arousal? "My brain is going to stop working?" 39

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

Actually, Elryk was probably right. He couldn't be sure that hadn't happened already with all the blood trapped in his painfully erect cock. Elryk just raised his eyebrows at him. "To answer your question, we're at a friend's home." He could only hope the concealing spells the wizard had woven would hold out against any of the attempts the Xoh'kas would make to find them. "And you brought me here because..." Elryk tilted his head, making him look adorably curious. "Obviously because my own home will be the first place they'll look for me when they discover that I'm absent without explanation. Not to mention the fact that a wanted criminal vanished on my watch." Damn it, he still wanted the other man with a vengeance. He needed to focus on the problem at hand. "And what do you want from me?" Elryk scratched the back of his neck, grimacing as if he was in pain. "I want you to help me stop the magic thieves and get rid of the Xoh'kas." They'd get back to the mate bond issue soon enough. "I have no idea how to stop either of them." Elryk frowned. "That's where my other friend Arith comes in. He's a seer and has been looking for ways to stop the magic thieves for a while. He's only recently been successful when he finally discovered information about the Muyd'Othar." "The Magic Shield?" Elryk's eyes grew big. "But that's just a legend!" 40

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"No, apparently it's real. It's supposed to protect the Magic Council and the gateway by stopping magic from leaking—or, in this case, being siphoned off." Kaythan could only hope it would work like Arith said. "I think the fact that it vanished helps to explain why the Xoh'kas were able to stay in power so long. It also explains how the magic thieves can keep going. If the Magic Shield were still in place, they'd never be able to siphon off so much magic, thereby weakening the balance between the five magical elements." "I agree that a threat to the balance makes this a serious problem. Without a proper balance we'll face all kinds of negative consequences. People might get sick, wizards will become less effective, some scholars say we'll face an increasing number of natural disasters. Who knows what else might happen that nobody has even thought of yet." Elryk frowned. "But why do you need my help for this? If Arith is a seer, that means he's also an air wizard. Surely he can find the Shield for you?" "Arith says that he's too old. He might be able to do the spells, but he wouldn't be able to follow through and retrieve the Shield. A stronger wizard is needed for that." Kaythan grinned as understanding dawned on Elryk's face. "You want me to go on a hunt for a fabled magical object with you?" Elryk's eyebrows were trying to meet his hairline. "Yes. Well, Arith did say that any other Great Wizard who knows what to do and where to go can do it. Since we don't know whom to trust, you are our best bet." Kaythan grinned. "He's given me instructions on how to find the Shield. Are you 41

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

up for trying the required revealing spell so that we can go and find it?" [Back to Table of Contents]

42

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

Chapter Three **** The spell wasn't working. Elryk sat on the bed, his back supported by a pile of pillows that Kaythan had collected from all over the house. He'd closed his eyes in an attempt to improve his ability to concentrate on the spell. It should work. The problem was Kaythan. The man continued to be far more distracting than was good for Elryk's peace of mind. Even though the Law Forces Commander had clearly rejected him earlier, the temptation to kiss him, for starters, hadn't lessened. Neither had Elryk's burning arousal, which could only be satisfied by more touching and, ultimately, their physical union. He'd cleared his mind, focused on the spell—and nothing had happened. Not even a tingle in the tips of his fingers. He wasn't going to give up this easily. So he took a deep breath and tried again. The result was still nothing. Shit. What was he doing wrong? He'd been able to do the transportation spell on Earth once he'd gone through the exercises to "train his magic muscle" as Parker had called it. So this lack of success couldn't be because of a lack of training of that part of his brain, could it? He sighed. Maybe he better make sure and go through the exercises again. 43

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"How long is this going to take?" Kaythan's voice ruined his concentration. "As long as necessary." He ground his teeth to stop himself from saying more. He wasn't going to admit his weakness to the infuriating Law Commander, so he didn't even open his eyes. "I'm sorry I asked." Kaythan sounded more irritated than apologetic. Never mind the other man. Elryk had a job to do. He went through the mental exercises, noticing how much faster he was this time around than when he'd done them back on Earth. At least it seemed as if there'd been some improvement. When he was done he took a deep breath and tried the revealing spell again. It still didn't work. Elryk couldn't sense the Muyd'Othar, or anything else for that matter. His body was as empty of magic as it had been during his three years on Earth. It was absolutely infuriating. "You must have gotten the directions wrong." He rubbed the persistently tingling itch at the back of his neck and opened his eyes. After all, Kaythan was only trained as a soldier. How could he expect the other man to know enough about magic to remember the complicated directions for a specialised revealing spell that he'd been given once? "I certainly didn't. I was trained to remember details. Whether they're magical or not doesn't matter. My memory isn't at fault." Kaythan narrowed his eyes and frowned. "Maybe your magic isn't back to full strength?" 44

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"More like non-existent. But that doesn't make sense! Once I entered the gateway it should have returned to normal. And the exercises I did just now, after my first two attempts failed, also indicated that everything should be fine. " Elryk didn't want to consider the possibility that something in the gateway may have damaged his abilities permanently. He'd already spent three years without magic. That was more than enough. "If the directions are correct and you weren't able to locate the Muyd'Othar, then there's only one other explanation." Kaythan deepened his frown. "For some reason, your magic either hasn't come back at all or it has stopped working." "Shit!" It was highly annoying that Kaythan had come to the same conclusion. Elryk really didn't want to live without his magic, especially not now that he was back on Tah'Nut where everything depended on magic. "Is there a way for you to find out?" Kaythan hesitated. "Maybe try something simpler than this unfamiliar revealing spell?" "Yes, there is, and I'm going to do it right now." He'd give it one more try, even if he was pretty sure he already knew the answer." But I'll go outside just in case something goes wrong. I don't want to damage your friend's house." "Do you need help?" Kaythan got up and stood next to the bed, holding out a hand for him to take. Elryk shook his head and sat up. He closed his eyes, trying to will the pain and nausea away. He was going to do this on his own. When he blinked his eyes back open, Kaythan looked worried. 45

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"I'm fine." It was a lie, but he didn't want to touch Kaythan if the man had such issues about bonding. Touching without— relief would only make the need grow much stronger than it already was. Elryk got up. He was so dizzy that he almost fainted. He barely made it to the glass doors leading out onto the balcony, leaning against them for a few moments to recover his equilibrium. When he was ready, he opened one with shaking hands. After another short pause to gather his wits, he stepped outside and leaned on the banister to catch his breath. Shit, he felt like an old man. He took a deep breath. Damp earth, green leaves and the scent of blossoms mingled into a heady perfume almost as good as his favourite ocean aroma. The birdsong was even more beautiful out here in the fresh air. The cool breeze on his face helped him feel slightly better, and the sunshine lifted his spirits. He gripped the railing and closed his eyes, summoning the magic. A simple wind spell would do. Nothing. He tried again. The back of his neck was now tingling so insistently that it was becoming painful. Still nothing. "I was right, wasn't I?" Kaythan's voice came from right behind him. "Yes." Elryk opened his eyes, helpless anger making him lash out and raise his voice. "My magic isn't working and, if the legends are to be believed, it won't return until we've mated. Your negative reaction earlier made it clear that isn't 46

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

going to happen. So now who's going to stop the magic thieves and the Xoh'kas?" "Whoa, Elryk. What's wrong?" Kaythan raised his hands and took a step back. "I'm not your enemy here." "Sorry. But you're not exactly a friend, either." Elryk breathed deeply, trying to find his centre. He hadn't been this unsettled in years. The sad thing was that whether or not Kaythan was a friend didn't really matter. The man's earlier reaction to a potential mating wasn't promising. And, unfortunately, it seemed that without a mating Elryk wasn't going to regain his magic. Not that it really mattered. If they didn't complete the mate bond, they'd both be insane within a few days and dead by the end of a week. Whether or not he had his magic was irrelevant. "Hold on. Why do you still think I'm not your friend?" Kaythan frowned. "First, I brought you here instead of handing you over to the Xoh'kas. Then I offered my help to fight the magic thieves so we can counterbalance the Ruling Assembly's activities. I want to help you return the Magic Council to full strength so they can kick out the Xoh'kas." "You're right, those are the actions of a friend." Elryk sighed and walked back inside to sit on the bed. He was weak and confused. Maybe he was further down the road of insanity than he realised? "I just can't get myself to believe that a Law Forces Commander would give up all his privileges as a Xoh'kas favoured citizen to help a wanted criminal remove their power." 47

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"That's all you see me as, isn't it?" Kaythan's eyes flashed with anger. "It's really hard to see you as anything else." He wanted to, even more so now that he knew Kaythan was his mate. "We've known each other for less than a day, though, so it's kind of difficult to look beyond your uniform and your actions of chasing me all the way to Earth, then arresting me to take me back." "I can take off the uniform?" Kaythan waggled his eyebrows. Where had that come from? Elryk suppressed a grin and shook his head. "Not helpful, huh?" Kaythan turned serious again. "As for the arrest, I really had no choice. How else was I supposed to find you and get you back to Tah'Nut without getting noticed and probably stopped by someone who really does believe the Xoh'kas to be the rightful rulers?" "You're right." He had to give the man that much. "My brain can see that, but my gut and my heart are having a very hard time following that directive." "They may need some more time, which is fine." Kaythan leant forward. "But that isn't all that's bothering you, is it?" "You're right, there's more." Damn, the man was too perceptive. "Your reaction to us being mates made me feel as though you didn't want anything to do with me on a more personal level. And I can't bear the thought of forcing you, or anyone, into a relationship they don't want."

48

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"I'm sorry I reacted that way. It was mostly surprise that the mating legend is true. It wasn't really based on anything other than that." Kaythan looked away for a moment. "There's more to it though, isn't there?" It was good to be the one asking the probing questions for once. "Yes, there is. "Kaythan nodded. "To be honest, I don't like the thought that I'm being drawn to you by some instinct, or whatever this mate bond is, rather than choice." "That's it, then." He leant back, supporting himself with his hands. He didn't want to go insane, and he certainly didn't want to die, yet. But it looked as if the decision wasn't solely up to him. "No, there's more. It's hard for me to say this, but I need to be honest with you." Kaythan's stormy blue eyes stared right into Elryk's soul. "I was attracted to you way before we touched inside the gateway and set this mating thing in motion." "Be-before?" Elryk's heart sped up. The back of his neck gave a painful twitch and his cock started pounding. "When you first appeared in my office on Earth." Kaythan swallowed. "You made me so hard I thought my pants were going to burst." "It wasn't just me?" Elryk sagged with relief. Maybe it would all work out. If Kaythan was even the slightest bit willing, it changed everything. "No, it wasn't just you." Kaythan sat down on the bed, their thighs almost touching. "Now that I know we're both attracted to each other anyway and are supposed to be mates—what's stopping us from doing something about it?" 49

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"You really want to go ahead with this?" Elryk couldn't bear the thought of starting only to be rebuffed again. Kaythan nodded. "You do realise that the bond is permanent once we set it in motion?" The back of his neck itched more intensely, but he was too fascinated by Kaythan's deep-blue eyes to be really irritated. "I know that." Kaythan sighed. "It isn't that I don't know anything about mate bonds, I just didn't believe they were real. Now that I have had to accept their existence, I probably know as much as the next person. All we have to work with are the myths, but since they were right about the reality of the bond, they're probably right about the rest as well." "And you don't mind that we'll be permanently linked?" Personally, he couldn't wait. "No." Kaythan shrugged. "Should I be? Is there some deep, dark secret in your past that you haven't told me about?" "Probably." He grinned. "But I bet you have a few as well." "What's most important to me is that we seem to agree on the bigger issues of needing to get rid of the Xoh'kas and stopping the magic thieves from messing with the balance of the magical elements. Everything else pales by comparison." Kaythan grinned. "So, what's stopping us?" What indeed? **** Kaythan stared into Elryk's eyes. The lust visible in their burning depths increased his desire. The tingling itch at the 50

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

back of his neck was getting stronger. The ache in his balls wasn't a new sensation, except he'd never been this needy, or ready to come, from just a few touches. They hadn't even kissed yet! Why had he thought that bonding with Elryk was a bad idea? The man was everything he'd ever wanted in a lover on a physical level. He didn't know Elryk well enough yet to judge anything else. What he had found out was that Elryk was honourable, which was one of the most important traits any man could have, in his opinion. Elryk hadn't given in to the demands of the Xoh'kas to become the token leader of the Magic Council. Not even when they'd caught and probably tortured his lover. And when they'd killed the man he'd loved, Elryk had fled into exile rather than endanger innocent lives. If that wasn't proof of the man's principles, Kaythan didn't know what was. "So, how do we do this?" Kaythan lifted his hand and caressed Elryk's cheek. A spike of desire travelled from his fingertips straight to his balls. It made the ache between his legs flare up into pain. "Fuck!" "Yeah, that'll work." Elryk grinned, but there was tension in the lines around his eyes and mouth. "Not-not what I meant." Kaythan realised that touching Elryk made the pain that was proof of the mate bond attempting to form even worse. Hopefully more touches, or rather the right ones, would reduce the pain and eventually make it go away. But despite the discomfort, he couldn't let go of the warm cheek covered in light stubble that rasped against the palm of his hand. 51

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

He bent closer, bringing his lips to Elryk's other cheek, brushing the skin. Tah', but the scent of the man drove him crazy. Fresh like an ocean breeze yet musky and definitely male. He licked the slightly salty surface and the flavour burst into his mouth, travelling straight into his brain. Crap, that was something else. The man even tasted good. "Tah', you make me crazy." Kaythan stayed close to his mate, breathing in his scent as deeply as possible. "I don't even know where to start." "I know what you mean." Elryk's breath hitched and he turned his head, moving his burning lips along Kaythan's. "The problem is that the Xoh'kas destroyed most of the information about the bonding ritual. So I know as much as you do." "We'll just do what feels right." Kaythan slid his other arm around Elryk's middle and bent towards his lips. Hot, supple and soft, touching them made him want more. He used his hand to turn Elryk's head so he'd have a better angle and licked his way inside the other man's mouth. The ache in his balls lessened a little when their tongues met, and the relief made him moan. The deeper the kiss went, the better Kaythan felt. "Skin." Elryk pulled back, gasping, his dark eyes hooded and glazed with lust. "Please, I need to feel your skin on mine." Kaythan was beyond words. He let go of the other man's hand with an effort, and got up to tear his clothes off. Elryk sat immobile and stared at him with huge eyes as he revealed his body. Once he was naked, he started on Elryk's 52

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

clothes, kissing and licking every bit of alabaster skin as it appeared. When he pulled down the man's pants and the hard, darkly flushed cock almost jumped at him, he nearly came on the spot. With a last glance at Elryk's blissful gaze, he slid one arm under a shoulder and the other one under the man's knees and bodily lifted his soon-to-be lover and mate into the centre of the bed. "What?" Elryk actually squealed. "Need to taste you." Kaythan's voice was rough with need. He lay down next to Elryk, head towards his feet and licked his lover's wide cock from base to tip. Yes! The salty bitter flavour hit his taste buds and made him whimper. That was what he craved. He carefully lifted the engorged organ away from Elryk's flat stomach so he could start licking in earnest. He took the wide head into his mouth and slowly slid his lips down along the shaft, taking as much of the other man's cock as possible inside his mouth. Hot lips suddenly surrounded his own cock head and he moaned when Elryk reciprocated by taking him all the way down to the back of his throat. The man swallowed around his glans before letting him go and Kaythan felt his hips buck. Then they both started bobbing their heads, sucking and licking in a rhythm that drove Kaythan absolutely mad with lust. He slid his arms around Elryk's slim hips and held onto the muscular ass cheeks, encouraging the other man to fuck his mouth in earnest. Almost choking on the cock moving in and out of him, he felt his own balls tighten as Elryk sucked him with equal 53

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

force. He wasn't going to last. With a scream that was muffled by the thick organ starting to pulse down his throat, he came in hot spurts of blessed relief. He drank down Elryk's seed, revelling in the soothing flavour as he emptied his balls with a new and exhilarating intensity he never wanted to go without ever again. He pulled back, trying to catch his breath. Elryk turned around—how did he find the energy—and crawled into his arms. Kaythan tightened his embrace and held on. For the first time in hours, he felt okay. The itch at the back of his neck and the pain between his legs were gone, and the beautiful man who lay trembling in his arms was now his. "Mhm, that was good." Elryk nuzzled Kaythan's neck, turning his head up for a kiss. This one was slow and tender. The tingles that moved all the way from the top of his head right down into his balls and on to curl his toes were good ones. He entwined their legs and pulled Elryk as close to him as possible. Touching like this, chest to toes and everywhere between was what he wanted. This was where he belonged, with his mate. Long minutes later the other man pulled back and sighed. "I guess I should try and see if my magic works now." Elryk lifted his head and focused on the curtains. Kaythan felt him tremble, then sag against him. "Nothing." Elryk sounded dejected. "Maybe I've just lost it."

54

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"I don't think so. You are the most powerful lightning wizard born in many generations, aren't you?" Kaythan wanted to fix this for his mate. "That's not what the Ritual of Muyd'pol revealed when they tested me originally. I've never understood why, but my magical abilities only became really strong a lot later. I was actually re-tested in my twenties, which is very rare." Elryk snuggled closer. "That means that something else is wrong." Kaythan would bet the damned Xoh'kas had something to do with whatever was wrong. "And we're going to find out exactly what it is." "How?" Elryk's voice sounded tired. "I'm sure that Arith can help us figure it out. Being a seer has to be good for something, after all." Kaythan pulled the blankets over them. "Once we've had a nap, we'll go and find out what he has to say." **** Waking up with another man in his arms was an interesting experience. Kaythan had never had the luxury before, preferring quick encounters and avoiding any kind of emotional attachment. He never really knew whom to trust, and he'd rather not give himself away by talking in his sleep. Now that he was mated, he could finally have the intimacy and closeness he'd always dreamt about. He tightened his embrace around Elryk, who mumbled something in his sleep. He didn't really want to wake the other man, but they did need to go and see Arith as soon as 55

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

possible. This riddle around Elryk's issue with magic bugged him, and he wanted to know how to solve the problem. "Do you feel uncomfortable in any way?" Elryk sighed and turned around, his eyelids still heavy with sleep. "No." He gave his body a quick mental check. "I don't think so." "Are you sure there isn't any itching or tingling at the back of your neck?" Elryk's lips twitched as the man did his best to look innocent. "Well, now that you mention it..." He grinned and bent down for a kiss. Elryk moaned when their lips touched. When Kaythan licked along his mouth to ask for entrance, his lover opened to him immediately. Their tongues met and caressed each other with long, tender strokes. Kaythan's cock hardened and he could feel Elryk's response pushing against his thigh. Elryk finally pulled back, panting for breath. "I just want to make sure we both remain in perfect health." The man grinned, showing his even, white teeth. "The humans have a very useful saying about this. Prevention is better than cure." "Do they, now?" Kaythan grinned back. "I think I could grow to like them based on that saying alone." "Mhm." Elryk dove in for another kiss. The heat between them ratcheted up more quickly than he'd thought possible. Pressing and rubbing their groins together until he'd found the perfect position, he continued to move with an urgency that was matched by Elryk's. He put 56

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

his hand on the other man's ass cheeks to increase the pressure between them. It wasn't enough. With a groan he rolled them over so that Elryk was on his back. He was worried that he might be too heavy for the other man, but that lasted no longer than a few seconds. Elryk's legs parted and he took advantage by pushing even closer. "Yes!" Elryk bared his neck, tendons standing out, as he pushed his head back into the pillow. "Just like that." "Tah', you make me want." He kissed up and down Elryk's throat, licking and sucking on the soft skin for good measure. It made the other man's hips buck up. Elryk slid his arms around Kaythan's middle and held on. When Elryk started whimpering with need, he almost lost it. He pushed down harder, craving more friction. His movements became frantic and less rhythmic than before. His balls were so tight, he thought the skin might burst. Elryk brought his legs up around his waist, bringing their groins into closer contact. The slight pressure made him see stars and he grunted his release into Elryk's neck as he sprayed his seed between their bodies. Elryk's response was immediate and no less heated. With a scream, the other man started coming, jerking his hips up hard enough to release aftershocks in Kaythan that made his entire body shake with pleasure. "Shit, that was good." Elryk grinned and slid his legs back down onto the bed, looking happy and sated. "Better than ever before." Kaythan rolled them to their sides, making sure their legs remained entangled and their 57

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

bodies were in the closest possible contact. Touching Elryk's skin was quickly becoming necessary, almost like breathing. "If this is what it's like to be mated, I think I'm becoming a major fan real fast." "I know." Elryk sighed. "As important as all this is, though, I think we really do need to get cleaned up and go see your friend Arith. I have to find out what's going on with my magic, and as embarrassing as it is, I'll probably need his help with finding the Muyd'Othar." "We'll go see him. I'm sure he'll be able to help you recover your magic as well as help us find the Magic Shield." He pressed one last kiss onto Elryk's lips. "We can take my undetectable glider, so it won't take much time." [Back to Table of Contents]

58

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

Chapter Four **** Elryk wasn't sure that using a glider was such a good idea. It was a rather obvious way to travel. Kaythan had reassured him that it was undetectable, but the thought of the Xoh'kas catching them was too terrifying to take this lightly. What if they'd found a way to detect gliders that were supposed to be undetectable? He wouldn't put it past the Xoh'kas to mobilise absolutely everything in order to track him and Kaythan. They wouldn't tolerate the absence of a wanted criminal and a disserted Law Forces Commander for very long. "Come on, I'll show you." Kaythan led him through the house and out into the backyard. "There's nothing here." Elryk looked around, but there were only plants, a few birds and some insects. "Right over there." Kaythan pointed at an empty area. "All I can see is grass, a few bushes and some old trees." It was a beautiful garden, but that was all there was. Kaythan grinned and pulled a small remote from his pocket. "Watch this." Kaythan pressed a button. Elryk's eyes widened as the air shimmered and a sleek glider with wide wings and a pointed nose was revealed as if someone had pulled a blanket off its multicoloured surface. It was one of the most beautiful vehicles he'd ever seen. And it had been hidden well enough for absolutely nothing to show. 59

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"The best part is that it's invisible to the naked eye and it's been covered with concealing spells that make it undetectable to any tracing devices the Xoh'kas have at their disposal. Arith used spells that are more advanced and far less well known than those most commonly available." Kaythan pocketed the device and walked them towards the glider. "And in case you're wondering, we're the only ones able to see it right now. Using the remote only lifts the spell's effects for people within ten feet of it. Should anyone be watching from above or even just over the fence, they still won't have a clue that there's anything here other than the two of us, the plants and the animals." Taking a deep breath and determined to trust his new mate and the air wizard who had put the spells on the glider, Elryk got inside, taking his seat behind Kaythan. His fear of heights didn't make the first part of the flight easy. He hated seeing the ground move farther and farther away. But as they rose high over the land, the greenery was beautiful and relaxed him. Elryk's level of trust grew as his spirits rose. Kaythan turned out to be a good pilot and the glider seemed to be working well. The flight took them straight north. The few signs of civilisation that were still visible this far away from the capital city were quickly left behind, and Elryk watched the landscape become more and more rugged. Well-tended fields gave way to the occasional grazing area. The villages were smaller and smaller, then they were replaced with the odd lonely farmstead. Even those eventually stopped and the land below became hillier. Soon the first mountains appeared and deep, 60

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

wooded ravines alternated with steep rock faces. Not a sign of people anywhere. "It's not far now." Kaythan handled the magic-imbued controls as if he'd never done anything else. "If you look straight ahead, you'll see a small cave to the left of the mountaintop, just above the tree line." "Arith lives in a cave? I thought that was more of an earth wizard's territory." Elryk stared at the hole in the rock as they approached and landed on the flat area in front of the cave's entrance. "At least he's well hidden from detection, even without any spells." "No, he doesn't actually live in the cave." Kaythan grinned, but didn't explain further. It made Elryk wonder what his lover was hiding. After they'd landed, they entered the cave, stooping low to avoid hitting their heads. Only very little daylight filtered in, and once Elryk's eyes had gotten used to the semi-darkness, he detected an old man in a white wizard's robe leaning against the back wall, right next to what looked like a thick patch of fog. Huh? "My name is Arith. Please follow me." The old man turned around without another glance and entered the fog, clearly expecting them to follow. Elryk shrugged and fell in line behind Kaythan. Entering the foggy nothingness felt strange at first, but it wasn't cold or otherwise threatening, and he could still see both Arith and Kaythan walking ahead of him in the dim half-light, so he followed them. 61

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

The thick grey mass soon changed into a lighter variation of mist, and a soft glow from above made it seem as though they were walking through dense clouds with the sun trying to break through from above. Another few steps later, the thinning fog dissipated almost completely and the light from above became much stronger and more colourful. Elryk tried not to stare at Arith as the ancient wizard led them along the strange path. The wrinkles all over his face and hands were unusual enough. But the gnarled fingers and bent posture were almost unheard of for a seer. The air magic that formed the core of his abilities should have minimised these overt signs of aging to make him look ageless. Arith stepped through a glass door and moved aside. A huge, well-lit room stretched out in front of them, the sudden return of sunlight very welcome. "Welcome to my sanctuary." Arith grinned and suddenly looked about a hundred years younger. He gestured around the room and Elryk gasped. Perched atop what felt like a giant tree, the front and both side walls of the room were made of glass, a few leaved branches knocking on the windows on each side as the wind moved them. The view across a deep wooded gorge and a distant mountain range was breathtaking. When Elryk turned around the back wall was as rough as a bark-covered tree trunk. "Quite amazing, isn't it?" Kaythan stepped closer to him, making him feel safe despite the height. "How did we get here?" Surely they were no longer inside the cave. 62

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"That's right, your magic isn't working, so you wouldn't have noticed." Arith sank into a comfortable armchair near the front of the room. It almost swallowed his fragile looking body. "We passed quite a few layers of protective and concealing spells. They're necessary to hide this place from the Xoh'kas as well as the magic thieves and anyone else who would like to pry into my affairs." "How did you know my magic isn't working?" Elryk frowned. Arith winked. "Uhm, okay, you're a seer, but even Kaythan and I only found out a few hours ago." Elryk was worried who else might know about his problem. If any of the wizards on the Magic Council had detected him and his lack of magic, he was in bigger trouble than he'd thought so far. "Please, sit down." Arith motioned to a sofa across from his armchair. "This will take a while." Elryk took a seat and Kaythan followed, putting a protective arm around his shoulders. The contact reduced the slight pulling sensation in his groin immediately. Tah', but this mate bond would take some getting used to. "Let me get to the point." Arith sat up and ran a hand through his shoulder length white hair. "The formation of the first mate bond in over two hundred years has activated the Muyd'Zel." "The Magic Key?" Elryk sat up. "That's the second legendary magical object to suddenly reappear from the shrouding mists of history. And how would the formation of a 63

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

mate bond be noticed? Isn't the Muyd'Zel an inanimate object? What in Tah's name is going on?" "I'm getting to that." Arith shook his head. "You young ones are always so impatient. Right. Where was I? Oh, yes. Two hundred years ago, when the Xoh'kas family took over, they had an ally inside the Magic Council. He was the last Lightning Grand Master known to us and his name was Rhunnyt Bak'omir." "That's right." Kaythan nodded. "I remember reading about him in the history books." "Apparently I'm the first lightning wizard in many years to have shown the same sort of potential to advance from Great Wizard to Grand Master level and join the Council." Elryk winced. He'd rather have gone unnoticed, like he had before the Xoh'kas had discovered him at the magic school he'd been teaching at. "That potential was the reason why the Xoh'kas were so interested in having me under their control once they had retested me." "You're right. But that potential was a total surprise to the Xoh'kas. You were the only one to somehow evade their earlier detection. All other candidates in the last two-hundred years have been killed as soon as the ritual of Muyd'pol, at the age of five, showed that they might be strong enough to become Grand Masters." Arith's eyes flashed with anger. "Why would they kill all those young lightning wizards?" Elryk felt nauseous. What a horrible thing for them to do. "Because they needed the Magic Council to be weak." Arith sighed. "Only a lightning wizard has parts of all the other types of magic inside him, plus his own. That's why he can 64

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

unite and strengthen the Council members to enable them to effectively check and balance the Ruling Assembly's activities. Without a lightning wizard to lead the Council for so long, the leaders had to be chosen from among the fire, water, earth and air wizards. With the magic thieves now stealing magic on top of this inherent flaw, the Council has been weakened to the point where it is totally ineffective and the Ruling Assembly, under the leadership of the Xoh'kas, remains unopposed." "So how does this link to the Muyd'Zel?" Elryk wiggled in his seat. This story was fascinating, but Arith was taking too long to get to the really interesting points. "Patience, my son." Arith grinned and leant back in his armchair. "One of the things Rhunnyt did was banish the Muyd'Othar, or Magic Shield, from the real world into the magic realm. This left the Magic Council open to attacks, further strengthening the Xoh'kas' hold on them. Once Rhunnyt had created the hiding place he was executed by the Xoh'kas." "That was very clever of them." Kaythan nodded. "They effectively weakened the Magic Council, the only group able to oppose them, then made sure that group would never recover." "Exactly." Arith lifted his hand. "But what they hadn't counted on was some of the wizards outside the Magic Council. Those 'rebellious' wizards knew that the Magic Shield would be needed to restore the power of the Council at some point. They were hoping to give the right person the tools to 65

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

do so. Hence, they created the Muyd'Zel, the purpose of which is to help its owner find and use the Shield." "Let me guess—the right person is Elryk?" Kaythan's grip on Elryk's shoulders tightened. Arith nodded. "And this expedition to find the Magic Key will be dangerous." Kaythan growled. Arith nodded again. "I'm sure you'll keep me safe." Elryk patted Kaythan's thigh and grinned inwardly at his mate's protectiveness. He could take care of himself, well, once his magic was back he'd be in control again, but it was nice to have someone else's support. He'd missed that. "You bet your sweet little—ahem—on that." Kaythan's eyes twinkled wickedly. Elryk winked at his mate, letting him know he understood and appreciated Kaythan's words and support. He just saw one major problem that no amount of support could solve, so he turned back to Arith. "This is all very well, but how am I going to retrieve the Muyd'Othar without my magic? It seems to be blocked and I have no idea how to get it back." It was rather embarrassing to talk about, but it wasn't as though he had any sort of choice if he wanted to solve this problem. "Is it caused by the mate bond?" "I think you're right. That seems to be the cause of the problem." Arith frowned. "Somehow it must have interfered in your ability to reconnect with the gateway's energies. When you came back into their range, your magic should have 66

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

returned. If we had enough time we could let the mate bond stabilise and wait for your magic abilities to return on their own. But I don't think we can afford to wait. The Xoh'kas are also trying to find the Shield. If they get to it before you do, they will surely destroy it. You have absolutely no time to lose." "So how do we do this? It sounds rather hopeless to me." Kaythan was tense and obviously still worried about their safety. "Two things. One is that you have to work together, use both your strengths to overcome the initial disadvantage of no magic. Nobody else who may be looking for the Magic Key has that advantage, since there are no other mated pairs young enough to attempt this quest." Arith leant forward in his armchair. "But more importantly, the Muyd'Zel, itself, will help restore Elryk's magic as you progress. It's been divided into five pieces, one for each type of magic. Obtaining each piece will result in the ability to gain access to the next location as well as reawaken and strengthen Elryk's magical abilities in the type of magic recovered." "So how do we find that first piece? As you know the revealing spell you gave Kaythan didn't work. At least, I wasn't able to make it work for me." Elryk felt totally naked without his magic and wasn't sure he could go anywhere potentially dangerous while unprotected and exposed like that. "That's where my friend Nysat Pak'odiz comes in." Arith grinned. "Like me, he comes from the era before the Xoh'kas. He was one of the wizards involved in creating the Muyd'Zel. 67

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

He may be a lot younger than I am but he's a very powerful earth wizard. He has agreed to help you retrieve the first piece of the Magic Key and to make sure that it awakens that part of your magic inside you. Each of the next pieces will build on that until all of them can fuse and restore you fully." Arith got up and walked to the back of the room. Near the glass door where they'd entered, he waved his hands in a complicated pattern, then bent down and pulled up a trapdoor that must have been hidden before. When Arith stepped aside, another man climbed out of the hole in the floor. He was broad-shouldered with massive arms and legs. He looked solid and strong. He wore a short light brown robe, tied off with a green belt, over dark brown pants and brown leather boots. His hair was long and pulled back into a neat braid. His brown eyes twinkled with life and humour as he slowly approached the couch Elryk and Kaythan sat on. "You must be Nysat?" Elryk felt a little shiver travel down his spine. This man was quite clearly a very powerful wizard. "I am indeed, young Elryk." Nysat smiled, revealing perfect teeth and two dimples in his ruddy cheeks. "Please, take a seat, old friend." Arith had made his way back from the trapdoor and pointed at a second easy chair next to his own. "Would you like some refreshments?" "No thank you, I'm fine." Nysat laughed, a deep rumble emanating from his wide chest. "The trip wasn't long enough to require refuelling my reserves."

68

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"Travelling through those tunnels of yours always makes me very thirsty." Arith grinned and took his previous seat, sinking back into the cushions. "I prefer them to your clouds. Using them as transportation always makes me dizzy." Nysat let loose a booming laugh and sat down in the second easy chair. Luckily, it magically adjusted itself to the larger man's bulk as he sank back. "To each his own, I guess." Arith turned serious. "We really appreciate you coming out of hiding to help us out." "You've been in hiding?" Elryk immediately felt for the other man, knowing what that was like from his years on Earth. "Yes, well, I'm not exactly the ruling family's most favourite person." Nysat winked. "Haven't been for over two hundred years. Once they found out that I was one of the wizards responsible for constructing the Muyd'Zel I became a criminal in their eyes. Since I had to avoid them using me to discover how to use the Magic Key for their own purposes, I decided to make myself scarce until the time was right to overthrow them." "And that time is now?" Elryk couldn't quite believe he was supposed to be the one to fix the situation. It all made sense on an intellectual level, but that was as far as his understanding went. Believing it in his heart was far more difficult. "Most definitely." Nysat looked at him with an intensity that was almost scary. "I may not be a seer, but what I know 69

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

about you confirms that you have potential. Of course, I'd need to touch you to find out for sure." Kaythan growled. "Now, now." Nysat grinned and stared at Kaythan for a change. "You know that's how earth magic works." "Doesn't mean I have to like it." Kaythan clenched his teeth. "Crap, this mate bond is going to drive me crazy before we can do any good." "It does take some getting used to. All I can tell you is that it'll bring out the best in both of you and will become your strongest defence against anyone and anything." Nysat tilted his head. "It's such a wondrous thing though, to see a new one in action after so long. I wish I were lucky enough to find my mate." "You will, old friend." Arith smiled. "Is that a prediction?" Nysat looked so hopeful it was almost funny. "Yes." Arith nodded. "When?" Nysat moved to the edge of his seat. "Soon." Arith rubbed his temples. "Very soon." "Oh. Can't happen soon enough for me." Nysat closed his eyes and took a deep breath, then looked back up. "Right, let's focus on the most immediate problem. You need to retrieve the first piece of the Magic Key, and you have to get to it before the Xoh'kas. They may not have the benefit of my knowledge, but they've been sniffing around the historical records for years and sooner or later they will figure it out." "So where did you hide it?" Elryk couldn't wait to start rebuilding his magic. He'd never gotten used to it not being 70

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

there, not even during his three years of self-imposed banishment on Earth. "It is no longer in the world we know." Nysat grinned. "We transported the pieces into the temple of Tah'Muyd, which exists entirely inside the magical realm. It's only accessible to wizards of the highest power, and the chambers containing the pieces of the Muyd'Zel have been additionally sealed. We also placed a guardian in charge of each chamber and corresponding piece of the key. They each have detailed instructions about the very limited conditions under which they can release them." "Sounds complicated." Kaythan grimaced. "It's not supposed to be easy, and whoever wants to retrieve all the pieces will need both courage and skill to survive the various tests." Nysat looked at Kaythan, then at Elryk. "Are you ready?" "Yes." Elryk spoke at the same time as Kaythan. "I will transport you into the first chamber and will deal with the guardian for you. All you need to do is dig up a small wooden box, which contains the earth magic part of the key. Everything else will become obvious once you have absorbed it." Nysat rose and held out his hands. After a last look at Arith to say goodbye, Elryk got up, pulling Kaythan with him. Once they'd made a circle by touching hands, Nysat mumbled a spell and with a loud booming sound, Arith's home was replaced with a meadow filled with wild flowers, buzzing insects and a beautiful forest bordering it on two sides. 71

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

Blinking to get used to the brilliant sunshine, Elryk looked around to see a tall, stick-like creature walking towards them. It looked like a cross between a human and a tree, its head a mass of tangled vines and new branches sprouting on its branch-like arms and legs. Nysat touched one of its arms, and a wooden shovel formed, which he passed to Elryk. He pointed at the flowercovered ground at his feet. "Start digging. I will take the guardian for a walk." Nysat smiled as he started to move away, tugging the silent guardian with him. "Good luck." Good luck indeed. Elryk shrugged and started digging in the indicated location. He'd managed to go about two feet deep when he got tired. Kaythan took over and soon the shovel met resistance with a soft thud. "I guess that's it." Kaythan's cheeks were flushed as he bent down to carefully brush the earth aside. He revealed a small wooden box about the size of three hand widths on each side. Its top was green and it felt warm when Kaythan put it in Elryk's lap. "Just be careful when you open it." Kaythan looked worried. "We don't know what's inside and I hate you having to take all the risk." "I love it when you turn protective. Have I told you that?" Elryk bent to the side and kissed Kaythan on the cheek. "I'm not going to die."

72

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"I don't care how safe you think this is." Kaythan had relaxed a little and sounded less aggressive. "I just ca—I just want to make sure you're safe." "I will be. You're right here with me, so I'm sure we'll be fine." Elryk rubbed his hands. "I guess I just open this box and see what happens, right?" Kaythan nodded and squeezed his shoulder. Elryk put his hand on the lid of the little box and closed his eyes. Touch was an important part of earth magic and he wanted to know if he could find out anything before opening the box. The warmth against his legs increased and the box started to hum. The lid snapped open and there was a small egg-shaped crystal inside that, in turn, shimmered from a deep, vibrant brown to a bright green. He lifted his hand and pulled it out, feeling waves of earth magic pulse into him. Kaythan's grip on his shoulder tightened and his mate moaned. The box tumbled to the ground and Elryk folded his hands around the crystal, absorbing all it had to give. Strength flooded the back of his neck, the scent of damp earth and growing plants surrounded him. He felt soft grass under his feet and heard the low vibrations of a small earth tremor. After a while, the imagined perceptions faded and he returned to reality. His hands were empty, the crystal was gone. Elryk turned towards his mate, Kaythan's big blue eyes burning into his, and smiled. He already felt so much stronger, so much more alive, and he'd only absorbed one of 73

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

the five types of magic. But since this first step had worked, there was new hope for the rest to fall into place as well. When Kaythan bent down to kiss him, he forgot everything and gave himself over to the feeling of being wanted. Surely they'd have some time to enjoy their newly mated status? The earth magic soon started building inside him and he rejoiced. When it didn't stop until it grew into an overwhelming need to move—right now—he got worried. When a rolling rumble surrounded them, he almost panicked. By the time he tore himself away from Kaythan's lips to see what was going on, there was a thunderous bang and the grass vanished from under them. Instead, they were floating on a flimsy raft in the middle of the wide-open ocean. [Back to Table of Contents]

74

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

Chapter Five **** "Crap!" Kaythan's head reeled from the sudden change of environment. He grasped the logs making up their raft with all the strength he could muster. Going from sitting on perfectly stable ground to floating along on a rickety raft that might or might not break apart at any moment wasn't what he'd expected. In fact, he hadn't expected to be moved somewhere else at all. He was used to initiating a transport to a new location with the appropriate magical devices. Getting transported by a wizard, the way Nysat had done, was also fine. At least he'd had some inkling of what was going to happen. But being transferred without his consent was a new experience, and one he didn't like. "I guess water magic is the next one on the list." Elryk gazed around them with wide eyes, took a deep breath and smiled. "Just look at those beautiful blues and greens. Not a cloud in the sky and absolutely nothing between us and the horizon. I love the open ocean." "Humph." Kaythan relaxed a little once he didn't see or sense any immediate danger. This much water made him nervous, though. It just wasn't his thing. "There's an awful lot of it around." Elryk threw his head back and laughed. He'd never heard his mate laugh before, and it was a wonderful sound. He was 75

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

going to make sure that he heard it as often as possible. After they'd made it out of their current predicament. "All that water is sort of what makes this an ocean. "Elryk stopped grinning with an effort, but his lips gave him away. They kept twitching as he spoke. "What do you think we need to do here? If this next piece of the key is somewhere under the surface, we're in deep shit." Just as Kaythan opened his mouth to respond, the water next to one side of their raft started churning, as though it was about to boil. Large air bubbles rose from below, causing small waves that made their raft go up and down in nauseainducing movements. He really didn't like this chamber. He grabbed Elryk's arm and held onto the edge of the raft with his other hand, trying to stabilise them as much as possible. The unpredictable waves caused by whatever was happening next to them didn't make it easy. But since he didn't know what creatures lived here, and didn't particularly want to find out, he wasn't about to let them take an involuntary swim. Not if he could help it. What looked like sea grass started rising from the depths, joining the large air bubbles. A head followed, making him realise that those strands must be hair, not grass. A woman's delicate face was revealed, then naked shoulders. Her skin was as white as Elryk's, but with a bluish hue where his mate's was rosy. Her slender arms floated up, resting at the surface, and the splash of a fishtail where her feet should have been completed the picture. "I'm Alwiil, the guardian of the second chamber of the temple of Tah'Muyd. As you may have guessed, I'm in charge 76

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

of water magic." Her voice was melodious but her smile held no warmth. "What is your business here?" "We're looking for the second piece of the Muyd'Zel." Elryk smiled. "Can you please tell us where it is?" "That all depends." Alwiil's eyes narrowed. "On what?" Elryk's smile turned less certain. "On who sent you." Alwiil's tail vanished back underwater. "And on how strong your water magic is." "Arith, the seer, told us what to do. Nysat, the earth wizard, sent us here after we retrieved the first piece in the last chamber." Elryk's shoulders slumped. "And I have no water magic at all." "Arith? So he remains among the living." Alwiil nodded. "Since he has always been a good friend, despite being a lofty air wizard, I'll tell you where you can find this next piece of the Muyd'Zel. But obtaining it will not be easy if, as you say, you are without water magic." "Of course not." Kaythan snorted. "These things are never easy." Alwiil stared at him as if he was slime that she'd just pulled out from under a rock. From her perspective, he probably was. After all, he truly didn't have any magic where Elryk had just temporarily 'lost' his. "Kaythan!" Elryk flashed him an angry glance. "The reason it won't be easy, warrior, is because the second piece of the Muyd'Zel lies at the bottom of the ocean." Alwiil grinned. "Only a very strong water wizard would be able to lift it up from the depths." 77

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"So how can we possibly do it without water magic?" Elryk frowned. "We don't even know its exact location." "You can thank Nysat for placing you directly above it. You only need to dive straight down to get it." Alwiil smirked. "However, only one of you can go. The other has to stay on the raft or it will vanish, making it impossible for you to advance to the next chamber. Also, your time is limited because once the diver enters the water, the raft will start to disintegrate." Kaythan sighed. He knew where this was going. "So it's a test of our trust in each other as well as of our determination to obtain the Magic Key." Elryk nodded. "It is indeed." Alwiil turned serious. "Do you accept the challenge?" Elryk looked at him, the question about who Kaythan thought needed to dive into the freezing water clear in his eyes. "I think I should go." Kaythan held up a hand to stop Elryk from protesting. "I'm physically stronger. You're still recovering from the gateway episode. And I think that you might be able to stop the raft from disintegrating too quickly, giving us more time." "Huh?" Elryk's eyes widened. "Of course! The raft is made from wood and should be susceptible to earth magic." Alwiil chortled. Whether in agreement or for a darker reason he really didn't want to know. He'd never liked any large body of water since his older brother had tried to teach him how to swim by throwing him into a lake. He'd been three years old at the time and if his mother hadn't seen 78

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

everything and had come to his rescue, he would have drowned. A dive of unknown length into unfamiliar waters was a challenge for anyone. His personal issues didn't make what he was about to do any easier, but sending Elryk made no sense at all. "Let's do this." Kaythan took off his boots, vest and tunic, briefly enjoying the interest in Elryk's gaze as it roamed across his bared chest. His belt and pants followed, leaving him in his briefs. "Are you sure?" Elryk cleared his throat and tore his gaze away from Kaythan's crotch with an effort. "I'm sure." Kaythan cupped his mate's cheek and pressed a brief kiss onto his cool lips. Elryk looking at him as he undressed had him half hard, but there was no time to indulge. He had a job to do first. "Hold the raft for me?" Before he could change his mind, he started taking deep breaths to increase the oxygen level in his blood. When he was ready, he smiled at Elryk, filled his lungs with as much air as possible and dove head-first into the cold water. Alwiil had said the piece of the Muyd'Zel they were looking for was right underneath the raft, so he dove straight down. Arms and legs working in tandem, he made what felt like good progress. It was getting darker very quickly, and the cold would eventually make moving very difficult. Not to mention his air supply that was going to run out, probably before anything else could get serious enough to make him turn around. 79

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

He shuddered at the thought of being unsuccessful and having to try again. There was nothing for it but to keep going. He could only hope he'd be able to find the piece of the Magic Key on his first try. Suddenly there was movement to his left, then to his right. Huge shadows approached him. Crap. They looked like oversized sharks. He was in his briefs, without any kind of weapon, and he sure as hell wasn't going to be able to swim faster than them. Whether that was straight down or back up towards the surface didn't matter. If they decided to attack, he'd be lost. He might as well continue and hope for the best. Maybe they would ignore him. Hadn't he heard somewhere that they wouldn't attack as long as there was no blood? There were lots of non-aggressive species as well, so maybe these were some of the harmless type. Eyeing his new companions carefully, he was amazed to see that they kept a respectful distance, swimming alongside him as though they were some kind of escort or honour guard. They were behaving like dogs. This was strange, but he certainly wasn't going to complain. Just as the pressure in his lungs became noticeable and he started to worry about his air supply, there was a hint of light ahead. He increased his efforts, pushing downwards with all the power left in his straining muscles. He squinted to try and see better. There it was—a blue-green glow amidst a nest of seaweed. It sat on top of what looked like a coral reef. At this depth, it was bound to be something else. Then it hit him. This was the magical realm, not Tah'Nut, so a lot of the rules 80

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

that he was used to wouldn't apply here. It could very well be coral. Crap. He was beginning to babble in his own mind. His air was definitely starting to run out. He needed to hurry if he wanted to make it back to the surface without drowning. He moved as close to the object as possible, briefly wondering where the light came from, but deciding that it was a magical object and that he wasn't going to complain about being able to see it. It was a shell-shaped urn, which was green on the bottom and a swirling blue and white on top. He reached for it, grasping it with fingers that were beginning to go numb from the cold. Shit, he'd already been underwater for close to a minute, and he still had to make it all the way back to the surface. He pulled the urn close to his body and turned around, heading back to the surface. Needing one arm to hold the urn slowed him down a little, and he hadn't risen too far when the need to breathe became so urgent it hurt. He was still too far below the surface when his legs gave out. Fuck, he wasn't going to make it. Briefly wondering if the small urn he was holding would float to the surface if he let go, so that maybe Elryk could retrieve it and continue on his quest without him, he noticed that the sharks were coming closer. Oh, great, now that he was even weaker than before, they were going to eat him after all. Two of the large beasts swam alongside him. They pushed their noses under his arms, while a third one bumped his ass, 81

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

and kept pushing. All of them moved in concert, and they increase his speed to three or four times as much as he'd managed on his own. Amazing. He looked up. The surface was approaching at an alarming rate. Just before he thought they might catapult him completely out of the water they slowed down, nudging him ahead with a gentle push. He was still moving fast enough to shoot up, gasping for air his first priority once he broke the surface. He got hold of the raft with one clammy hand and held on for dear life. Made it! **** Elryk didn't like being left behind. He was the one who needed the pieces of the Magic Key so he could function again. Barely into the second challenge, he'd already had to let Kaythan do all the hard work. His mate had been reluctant to go into the water, Kaythan's wary looks had betrayed him. He hated that Kaythan had to risk his life for him, just because he'd lost his magic and couldn't seem to get it back unaided. Fuck! He hated feeling so powerless. Every second that Kaythan remained underwater seemed to last hours. Who knew how deep down that piece of the Magic Key was going to be? Would Kaythan be able to see it in the darkness? Was he going to be able to hold his breath long enough, and withstand the water pressure? What about sharks and other dangerous sea creatures? This might be an artificial ocean inside the magical realm, but there was sure 82

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

to be some sort of danger lurking underwater. He wanted Kaythan back and in his arms where the other man belonged, damn it! "Are you worried yet?" Alwiil's voice and gleeful grin grated on his already raw nerves. "Is that the point of this stupid exercise?" He wanted to yell at her, the universe and anything else that got between him and his mate. Tah', but he wanted Kaythan to be safe. "It's not an 'exercise.'" Alwiil shook her head and pointed at the raft. "It's a test of your willingness and ability to trust that your partner will do his part just like he trusts you to do yours. Only if you work together will you succeed." Elryk took a deep breath. Arith had said the same thing back at his tree house. Apparently, cooperation and trust between them really were crucial if they wanted to succeed. Plus, he was dealing with water magic here. Unlike earth magic, which was solid and stable, water magic was more flexible and fluid. He was going to need it as part of his arsenal, so he better learn how to deal with it. "As annoying as it is right now, you're right, of course." Elryk sighed. "But it's hard to sit here and know that my mate might be in danger. Not knowing what is going on and not being able to help him is killing me." "He's your mate? You are bonded?" Alwiil raised her eyebrows. "Yes. We've only recently met and found out." Elryk shrugged. "We haven't had much time to solidify the mate bond, so that makes it a lot harder to deal with this situation." 83

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"I see what you mean." Alwiil giggled. "What's so funny?" Elryk was ready to strangle this creature. "It makes the whole point of this test even more valid." Alwiil stared at him. "If you two are going to share your lives successfully, you'll need more than the stability of your mate bond to rely on. Just as earth magic is the easier type of magic to deal with, having the stability of the mate bond to rely on is the easy part of the relationship." "You mean because the bond is already there, like the ground under our feet?" Elryk tilted his head, paying close attention to the guardian. "Yes, that's exactly what I mean." Alwiil nodded enthusiastically, her green hair bobbing in the water all around her. "You'll always have that to fall back on. What water magic will give you is an ability to give and take, to let responsibility flow back and forth between you. It'll strengthen the bond by making it less susceptible to breaking from any strain that's put on it." "So there is a link between all the types of magic and our mate bond?" Elryk's eyes widened. He'd never even thought about it. Not that he'd had an abundance of time for contemplation lately. "There always is. Historically, the vast majority of mate bonds have involved a wizard, and the type of wizard largely determined the type of bond." Alwiil grinned. "Bonds involving lightning wizards have always been more interesting, since lightning magic is more volatile. It also includes aspects of all the other types of magic, so the relationship is usually more 84

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

varied. From what I can see, your bond with Kaythan seems to be no exception." And with that, the vexing mermaid waved at him and vanished into the depths. Typical! Just when the discussion was getting interesting, the person you were trying to get information from took off. At least she'd given him something to think about. Elryk returned his attention back to the raft, remembering Alwiil's warning about it dissolving. Kaythan had been gone for more than a minute, and to Elryk's horror, the raft began to fade at the edges, dissolving into thin air just like the guardian mermaid had 'promised' it would. He called up the earth magic within him and tried to coax the wooden logs into growing back for him. It was hard work and when the wood finally reacted, he was so relieved that he almost lost his focus. Sweat soon beaded on his brow and when he noticed first one, then two more shark fins circling the raft, a full-out panic was imminent. How was Kaythan going to make his way back up onto the raft without being attacked, or worse, eaten? Elryk's heart beat so fast he was about to lose it. A loud splash right next to him made him jump and he lost his magical hold on the logs. Kaythan was back! Gulping for air and shaking from the exertion, his mate clung to the dissolving raft with the shaking fingers of one hand. In the other, he held a shell-shaped urn, which was a deep green on the bottom and a swirling blue and white on top. "Here." Kaythan coughed and held the urn up for him to take. 85

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"Come on up." Elryk held out a hand, focusing on keeping at least the logs under Kaythan's hand from vanishing. "No time." Kaythan shook his head, dislodging rivulets of seawater from his drenched hair. "Get the water magic back, then we can worry about me getting up on the raft." Not too sure they'd have time to worry, he took the urn, eying the sharks warily. There were at least seven of the great beasts. "Don't worry about them." Kaythan brought his second hand up to help him hold on while he regained his breath. "They actually helped me." "Helped you?" Elryk was distracted from the cool urn for a moment. "Yeah, they helped push me back up to the surface when I started to run out of air. I don't think I would've made it without them." Kaythan smiled. Huh. Would wonders never cease? The sharks were giving Kaythan a wide berth, circling the raft like guard dogs or something. The creaking logs reminded Elryk that he had a job to do and he sat back, cradling the urn in his hands as if he was holding water. Within seconds the top half of the urn sprang open and revealed a deep blue pearl. The pearl started glowing and the whole shell-shaped urn dissolved into a bubbling fount of quickly dissolving beauty. The water magic gurgled up from his cupped hands and flowed over the rim flooding his entire being. Water magic poured into him, stroking the back of his neck like waves 86

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

lapping a beach. It almost swept him away, it was so powerful. Elryk absorbed all it had to give, smelling salt and brine, feeling warm sand caress his feet and hearing a lake ripple against a rocky shore. Like with the earth magic, after a while the imagined perceptions faded and he returned to reality. His hands were empty and the urn was gone. So was the creaking of the logs he sat on. When he looked to check, the edges had stabilised. The surface of the ocean was quiet, and there was an almost naked Kaythan in the water, looking up at him with lust in his blue eyes. He grasped Kaythan's hands and pulled him up onto the raft with him, holding him tightly in his arms for a moment. "I'm making you all wet." Kaythan's voice was soft. "Doesn't matter." He slid a hand behind his mate's head, pulling back so he could look into his eyes. "I missed you and I worried about you and now I need to kiss you." Kaythan smiled and licked his lips before he moved closer to touch Elryk's mouth. Kaythan's lips were cool at first, but as he nibbled along Elryk's lips that quickly changed. Elryk responded by sucking his mate's lower lip inside his mouth, enjoying the salty taste from the ocean water. He followed it up with an exploration of Kaythan's lips, then his tongue. Kaythan sighed and melted into him, sliding his legs over Elryk's thighs and moving closer until their groins touched. Elryk went from half hard to a full-blown erection in seconds.

87

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"Yes!" He slid his free hand down Kaythan's naked back, enjoying the feel of the slick skin under his fingertips. "Please." He followed the curve of Kaythan's back all the way down, moving his hand inside the other man's briefs to caress his ass. Pressing their groins more closely together, he started rocking back and forth to get the friction and pressure he wanted. Kaythan slid his arms around Elryk's shoulders and deepened the kiss as he responded with corresponding motions of his own. They soon found a rhythm, the raft rocking on the water helping them along. It was a slow, sensual build of arousal that made him gasp with pleasure. Not even the fact that he was still fully clothed could stop him from enjoying the feeling of Kaythan in his arms. He pulled back from the kiss and looked into Kaythan's eyes as the pleasure began to crest. Kaythan's eyes widened as his hips started jerking in release. Elryk couldn't hold back any longer and let go. Wave after wave of ecstasy travelled through his entire body until he had no more to give. He dropped his forehead onto Kaythan's shoulder and held on until he'd caught his breath. Hearing Kaythan's breathing slowing down and feeling the other man's chest against his, gave him great satisfaction. At least they were in this together. "That was different." Kaythan grinned as he lifted his head and placed a short kiss on Elryk's lips. "Nice." Elryk wasn't quite ready to return to reality. 88

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"Yeah, except the slight mess we made." Kaythan pointed at their groins. "Let me see what I can do about that." Elryk grinned. "After all, this water magic has to be good for something." He focused on the stickiness inside their underwear and wove a spell that he hoped would wash it all away. His crotch was nice and clean immediately. "Wow." Kaythan touched himself, as if to check that everything was as it should be. "That's pretty amazing." "You liked that?" He grinned. They could probably enhance their love life with all kinds of different magic. That was as much time as they were given. From the corner of his eye, he saw a tidal wave appear on the horizon and he suspected their time in the second chamber was up. He barely had time to grab Kaythan's clothes before there was a roar similar to that made by a giant waterfall and the quickly disintegrating raft vanished completely. Just before they were swallowed by the shark filled waters, the giant wave enveloped them, lifting them up into the sky. With a final blue flash and a last gurgle, it was gone. Elryk sighed. They were now precariously perched on the top of a high rock arch so thin that he was amazed it was able to support their weight. To make matters worse, a wind strong enough to blow them off their exposed position was coming from the south. [Back to Table of Contents]

89

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

Chapter Six **** Kaythan sensed Elryk's unease with the height they'd been deposited at. His mate's eyes were wide and his breath came in short gasps. Come to think of it, Elryk hadn't been really comfortable at Arith's place up above the ravine, either. Kaythan tightened his embrace and bent his head for a kiss to distract his man. Scorching heat met Kaythan's lips and Elryk clung to him as they caressed each other's tongues with slow strokes. He let his hands roam up and down Elryk's spine, loving the feeling of muscles bunching in response to his movements. Elryk had placed his hands flat against Kaythan's shoulder blades and held on. The skin-to-skin contact on his back reminded him that he was still half naked and he pulled back reluctantly. "I should probably get dressed before the next guardian shows up." He grinned into Elryk's lust-filled eyes. "Or before this damned wind blows us off into the depths." Elryk nodded and looked around. "Air magic was never my strong suit. And being as high up as we are now makes me fundamentally uncomfortable. I don't like that the wind seems to be getting stronger. It feels like it's trying to make sure we fall to our deaths." "I know what you mean. I'm like that with water." Kaythan buckled his belt, trying not to blush with the embarrassment. 90

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"I thought I sensed some reluctance in you when we started talking about who should dive for the piece of the Magic Key." Elryk frowned. "But you never even hesitated to be the one to dive into the ocean." "I knew it was the only sensible solution." He shrugged as he slipped on his boots. "Besides, I'm not going to let an old fear run my life." "You're more courageous than I am." Elryk pointed at the thin, rock arch beneath them. "That? Just scares the hell out of me. It doesn't even look substantial enough to hold up on its own, never mind with our added weight." Just then there was the sound of rock crumbling and when Kaythan peeked down, a few tiny fissures had appeared in the surface they sat on. As if in response, the wind got stronger, starting to howl with the force of the air currents around the arch structure. "Great. Another test with a time limit." Elryk trembled. "All right, let's consider our options." Kaythan tried to sound calm. "Not that there are many. I think the only thing we can do is climb down as quickly as we can. It looks far too high to attempt jumping off." "I agree with the not jumping part. Since I don't have my air magic back yet, I won't be able to break our fall by making us float. So we'll have to climb. Oh, and you forgot to mention that we need to find the third part of the Magic Key while we're at it." Elryk went even paler as the fissures creaked and widened a little more. "Good point." Kaythan scratched his head. "Maybe the first thing you should try is using some of that earth magic to 91

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

stabilise this rock? It worked with the raft, so maybe it'll be effective here as well?" "I can do that." Elryk closed his eyes and mumbled a few words. Kaythan stared at the fissures. They didn't vanish, but the creaking stopped. They also weren't getting wider anymore. "Did it work?" Elryk's eyes remained tightly closed, his hands fisted. "To a degree." He did his best not to laugh at his mate's sudden fear. It was so irrational that it was hard for him to see it as justified. But then, as he well knew, fear wasn't always rational. "Do I want to know what that means?" Elryk's eyes remained shut and the man wasn't moving except to breathe. "It means that you seem to have stopped the fissures from getting larger, but they're still there." Kaythan put a hand on Elryk's arm. "While we seem to have a little break, can you try and use your magic to sense where this piece of the Muyd'Zel is hidden? I think it might be easier to sense things that are farther away than it will be once we're at ground level. I'm not holding my breath for your repairs to hold, but we should have a few minutes." Elryk raised his eyebrows, still without so much as peeking through his eyelashes. He nodded and remained still for a few minutes. He turned his head this way and that as if to try and orient himself. Kaythan was about to say something when Elryk's eyes opened. 92

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"It's over there." Elryk pointed at a rock formation a few hundred feet away. "On the very top of it, of course." It had the shape of a column and looked about half as high as their arch. Who came up with these hiding places? It would be extremely hard to climb up the sheer walls of the smooth looking structure. As if in response to his internal complaint, the rock underneath them started fissuring again and the wind's strength turned up another notch. "Time to leave." Kaythan gripped Elryk's hand. "I'll be with you every step of the way. Just follow me down and you'll be fine." "Okay." Elryk swallowed, and his hand was shaking, but he didn't hesitate to follow Kaythan down one of the legs of their arch. The rise was a good fifty feet, so the incline wasn't too steep. Erosion had left enough cracks and holes that now served as hand and foot holds. They had just left the top part, which was the thinnest, when the creaking and rumbling sounds started up again. Small pieces of rock fell the four hundred or so feet to ground level, blown in all directions by the howling storm. Elryk froze above him, the other man's entire body pressing into the rock. Elryk was shaking. "I think we need to keep moving. I'm not sure how much of this is going to remain in one piece once the whole upper part starts collapsing." He reached up and locked a hand around one of Elryk's ankles to steady the other man. The body contact seemed to relax his mate, and Elryk nodded as he started moving again. They were still about two 93

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

hundred feet above ground level when the top part of the arch collapsed with a thunderous noise. The entire structure shook, but the supporting columns remained upright and undamaged. The rest of the climb down happened in silence. Elryk seemed too focused on moving without looking down too much and Kaythan didn't want to interrupt his mate's concentration. When they finally set foot on level ground, Elryk sank into his arms with a sigh. The other man's whole body still shook and Kaythan held on, stroking his back until he'd relaxed. The wind had miraculously stopped when their feet touched the ground. Wasn't that typical? "You did really well." He smiled at the pale face when Elryk pulled back to look at him as if to check that he meant it. "I couldn't very well show less courage than you did when you went on your dive." Elryk sighed. "But I'm glad it's over. For now." Kaythan followed the other man's gaze over to the column where the third piece of the Magic Key was hidden. Elryk was right. They'd still need a way to make it up there. "First things first." He took Elryk's hand and started walking. "We need to get over there and then we'll deal with our next problem." They walked in silence for quite a long time. "Is it just me or does that rock pillar seem to be just as far away from us as when we started?" Kaythan frowned, shading his eyes against the glare of the sunshine to try and make a more accurate estimate of their progress. 94

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"It does seem as if we haven't made any progress at all." Elryk sighed and sat down on one of the many smaller boulders lying around all over the place. "It makes a weird sort of sense, now that I think about it." "Huh?" This, he wanted to hear. "Since we're dealing with air magic, one of the ways the piece of the Magic Key can be hidden is height. Which is the obvious one, and that has quite clearly been used. But, there is another thing air magic can achieve, and that is a mirage." Elryk frowned. "In this case, I can sense the object we're looking for, so we know it's there. I think there's an additional layer of protection, the mirage, which, because it's magical, makes the column unreachable on foot." "So, however long we walk, we'll never get there?" Kaythan nodded. "It seems to me as if this task is a lot more difficult than the previous ones. I wonder whether that is part of the plan?" Before Elryk could respond, there was a mournful squawk, followed by a second, louder one. Kaythan raised his eyes. Two black vultures were circling above their heads. Their glowing red eyes looked like burning coals, their sharp beaks were the size of hand-span long daggers. They were at least as large as horses and the powerful whoosh-whoosh of their beating wings fanned foul smelling air towards him that made him retch. "Do you think they're the guardians of this place?" Kaythan sure hoped not. How were they going to get information from birds? 95

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"If they are, I think we're in deep trouble." Elryk swallowed. "We'll need to find a way to get them to help us." The vultures' squawks got louder. "Can you please help us get to that rock formation over there?" Elryk sounded polite and pleading. "Finally." The first bird's voice sounded scratchier than a needle on glass. "We were afraid you weren't going to figure it out." "We weren't allowed to help you until you spoke to us. The other contestants never figured that out, which is why we were a little late." The second bird came closer, hovering right over Elryk while the first one came to hover over Kaythan. "Now that you have spoken to us, there's nothing to stop us." "There are other contestants?" Kaythan didn't like the sound of that. Hearing that the Xoh'kas might try to get into the temple of Tah'Muyd, and being confronted with evidence that they had apparently succeeded, was a different matter. "Yes, but they broke the rules. They jumped straight into this third chamber instead of starting with earth magic." The first bird shook its head. "Unfortunately, what little we've heard about the Xoh'kas is consistent with cheating and being too arrogant to talk to mere birds. We don't think they stand a chance of making it very far, not with an attitude like that." Not that they need to collect all the pieces anyway. Getting hold of one would be enough to stop him and Elryk in their tracks. "Nysat warned us that the Xoh'kas were combing through the historical records to try and find hints about where the Magic Key might be hidden and how to find it." Elryk went 96

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

white as a sheet. "Shit, that means we have even less time to lose. If they managed to break into the third chamber, they might be working on the last two as we speak." "Time to go, then." Kaythan looked up at the bird above him. The stench was almost too much to bear, but there was no alternative. "Grab onto our feet and we'll fly you where you need to go." Both birds lowered themselves far enough so Kaythan and Elryk were able to reach their talons. Elryk gripped his with determination written all over his face. The bird gripped back. "Please, don't let me fall." Elryk closed his eyes and the bird took off. Kaythan grabbed his bird's feet and they followed. **** Elryk's whole body shook so hard that he was afraid he was going to lose his grip on the bird's talons. Luckily, the bird held onto him as well, so a mishap was less likely. Still, he wasn't at all comfortable with this mode of transportation. When his feet finally touched the ground again, he opened his eyes only long enough to make sure he didn't collapse into an abyss or was close enough to the edge of the rock pillar to be in danger of rolling off. But the bird had deposited him safely at the very centre of the stone column. He forced his hands to let go of the bird's feet and crumpled into a relieved heap. Kaythan's warm arms came around him, lifted him up and cradled him against the other man's muscled chest. Listening 97

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

to his mate's strong heartbeat calmed him down a little. He took steadying breaths until he felt more like himself again. He opened his eyes and saw smiling deep blue ones gazing back. "Are you okay?" Kaythan lifted a hand and caressed his cheek, then he slid it into Elryk's hair and massaged his scalp. "I am now." He almost closed his eyes again so he could enjoy the caring movements of his mate's hands. They helped him settle his stomach and calm his nerves in equal measure. Just what he needed. "That was the scariest thing I've ever done in my life." "You did well." Kaythan looked across to the circling birds. "Thank you for your help." "You are welcome." Both birds replied in unison, then turned and flew away, wings heaving. Thank Tah' they took their stench with them. "Okay, time to add some air magic to my repertoire." He kissed his mate on the cheek, reluctantly turning his attention to finding the exact location of the next piece of the Magic Key. At the very edge of the flat-toped stone pillar they'd been deposited onto, a white cloud floated at about shoulder height. Nestled into the top of the cloud sat a small golden cage with a glowing, multi-coloured feather inside. He walked over to the cloud and reached for the cage. The cloud moved farther away from the pillar, and was now suspended high above the ground, almost out of his range. He swallowed. If the blasted thing moved again when he 98

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

reached for the cage, he wouldn't be able to get to it unless he jumped. Not a good idea. How in Tah's name was he going to stop the stupid cloud from moving without having any air magic? All he had was earth and water—hold on! Clouds were partly made of water. He grinned. Problem solved. Elryk carefully wove a spell that would push the water globules in the cloud back towards a position directly above the rock pillar. Then he released the spell, and the cloud began to move back towards him at the slowest pace imaginable. But at least it was moving in the right direction this time. He kept up his focus and, thankfully, the cloud kept moving. Finally, it was back where it had been before. He grabbed the little cage and watched the cloud dissolve into a few drops of water that fell onto the rock, making a tiny puddle. He turned around and walked back towards his mate. "I'm very proud of you." Kaythan opened his arms for him and he sat down in his mate's lap, his back leaning against the other man's strong chest. He wiggled a little until he was comfortable. Kaythan groaned, and he grinned. He couldn't wait for all this magic stuff to be sorted so he could finally make love to his mate like he wanted to. Long and slow. Or fast and intense. He didn't mind which, as long as they didn't have to hurry or fear an interruption for once.

99

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"Only two more types of magic to go after this." Kaythan grumbled and held onto his hips, stopping him from moving. "And then your sweet ass is mine." "Oh Tah'. That's supposed to help me focus?" Elryk's stomach fluttered and his groin was suddenly tight. "No, dearling, it's supposed to make you stop wiggling." Kaythan slid his arms around Elryk's middle, making him shiver with anticipation. "If you don't stop moving, I may not be able to wait." "Oh, shit, you make me want." Elryk turned his head for a kiss. At least he could have one of those, right? He only pulled back when he ran out of air. He was also about to come in his pants, and needed to calm down before it was too late. Kaythan's erection pushed against his ass from below and that didn't help, either. "Soon." He smiled at his mate whose pupils were dilated with lust. "Soon your ass is going to be mine, just as much as mine's going to be yours." Kaythan's eyes widened but he didn't say anything. Then a slow grin spread across his face and he nodded. That looked like a promise that could keep him going for a while. Elryk opened the little cage and pulled out the feather. It started to vibrate as if stroked by a strong wind and dissolved into a fine mist that hovered in front of his face. The air magic wafted into his nose and made its way into his lungs like a breath of pristine air. It was as quiet and soft as the earth magic had been strong and the water magic had been overwhelming. 100

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

He absorbed all it had to give, first feeling a soft breeze against his cheek then a strong storm against his back. After a short while, the imagined sensations faded and he returned to reality. His hands were empty and the mist was gone. A feeling of lightness and hope flooded him. If he hadn't known better, he'd have thought he'd grown wings and was now able to fly. Whether it was because they'd been successful so far, or whether it was an additional effect of having absorbed the air magic, he wasn't sure. He turned around so his legs straddled Kaythan's thighs. All the magic in the world wouldn't have been able to distract him from wanting to kiss the other man, rub himself all over his skin and lick every inch of his body until he knew the taste of his mate as well as he was beginning to know his look and the sound of his voice. He dipped his head to bury his nose in Kaythan's neck. The male scent of him, lightly tinged with sweat after their exertions, went straight from his nose to his balls. "I want you." Kaythan's arms tightened around his middle. "Tah', but I want you, too." He lifted his head to look into Kaythan's eyes. His mate's pupils were dilated with lust. A quick look around indicated no further danger for the moment. Maybe there was a little time for them to strengthen their bond before they needed to tackle the next task? They'd surely need that if they wanted to keep going. And what better way than to try and see what air magic could do for them? 101

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"Will you close your eyes for me?" He put his hands on Kaythan's shoulders with the lightest possible touch. Kaythan's eyes widened and he nodded. With a small smile, he obeyed. Closing his own eyes so he could focus on the spell, he conjured up a soft breeze. When it was as tame as it was going to get, he let it touch Kaythan's forehead, then his eyes, his cheeks, his jaw. It had become an extension of his hand, and he was able to feel Kaythan's skin under his fingertips almost as if he were actually touching the other man. "Nice." Kaythan's voice sounded a little rough. Elryk grinned and let the breeze caress Kaythan's collarbones and shoulders underneath his tunic, then his chest and nipples. He strengthened the breeze to wind level when he let it touch Kaythan's nipples, and the other man sucked in a sharp breath. Elryk let the breeze wander farther down Kaythan's stomach, circling the flat abdominal muscles, then let it travel along the crease between his groin and thigh. Down the right leg, across the perineum, and back up the other side. During the second round, he centred the wind on Kaythan's balls, circling them in slow movements as he strengthened the wind to storm level. "Fuck, that feels good." Kaythan's head fell back between his shoulders, and his breathing deepened and sped up. When Elryk let the little storm travel from the base to the tip of Kaythan's cock, the other man's hips jerked. Letting the agitated air circle Kaythan's glans a few times, dipping into the little slit on occasion, made his mate pant. 102

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"Please!" Kaythan's grip on his hips tightened and the other man's thighs trembled with the effort of holding back. Elryk changed the airflow so that it was circling like a tornado. He kept the strength the same, not wanting to injure his lover, and slid it downwards, making him gasp as it enveloped his whole cock from base to tip. "Fuck." Kaythan's hips started bucking and Elryk held on for the ride. He slowly strengthened the air hose further and stated moving it up and down along Kaythan's length to give his man the friction he needed. "Elryk!" With a final thrust, Kaythan came. His cock pulsed ropes of semen straight into the air hose, his face a mask of pleasure. Elryk made the air absorb the liquid and gradually lessened the strength of the wind until it vanished back into thin air where it had come from. "Wow." Kaythan opened his eyes and kissed Elryk on the mouth with his hot lips. "That was amazing!" Elryk was so hard he almost came from the kiss. Kaythan slid a hand between them, opened Elryk's pants and gripped his cock in a tight fist. All he could do was arch his back and thrust a few times. He screamed as his balls tightened and sprayed his own release all over Kaythan's hand. He trembled as the aftershocks kept coming with Kaythan holding onto his cock as he loosened his grip. Tah' that felt good! He looked at his grinning mate and kissed him back. 103

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"Thank you." Using more air magic, the mess was quickly cleaned up. Using magic like this was definitely fun. He was barely done when a gigantic tornado appeared on the horizon. It was huge, dark, and looked threatening even from this distance. It approached their position faster than any of its kind should be able to move. Some of the smaller rocks, then increasingly larger ones, were lifted into the air as came closer and closer. It soon covered half the sky, obscuring the sunlight. The howling noise as it came closer made his eardrums hurt. There was nowhere to go. He could only hope this was going to somehow transport them to the next chamber. If it wasn't, they would surely die. He slid his arms around Kaythan and held on as his mate returned the favour. At least they were together. The wind buffeted them, pushing them towards the edge of the rock pillar. That didn't look good. He started to call up his air magic, to try to keep them from falling to the ground, at least. When they went over, tumbling down, Elryk was ready. But they didn't fall far. Instead, they were suddenly surrounded by immense heat. They were inside a cave. It was fairly large, with a few alcoves and a couple of boulders and smaller stones lying around, but otherwise empty. It was also dark, but orange and red flames danced on the surface of a lake of magma to their left. The heat was almost unbearable and sweat ran down his back in little rivulets within a minute. [Back to Table of Contents] 104

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

Chapter Seven **** Kaythan shivered despite the heat. He didn't like fire or anything even remotely connected to it. It was a destructive force he'd seen used by the Law Forces far more often than he cared to remember. The heat and smoke coming towards them from the magma lake got to him on a subliminal level. Fear coiled tightly in his belly. Fire was dangerous and relentless, and fire magic was probably going to be the same. He fought his fear back as best he could, knowing that he needed to be there for Elryk and whatever trial was next. It made it a little easier to stare at the magma without panicking, but he'd never be comfortable here or anywhere linked to fire magic. Elryk turned around but remained in Kaythan's lap. It made the heat's effects worse, sweat running from every pore of both their bodies, but Kaythan loved having his mate this close. A little more sweat was a small price to pay. He found that he liked Elryk all sweaty. He grinned. He was beginning to realise that he wasn't able to resist the other man, no matter what. Not that he really wanted to, but an elemental attraction like this took some getting used to. Elryk had just given him one of the most amazing orgasms ever, but he was ready to go again. Insatiable was what the other man made him. 105

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

He bent his head down for a kiss. No different from any other time their lips touched, the passion between them rose very quickly. The sweet taste of Elryk's mouth drove Kaythan's arousal higher with dizzying speed. He licked and nipped at his lover's lips before delving inside to stroke and caress his tongue. Elryk responded with a moan and melded his body against Kaythan's as if trying to become one with him. Kaythan pulled him closer and slid his hand between their sweat-covered bodies, down along Elryk's flat abdomen. Touching his mate's skin with as much of his flattened hand as possible, he made large circular movements on the other man's belly that let his hand come ever closer to the other man's groin. The erection that was beginning to be visible through Elryk's pants was very tempting. Holding back for a little while longer would make them both appreciate the first touch more, so he restrained himself. A loud hissing sound from the direction of the magma lake made them sit up straight. Fuck! They were here to accomplish a task, not make out like younglings at every opportunity. He looked to his left, following Elryk's gaze towards the middle of the lake made of liquefied stone. Right in its centre, a small flame flickered into existence above the surface as they watched. It soon came closer. Changing colour through the entire range of smouldering purple via several reds to a bright orange that was almost yellow, it grew more massive as it approached. About the size of a large dog by the time it arrived at the rocky bank, it stopped as if it could see them. 106

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"Wow, a fire imp." Elryk's voice was low and respectful. "They're extremely rare. None have been seen for several years, and some wizards have come to believe they're extinct. They're also extremely temperamental, so it makes a perfect guardian for this place." "This isn't a place." The fire imp's voice hissed and crackled like a log fire inside a large oven. Maybe contained and under control for now, but always ready to escape its confines and cause havoc if you didn't watch it carefully. "This is the fourth chamber of the temple of Tah'Muyd and you will show the appropriate respect or suffer the consequences." "I meant no disrespect." Elryk bowed deeply, thankfully without moving out of Kaythan's lap. "We're new to this realm, and in dire need of your help." "Why should I help you?" The fire imp flamed more brightly. "You are intruders here." Kaythan almost grinned. It acted like a small animal trying to puff itself up so it looked more dangerous. "We're trying to stop some truly unscrupulous people from stealing even more magic than they already have." Elryk swallowed and wiped the sweat from his brow. "You may not feel the effects yet, because this chamber is isolated and somewhat protected, but if we don't find a way to prevent them from taking more, the magic balance on Tah'Nut will be damaged beyond repair. I have agreed to help restore it, but cannot do it without the magic I lost a few years ago. I now need to retrieve it and can only do this by finding and absorbing the pieces of the Muyd'Zel." 107

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"All right, your cause is worthy. I will give you that." The fire imp's colour changed from a bright orange to a duller red. "However, I do not yet see what's in it for me if I help you find and retrieve what you're looking for." "Why you..." That was as far as Kaythan got before Elryk's elbow made contact with his stomach. "Ouch!" "Please." Elryk's eyes pleaded with him. "Don't make it angry." "I didn't mean to." Kaythan hung his head. He'd never been this impulsive. Maybe it was the new mate bond, or maybe he was just getting irritated from sweating buckets. He turned towards the fire imp and bowed from the waist like he'd seen Elryk do. "I'm sorry for insulting you." "You are forgiven." The fire imp turned a bright red. "This time. However, I'm still waiting to find out why I should consider helping you." "What would you like us to do for you?" Kaythan needed to make up for his earlier gaffe. Elryk looked at him with approval in his eyes, which was a great reward that made him feel a lot better. "I'm bored. There's nothing to do around here." The fire imp shrank and turned purple. "It gets very lonely, too." "I can see how a cave filled with magma isn't very exciting. It must become boring over time." Elryk looked around the rock cavern. "So, what would you say if I gave you something to play with?" "You would do that?" The fire imp grew back to its earlier size and went from purple to red in a heartbeat. "If you help us—sure." Elryk smiled. 108

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"Yes, yes, I'll help you. I'll do anything if you give me something to do around here." The fire flickered wildly. "Please, let me see." "Okay, hold on. I haven't used magic for a long time and have only started again recently. This may take awhile." Elryk made a move as if to get up. "Don't leave." Kaythan pulled him back, close against his body. He wasn't too happy about all the magma and heat around them. It was irrational since Elryk could probably take care of himself, but keeping his mate close to him made him feel better. At least it gave him the illusion of being able to protect the other man should it become necessary. "You're not worried I'll hurt you if the magic goes wrong?" Elryk wiped more sweat from his face. "You'd never hurt me." Kaythan kissed Elryk's nose, loving the slightly salty taste from the other man's sweat that stuck to his lips. "And nothing will go wrong with your magic. It was fine when you repaired the raft, you used it perfectly for cleaning us up in the water chamber. And need I mention your expert usage in the air chamber? I'm still tingling from that one." "You are, huh?" Elryk blushed, but he grinned. "Yeah, that was truly inspired!" He grinned back and squeezed his mate. "After that much practice, it'll be fine, whatever it is you're planning to do." "If you're sure..." Elryk smiled when Kaythan nodded. "Okay, here we go." Elryk stared at one of the alcoves for long moments, then started to move his hands in slow, graceful gestures. He 109

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

closed his eyes and a deep humming sound poured from his chest. Kaythan kept watching the alcove and blinked when the air seemed to shift, followed by a low shimmer, then a fog and finally what looked like a castle made from folded paper sheets. Wow. This magic stuff would never get old. Elryk sighed and opened his eyes. "There you go, fire imp." Elryk sagged back against Kaythan's chest. "You can play with this as much as you want. Singe it, char it, or burn it, it will always return with a new challenge after you're done." "Really?" The fire imp perked up and moved towards the artfully folded construction. After a moment of hesitation, it moved forward and completely engulfed the magically constructed object. With a loud whoosh the whole thing turned into a blaze of bright flames that was gone after a few seconds, leaving nothing but grey ashes behind. They rained down to the floor, leaving a grimy layer of dirt. The fire imp moved back, obviously waiting. As soon as it no longer touched the edge of the alcove, the ash vanished and a stack of twigs, thicker branches and a few large logs appeared from thin air. Jumping up and down with glee the fire imp moved closer until it enveloped the material. Crackling flames licked along the logs, caressing them like a lover's hand. The twigs burst into flame and were almost gone by the time the first branches caught fire. Once those were aflame in turn, the logs started turning black and the first wisps of smoke rose towards the ceiling. Finally, a sea of 110

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

flames engulfed the logs until they crumpled and finally turned to ashes. The fire imp moved back again, already jumping up and down in expectation of what was next. When a wooden rack appeared, that had several pieces of clothing hanging from it, the fire imp hissed at it as if it were a flamethrower. The flare-up lasted a little longer than the one based on paper, and the wood took a while to destroy, but the alcove's floor was covered in a layer of ash very quickly. The fire imp tried out a few more objects. Some repeated after a while, but usually in different combinations. The ones with flame retardant materials were a big success, as were the ones with metal or other parts that just wouldn't burn down. Finally, the fire imp seemed to have played enough for the moment and moved away from its new toy. "Impressive." The guardian glowed a bright orange. "That is a worthy gift and I thank you for it. I will keep my promise and release this piece of the Magic Key to you before returning to my new favourite activity." "What do you want me to do?" Elryk seemed exhausted but sat up straight at the fire imp's words. "The piece of the Magic Key is hidden within my body." The fire imp flared brightly as if in pride. "You will need to reach inside me to retrieve it." "What?" Kaythan held Elryk more tightly. That—that thing had just burned several different types of material to cinders and now it was asking Elryk to put his hand inside what was obviously a very dangerous fire—or whatever it was? How 111

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

was his mate going to survive without serious injury? Was he expected to just stand by, let him go ahead, and say nothing? **** Elryk smiled when Kaythan's arms tightened around his middle after the fire imp had told them what to do. It looked as if his mate was worried for him. Maybe he even wanted to protect him. Not that the gorgeous man needed to be anxious, but it was nice to have someone care about what became of him. He hadn't had that basic level of selfless interest in his well being since he was five years old. Tears pooled in his eyes and he wiped them away quickly. This was the worst possible time for him to remember how his parents and little sister had died, their house struck by lightning on a perfectly sunny day. Lightning that he had caused because he was playing with his magic and had lost control. Sure, the counsellors they'd made him see had explained that it wasn't his fault, that he hadn't been trained and that accidents happened. But that hadn't lessened the guilt for a long time. And the pain was still there almost fifty years later. It was less intense than it had been, but nevertheless, he could still feel it clearly. He doubted that it would ever go way, no matter how long he lived. And, since he was a wizard, that was probably going to be several more centuries. "Elryk? What's wrong?" Kaythan's voice pulled him back to the present. "Nothing." He smiled at his worried-looking mate, trying to project a conviction he didn't feel. He wasn't sure he could 112

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

deal with Kaythan knowing what he'd done. He was beginning to care about the other man. His opinion mattered more to him than he wanted to admit. What if he told him the truth and his mate ended up hating him? "I have a hard time believing what you say when you look at me like that." Kaythan stroked his back slowly, the movement soothing him a little. "Like what?" Shit, had he given himself away? "Like you've lost something very important to you, something you'd give anything to have back. But you don't have a clue how to do it." Kaythan looked straight into his eyes, not willing to let this go. "I'm fine. You don't need to worry." He tried to sound convincing, but his voice broke. Seeing the compassion in his mate's eyes was too much for him to bear. He didn't want them to keep secrets from each other. If he expected Kaythan to be honest, he had to be prepared to give him the same in return. "Look, I can't force you to talk about something that's obviously bothering you a great deal. I'm just worried that it's linked to the fire magic and this next task. And if you're distracted by something, you might not be able to fully focus on whatever needs to get done." Kaythan's gaze was intense. How could he resist trusting the man? Even if this was one of Elryk's biggest secrets and a source for everlasting shame? The memories of his family's deaths weren't directly linked to fire magic, but they were linked to fire. The house burning down may have been caused by lightning, but its close companion, fire, had done the actual destruction. 113

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

What if Kaythan was right, and his being afraid or hesitant around fire would be a distraction? What if it was significant enough to cause him to fail? He couldn't afford to let that happen. So he told his mate the whole story, embarrassing tears rolling down his cheeks as he relived everything. The sounds of his family screaming and the scents of burning substances had been the worst. He'd been in the garden and hadn't seen much through his tears. He suspected that shock had muted many of the more detailed impressions that his five-year-old mind hadn't been able to deal with. When he was done, Kaythan still held him tightly, rocking them both gently to help him calm down. Even the fire imp was more subdued than it had been before. No hissing or crackling came from it and its colour remained a muted red throughout. When he'd cried himself out, Kaythan kissed away his tears, making him smile a little at the tenderness the other man was showing. He didn't seem to be angry or disappointed at all. It felt so good to be held by strong arms and accepted the way he was, despite the mistakes he'd made. "I'm sure they told you that it wasn't your fault, right?" Kaythan smiled sadly. "I know that it doesn't make your family come back, or your pain go away, but it should at least make you feel less guilty." "That's exactly what they told me. I just had a hard time believing it. Still do, actually." He sniffed and sat up, trying to pull himself together. "I guess I'll never know for sure." 114

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"But I do! I know for a fact that it couldn't have been your fault." The fire imp brightened slightly and grew a little larger. "What?" Elryk looked up so quickly his neck hurt. "How can you know anything about this?" "Just because I've been sitting here guarding a piece of the Muyd'Zel doesn't mean I'm stupid or have no idea what's going on." The fire imp was almost back to its initial level of indignation. "I didn't mean to imply that." Tah' but this fellow was sensitive. "I was just surprised that you're so certain that you know something about an event that is surely insignificant in the larger scheme of things." "Not as insignificant as you may think." The fire imp puffed itself up again. "Have you ever wondered why no other wizards under the age of ten have ever destroyed anything as significant as an entire house with their magic?" "Not even those who became Grand Masters later in their lives? They should have had power levels comparable to mine, right?" Elryk frowned. "You're right, most of them did. But any wizard's power level at that age is not sufficient to cause the destruction you were talking about. Even if they turn out to be very powerful wizards later on, nobody can do that sort of damage earlier in their lives. It simply isn't possible." The fire imp brightened its colour to light red, a sure sign of excitement. "Maybe they were all in better control of their powers. Maybe I was just slower to learn." He looked at the floor, afraid he wouldn't be sufficiently in control even now. 115

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"No, their being better at it than you at that age has nothing to do with it. The real development of magical powers doesn't start until about age twelve. Some experts believe it has something to do with how the body develops. That also means that very young wizards only need to learn a minimum of control. The real learning can only take place when they're old enough to have come into their powers and have gained the mental maturity to learn the control that is needed." The fire imp sighed. "You know all this, why do you pretend you don't?" "I was told that I was different." And how stupid did that sound? Well, it did with hindsight. "The testing was scheduled for a few weeks after my family's death. When I attended the Muyd'pol like all the other children my age, I was told that most of my lightning magic was gone. They thought I had lost it by expending too much at once, too soon. I guess it was the reason I wasn't killed by the Xoh'kas. They didn't see me as a threat. In a perverse way, it saved my life." "That alone should have told you that it was no coincidence!" The fire imp was now bright orange. "What?" He moved back against his mate, trying to grasp what the fire imp had just told him. "Isn't it obvious?" The fire imp started flickering in a range of colours, clearly agitated. "Someone wanted you alive and probably away from your parents' influence. So they set it up so that you'd take the blame for their deaths, at the same time making sure you survived by getting you away from the Xoh'kas. That also brought you under constant official guard in the orphanage, didn't it?" 116

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

He was too shocked to speak. "So who did this?" Kaythan's voice rumbled in his ear, helping him relax. "That—I don't know." The fire imp shrank to its normal size again. "But I'm sure they'll appear, either before you have collected all the pieces of the key, or right after. They have a vested interest in Elryk and his abilities." "Oh, shit." Just what he needed, more people interested in him and what he could do. This one sounded like an old and powerful enemy. "That makes it even more important that we complete this task as quickly as possible and keep our eyes open for anyone who wants to stop us." Kaythan kissed him on the cheek. "How do you want to do this? I'm still not happy about you reaching inside that fire." "Now that I have some of my magic back I can use it to protect me." Elryk grinned. "It's a good thing fire came towards the end." "Oh." Kaythan relaxed a little and tilted his head in thought. "I guess you could use water magic, right?" "Now you're thinking like a wizard." Elryk nodded. "I'll have to use a variation of water magic. I suspect that the heat inside the fire imp will be so intense that I'll need ice to protect my skin from burning." "Okay, I can see how that might make sense." Kaythan nodded. His mate finally let him go after squeezing him one last time. Elryk walked over to the fire imp. The air got warm, 117

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

then hot as he approached the flickering being. He stopped when he could feel its heat on his face. Focusing on his hands, he cooled his skin, then surrounded it with a thick layer of magic ice. Only then did he reach inside the fire imp. Elryk almost pulled back out immediately. The heat was still intense enough to burn his skin, even through the protection he'd conjured up. Strengthening the ice magic a little more he took a deep breath and focused on detecting the piece of the Magic Key. He smiled when he felt the tiny flame that was hidden in the very centre of the fire imp's body. That flame wasn't hot at all, it was nice and warm. He enclosed it inside his fist and pulled out his arm. Kaythan's eyes widened when Elryk sat back in his lap, the little flame dancing on the upturned palm of his now open hand. It started sparkling and soon covered his entire arm. The fire magic started engulfing Elryk's body, making him feel hot all over. It was wild and untamed, ravenous and almost playful. He absorbed all it had to give, feeling warmth, then heat, sink into him, smelling smoke and crumbling ashes under his feet. Red-hot passion flooded his veins and his breath sped up. After a few seconds the imagined sensations faded and he returned to reality. His hands were empty and the little flame was no more. "Goodbye my friends." The fire imp came closer, but instead of burning heat there was a soothing warmth that lulled them to sleep. 118

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

Elryk leaned his head against Kaythan's shoulder and closed his eyes. Why was he so tired all of a sudden? Surely they weren't supposed to fall asleep at this point in the race? There was another type of magic to regain, he was sure. What was it again? Fuck, why did his brain feel like molasses all of a sudden? Kaythan held him close as they drifted off. With a last flare, the flame vanished and just before Elryk fell asleep, the landscape around them changed. Barren desert surrounded them, a grey wasteland with some dead trees between the rocks and blackened bushes. [Back to Table of Contents]

119

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

Chapter Eight **** Kaythan twitched when the crackling tension travelled along his skin. It pinched and tweaked, making him feel jittery. All the little hairs on his body, especially those at the nape of his neck, stood up. What was going on? Was someone trying to shock him awake by using electricity on him? His eyes flew open. He'd fallen asleep? Crap! After they'd finished their task with the fire magic, surely they were supposed to have been transported into the fifth chamber of the temple of Tah'Muyd to obtain the last part of the Magic Key? But he couldn't seem to remember anything after Elryk had absorbed the little flame and all it held, and they'd fallen asleep in the fire imp's cave. He must have missed the transportation itself. He snorted. A fine bodyguard for his mate he was turning out to be, falling asleep on the job. This cold darkness certainly neither felt nor looked as if there was any warmth close by. So they must have been transported somewhere while they were sleeping. Just having awoken, his eyes had no trouble with the low light levels. There were skeletal remains of trees that looked like skinny ghosts reaching for the sky with long, scraggly arms. The charred and burned-looking bushes made him feel uneasy, and the only things available in abundance were 120

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

rocks and large boulders strewn across the desolate landscape. There were some hills and high mountains in the east, and a flat expanse of what might have been jungle or grassland stretched to the horizon in all other directions. Dark clouds rolled overhead, covering most of the sunlight, and an ice cold wind was blowing from what seemed like everywhere, changing direction every few seconds. What looked like the mother of all thunderstorms was approaching from the west. It seemed about ready to break. The very air around him felt tense and decidedly uncomfortable. Elryk was still asleep, snuggled against him. His mate's breath was shallow and fast. An occasional shudder went through his body. Kaythan knew the other man probably needed to rest as much as he did, but neither of them had that luxury right now. He put a hand on Elryk's shoulder and carefully shook him awake. They couldn't afford to lose more time than they already had. Who knew how much further the Xoh'kas had gotten in their attempt to sabotage them finding all the pieces of the Muyd'Zel while they'd slept? "What? Where?" Elryk sat up with a start, clinging to Kaythan's arm and looking around him in a near panic. "Shhh, it's okay." Kaythan stroked the back of Elryk's head while holding him close to his chest. "I don't think we were supposed to fall asleep, but we both did. It looks like we're in a new chamber, but I have no clue whether we're in the right place. It looks very remote and quiet strangely empty and completely desolate. No evidence of a guardian so far either." Elryk's dark eyes widened as he looked around more slowly to examine their new environment. 121

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"Tah', it's bleak enough here to depress anyone." Elryk rubbed the last remnants of sleep from his eyes and blinked a few times. "I thought I saw this devastation right before I fell asleep, but I must admit that I didn't believe it was real. It looked wrong. In fact, if this is the fifth chamber of the Tah'Muyd, something definitely isn't right." "You mean it shouldn't be like this?" Kaythan's entire body itched with the electricity or whatever it was that kept touching him. The first distant lightning bolt from the approaching thunderstorm lit up the sky and made him flinch. "Or do you mean that we're in the wrong place?" "I don't think we're in the wrong place. I can feel the lightning magic all over my body, so we're in the right chamber. But it shouldn't be this barren." Elryk shook his head as his eyes surveyed their immediate surroundings yet again as if staring at them could make them change. "Lightning is the spark that brings life. It's a positive elemental just like the other four when used correctly. The way this chamber looks makes it all about death and destruction. That's just wrong." "So this tingling and itching on my skin is what lightning magic feels like?" While he was relieved to find out what those strange sensations were, Kaythan still didn't like them. "It's almost like the feeling at the back of my neck when we were trying to ignore the mate bond, except this time it's all over my body." "You can feel it, too?" Elryk's eyes widened. "Now I know something is wrong. Non-wizards aren't supposed to be able to perceive magic. I've certainly never heard of one who did." 122

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

Screeching laughter suddenly surrounded them. It came from air that sizzled with static. Kaythan could feel some sort of presence, but whatever it was, it wasn't anything visible. He didn't like it at all. Not being able to see a potential enemy, or at the very least opponent, was not helpful. "Clever, clever wizard." The voice sounded like rumbling thunder about to crack in the air right above them. There was a scratchy undertone as well that made it very unpleasant to listen to. "Unfortunately for you, this brilliant deduction will not help you obtain the last piece of the Muyd'Zel." Yep, this must be another guardian. They'd been getting less helpful with each new chamber Elryk and he entered, but this one was positively unfriendly. He hadn't even shown himself. Another distant flash of lightning briefly brightened the doom and Kaythan shuddered. "So, what will help us find the last piece?" Elryk closed his eyes as he balled his fists. "Nothing." The cackling made Kaythan's head hurt. "You're far too late. The Xoh'kas were here a long time before you, and made me an offer I couldn't refuse. I released the last piece of the Muyd'Zel to them and they've taken it to a very safe place. Or they may have destroyed it. Not that I could care less." "Shit! I can't believe they managed to get in here." Elryk's eyes flew open. "That's the second time we know of that they've managed to breach a chamber without following the rules. I guess it's not impossible with the power of the entire Magic Council behind them, but still." 123

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"So how do we make up for the missing bit of the Magic Key?" Kaythan shivered when another thunder-like chortle rent the air. If he'd been able to see this guardian so he could get his hands on him, he would have strangled him. "I'm not sure what we even can do." Elryk's shoulders drooped. "Without the missing piece I have no idea how to get my full power back, never mind how to find the Muyd'Othar. And obviously the Xoh'kas are using the Magic Key as a weapon, even though it was never intended to be used like that. It does explain the desolation around us. Everything is out of balance, resulting in the destruction of what must have once been a very lush environment." Gleeful laughter seemed to accompany another flash in the distant west. Kaythan's unease grew. The thunderstorm that had been on the horizon when they first awoke was either getting a lot stronger or moving closer more quickly than he'd thought possible. Yep, they were in deep shit. "Don't worry, that lack of balance will be fixed soon." The guardian's voice changed into a shriek. "When the thunderstorm gets here it will kill both of you and once your life force is released, it will restore the balance of this chamber. Not that I really care, I'm finally leaving. Knowing that you are stuck here, well, until you die, at least, makes me extremely happy." "I don't like the sound of that." Kaythan fisted his hands. "I bet you don't. But without lightning magic, there is no way out of here for you. This fifth chamber works just like the others. Once Elryk absorbs the new type of magic, you're sent to the next chamber. With no magic left to absorb, you're 124

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

stuck here." More cackling made his ears hurt. "I'll leave you to it, then. Enjoy the last few minutes of your miserable lives." With a flash of lightning from straight above them, the immediate sense of tension stopped. The guardian seemed to have left. What a relief. "I'm glad he's gone. He didn't sound like he was going to help us anyway, so I think we're better off without him." Kaythan rubbed his arms. "Even if he comes back later, which it didn't sound like, I'll take what rest from his obnoxious presence I can. Why is he invisible anyway?" "Lightning can't be seen most of the time, so this guardian apparently doesn't have a visible body, either." Elryk's brow furrowed. "What are you thinking?" Kaythan scanned the darkening sky. "I hope you're about to figure out how to get us away from here. I don't like the look of that thunderstorm one bit. I'm pretty sure that we need to leave before it gets here or we may be in serious trouble." "I have no idea how to get us out of this chamber without lightning magic." Elryk rubbed his temples, then looked at the thunderstorm approaching from the horizon. "I think we need to get out of here or at the very least find shelter pretty quickly if we want to stand a chance at surviving the approaching threat." "It doesn't look like we can get out of the chamber for now. Finding shelter is a sensible alternative, though." He looked around them. Everything was flat and out in the open 125

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

around them. Much too exposed if the thunderstorm did hit them. "I guess the hills and mountains are our best bet?" "I agree." Elryk nodded and got up, looking towards the approaching thunderstorm as if to check its progress, then to the east to scout out the most likely place to search for shelter. Kaythan followed his mate's lead and they walked at a fast pace, the hills coming closer more quickly than he'd expected. They kept going until they reached the foot of the mountains maybe an hour later. The thunderstorm had come closer, but not by as much as he'd first feared. It looked as if they were in luck. Elryk had been quiet the whole time. He looked pale and exhausted. "Are you okay?" Kaythan paused with his examination of the rock face ahead of them to take a closer look at his overtired lover. "Just tired." Elryk's voice trembled, as did his hands. "Uh-huh." He took Elryk's hand, intending to give the other man some support. Touching each other had seemed to work well before. A bolt of energy shook him to his core. Something was definitely anything but all right. They needed to get to shelter as quickly as possible, so he could check out his mate, find out what was wrong with him. Elryk tried to smile, but his eyes rolled back in his head. His knees buckled, and he collapsed into Kaythan's arms. Lightning flashed across the sky, followed by thunder only moments later. Kaythan turned around and his eyes widened. 126

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

The darkest clouds had come closer in the last few minutes than they had during the last half hour. Crap! Elryk had probably used air magic to keep the thunderstorm at bay, expending all his energy on trying to protect them. No wonder the man had collapsed! He pulled Elryk's arm over his shoulder, put his other arm around Elryk's middle and half carried, half dragged his limp body towards the first hole in the rock that looked as if it might be a cave. The approaching thunderstorm at his back motivated him to hurry, but the first cave was too shallow to be useful. The second had too tight an entrance and the third was filled with sediment. Fuck! Lightning and thunder were now mere seconds apart and it had started raining. Little droplets at first, but it wasn't long before the rain became substantial. He trudged along, hoping he could make it to the fourth cave he'd seen not too far to his right. He could only hope that it was accessible and deep enough, or they'd be in even deeper shit. Stumbling into the opening, which was just large enough to let himself and Elryk enter, he was relieved to see that this cave was all he could have wished for. There wasn't much light, but it seemed deep enough to offer them protection. He used the flashes of lightning to orient himself. This cave would do. He kept Elryk to his left, and his right shoulder to the wall to help orient himself in the dark as he slid inside. He'd made it maybe ten paces when the rain started falling in earnest. Thunder and lightning were almost simultaneous and he was 127

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

more than grateful that they were protected. He went another few paces before sliding down to sit with his back to the wall. He'd been careful to take Elryk with him. He cradled his mate in his arms and rocked him back and forth. How was he going to help him recover? He kissed him because he needed to feel his lips, and Elryk took a deep breath. He kissed him again, this time lingering on the other man's mouth, and Elryk sighed, opening his eyes. Kaythan was overjoyed and kept kissing the other man until he sat up. "Thank you, I needed that." Elryk waved a hand, and a small fire started burning not too far from them, giving off warmth and light. "You mean that my kisses brought your energy back?" That was something he could live with. "Yeah, them and the mate bond in action." Elryk smiled, moving closer. "Thank you for taking good care of me while I was out." "I think you took an awful risk using magic to keep the thunderstorm from catching up with us." He tightened his embrace, wanting to be as close as possible to his lover. "I mean, I'm grateful you did, but I don't like what it did to you." "You figured that out, huh?" Elryk grinned. "Yes, I used air magic to hold back the clouds. I didn't have a choice, you know? I'm sorry I worried you, but I don't think it'll be the last time I use magic and scare you a little."

128

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"Probably not." He sighed. "So, how do we get out of this chamber? Ideally how to get your lightning magic back while we're at it?" "Well, I've been thinking about that..." Elryk turned around in Kaythan's arms to make eye contact. "This is a bit of a shot in the dark, but—remember how Arith explained that lightning wizards have a bit of all the other types of magic inside them? And how I would gain my magic back by absorbing all the other types first?" "Yes..." Kaythan got hard just from watching Elryk think. It was sexy as hell when his mate used his brain. "Well, I've got all the other types back now and have used them successfully already." Elryk ran a hand through his tousled hair. "And it's not like I haven't got any lightning magic at all. The potential is still inside me, it just isn't active right now. All it needs is a kick-start." "Ah, I can see where you're going with this." Kaythan grinned. "You're thinking that you can use the other types of magic to coax the missing one back to life, right?" "Basically, yes. But I don't think that's going to work on its own. If it did, the lightning magic would have already come back and we wouldn't be sitting here anymore. No, I think it'll need an external spark, some extra energy to work." Elryk blushed. Oh, that blush was cute. He grinned when he realised what Elryk was thinking. His grin made Elryk's cheeks even darker. "So you're suggesting..." Kaythan was going to make his mate say it. He decided he liked him even more when he was all flustered. 129

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"I'm suggesting..." Elryk swallowed. "You're going to make me say the words, aren't you?" "I just want to make sure there are no misunderstandings about this, dearling." Kaythan couldn't resist any longer. He cupped his mate's face between his hands and kissed him. "That's what I mean." Elryk closed his eyes and brought their lips back together, sinking into the kiss with obvious abandon. It made Kaythan forget all about his intention to make Elryk say what he wanted. His mate's body melted against him as they deepened the kiss. He was already getting hard and, by the feel of it, so was Elryk. It was a good thing they were sitting down. The harsh gasps and little moans Elryk made as Kaythan slid his tongue inside the other man's mouth drove his arousal higher by the second. The thunderstorm outside raging unabated and all their other issues were quickly forgotten as he slid his arm around Elryk's shoulder and lowered them to the cave's floor so he could take his time. A sharp rock poking him in his side, and another stabbing his hip, brought him back to reality. Crap. They were in the middle of the wilderness, not a soft surface in sight. And for what he had in mind, a soft surface would have been preferable. "This won't do." Elryk opened his eyes and frowned. With a quick movement of his hands there was a soft bed underneath them. Sheets, blankets and pillows included. "Huh." He grinned at Elryk's smug expression. "How did you know? Did you read my mind?" 130

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"No, I assumed that you flinched because little stones were poking you in places they had no right to go." Elryk rubbed his ass in an exaggerated gesture as he waggled his eyebrows. Kaythan laughed, liking his lover's sense of humour, which was apparently very close to his own. A bright flash outside and a booming clap of thunder startled him. He glanced towards the cave entrance. It was too dark to see anything outside the cave unless there was a flash of lightning, but from the sounds he heard, the rain was still falling in sheets. When he looked back at Elryk, his mate grinned and wordlessly bent over to take off his boots, followed by the rest of his clothes. The sight of the other man removing his clothes, revealing white skin with a hue of orange and red from the flickering fire, was too beautiful not to pay complete attention. When Elryk was naked, he lay down on the bed and looked at Kaythan expectantly. Kaythan's eyes were still riveted on Elryk's gorgeous body. Lightly muscled all over and well toned, Elryk attracted Kaythan like no other man ever had. His chest was almost hairless, his large red-brown nipples already erect. His gorgeous cock was hard and lay heavy on his flat belly, the dark, red head starting to leak pre-cum while Kaythan kept staring. Elryk grinned and lifted a hand, crooking his index finger at him in an unmistakable come-hither gesture. Kaythan had never shed his clothes so quickly. When he lay down next to his mate, he pulled him close so they were skin to skin. Elryk's arms slid around him in welcome and they kissed as if 131

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

they'd never kissed before. The passion that flared low in his belly grew into an overwhelming feeling of need to be as close to the other man as possible. Kaythan tingled from the top of his head to his curling toes from the tongue fucking his mate gave him. Intense, demanding and unbelievably arousing, Elryk's tongue explored every part of his mouth. Elryk's hands roamed across his back, stroking his flanks, then his ass cheeks, then returning along his spine to start their delicious journey all over again. The caresses went straight to his swollen cock and his balls started pulling up way too soon. Kaythan looked into Elryk's midnight-black eyes. More than passion shone back at him and he tried to swallow past the lump of emotion in his throat. He knew that his own eyes were in a very similar state. His feelings for this man were deepening by the hour. "I want you to take me, Kaythan." Elryk's voice was deep and husky from desire. "I want you to make me yours." "Tah', what you do to me." Kaythan's hips bucked involuntarily, his arousal almost painful. "It's totally mutual." Elryk smiled and turned onto his back, pulling Kaythan on top of him, pushing their cocks closer together. Kaythan moaned. When Elryk slowly spread and lifted his legs Kaythan put his hands next to his mate's shoulders and raised his hips a little. His cock slid past Elryk's heavy balls and along his crack. It opened as his mate rested his lower back on a cushion that had magically appeared out of thin air. The new 132

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

position let him slide his swollen cock between the spread ass cheeks. "Very cool." Kaythan grinned. "I can see how making love to a wizard has its advantages." Elryk slid his arms around Kaythan's upper body, placing his hands on his shoulder blades to pull him back down. Open lips and hot breath greeted him when he lowered his head. His cock head touched Elryk's opening and they both moaned into the kiss. "Take me, please." Elryk lifted his hips a little more and pushed up. "I'm so ready for you." With a sigh Kaythan thrust inside the tightest, hottest space his cock had ever been in. It was probably magic lube that made entry so easy. Not that he really cared at this point, it just felt fantastic. Elryk's muscles hugged and massaged his cock as he kept pushing more deeply inside. Elryk's eyes widened but didn't show any pain as Kaythan continued until he was balls deep inside his mate for the first time. He stopped to try and get his raging lust under control. His arms trembled with the effort of holding himself up. His legs weren't much better off. His entire body was tense from the strain of trying not to move before Elryk was ready for him. "Fuck." He wasn't going to last very long. "Please!" Elryk nodded and clenched his muscles around Kaythan's already aching cock, making him want to thrust with everything he had.

133

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

With a deep groan he pulled almost all the way out before pushing back in. The air left his lungs in a rush. He was sure that he was going to fly apart into a million pieces. "Oh, yes." Elryk panted, trying to get him closer. "Just like that." Kaythan moved to his elbows so he could hold Elryk's face between his hands and started to move. He fused their lips in a kiss, his tongue imitating the thrusts of his lower body. The pressure around his cock was incredible as he pushed inside Elryk's body again and again. His mate met him thrust for thrust and he could feel his orgasm approach, sliding up his spine, even as he was beginning to lose his rhythm. His arousal went higher and higher, the tension palpable in the air as lightning lit up the murky night, thunder rolling overhead. Finally, it was simply too much. Tingling all over his body, he thrust deeply one last time, pulled back his head and howled with the power of the orgasm shaking his entire body. Spurting his release into Elryk's channel in pulse after pulse, he felt Elryk spray their chests and stomachs with hot sperm in response. Still spasming with pleasure, he saw a bright flash in Elryk's eyes before his mate closed them and smiled. It seemed that they'd been successful on more than one front. [Back to Table of Contents]

134

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

Chapter Nine **** Elryk tingled with excitement. Little sparks danced across his skin. Deep inside him, there was a well of energy that felt inexhaustible. His thoughts were clearer, and his determination and strength had grown. He grinned, keeping his eyes closed as he savoured what had just happened. Kaythan's cock was still inside him, causing delicious little aftershocks as it moved with his mate's final spurts. The man in his arms had already started to become more important to Elryk than he'd ever thought possible, but this coupling had confirmed their bond somehow. Not only had he had the best orgasm of his life while his mate's deep-blue eyes stared into his soul, but also his magic was finally back. Full force, better than ever, and completely back. Kaythan had played a major role in restoring him to his former self. Just like the other man had selflessly helped him so far, he suspected their cooperation would remain critical if they wanted to defeat the magic thieves by finding and using the Muyd'Othar. Eventually that would hopefully also enable them to overthrow the cruel Xoh'kas government. He was certainly glad he had Kaythan's support for this. Having to do this alone would have been daunting. "Are you okay, dearling?" Kaythan's voice rumbled in his ear as his mate nuzzled his jawline, then burrowed his face into the sensitive space between his neck and his shoulder. 135

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"More than okay." Elryk opened his eyes and smiled, his happiness hard to contain. "I feel like a new wizard." "Well, that's because you are." Kaythan chuckled and pulled out of him. He turned them onto their sides so they were facing each other, put his arms around him and snuggled in. "Your magic is definitely new." "You're right." Elryk slipped a leg between Kaythan's and tightened his embrace, wanting to stay as close to his man as possible. Maximising skin-to-skin contact with his mate at every opportunity had become his new mission in life. "It feels different. Once I was done absorbing the first four types of magic, I already felt better, much more like myself. But they weren't really connected. Now that they're all linked, they're stronger somehow. And I feel more alive and powerful." "It could also be the mate bond that makes you feel better." Kaythan grinned mischievously and winked. "It could be." Elryk nodded. "It's possible that the legends are right in this respect as well. According to most of them, the wizards who were part of a mated pair gained strength after their mating bond was activated. Apparently they were more resistant to attacks than single wizards, and generally more powerful in whatever magic they performed." "I thought I was joking?" Kaythan's eyebrows rose. "Maybe you were, but I think there may be a lot more to the mate bond 'myth' than we suspected. Starting with the fact that it isn't a myth at all, but a truth we've forgotten over the past two centuries." Elryk stretched. "I guess we'll find out soon enough." 136

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"I'm sort of glad the thunderstorm delayed our progress." Kaythan moved his lips closer, placing little kisses along Elryk's lips. "It gave us the time to truly bond physically." "I needed that, too." Elryk felt his cock harden in response to his mate's continued kissing, not to mention the hand sliding towards his ass. "It's done something to me, made me feel even closer to you." "Same here." Kaythan's hands were now both on his ass cheeks, kneading the flesh and making him ache for more. "Tah', it's like I can't get enough of you." He was already well on his way to a full erection and ground his hardening cock into Kaythan's thigh. "Fuck, you make me want." Kaythan's voice was husky and his eyes hooded as the other man responded by pushing back into Elryk's movements. Their cocks slid alongside each other, making Elryk pant with desire. How was this possible? Not that he was complaining, this felt too good to stop. But hadn't he just come like never before? Wasn't he supposed to be sated and relaxed? What about the recovery time he'd always needed before? None of that seemed to apply for him now that he was mated. He slid a hand down between their bodies and wrapped it around both their swollen lengths to add even more pressure. With a moan, they both started thrusting. Kaythan's lips descended on his mouth, the other man's tongue delving inside for yet more caresses. Elryk was already so aroused, he was going to come soon. When Kaythan slid a long finger between his clenching ass cheeks and touched the slightly 137

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

sore hole, Elryk lost it. He came all over their stomachs in bursts of release that made him dizzy. Kaythan was only seconds behind him, grunting his relief as he added more hot semen to the mix. Panting for breath they pulled back from the kiss and started laughing. "Tah', you make me feel like such a youngling again. " Kaythan hadn't moved his finger and the pressure on his opening made Elryk feel as if he was going to come again. "That's a good thing, right?" Elryk grinned and wriggled his behind to make sure he got every bit of sensation he could. "Yeah, most of the time it is. Except when you're so distracting that all I want to do is make you mine all over again. " Kaythan withdrew his finger and lightly slapped a cheek for emphasis. "That could be a bit of a problem in a dangerous situation." "I'm sure we'll manage." They really did need to get going. "We need to leave, I know." Kaythan must have guessed what he'd been thinking again. They got dressed in silence. Too bad they couldn't stay naked. Kaythan's powerful body with all those well-trained muscles was a sight to behold. With a sigh, Elryk looked around the cave one last time. The thunderstorm still raged outside, but they'd been warm and safe in here. He extinguished the fire and removed all traces of their presence. Ready to leave, he took Kaythan's hand and closed his eyes, focusing on the Muyd'Othar. He still remembered the revealing spell and the directions Kaythan had relayed to him after they'd first crossed the gateway to Tah'Nut. Using the 138

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

instructions was easy now that his magic was back, and a clear picture of a room in black and purple rose before his mind's eye. Even though the room seemed empty, it was clear to him that it was where they needed to go. A bright flash of light and a deep rumble later they stood inside the room Elryk had sensed previously. A large, clothcovered pedestal rose from the middle of the room, obviously meant to hold the Magic Shield in a place of honour. There was only one problem. The Shield was shattered. A thousand jagged pieces reflected the light from numerous sconces on the wall, adding a silvery halo to the jumbled mess. With a flash of insight, he realised that's what the Xoh'kas must have used the last piece of the Magic Key for. They had destroyed the only hope of defeating the magic thieves and restoring the magic balance to Tah'Nut. Shit. As he stood there, trying to comprehend the enormity of their loss, there was a crackling, hissing sound from just above the leftovers of the Muyd'Othar. He focused his magical senses on the vague impression. It wasn't just a sound, but some sort of presence. Almost like an evil intelligence of some kind. It raised the hairs at the back of his neck and he squinted at it to try to find out what exactly it was that gave him such chills. All he could see was the slight hint of a greyish mist above the centre of the shattered Shield. "You're too late!" 139

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

The triumphant screech hurt Elryk's head and made his heart pound with the need to run from here as fast as possible. "You shouldn't be here at all, but you're too late anyway." A cackle echoed against the walls. "The guardian!" Kaythan tensed, looking as if he was getting ready to fight. "I knew I should have strangled him." Elryk almost laughed. His mate was such a physical person. But Kaythan was right. This intelligence had the same feel to it as the guardian of the last chamber. It was beginning to become more substantial, the light mist turning into a dense fog. Tendrils of the silvery essence of the Shield reached up into the hovering mass to feed it, to make it even more real. Double shit. It looked as if the guardian was attempting to become corporeal, drawing energy from what was left of the Magic Shield. Elryk had to stop this being, whoever he was, from becoming more powerful, and fast, before he gained even more ground than he already had. Elryk focused on the now doughy-looking mass and tried to probe it, to find a weakness. But the Magic Shield must have retained some power because the combined mass and power reflected his efforts back at him. Absorbing the spike of energy easily, he tried to sever the guardian's connection to the Shield's residue instead. Nothing. He couldn't get a grip on the silvery threads. The writhing mass above the Shield slowly changed to the colour of skin and started to morph into a human body. Legs, 140

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

arms, torso, a head with long grey hair, and finally a black robe covering the body, began to materialise. It stopped moving after having absorbed the last rays from the now only dimly flickering shards of the former Muyd'Othar. The body floated away from the central pedestal, legs stretching and touching the floor, standing straight before turning around. When the face became visible Elryk gasped. A high forehead, bushy eyebrows and a nose like a hawk's beak sat above a thin mouth that was twisted into a cruel smirk. Black eyes stared at him as the man shook out his hands and stamped his feet a few times. Elryk would have recognised him anywhere. Fuck! Rhunnyt, the last Lightning Grand Master to have run the Magic Council in over two hundred years, was back. And he didn't look happy. "Lost your tongue, little one?" Rhunnyt's voice sounded like shards of glass grating on a hard surface as his gaze raked Elryk's body. "The Xoh'kas warned me about you, saying you would threaten my position. I must say I'm disappointed. You don't look like much of a threat. I guess I should have known better than to believe them. They have no fucking clue about what's really going on here. They don't know my power, and apparently, they grossly overestimated yours. It only confirms that my plans to get rid of them are right. They need to be punished for double-crossing me when they unsuccessfully tried to kill me last time."

141

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"They're not even the same people!" Elryk didn't want to defend the Xoh'kas, but even they didn't deserve to be punished for something their ancestors had done. "Never mind the details. They're all the same family, so they go out as a group, as far as I'm concerned." Rhunnyt's screeching laugh sounded hollow. "Not that you have anything to say about it. You're not much of a threat to my plans at all, are you?" "I don't care what the blasted Xoh'kas think about me." Elryk needed a plan to stop this megalomaniac before it was too late. He couldn't let Rhunnyt loose on Tah'Nut again. But how was he going to stop the powerful wizard? "Then you're even more stupid than I thought." Rhunnyt's evil grin distorted his face into a mask of pure hatred. "I'll squash you like the worthless bug you are and then nothing will stand in the way of me taking my proper place at the head of the Magic Council again. Once that is achieved, I'll move on to even bigger and better things." **** Kaythan stared at the evil wizard in mute disbelief. Not just because he'd rather not have had to deal with a powerful and experienced wizard like him, but the fact that the guy had managed to come back from the dead, or at least from having been banished into the temple of Tah'Muyd, made him an even more dangerous adversary than he'd been before he was punished. Having been stuck in the fifth chamber of the temple of Tah'Muyd for two hundred years would only have 142

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

increased his anger, and given him time to plan what he'd do if he ever made it back to the real world. No, what really got to him was the stupidity of the Xoh'kas. How could they have made this being an offer to return to physical life after their ancestors had decided he was too dangerous for them two hundred years ago? He clearly wasn't going to be any less dangerous now, or more controllable. They may have been able to get rid of Rhunnyt once, but even that hadn't been permanent, because the bastard had found a way to escape into the magical realm. The risk of him coming back fully, and in corporeal form, to do more damage would surely have stopped any sane person from helping the bastard. Or were they in the habit of overestimating their own abilities? Did they actually believe they could "manage" this wizard into doing their bidding? Had their success at ruling the planet for so long made them believe in their own propaganda? Kaythan suspected he could spend hours, if not days, thinking about this without figuring it out. There was only one major advantage to Rhunnyt having a body again that he could see—the evil being whom they'd met as the guardian now had a neck to wring. Even though he wasn't sure he'd get the opportunity to do any actual wringing, the thought alone gave him some hope. "I can't let you take over the Magic Council." Elryk drew himself up to his full height, looking proud and determined. "Things are bad enough with the Xoh'kas exploiting and terrorising the people of Tah'Nut. We don't need a power143

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

hungry wizard helping them or coming up with more damaging ideas." "You are truly pathetic." Rhunnyt shook his head, greystreaked black hair flying every which way. "There is nothing you can do to stop me. I was the most powerful lightning wizard two hundred years ago, and since the Xoh'kas have destroyed anyone remotely powerful enough to challenge me, that hasn't changed. At least they had the sense to make sure nobody had the ability to restore the Magic Council to power. That would mess up everything." "So you were the one who told them to kill all the promising young lightning wizards?" Kaythan couldn't keep silent any longer. "Of course." Rhunnyt frowned. "It was the logical thing to do if I wanted to secure my position. Unfortunately, they decided to double-cross me and attempted to execute me." "Too bad that didn't work." Elryk grinned when Rhunnyt scowled. "Just out of interest, how did you escape?" "They thought they could keep me a prisoner using normal magic-suppressant methods. They had no idea how powerful I really am." Rhunnyt's grin turned triumphant. "Of course, I had to make it look as though I was dead, to give me time to regroup and come back even stronger. The guardian didn't stand a chance when I took over." "Took you a while to get back out, didn't it?" Elryk was clearly trying to goad Rhunnyt into an impulsive reaction, maybe to find a weakness. "I had to bide my time." Rhunnyt's laugh was pure evil. "Didn't mean I couldn't find ways to influence what was going 144

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

on, did it? After all, you lost your parents and survived the Muyd'pol." "So that was you?" Elryk's face turned red with anger. "You killed my family just so I'd survive and come here to set you free? Why you..." "Hold on, wasn't he a prisoner in the temple of Tah'Muyd at the time?" Kaythan didn't put it past the bastard to find a way, but still. "I had allies, of course." Rhunnyt cackled. Oh shit, more traitors. "Why do you waste my time with all these questions?" Rhunnyt sneered and turned back towards Elryk. "Are you afraid to fight me? Not that it'll be any use. You're more of an annoyance than a threat." "I certainly am not. I'll beat you in a fight, if I have to." Elryk's hands fisted in silent rage. Kaythan admired his mate's ability to keep a fairly cool head. If he opened his own mouth again, he'd be yelling at the pompous idiot. "Oh, but you're wrong about that, too." Rhunnyt cackled, his laughter sounding as bad as his screeching voice had earlier. "I've decided it's time I take over. The Xoh'kas haven't done a very good job at running Tah'Nut while I was away. They're so ineffective that they still haven't been able to squash all resistance. Now that I'm back, this will change, and Tah'Nut will become truly great." "What do you mean 'become truly great'? We'll never amount to anything if we continue as is." Elryk shook with 145

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

anger. "What Tah'Nut needs is more cooperation, not more people telling others how to run their lives." "Cooperation is vastly overrated." Rhunnyt grinned. "My new-found powers will ensure that control is absolute. Once that is achieved, I will turn my attention to other planets." Oh, fuck no. "Other planets?" Elryk took a step forward. "What have they ever done to deserve your attention? It's bad enough you've still got Tah'Nut in your clutches after all this time." "It's not up to you to tell me what I can or can't do." Rhunnyt frowned. "And you have no idea what's good for Tah'Nut and what isn't. You're not even a century old and you think you can tell me what to do?" "You can think whatever you want." Elryk took a second step towards the other lightning wizard, clearly refusing to be intimidated. "There are many people who don't agree with you, me included. And I can't accept your plans without trying to stop you." "I'd like to see you try," Rhunnyt snarled. Kaythan squeezed his mate's hand for moral support. Damn it! Why couldn't he do more to support him? But without any magic at all, he couldn't see how he could be of any use. The best he could hope for was staying out of the way so he didn't interfere. After all, how was he going to fight if he didn't have what it took to counter this wizard's attacks? How was he going to protect his mate, for that matter? He couldn't just stand by and watch Elryk fight for their lives. He was a soldier, damn it! 146

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"Wow, that really helps!" Elryk's voice was a low whisper, the look the other man gave him was heated. "Keep touching me, Kaythan. The physical contact makes me feel energized, like I can stay strong for longer." "Anything. I'll do anything in my power to help you." Kaythan moved behind Elryk and slid his arms around his mate's chest and belly for maximum contact and protection without being in his way. Maybe there was something he could do for him after all? "Thank you." Elryk had barely murmured the words when the first bolt of lightning flashed across the room. Elryk raised his arms and made a defensive motion, deflecting the crackling electricity into the wall. Rhunnyt screeched and threw bolt after bolt at them, almost faster than Kaythan could follow with his eyes. The evil wizard was clearly angry that his first attempt hadn't succeeded. Elryk kept deflecting the bolts by hurtling them into the wall, the floor or even the ceiling. It looked as if he was gaining confidence with every blow. When his mate started throwing bolts of his own at Rhunnyt, the other wizard looked shocked. Kaythan silently cheered Elryk on. Rhunnyt deflected bolt after bolt, not even breaking a sweat. From the way he kept grinning, it almost looked as if he was enjoying himself. For a long while both wizards appeared to be pretty evenly matched. But then Elryk started slumping, clearly exhausted. Sweat ran down his temples and his breath was ragged.

147

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

Kaythan wasn't sure what to do, so he tightened his grip and imagined sending his mate more energy. It seemed to do the trick because Elryk perked up and the battle continued. When Rhunnyt started spitting strange sounding words into the air, which seemed to add colour to his lightning bolts, Kaythan suspected they were in even bigger trouble. "Shit!" Elryk panted with the effort of speaking while keeping his magical defences up. "Somehow he's using the fragments of the Magic Shield to help him become more powerful, even though they're almost useless as far as I can see. I have no idea how to stop him without being able to draw energy from them like he seems to be doing." Cackling with glee, Rhunnyt drew a circle around himself with one of the green bolts and a shimmering energy shield sprang up around him. Elryk's attacks were completely deflected after that and Rhunnyt gained back the strength he'd lost in the fight. He looked as fresh as before they'd started. "I've got you now!" Rhunnyt pulled back, took a breath and flung a multicoloured ball of lightning into the air. The colours spread out, coating the walls, the ceiling and even the floor in hues of shimmering energy. He made another ball of multicoloured lightning and threw it in their direction. "Fuck!" Elryk panted, sweat running down his temples. "I can't stop that ball of lightning, I can only try and save our lives." Elryk leaned his head back against Kaythan's shoulder and closed his eyes. A wall of wet mud surrounded them and started growing into a dome above their heads. Little flames 148

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

danced on the walls, helping to deflect the multicoloured lightning bolts from the outside and adding some light on the inside as the walls around them rose. It all happened too quickly for the eye to follow. When the dome was completed, there was a loud bang, probably the ball of lightning hitting their protective shell. Nothing happened. The sudden silence was eerie. The crackling attacks had stopped and so had any kind of sound that might hint at what was going on outside. "Enjoy your imprisonment." The grating voice was loud enough to penetrate the layers of mud around them. "It should only last for the next five thousand years or so. That'll give me enough time for to get Tah'Nut back into shape and build my empire across space." There was a loud roar and the floor shook. Then the silence returned. The evil wizard had apparently left. "I'm so sorry." Elryk shook in his arms. "I've failed utterly. We're stuck in this chamber. There's no way out." Kaythan turned Elryk around so they were facing each other in the dim light of the little magic flames. The other man hung his head. Kaythan put a finger under his chin and pushed until his mate looked up. The despair in Elryk's eyes was heart wrenching. Elryk tried to break eye contact by looking down. When that didn't work he attempted to wriggle out of Kaythan's embrace. He didn't let his mate go. They were in this together, and it was time Elryk started to believe that. 149

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"There is always a way out." He brushed his mate's sweat soaked hair out of his face and kissed his forehead. "We only have to find it." [Back to Table of Contents]

150

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

Chapter Ten **** "I like your optimism." Elryk smiled at his mate who hadn't let go of him no matter how much he'd wanted to hide his shame. Losing a fight like that, even to a wizard as powerful and experienced as Rhunnyt, wasn't fun. Having his mate support him through it was an amazing feeling. "It's not optimism." Kaythan smiled as his hand moved from forcing Elryk's chin up to cupping his cheek. "I trust you. Just look how well you protected us against the most powerful lightning wizard known today. That wasn't easy and I think you did a brilliant job!" "I did all right, didn't I?" He hadn't had time to think about the hopelessness of the situation, he'd just reacted and done what was necessary to protect them. "But you do realise that I couldn't have managed it without your help, don't you?" "Is that a problem for you?" Kaythan raised his eyebrows. "No, but I'm very conscious of the fact that I need you. I'm not going to be able to get out of here or defeat Rhunnyt on my own." He didn't mind working with Kaythan, it was nice to have a partner he could rely on. "I'm here for you. You're no longer on your own." Kaythan smiled as his thumb caressed Elryk's cheek. He wanted to kiss his mate for being so supportive and helpful. "And it's not all one-sided, you know? I need you just as much as you need me." 151

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"You do?" He leaned into the caress, trying to keep his brain working when all he wanted to do was give in and make love again. "But you're so strong and independent. What could you possible need me for?" Kaythan tilted his head, raised both eyebrows and waited. Was he supposed to figure out the answer himself? Then it came to him. "The magic." He nodded. "Yes, the magic!" Kaythan laughed. "Do you really think any of my physical strength would have helped me even one bit when Rhunnyt started throwing bolts of lightning?" "I guess not." He felt stupid for not having thought of that. He only had his exhaustion as an excuse. "You're right. I would have been useless on my own." Kaythan slid his hand behind Elryk's neck and caressed his nape. Tah', that felt wonderful! "It's a good thing we're mates then, huh?" He grinned. "Now you've got it! I don't know who or what determines the partners for a mate bond, but looking at our experience, I'd say it's a winning formula. At least in our case, it's already saved our lives a few times." Kaythan bent his head and kissed him, tongue claiming his mouth until he saw stars. He pulled back with an effort when he needed to breathe more than to feel Kaythan's amazing kiss. "And then there's the incredible sex." He blushed at his own words. "Elryk! You amaze me." Kaythan's grin was as wide as his face. 152

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"What? It's true." He may have blushed, but there was nothing to be ashamed of. It did take some getting used to talking about it, but he was sure that wouldn't last very long. "Yeah, it is. And I want to have a lot more of it with you, but I really think we should focus on getting out of here first. Who knows how much damage Rhunnyt is going to do now that he's free to terrorise Tah'Nut again. We can't leave him unopposed." Kaythan frowned. The man was right. "The real problem is that Rhunnyt is a stronger lightning wizard than I am." Elryk sighed. "We may have been able to defend ourselves by pooling our resources, but those lightning balls are way beyond my current abilities. Since one of them is now preventing us from escaping, I don't see how we could possibly break through. He's used it to seal this whole chamber, and it looks very effective to me." "We won't know whether it's hopeless or not until we've tried" Kaythan pulled him closer for a moment, squeezing him for reassurance. "So, why don't we get out of this earthen igloo you've built and have a look around the whole chamber? We might find something we can use to help us." Elryk nodded. He really didn't want to spend the rest of his life in here. And it wouldn't hurt to check their options. Who knew? Maybe the broken pieces of the Muyd'Othar would be good for something other than bringing the bastard back to physical life. With a sigh he waved their protective shell back into the magical realm. They were immediately bathed in the eerie glow of the multicoloured ball of lightning that had spread out 153

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

across every available surface to seal them in. With Kaythan's words ringing in his ears, he decided to try all five types of magic on it, just in case. Earth magic didn't do a thing other than slightly dim the colours' brightness for a few seconds before the protective layer was back to normal. Water magic made everything sparkle and hiss, but nothing happened that made it look as thought they'd be able to get out. Air magic didn't do anything at all, other than provide a nice cooling breeze when it was reflected back at him. Fire magic made the entire chamber so unbearably hot that he had to use air magic to cool them down again. He was very careful with the lightning magic, remembering the protective shield Rhunnyt had pulled up around him and how it had reflected Elryk's bolts of lightning straight back at him. If he used too much force here, he might get both of them killed. So the lightning he threw at the wall was very weak, more of a test than an attempt to break through. As soon as he'd let the bolt go, he got ready to protect them against the backlash. It was a good thing he'd done that. The lightning that came back at them was ten times stronger than what he'd sent out. He barely managed to deflect it, having to send it straight into the shards of the Muyd'Othar that still lay quietly on the pedestal in the centre of the room. "Nothing." Elryk felt so tense he thought he'd burst. "It only reflects my magic back at me. It's as though the lightning acts as a mirror." 154

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"And there's no hole anywhere that you could use as leverage?" Kaythan stood next to the pedestal and examined the chamber with narrowed eyes. "No, it's solid all around us. It goes underground as well, I've followed it all the way." Elryk shrugged, feeling more helpless than before. He stared at the dimly flickering shards on the pedestal. Something about the Magic Shield and its properties was nagging at the back of his brain, but he couldn't figure out what it was. "Okay, so how do you destroy a mirror?" Kaythan tilted his head in thought. "Huh?" Elryk looked up from his contemplation. "You do ask the weirdest questions." "Not weird." Kaythan grinned. "I just don't think like a wizard, I guess." "Hm, that may actually be the key to getting us out of here." Elryk nodded. "Keep thinking. There's something about that Magic Shield that's bugging me, but I can't figure out what it is, exactly." "All right, so we've got a ball of lightning magic surrounding us which acts like a mirror to other kinds of magic." Kaythan started pacing. "To answer my earlier question, the way to destroy a mirror is to shatter it with physical force. Would that work on this—thing, whatever it is?" "That's a good idea except we don't have anything here that we could use to throw at it with enough force, right?" Elryk glanced at Kaythan. 155

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"Unless we can use our bodies?" Kaythan looked ready to jump. "Not a good idea." Elryk shook his head. "We'd be killed on impact." "Okay, what else have we got?" Kaythan stared at the heap of shards and pointed. "What about those? Would it hurt us to touch them?" "Probably not. They seem pretty much extinguished to me." Elryk wasn't going to let his mate risk his life trying it out, though. "Here, let me go first. I can use my magic to protect me." "Just be careful." Kaythan reached out for him, squeezing his shoulder before withdrawing. "Always." Elryk grinned. His mate in protective mode was even sexier than he was normally. Elryk turned his attention to the heap of shards, hoping to find one that was big enough to touch. Most of them were either tiny pieces, had sharp edges or looked dull and lifeless. The latter ones were probably safest for a first experiment. Preparing to pull away quickly if needed, he touched one of the dead-looking ones. Other than a tiny tingle in his fingers, there was nothing. He picked it up. He still couldn't feel anything other than the slight tingle. "Anything?" Kaythan sounded anxious. He stood close enough so Elryk sensed his body heat. "Just a little tingle, as though it's trying to come back to life." Elryk put it into the upturned palm of his left hand and searched for a second shard. "Maybe it needs company?" Kaythan laughed but didn't relax his watchful stance. 156

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

When Elryk added a second piece onto the palm of his hand there was more tingling, but nothing visible happened. "You want me to try it?" Kaythan looked hopeful to be doing something. "Sure, just pick one up and see what happens." It couldn't hurt to see if a non-magical person had a different effect. Kaythan picked up a dimly flickering shard before Elryk could stop him. "You were supposed to pick a dull one!" He watched carefully, ready to jump to his mate's rescue. "Was I? You didn't say so." Kaythan grinned as he watched the little shard flicker in his hand. "And the shiny ones are a lot prettier. Look, it's just sitting there, making me itch a little." Elryk shook his head. His mate was too curious for his own good. Luckily, he also seemed to be immune to anything trying to harm him. Kaythan put the first shard onto the palm of his right hand, imitating what Elryk had done, then picked another shiny one and put it right next to it. More flickering ensued, but that was it. "Something is definitely going on with these pieces." Elryk rubbed his face with his free hand. "I wonder what would happen if we combined the dull and the flickering ones?" "Good idea." Kaythan reached out to offer his shards to Elryk. As soon as their fingers touched a low humming sound came from all four shards and they started to glow with a warm golden radiance that stopped both men in their tracks. 157

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

The two shards on Elryk's hand moved closer together and melded into a teardrop-shaped crystal. It immediately started moving towards Elryk's wrist, and before he could react to try to stop it, the crystal sank into the skin until only its top half was visible. There was no pain, only a deep sense of happiness. "What the hell?" Kaythan stared at his own hand where his crystal was behaving in exactly the same way. Kaythan let go of Elryk's hand to touch the embedded teardrop in his own wrist and the crystals stopped glowing. Elryk touched the teardrop in his wrist, stroking it softly. It was as warm as the skin around it and smooth as glass. Nothing else happened as he was touching it. He looked up and saw Kaythan imitate what he'd done, with the same effect. Absolutely nothing. "Okay, that's officially weird." Elryk blinked and reached out for Kaythan's hand again. As soon as they touched the crystals started glowing again. Elryk felt an irresistible urge to link hands with Kaythan. His left hand positively pulsed with the need to be close. "You feel it, too?" Kaythan's eyes were wide, shocked. "This thing wants me to link hands with you. It's as if a magnet is drawing my right hand to your left." "Yeah, I can feel it as well." Elryk thought for a moment. "It's a warm feeling though, nice. My magic can't detect anything dangerous." "You want to give in?" Kaythan smiled. "It feels like my crystal wants its little mate." 158

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"That's exactly it!" Elryk was elated. "It's got something to do with the mate bond. Maybe that's what activated these pieces?" "It may have done." Kaythan frowned. "I'm curious about how this is possible at all." "Why?" Resisting the pull of the little crystal was becoming more difficult by the second. His mind was going fuzzy. "Well, the Muyd'Othar was made to protect the Magic Council, right?" Kaythan stepped away from him, making him want to run after his mate. "It was never meant to be destroyed. So now that it's in pieces, it suddenly has this ability to form crystals that sink into our skin?" "You're right, that is odd." He sighed. "But you're not making it easy to think by moving away. This thing wants me to be close to you." "Yeah, mine too. I just hope it's not dangerous." Kaythan moved back into range again. Elryk immediately felt better. "I don't think we can solve this riddle here and now." Kaythan shook his head, as if to clear it. "I'm not sure we need to, but I really hope we can spend some time doing research once all of this is over." "I agree." He wanted to know why, the material the Muyd'Othar had been made of, reacted the way it did. "So, are you ready to see what these little crystals can do when we let them work together?" Kaythan's eyes were bright with excitement.

159

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"Only one way to find out." Elryk grinned at Kaythan's surprised laugh when his mate heard his own favourite mantra quoted back at him. They stood next to each other and let their hands link, entwining their fingers. It brought their wrists together and as soon as the two crystals touched the low humming started up and the golden radiance was back. It surrounded their hands in a small, pulsing sphere. "All right, this is interesting. It makes me feel nice, but I wonder what it can do? I'm sure it's not just meant to sit there and make us feel happy, is it?" Kaythan frowned, looking around the room in search of a target. "Hardly." Elryk glanced at the multicoloured chamber wall. "I wonder whether whatever this is might help us break through that lightning magic?" "You know the answer to that." Kaythan grinned. "What do you think we need to do?" "I think we need to focus our thoughts on making the protective layer open up for us." Elryk figured it might work just like magic. It was as good a place as any to start their new attempts at escape. "Okay, let's focus away." Kaythan winked at him and turned his attention to the lightning-covered wall. "Open for us." Elryk was sure speaking the words would help Kaythan focus. So he kept repeating the simple sentence again and again. When Kaythan started speaking the words with him, the small golden sphere began to grow. Kaythan stopped speaking and the sphere shrank back to its original size. 160

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"Okay, got it. Don't stop the focus." Kaythan smiled sheepishly and concentrated on the wall and their words again. When the golden sphere reached the chamber wall, there was a crackle and a hiss, but nothing happened. "More pressure." Elryk willed himself to help the golden sphere push outward. "Focus on it pushing against the walls." Kaythan nodded and closed his eyes. The golden sphere started pulsing, the multicoloured lights of the protective layer dimmed a little, but soon they were back in full force. The golden sphere was still there, but it was weaker than before. It looked depleted. "It isn't working." Elryk opened his eyes and let go of Kaythan's hand. The golden light vanished and he felt empty. He'd been so sure the golden sphere would solve all their problems. They'd tried everything else without success. Now their last hope was gone. How were they ever going to get out of here? "Maybe it's because we're tired." Kaythan opened his arms. He walked right into them, putting his head on Kaythan's strong shoulder. "We've been facing challenges and fighting for our lives without a real break. Maybe we should rest for a bit and then try again." Kaythan stroked his head. "That sounds wonderful." He wasn't sure they could afford to rest for long, but he was too tired to fight anymore. "Can you make another bed appear, like you did in the cave?" Kaythan looked hopeful. 161

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"You liked that, did you?" He grinned, waved his hand and a sturdy wooden bed with a soft mattress, white sheets and a warm duvet appeared. "So did I." They both undressed. He used some water magic to clean them up, much to Kaythan's delight, then dried them with air magic. More tired than ever before, he slid between the sheets and sank into Kaythan's wide-open arms. He was asleep before his head hit the pillow. **** Elryk awoke to the sound of soft snoring right next to his ear. He was half buried under Kaythan's body, the other man having crawled over him in his sleep. He grinned. Their legs were entangled, groins pressed tightly together, chests mashed against each other. Kaythan's head had taken its customary position between his neck and shoulder. Elryk lay there for a moment, enjoying the physical closeness. He was getting used to having a mate, and not just when they were awake. Sleeping with another man in his arms was so much better than spending his nights alone in beds that had always felt too big for him. As if he'd get lost in them without someone else to share the available space. Without thinking about it, he moved his hand along Kaythan's back, loving the feeling of the warm skin under his fingertips. With a final snuffle, Kaythan stopped snoring and lifted his head. "Sorry." The other man tried to move away. "Stay?" Elryk tightened his embrace to make sure his mate got the message. 162

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"Anytime." Kaythan yawned and settled his head back onto Elryk's shoulder. "Did you have a good sleep?" He felt so much better himself, he hoped the rest had done Kaythan as much good. "Yeah. I feel much better now." Kaythan grinned and his hand wandered to Elryk's growing erection. "I can feel that." He grinned and reciprocated by finding the hard length between Kaythan's legs. "Hmmm." Kaythan stroked him slowly. Elryk moved his other hand down along Kaythan's spine until he reached the man's ass. Circling and kneading the taut globes, he approached his mate's crack and slid a finger between his mate's buttocks. Kaythan moaned and spread his legs as he thrust into Elryk's fist. Elryk moved his finger closer to Kaythan's opening and circled the ring of muscles. Gradually increasing the pressure, he finally moved the tip inside. It made Kaythan shudder and speed up his movements. Soon the other man was sawing back and forth between Elryk's fist and his finger, fucking himself with abandon. "More." Kaythan had stopped moving his hand on Elryk's cock, just holding on instead. The pressure was delicious. Elryk added another finger, pushing it slowly inside, not wanting to hurt the other man. Kaythan moaned, pleasure clearly visible on his face as he moved faster and faster. When Elryk added a third finger, Kaythan bucked wildly and shot spurts of hot semen into Elryk's hand as he shuddered through his orgasm. 163

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

The sight of his mate's pleasure on the gorgeous face, and the scent of his spunk between them as he erupted, combined to push Elryk over the edge. He came into Kaythan's tight fist, flooding it with his semen. They were both still panting when they entwined their fingers as Kaythan sagged back down onto his body, pressing him into the mattress. He loved his mate's weight on him like this. They disentangled themselves and after Elryk cleaned them, lay on their sides, his arm around Kaythan's shoulder, the fingers of his right hand and Kaythan's left entwined. Before they knew what was happening, the crystals in their wrists touched and the golden glow was back. It was stronger than ever and spread gradually outward as they were watching lazily. When it had reached the chamber's walls and ceiling it stopped. "Not so different than before after all." Elryk sighed. It made his chest move against Kaythan's and his cock made a valiant effort to get hard again at the touch. The golden glow intensified. Elryk pressed his groin against Kaythan's, feeling renewed desire travel up his spine. The golden sphere pulsed as if it was breathing. Kaythan watched every reaction with narrowed eyes. "I think we've found our solution." He grinned in anticipation of what he was pretty sure was going to be next. "Let's see what happens when we kiss." The kiss may have started with the purpose of seeing what would happen to the golden sphere, but as soon as Kaythan's tongue invaded his mouth, he forgot everything and focused 164

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

on the sensations and feelings his mate created by kissing him. The slow caresses of tongue on tongue became his whole world. He responded with all the passion he felt, and soon they were playing an exciting game of tag that moved their tongues in and out of each other's mouths in rapid succession. When Kaythan pulled away, he wanted to follow. He didn't want the kiss to stop this soon. Kaythan grinned and pointed at the ceiling. The golden glow was now everywhere. It was more intense than ever before. As he watched it, he thought back to their earlier lovemaking. The golden sphere expanded farther, pushing against the multicoloured lights of the magical barrier. His eyes widened. Then he remembered the kiss, making a conscious effort to recall all the feelings it had made him experience. The golden sphere kept pushing outward, the glow ever intensifying. "This is a new kind of magic, isn't it?" Kaythan's eyes were big. "Yeah, it definitely looks as if it's linked to the mate bond." For the first time since they'd been imprisoned by Rhunnyt, there was hope. "Let's try and break through again." Kaythan nodded. They held onto each other's hands, making sure the crystals were touching, and he focused on his emotions for Kaythan. Slowly, but inexorably, the golden sphere pushed outward until the multicoloured lights vanished with a surprisingly soft plopping sound. 165

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

The golden magic had worked. They were free! [Back to Table of Contents]

166

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

Chapter Eleven **** Kaythan had never been as relieved in his life as when the golden sphere finally broke through the protective layer Rhunnyt had left behind. They still needed to transport back to Tah'Nut, but now that Elryk's magic was fully back, that shouldn't be a problem. "This is amazing." He looked at their joined hands, marvelling at the soft glow of the crystals. "I never thought I'd be able to do magic." "It's something we've created together." Elryk lifted their hands and kissed his knuckles. "There isn't any mention of it in the old legends. So either it was kept a secret, which I find hard to believe, or the appearance of golden magic is a sign of the new times." "I wonder whether the wizards who made the Muyd'Othar knew that its material would one day create a new type of magic?" He frowned. "Seers might have anticipated the event, but to have the ability to invent a new type of magic boggles the mind. It would also mean they knew that the Magic Shield was going to be destroyed at some point." "Or they realised that if it ever got destroyed, something new would need to take its place, to maintain the balance." Elryk shrugged. "I'm sure the scholars will have a field day researching this." 167

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"You're right. We should leave it to them to figure it out. We've got more urgent things to worry about." Like leaving the temple of Tah'Muyd to confront Rhunnyt yet again. "I hate leaving the shards of the Muyd'Othar behind." Elryk frowned. "I'd like to find out if other bonded mates can use them like we have. More golden magic might be a good thing." "Do you want to take them with us? I think there are too many to take all of them." He eyed the heap of shards. "Maybe we can take a few?" "I wish we could." Elryk sighed. "But I think it would be too dangerous if they fell into the wrong hands. Leaving them here for now, protected by concealing spells, probably makes more sense. That way we can come back to get them once everything on Tah'Nut is back to normal." He nodded and watched as Elryk did his thing. He'd never get tired of watching his mate do magic. He just hoped nobody would find the now hidden shards. Not that anyone knew to look for them, but still. It was night by the time Elryk transported them back to the house they'd stayed at before. He did some careful checking and found out that a Magic Council meeting had been called for the next morning. That was most likely when Rhunnyt was going to make his move to take back control. Returning to the bedroom where they'd first realised they were mates stopped them both in their tracks. Sleep was suddenly a secondary requirement as Kaythan turned to Elryk and watched him blush under his gaze. Apparently, the other man was thinking the same thing he was. 168

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"I want you." Kaythan was getting harder by the second and they hadn't even touched yet. Crap, there was more to this need to be close to Kaythan than sex. As unbelievable as it seemed to his inner cynic, he was beginning to have feelings for his wizard that went beyond the physical. "You have me." Elryk's smile was soft, his eyes bright with anticipation as he stepped closer. The other man's body heat made him realise how little space there was left between them. He bent his head for a short kiss, forcing himself to hold back for just a little longer. "Naked?" He grinned when Elryk's eyes widened. "Can I have you naked, please?" "Naked is good." Elryk nodded and stepped away, only to start taking his clothes off. Kaythan was too mesmerised by all that pale skin to be able to move. Elryk's almost hairless chest was revealed when the other man took off his shirt, the deep, red-brown nipples drawing Kaythan's attention as much as the flat abdomen. His eyes were glued to Elryk's hands as his mate opened his pants and shoved them down his strong thighs, taking the underwear with him. When he stood back up, totally nude and proud, Kaythan licked his lips at the thought of sucking the beautiful cock. "Now you?" Elryk reached out and started opening Kaythan's shirt. He nodded and let it happen, enjoying the little caresses Elryk gave his skin as he peeled off the clothes bit by bit. He tingled all over by the time he was finally naked. Elryk continued stroking him as he moved him towards the bed. 169

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

Pushing him to make him sit, then lie down, he grinned as he crawled over Kaythan, motioning him into the middle of the mattress. "Just where I want you." Elryk straddled his thighs, sitting down just right for their groins to touch. "Tah', that feels good." He moaned when Elryk wriggled, making their balls touch and their erections rub together. "It'll get better." Elryk bent forward, supporting his weight on his hands next to Kaythan's shoulders and licked first one nipple, then the other. Returning to the first, he gave it some serious attention. Little bites were followed by soft licks and by the time Elryk started sucking the first nipple, Kaythan was ready to explode. Elryk didn't let up until the second nipple had received the same treatment. "Please." He didn't care what was next, as long as he was allowed to come. Elryk grinned as he sat up, scooted forward and lifted himself far enough up so he could put the tip of Kaythan's cock at his already slick feeling opening. "Fuck!" The feeling of Elryk sinking down on his cock was indescribably good. Tight heat clutched his length like a vice, and it took everything he had not to come right then. "Please." Elryk's eyes were closed as the other man bent down until they were chest to chest, encircling him with his arms to hold on as he turned onto his back, taking Kaythan with him. Kaythan was now on top and he pushed inside Elryk with as much power as he dared. Elryk pushed back up and it 170

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

didn't take long before they were both panting for release. He bent forward until their lips touched and the kiss was hotter than fire magic. He managed a few more thrusts before he started coming, filling his mate's tight channel with his semen. Seconds later, Elryk convulsed below him, warm semen spurting onto their stomachs as his mate moaned his delight. He couldn't speak as he held onto the man shaking in his arms, but his own feelings were clearly mirrored in Elryk's eyes. They lay like that for the longest time before Elryk cleaned them up without moving. Kaythan tried to turn them to their sides, fearing he'd get too heavy for his mate. But Elryk shook his head, pulled him back on top and held on. The other man's soft sigh as he closed his eyes said it all. **** Kaythan awoke to the first rays of the sun tickling his nose. Apparently they'd moved, since he was now on his side with Elryk still asleep in his arms, back spooned against his front. All he wanted was to stay here with his mate, to live their lives in peace. He needed this mess with the Xoh'kas, the magic thieves and now Rhunnyt to be over. Instead, he woke his lover and they got dressed before heading downstairs for breakfast. Compared to their recent adventures, it all felt very normal and domestic. Nice. He wanted more of that. They'd have to fight for it, but it was something worth fighting for. When they were done, they put on their boots. 171

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"Let's transport into the Magic Council's meeting room and get this over with!" Elryk looked as if he was ready to do battle. Well, he had personal reasons enough to want to defeat Rhunnyt. Finding out that the bastard had been behind his family's deaths must have been a major shock. "Sure, I'm ready whenever you are." Kaythan smiled and took his mate's right hand with his left. "Ready to make the connection anytime we need it." "I'm sure that'll be soon." Elryk frowned. "In fact, I think it might be best if we went in there already linked. We don't know what they'll throw at us." Kaythan nodded and shifted his hand so their wrists and the little crystals inside them connected. The small golden sphere formed instantly, much faster than before. "Hm, this might work better with practice." Elryk stared down at their linked hands. "It's amazing because it gives you some magical ability and I can feel your strength and support flow into me." "I'm just grateful that it works." Kaythan wanted to get this over with. "I am." Elryk looked up at him with that brilliant smile of his. Kaythan bent down and kissed his mate on the mouth. "Let's go." He pulled back, forcing himself to focus on the upcoming fight rather than his mate's tempting lips. Elryk closed his eyes. There was a light tingle in their link before they stood inside the Magic Council's meeting room. Nine very pale and slightly crumpled wizards in purple robes sat around the round table. The tenth wizard stood. His black 172

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

robe hung in loose folds, and his grey-streaked hair was held back by a black leather strip. Rhunnyt, as expected. "What—how dare you enter here"" Rhunnyt's voice was shrill and many of the other wizards cringed. "We dare with the right of those wanting justice." Elryk stood tall and proud. "You wronged Tah'Nut two hundred years ago by selling out to the Xoh'kas. You're about to do so again by taking over a Magic Council too weak from continuous theft of their power to fight you. We will not allow this." "You will not allow..." Rhunnyt turned beet red and sputtered with rage. "You have no say here." "Neither do you." Elryk smiled. "I will ask you once to step back and leave. If you refuse, I will let the golden magic decide for all of us." Kaythan almost laughed. His mate sure made it sound as if he knew what he was talking about. Maybe he was? He'd had no idea Elryk was this clever a negotiator. "Golden magic?" Rhunnyt's laughter was a nauseating mix between a screech and a shriek. "Don't be ridiculous. There is no such thing as golden magic." "Will you yield and leave the Magic Council never to return?" Elryk stared into the reddening eyes of the evil wizard. His mate showed no outward sign of weakness, but Kaythan felt his hand shake. He gripped Elryk's fingers more tightly and the shaking stopped. "Never." Rhunnyt lifted his hands, electricity crackling between his bony fingers. "I'll destroy you this time!" 173

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

Elryk lifted their hands so everyone could see the small golden sphere. "You've been warned." Elryk's voice was heavy with authority. "We banish you from all worlds and dimensions containing life. Be gone." The golden sphere expanded as they both repeated 'be gone' under their breaths. Rhunnyt stared at the approaching golden wall and smirked. He lifted his hands and threw a lightning bolt at the energy. Kaythan tensed, his body getting ready to fight off the threat, even though he knew he was totally dependent on Elryk to protect him against magic. The lightning bolt hit the slowly advancing golden wall with a hissing sound. Kaythan felt the impact in his wrist. It wasn't painful, more like a dull thud. It travelled up along his arm and made its way into his brain where it fizzled out. It was over almost before it had started. At the same time, the sphere reflected Rhunnyt's bolt of lightning back at him and the evil wizard barely managed to protect himself. His eyes widened, but he tried again, this time throwing two bolts of lightning simultaneously. Both bolts hit the sphere, and Kaythan felt another thud in his wrist travelling up to his brain while watching both bolts being reflected back at Rhunnyt. Luckily, the wizard didn't manage to protect himself completely. His left arm was hit by his own lightning, making him scream with the pain. He lost his balance from the force of the impact but righted himself quickly, looking even angrier than before. 174

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"You've got to try and relax while the magic does its work." Elryk kept a wary eye on the advancing golden sphere as well as Rhunnyt while he was speaking. "It'll hurt less if you just let it flow through your body." "It didn't hurt." Not yet at least, but if Rhunnyt upped the power on the third try, who knew what would happen. "Thanks for the warning, though." "Here he goes." Elryk took a deep breath and focused on Rhunnyt and the golden sphere, which was now only a foot away from the evil wizard. Rhunnyt snarled as he drew a protective energy circle around himself before resuming his attack. This time he threw a bundle of lightning at the advancing golden wall of energy. The reflection was so fast that it hit the wizard's protective shield with more force than it could take. It imploded in a flash of hissing sparks that burned the wizard's robe where it touched and scorched the skin on his hands and face. Then the golden magic reached him. It didn't do anything visible at first. Rhunnyt stood perfectly still as it scanned his body, then he started laughing when nothing seemed to happen. Once the scan was complete, Rhunnyt's entire body started glowing. A golden hue at first, the intensity increased in brightness until Rhunnyt stopped laughing. He stared into the middle distance and his jaw went slack. Kaythan saw pictures of what looked like Rhunnyt's life flicker past his inner eye. From a very young age, he'd been cruel and dominating. As he got older, the misdeeds got 175

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

worse, ending in torture and random murder. The golden magic was now bright enough to be blinding in its intensity. Kaythan turned his head away to protect his eyes. "You see it, too?" Elryk had turned towards him, his eyes wide in horror. "Yeah, it looks like the golden magic is reviewing his life." He dared a brief peek towards the evil wizard. Rhunnyt stood rooted to the spot, his face contorted into a mask of pain. It looked as though he was screaming, but there was no sound. "I think it's making him see and feel what his victims felt." Elryk closed his eyes. "I can sense a vague echo of his reaction if I really focus." "I don't think I want to know." Seeing those pictures in his mind had been enough. He didn't want to feel the brutality as well. "You're right, you don't." Elryk opened his eyes, but looked only at him. Suddenly there was a bright golden flash, a crackling sound like thunder and the echo of a scream. Then the golden light was gone, except for the small bubble around their wrists. Kaythan dared to look to his left, wanting to make sure Rhunnyt didn't attack them again. His jaw dropped. Rhunnyt was no longer alive. He had been turned into a statue with a light golden hue. It was the most lifelike statue Kaythan had ever seen. The wizard's face was still a mask of agony, his eyes wide and almost alive. His body had been 176

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

preserved exactly as it had been before, scorched skin and burned robe included. "Wow." Elryk's hand started shaking. "I guess he'll serve as a reminder of what happens to those who abuse their power." "Pretty effective if you ask me." Kaythan turned around to check the other wizards' reaction. The nine purple-robed Council members were staring at Rhunnyt's statue. None of them moved. It seemed as if they were in some sort of stasis. "I wonder whether the golden magic really is some sort of elemental justice. If it is, it should help us deal with the Council members and all the other people who were involved in the atrocities, as well." Elryk frowned. "I just hope it doesn't turn all of them into statues." "Only one way to find out." He lifted their still joined hands and pointed at the golden sphere. "If this golden magic is as powerful as you suspect, we'll have to be very careful with it." "The same goes for anyone who uses it. Although—it almost felt as if it had its own agenda. I mean, we started it, but it didn't feel like we had a lot of control over it. Not like my normal magic." Elryk was pale. "It definitely felt like a force of nature." He grinned. "Not that I know how other types of magic feel, but even the shards seemed to have their own life and purpose before we ever touched them. It's not that surprising to find that magic coming into existence with their help has some of the same characteristics." 177

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"That would mean we're its instruments more than the other way around? That would be in line with it being an elemental force, you know?" Elryk nodded slowly. The nine wizards around the table were now all looking at Elryk and him. It made him feel like a bug under a microscope. The two earth wizards were ashen and sat still as stone. The two water wizards had also stopped moving, a more than unusual situation for them. The two air wizards looked wind blown, totally exhausted. The two fire wizards had blushed a deep red but looked ready to faint despite their healthy colour. Only the fire wizard who was the current head of the Magic Council seemed to slowly return to life. The old wizard rose, opening and closing his mouth in an apparently futile attempt to speak. No sound fell from his lips as his eyes grew more and more desperate. "I think it's time to test our theory. If the golden magic is like an elemental force, it should heal those who can be redeemed and punish the others." Elryk turned towards the table. When they lifted their joined hands, the golden sphere started pulsing and expanding again. It had a slightly red hue this time. Was that due to a link to the healing and cleansing powers of fire magic? Whatever it was, as the sphere's surface reached the first wizard, it enveloped his body, made it glow, then moved on to the next one as the first wizard slumped onto the table, snoring loudly. 178

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

Kaythan's eyes widened as he watched each wizard go through pretty much the same treatment. The two earth wizards went straight to sleep once the golden wall had passed them. One of the water wizards stayed awake. Both the fire wizards seemed to suffer some pain before they dropped off to sleep, but neither of them turned into a statue. The air wizards went straight to sleep as well, which left the current High Wizard still standing. When the golden magic reached him, there was a brief flash as his body started glowing. Kaythan had an impression of the man's life flashing by, then his body stiffened into the statue-like appearance that Rhunnyt had already taken. "I guess it was too late to save him." Elryk shuddered. "He was in charge of killing my ex-lover, Zolak. I can't say I feel sorry that he's gone." "He's really dead?" Kaythan wasn't sure he liked the brutality of this type of justice. It might be necessary in this case, but still. "I can't feel his heartbeat. So yes, he's dead." Elryk nodded. "I guess some people are beyond redemption. It looks like the golden magic, whatever power it represents, agrees with that." Kaythan looked around the room to take stock of their situation. "I guess we've completed part one of our task. All we need now is a new High Wizard to lead the Magic Council." "We'll need one for a fresh start." Elryk scratched his head. "The problem is going to be finding a lightning wizard with enough potential to be a Grand Master. None of the surviving ones are strong enough." 179

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"I think the solution is pretty obvious." He grinned. His mate was too modest. Or maybe he was hesitant about taking a position of such power? "You are, after all, a lighting wizard of Grand Master rank, aren't you?" "Yes, but..." Elryk looked somewhat hesitant. "No buts, I think these guys need a proper leader. And who better to take over than you? You've fought long and hard to get here and what is more, you have my full support." "I do?" Elryk smiled. "You're not going to be mad if I spend a lot of time working? It'll take a while to get everything back in order." "I have no problem with that." How could Elryk even think that? "Besides, I think the Law Forces will be pretty busy as well, so it's not like I'll be sitting around, waiting for you to come home." "I never imagined you would." Elryk's grin was infectious. "What happened?" The water wizard who had stayed awake seemed to have shaken off his daze. Some of the others were slowly waking up, looking confused at first. When they were all more or less awake, Elryk told them the short version of what had happened. Memory dawned on their faces, and soon they all tried to speak at the same time. Kaythan held up a hand and the shock of a non-wizard in their midst made them all shut up. Normally, non-wizards weren't even allowed inside the meeting room while the Magic Council was in session. "Thank you." Kaythan grinned. "I only wanted to say that it would help if you spoke one at a time." 180

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"Indeed." The leading water wizard raised his eyebrows at him before turning back to Elryk. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Izmut Dok'olal. I believe I speak for all of us when I say thank you for all you have done, Elryk. It seems to me that a great deal is going to change now, hopefully for the better." A general murmur and nodding of heads indicated agreement. "I believe the first order of business before the Magic Council is the election of a new leader. We have much work to do and will need someone to coordinate with the Law Forces, the Ruling Assembly and anyone else in charge." Izmut looked around and smiled when all he saw was nodding heads. "I hereby nominate Elryk Muyd'omir." Kaythan grinned and Elryk shrugged. "I second that." Every single one of the seven remaining wizards spoke at the same time. "I guess it's unanimous, then." Izmut grinned as he turned to Elryk and bowed formally. "Congratulations, Grand Master Elryk. We are honoured to have an accomplished lightning wizard in our midst yet again." "Thank you." Elryk nodded at the group, looking a little uncomfortable. "I'm sure it won't be so bad." Kaythan stepped up to him and took his hand, immediately calming him down. "Yeah, well, someone has to do it, I guess. Just not today, okay?" Elryk turned back to Izmut. "I think we should all take the rest of the day off. I need a break for one, and we need to develop a plan for dealing with the Xoh'kas and the magic 181

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

thieves in a way that won't let everything collapse because people panic." "That is an excellent idea." Izmut nodded. "Anyone opposed?" None of the other wizards had any problems with the suggestion. They got up and started filing out of the meeting room, obviously eager to get the news to their families. Kaythan turned to his mate and smiled, promising him their own private rest and relaxation. From Elryk's enthusiastic reaction, it looked as if the other man had gotten the message and agreed with his plan. [Back to Table of Contents]

182

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

Chapter Twelve **** Elryk smiled as he remembered yesterday's 'rest and relaxation' as Kaythan had insisted on calling it. It hadn't been restful or relaxing at all, but he'd felt invigorated nonetheless. There was just something about having sex with his mate that did it for him on a very fundamental level. If he was honest with himself, it might have something to do with the fact that he no longer felt as if they were just having sex. It had already become a lot more meaningful than that. Now it was the next morning and they needed to get back to the business of restoring the magical balance as well as law and order on Tah'Nut. They'd made their way back to the Magic Council's meeting room to find the other wizards already there. He'd received several sideways glances from them, none of them approving. Bringing Kaythan into the meeting room yet again seemed to annoy them, but nobody had dared say anything yet. He wasn't willing to do without the strategic and tactical advice an experienced Law Forces Commander could add to their plans. While that was the official reason he was going to give if challenged, he'd already admitted to Kaythan that he didn't feel up to the task all by himself. His mate had agreed, adding that they'd most probably need the golden magic to make this work, and that only worked with the two of them present. 183

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

When everyone was seated, one of the two temporary guards, both younger wizards, closed the door to the outside world. Elryk called the meeting to order and opened the floor to any questions the others might have before they kicked off the detailed planning. "Yes, I do have a question, actually." Cybek, one of the oldest earth wizards still alive, was frowning. "Why did you bring this Law Forces Commander into a meeting of the Magic Council? Granted, the Law Forces Executive has been disbanded by the Xoh'kas, but surely it would make more sense for them to get that going again and then have their own meetings?" A few of the other wizards nodded and murmured their agreement. "First of all, I believe we are far from a normal situation. This is still an emergency. So we need to do things differently." Elryk was sure that lots of things would need to change once the emergency had been dealt with, but he wasn't going to confront the group of old wizards with all his new ideas at once. "Second of all, Kaythan's perspective on any strategies we develop will be invaluable, as will his contacts within the Law Forces. And third of all, he is my mate and the golden magic, whatever it is, only works with both of us present." "I agree that this is an emergency, and as such, we should make an exception." Izmut, the water wizard, looked a lot better today than he had yesterday. "But surely it would be enough to inform him of the outcome of our meeting after we're done?" 184

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"I will not have him treated as a second-class member of this group. I believe that it's high time we stop the separation of the three governing bodies for much of the business we do." Elryk sighed. "It may take us a while to get there, but I think our future lies in cooperating with each other, not in keeping us all apart, following our own agendas." "Be that as it may, we have more urgent things to talk about." Golmur already looked agitated and they hadn't even started any real discussions. But then, fire wizards weren't known for their patience or restraint. "Yes, we do." Elryk grinned. Time to let them know about some of his other ideas. It wouldn't do to let them become complacent. A heavy bang on the door to the outside world was immediately followed by a splintering sound as it burst open. A group of five Xoh'kas in their black uniform-like suits entered, flanked by armed members of the Law Forces. The first one to burst into the room was the current head of the Xoh'kas family, Trolar. He'd hoped they'd have some more time to make plans and do this in an orderly fashion. Shit, there must be a leak inside the Magic Council, even after the golden magic had 'cleansed' everyone yesterday. How else would Trolar and his cronies have found out about their meeting? Elryk reached for Kaythan's left hand, linking their wrists just in case this got ugly. Not that there was any real doubt in his mind that this would escalate. The tiny golden sphere popped into existence immediately, staying small and inconspicuous for now. 185

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"What in the divine spirit's name is going on here?" Trolar looked around the room, his eyes widening when he discovered the two statues of Rhunnyt and the previous High Wizard in one of the corners. "Justice has been served, as you can see." Elryk pointed at the statues to make sure Trolar knew what he was talking about. "Jus-justice?" Trolar took a step farther into the room. "You call turning people into statues justice?" "It wasn't my decision." Elryk shrugged, realising how strange this sounded to someone who hadn't seen the golden magic in action. "What you see here is the result of the golden magic doing its work." "Golden magic?" Trolar laughed then looked around the table. "Are you just going to sit here and let this madman take over? There is no such thing as golden magic, you should know that." "You will see." Izmut shook his head. "We didn't believe it possible either until we saw it with our own eyes." "Ridiculous. Bunch of old idiots." Trolar turned his attention back to Elryk. "And who are you to be handing out justice anyway? That's the Ruling Assembly's job. And since I'm its head, I get to decide what justice needs to be done." "You're wrong." Kaythan's voice was quiet but clear. "Handing out justice used to be the Law Force's job. Until the Xoh'kas family disbanded all the judges and took matters into its own hands. This will no longer be tolerated."

186

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"And who are you to be making these pronouncements?" Trolar's face showed his disdain clearly. "A mere Law Forces Commander getting involved in politics? That's just absurd!" "Actually, what he says is true." Elryk smiled. "And it's high time that your despicable practices of torture, blackmail, and plain exploitation stop." "And who's going to stop us—exactly?" Trolar sneered. "The two of you? Look at you, a pathetic lawman and a wanted criminal wizard. Holding hands like two children too afraid to stand on their own. Don't make me laugh." Well, that did it. Nobody insulted his mate. Elryk nodded at Kaythan and they lifted their linked hands, making the sphere expand beyond the round table and the frozen wizards. Most of them looked resigned to a fate of being put back to sleep again. He didn't think that would happen the second time around. After all, the golden sphere had scanned and healed them yesterday already. "May only the just survive the wrath of the golden magic." Elryk had no idea where the words came from but Kaythan spoke the exact same ones simultaneously. It was as if a higher power had decided what to do. The golden sphere expanded again, passing most of the wizards without incident. When it got to Cybek, there was a short golden flash and the old wizard's head dropped onto the table. "I guess we have our leak." Elryk grinned. This new magic was turning out to be a highly useful tool indeed. When the golden wall approached the five Xoh'kas and their Law Force guards, the reaction was much like yesterday 187

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

with Rhunnyt. All of the Xoh'kas were enveloped in a golden glow of some duration, their facial expressions changing from shock to despair, then abject horror and pain. One by one they stiffened and all that was left was five more statues. Some of the Law Forces members simply sighed and crumpled as if in slow motion, deep breaths or snores emanating from their chests. A very few remained standing and looked bewildered about what was going on. When the golden glow had scanned everyone in the room, it stopped moving outward and returned to its previous size, encircling Elryk's and Kaythan's wrist. It was a start. Elryk still wasn't quite clear how they were going to cleanse the rest of Tah'nut, as well as take care of the magic thieves, but he was sure they would come up with something. Kaythan tuned to the highest-ranking member of the Law Forces who was still standing. "Please remove the sleeping members of your troops from this room. They should awaken shortly and can return to normal duty." Kaythan pointed at the five new statues. "I believe these should be put in the Ruling Assembly's meeting room for now. They can serve as an example. What do you think, Elryk?" "I like that idea." He grinned. "We'll probably have a few more of these before we're done, and this way everyone will be warned." The men of the Law Forces started dragging their snoring comrades outside. Then they took the statues and soon closed the doors behind them. Everyone sat back down. 188

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"It seems to me that we need to find a way to spread the golden magic across all of Tah'Nut if we want to get rid of the old regime." Villzot was one of the air wizards and hadn't said much so far. "I think you're right. It will take some time and a lot of energy, but we can certainly do it." Elryk sat back. "It might take too long to get to every individual separately, though." "I think you're right." Kaythan looked thoughtful. "I'm sure that most people don't want the Xoh'kas anymore than we do, so once they know the regime has ended, they'll help us bring the few who were pro-Xoh'kas to justice." "That would mean we need to take care of the Ruling Assembly and the top echelons of the Law Forces first." Elryk nodded. "That could work." "No time like the present." Kaythan took his hand, linking their fingers and making sure their wrists touched. Getting comfortable in his seat, he leant back and focused on the golden magic and its power to help them flush out the criminals. The sphere formed quickly and started expanding, filling the room, then moving beyond its walls. The urge to close his eyes was overpowering, so he did. It was as if one of those cinema screens from Earth had been put up behind his eyelids. The whole government building complex was visible before his inner eye. He followed the golden wall as it advanced across the buildings, putting officials to sleep, leaving some of them behind as statues. "Do you see that?" Kaythan's voice was a mere whisper. "Yes, it's amazing." He squeezed Kaythan's fingers. 189

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

The golden wall of energy moved out, beyond the buildings, and across all of the city of Tah'Algor. People everywhere started rejoicing as the cruellest guards stopped moving and others simply fell asleep. He was getting tired and could feel Kaythan's hand shaking in his. The wall of golden magic had reached the outer limits of the city when it started to waver, then it collapsed. "I need a break." Kaythan sounded as exhausted as Elryk felt. "We need to recharge our energies, that's for sure." Elryk opened his eyes and winked at his mate. The need to have him in his arms had grown more urgent the longer they'd kept the golden magic going. He was pretty sure that the mate bond and the energy they created between them was behind this new phenomenon. "In private?" Kaythan's eyes widened, sparkling with interest. "That's worked for us so far." He was sure they could keep up the golden magic for longer time periods if they kept refuelling it as they went. He couldn't wait to test his theory. **** Kaythan looked at his sleeping mate. He'd awoken to find Elryk cuddled against him. Squashed was more like it. Their legs were entwined, pressing the other man's pelvis against his hip, and an arm across his chest. Elryk's head was buried into the space between Kaythan's neck and shoulder, the warm breath caressing Kaythan's skin on every exhale. 190

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

Kaythan grinned. It was as if Elryk had tried to crawl inside him. He smiled. They both seemed equally eager to be close to each other even in sleep. If Elryk wasn't crawling half on top of him, he was the one doing the crawling. It didn't seem to matter who took the initiative, they always ended up in roughly the same position by the next morning. They'd been too tired last night to do anything but fall asleep. Keeping the golden magic going for so long had exhausted them both. Kaythan had barely been able to understand what Elryk meant when he'd talked about recharging their energy to keep the golden magic going. Now that he was rested, Kaythan was eager to see if Elryk's theory was correct. It was more than trying to find out if a theory was correct, though. Something was missing in their mate bond. He'd started to feel it during yesterday's long session, and it had worried him. But he'd been too tired to figure it out. He still didn't know quite what it was. They were getting along well, the sex was spectacular and yet Kaythan felt uneasy. "What's wrong?" Elryk turned his head slightly to nuzzle Kaythan's neck. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you." He sighed. "I don't know what's bothering me. Everything should be okay but I feel like something important is missing." "Come here." Elryk pulled him onto his side so they were lying front to front. Nice. His cock started filling, as did Elryk's, pushing up against him. Tah', but he had it bad for this man. Elryk placed 191

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

an open-mouthed kiss on his lips, tongue moving inside to caress his own. Sweet moans were pushed inside his lungs as Elryk deepened the kiss. When Elryk pulled back minutes later, Kaythan almost voiced his protest. "Do you trust me?" Those midnight-black eyes were wide, his mate's gaze open and loving. "Of course I trust you. With my life." What sort of a question was that? "It's just that—something is missing." Elryk blinked, his eyes shining. "You feel it, too?" Kaythan felt his eyebrows rise. "Yes. I just wasn't sure you did." Elryk sighed. "This mate business is turning out to be more mutual than I expected." "Well that's good, right?" He was confused now. "That depends on how far you're willing to go." Elryk swallowed. "I need to make love to you, Kaythan. It's been driving me mad ever since you took me for the first time in the fifth chamber of the temple." "So where's the problem?" Kaythan smiled and relaxed. He knew what was wrong now. Their mate bond wasn't complete. "Don't you know that I'd do anything for you and with you?" "No, I don't." Elryk dropped his head. "I don't know how willing you are to let me—you know?" "Elryk, dearling. Look at me." Kaythan used a finger to push Elryk's chin up so he could see his mate's eyes. "I've never wanted it with anyone else. But with you, everything is different. I didn't know why I was so uneasy. I had no idea 192

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

how to fix it. Now that you've mentioned the solution, I can feel that it's right." "You can?" Elryk's big eyes brightened. "Oh, yes." He was more relieved than he could express, so he kissed Elryk instead. It was a deep kiss, claiming and passionate. Their cocks came to full arousal almost at the same time. He moaned and turned onto his back, taking Elryk with him so his mate lay on top of him. He spread his legs and Elryk wiggled until their cocks were aligned comfortably. This was good. Elryk started kissing and nibbling his way along Kaythan's jaw, down his neck and across his pecs to a nipple. At the first careful lick, Kaythan almost came up off the bed. The feeling was so intense, it sent shivers of desire straight to his cock. When the first nipple had been thoroughly licked, teased and lightly bitten, Elryk moved to the other one. Kaythan was writhing with desire by the time his mate finally moved on, licking a path to his bellybutton and straight down to his pubes. Taking a deep sniff of his scent, Elryk slid his warm hands along Kaythan's inner thighs and pushed them up and apart. Oh, Tah', he was done for now. Elryk licked and laved his balls, deep sighs of enjoyment making it clear how much his mate liked this. Kaythan made sure his legs were spread as wide as possible so the other man could get everywhere he wanted. When Elryk slid his thumbs along Kaythan's thighs, caressing the crease between groin and upper leg, Kaythan whimpered. When his mate pushed further inward and 193

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

exerted light pressure on the sensitive skin just behind Kaythan's balls, he yelped and his hips bucked up of their own accord. "Perfect." Elryk quickly slid his hands back along his thighs to hold them up and back, exposing Kaythan completely. When Elryk's tongue moved across the entire length of his crack, Kaythan thought he'd come. The pleasure was indescribable. Elryk followed up with more licks until he finally honed in on his hole. "Fuck!" Kaythan had never felt anything like it. "We will." Elryk lifted his head and winked at him. "Please." Kaythan wiggled and pushed towards that tongue as if his life depended on it. Elryk didn't disappoint him. Licking around the hole in dizzy-making circles and finally pushing his way in with his agile tongue, his mate drove him totally crazy with desire. Kaythan swore he was going to do the same to Elryk. Soon. Nobody should go without this sort of pleasure. "Please." Kaythan was breathing hard, the need for more almost too much to bear. "Please fuck me." Elryk chuckled and replaced his tongue with a slender finger. His head came up between Kaythan's legs and his mate watched him as the finger went in further. Next thing Kaythan knew, a pleasure so overwhelming that he had to scream with it, raced up his spine. The need to come became overwhelming. "Fuck." Breaths coming in irregular gasps Kaythan bucked and pushed until Elryk hit that spot again. "What. Is. That?" "Sex magic." Elryk's grin almost split his face. 194

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

Kaythan could believe it. When a second finger joined the first in rubbing that magical spot in just the right way, he thought he wasn't going to make it. "Can't. Can't hold it." Kaythan arched his back, his balls rising in readiness for much needed relief. At the last moment, Elryk squeezed the base of his cock and the need to come receded. Just enough to leave him panting for it. "Not yet." Elryk's eyes were large and glazed with lust. "I want you to wait until I'm inside you." "Then fuck me." Tah', he needed that beautiful cock inside him. Now. "Please, fuck me." "With pleasure." Elryk lined up his swollen cock and pushed the head inside. "Tah'!" Kaythan breathed through the sudden burn. "Tah', that feels good. Give me more." With a look of intense concentration and rising lust, Elryk pushed his entire fat cock inside in one smooth movement. Full. He'd never been this full. He'd also never been more aroused or more in need of release. Elryk slid his hands to Kaythan's side, holding his hips up at the right angle and keeping his legs spread. Staring into his eyes, his mate began to move. Slow, deep strokes that hit his pleasure spot every time and made him howl with the rising arousal. Then Elryk moved faster and Kaythan started meeting his thrusts, increasing the power of their coupling almost beyond what was bearable. Finally, still looking deep into his eyes, Elryk pounded him so hard that he couldn't hold back. 195

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"Elryk!" Kaythan's balls rose and his orgasm overwhelmed him. Without a touch to his cock he started coming so hard that his teeth rattled. Spurt after spurt of hot semen coated his chest and abdomen, his hole contracting with each glorious burst of relief. "Kaythan!" Elryk's response was just as vocal and his mate drove deep one last time before releasing his semen into Kaythan's still clenching channel. Elryk's cock pulsed inside Kaythan, filling him with his love. It was the most amazing feeling to have part of his mate so deep inside him. "I love you." Kaythan couldn't hold back the words anymore. He knew deep down that it was true and he needed to let Elryk know. Elryk's eyes widened and his mate collapsed onto his chest, letting Kaythan's legs slide back down onto the bed. Kaythan brought up his arms and held his lover as close as possible while they were trying to catch their breath. "I love you too, my mate." Elryk finally lifted his head. Kaythan looked into the black depths that were now filled with love. He smiled. Now everything would be okay. When they had cleaned up and were sitting down at the little kitchen table to have breakfast, there was loud banging on the front door. "Who even knows we're here?" Elryk looked shocked before a big grin spread across his face. "It's okay, you'll like our visitors." "I hate it when you can use magic to find stuff out." But he was grinning. 196

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

As left out as he sometimes felt, he was glad that Elryk used his talents to keep them both safe. He got up, shaking his head as he made his way to see who was there. They'd decided to remain at his friend's country house for now. They'd figured it would be more private than moving into Kaythan's city residence. It didn't look as if it had done them a lot of good. "Good morning, my friend." Arith stood there, widely grinning and looking at least two hundred years younger than when they'd last met only a few days ago. "Good morning." Nysat's grin was almost as wide, his dark eyes were sparkling. "G-good morning indeed." He laughed as he stepped aside to let the two surprise visitors enter. "Please come in. We were just about to have breakfast. You're welcome to join us, of course." "A cup of tea would be wonderful." Arith greeted Elryk with a hug. "Same for me." Nysat slapped Elryk on the back and took a seat. The table was really too small for four people, but their two guests sat back, sipping their tea, while Elryk and he devoured their bread and fruit. "What brings you here?" He finally couldn't suppress his curiosity any longer. "Arith had a vision." Nysat leant back in his chair, folding is hands above his stomach. "There is no time to lose and you'll need all the support you can get, so we decided to come and join you." 197

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"Okay, you've got my attention." Kaythan looked at Elryk. He nodded his agreement. "We're experiencing a much more accelerated pace of magic theft than ever before." Arith frowned. "We only noticed it because we were trying to find a connection between the gateway's energies and the golden magic. We found the connection, as expected, but the power flow away from the gateway into unidentified individuals has also increased." "You mean non-wizards?" Elryk's eyes were big with shock. "Yes. We think that the power vacuum that was created when the Xoh'kas and the corrupt Law Forces officers were removed by the golden magic has encouraged the magic thieves to become bolder than ever." Arith rubbed his temples. "If we don't stop them, they'll soon be holding all the magic energy and there will be none left for the wizards and other legal users." [Back to Table of Contents]

198

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

Chapter Thirteen **** "We've been going about this in completely the wrong way." Elryk sat up with the sudden realisation of what he should have seen days ago. "We've been thinking about catching the magic thieves and punishing them, like other criminals, in the hopes that it'll discourage others from stealing magic as well." "That's usually how you stop offenders, yes." Kaythan frowned. "It's also why we have laws in the first place." "Usually is the key word here." Elryk grinned, excited about his insight. "But this isn't a normal situation. Magic isn't tangible, so it's much harder to trace when it goes missing. It's difficult to prove that someone using it hasn't legally acquired it, and most of all, it's provided for free by the gateway. But we also know that it only works when it's handled by a trained person with certain talents, in other words a wizard, or when it's captured by a magically enhanced gadget that makes it available to non-magical people." "So because it seems to be free, the magic thieves think it's fine to take it and give it to others without obeying the rules?" Kaythan raised his eyebrows. "Yes, I think that's why they've been doing it and why nothing anyone has said has been able to stop them. They simply didn't believe normal laws applied to something as 199

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

intangible as magic." Elryk looked at his friends, but from their slightly puzzled looks it was obvious they hadn't understood what he was getting at. "What I've just realised is that instead of trying to trace the illegal magic, we need to think about how they go about stealing it in the first place. Once we know that, we have a much better chance of stopping them—right at the source." "I think you're onto something." Arith tilted his head in thought. "Even if the thieves understood how dangerous it is to give away magic without regard for the proper handling of it, they probably couldn't do it unless they were wizards themselves. Is that what you're thinking?" "It could be that they're wizards who have fallen in love with the idea of giving something to people they'd normally have to pay for. It would certainly be a way for them to become popular in a hurry." Elryk smiled. "I now see that it might be possible that someone, a wizard for sure, created some sort of gadget that enabled non-magicals to handle magic. That would explain why so much magic has been vanishing. If more wizards were involved, they'd run the risk of detection. But if it was some gadget that many different people could use, they'd be more difficult to trace and capture." "A gadget to steal magic?" Nysat shook his head. "How did you even come up with that idea?" "I guess I've spent too much time around humans." Elryk grinned. "They have gadgets and machines for everything. Granted, theirs aren't run by magic, but based on something 200

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

called science. The idea is to have inanimate things to do their work for them." "And you think that's what's been going on here?" Kaythan scratched his head. "It makes catching these people even more difficult." "I agree. So, I've come to the conclusion that trying to do that, at least initially, is the wrong approach. There's only one way to stop them." He paused for dramatic effect, waiting until everyone was looking at him. "We've got to cut them off at the source." Stunned silence was the response. "I'm hoping you don't mean cutting off the flow of energies that come from the gateway." Kaythan sat forward in his chair. It might stop the thieves, but it would also stop everything else from working." "No, that's not what I mean." Elryk took his mate's hand. "I think we have a few choices. We can try to repair the Muyd'Othar, so that it can take up its guardian function again. That should stop the thieves from going straight to the gateway and limit them to siphoning off magic from willing or unwilling wizards. With new, non-corrupt Law Forces and a yet to be rebuilt House of Justice, we should be able to get a handle on those criminals." "I'm not sure that's even possible." Kaythan looked sad. "I don't see how we can put all those shards back together again." "I agree. Which leads to our second choice." Elryk grinned, waiting for someone to guess what he was thinking. 201

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"You mean—making a new Magic Shield?" Arith shook his head. "I'm afraid that's way beyond our current capabilities. We can do some research to try to find out how it was done, but I suspect that will take a few years. Whatever process was used, I suspect it won't be easy to replicate it." "I agree, and we don't have that sort of time." Nysat's eyes twinkled. "But I'm beginning to see what you're getting at." "Yeah, so am I." Kaythan smiled. "You're thinking we should find a way to use the golden magic to stop the energy from leaking, then use the full power of the gateway to track the thieves, right?" "That's exactly what I was thinking. We'll probably have to go to the First Gateway, because the energy is strongest there, but that shouldn't be a problem." Elryk felt optimistic for the first time in a while. They got ready to leave, and Nysat transported them to the oldest known gateway at the foot of the mountains north of Tah'Algor. The guards let them through without hesitation, and they were soon in the ancient grotto. Not that it looked like a grotto anymore. Previous generations had covered the walls with marble, provided comfortable seats for visitors and generally made the source of all of Tah'Nut's magical power look like a tourist attraction. Elryk stepped closer to the 'hole in reality' as many had called it. It was as high as five grown men in radius and almost perfectly round. Spread out across the back wall of the room, he could feel its power flowing into him. It was weaker than he remembered from a previous visit. 202

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

Kaythan stood next to him and he automatically reached for his mate. The second their hands touched, the need to connect their mate crystals became overwhelming. Since they were going to have to use the golden magic anyway to trace the leaks, Elryk connected his wrist with Kaythan's. The small golden sphere around their wrists formed immediately. "Tah', that feels strange." Kaythan's eyes were big as he stared into the vortex of colourful energies. "It's almost as if—something—wants to communicate with us." Elryk's brain tingled. There was some sort of intelligence in there, he was sure. "I can't understand what it's saying, though." "One thing is definitely out of order." Arith had stepped up and stood next to them, staring into the swirling colours with a deep frown on his face. "The last time I was here was before the Xoh'kas took over. That yellow tinge definitely wasn't there back then." Elryk looked more closely. Damn, Arith was right. There was a slight yellowish hue to the entire vortex. Like a sheer veil that covered the entire surface. He would never have noticed it if Arith hadn't said something. "You think it doesn't belong there, don't you?" Kaythan looked at Arith. "It certainly wasn't there last time I checked." Arith nodded. "Do you think it could be what's stopping mate bonds from forming?" Elryk could feel it in his bones, but that might be wishful thinking. "I think that is entirely possible." Arith was still frowning. 203

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"Let's try and find out." Elryk lifted their linked hands. "If it's something that isn't supposed to be here, I'm sure the golden magic will be able to deal with it." Focusing all his attention on the vortex, he helped Kaythan push the golden sphere outward until it touched the vortex. There was a blinding flash of light, and sparks flew all over the grotto. Something like a sigh sounded in his brain, and the yellowish hue was pushed out and dropped onto the white marble floor in a heap of dirty ashes. The vortex brightened visibly. The walls, ceiling and floor seemed to sparkle with refreshed energy. "That's more like it." Arith smiled in relief. "It looks like you were right. Someone put that thing there to stop part of what comes from the vortex from working." Elryk frowned. "I wonder who it was and how they did it?" "I don't think we'll ever find out." Nysat shrugged. "I think I know just the person who can help figure this out for us. He might be able to find a way to communicate with whatever seems to live inside the vortex while he's at it. If we do end up finding some sort of gadget the non-magical thieves may have used to siphon off gateway energy, I'm sure he can discover how that works. He might even be able to find a way of repairing the Muyd'Othar." Not to mention that Elryk would have one of his best friends with him, at least for the duration of the project. "That sounds a lot like a miracle worker." Nysat looked sceptical. "No, just a scientist." Elryk grinned as three pairs of eyes stared at him as if he'd grown a second head. "His name is 204

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

Parker Stokes. He's a great physicist, which means natural phenomena like this vortex are his speciality. He was expressing an interest in researching the gateway opening on Earth. I think I might be able to convince him to do his research here, instead. Oh, and he's a wonderful man as well. I think you'll like him." "Should I be jealous?" Kaythan said it with a smile, but the slight tension in his hand told a different story. "You know better than that." Elryk stroked his lover's hand with his thumb. "We're mated, and there's no space in my heart for anyone besides you." Kaythan's eyes lit up and his smile brightened. "It sounds like we should get this Parker to Tah'Nut as soon as possible." Arith nodded at Nysat, who was staring at the vortex with a faraway look in his eyes. "And not just because he might be able to help us with understanding the gateway energies and the vortex better." "What?" Elryk looked at Nysat, but the man had now returned to normal. That was certainly interesting. "Okay, before we do that, I believe we still have some work to do to make sure the magic thieves can't access the gateway energies anymore." Kaythan, of course, brought them back to reality. Elryk led them over to one of the comfortable seats. He had a feeling this could take awhile. The golden sphere expanded as directed and soon touched the vortex. But there was no way to shut off its energies. They kept flowing around the sphere, finding their way out of 205

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

the grotto. He could even sense them, if he focused hard enough. "This won't work." Elryk looked up into Arith's face. "We can't shut the energies off like we thought we could." "Maybe it's better to use the vortex's energy to fuel the golden magic directly?" Nysat pointed at the pulsing sphere. "That way you can expand it beyond the grotto and find the thieves. Maybe they'll fall asleep like those Xoh'kas who weren't quite reprehensible enough to be changed into statues? Then we can have the Law Forces pick them up?" "That's a good idea. "Kaythan nodded. "But we should try to mark them or their homes while we're at it, so we have time to send officers out to arrest them. They won't be able to be everywhere at the same time." Leave it to his mate to get them organised. Elryk closed his eyes again and focused on the golden sphere. He concentrated on pushing out the sphere, feeling his way along as it moved across the city and beyond. A few houses here and there started glowing in a painfully bright gold. The occasional citizen stopped in his or her tracks, an unmistakable golden circlet around their heads and wrists. Some fell asleep in addition to being physically marked. Elryk was shocked by how many people were affected. It seemed that free magic had been too difficult to resists even for otherwise law-abiding citizens. **** "I still can't believe I was the only suitable candidate!" Kaythan sat back on his sofa, stretched his legs, relieved that 206

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

he'd taken boots and socks off as soon as they'd made it through the door. He dropped his aching head onto the high backrest with a sigh. It was good to finally be home. The last few days, ever since they'd started to capture the magic thieves, had been hectic. The initial 'marking' of everyone involved in magic theft had been very effective. The thieves were now being arrested legally and on a massive scale all over Tah'Nut. Even though the golden magic had accused them, they needed to be properly charged and tried in a court of law, or the new regime wouldn't be any better than the Xoh'kas. The devices they had used, as suspected, to siphon off the gateway energies were being confiscated and collected for Elryk's human friend Parker to examine once he arrived on Tah'Nut. Many ordinary citizens were shocked about how many magic thieves there had been. Relief about something being done was the predominant reaction. There was even talk about a new Age of Justice. With plans of re-establishing the house of Justice as the fourth ruling force in addition to the Magic Council, the Ruling Assembly and the Law Forces, that assessment wasn't too far off the truth. It would take awhile to recruit and train judges, lawyers and prosecutors, but with the official residence of the High Commander available as a school and training centre, they'd given the venture a head start. All they needed now was some people to fill those positions. "Now you know how I felt about becoming High Wizard!" Elryk sat down next to him, smiling and cuddling into his side. 207

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"Yeah, but at least you knew about it for a while before it happened and were able to mentally prepare yourself." He put an arm around his mate's shoulders, his body and soul soothed by Elryk's presence. "I wasn't even aware I'd be the highest-ranking Commander left by the time we'd let the golden magic check the top echelons of the Law Forces. I had no idea there were so many who were corrupt and had fallen to the lure of the Xoh'kas tempting them with privileges." "Do you regret accepting the position?" Elryk looked up at him, a small frown on his high forehead. "Not really. " He sighed. "It's just going to change our lives a lot more than I'd anticipated. I mean, I'd just barely gotten used to being mated to the High Wizard. Moving into your 'official residence' is change enough for me. I still like it a lot more than our other choices, by the way. Then this new appointment hits me, and suddenly, we're both high-ranking officials. I know that the job needs to get done and I'm probably the right person to do it for now, but being under public scrutiny like this isn't really my thing." "We'll make it our thing." Elryk stretched to kiss his lips. "We're in this together anyway because we're mated. It's just a little more official now with you being High Commander. And I really can't see anyone better suited than you to get the Law Forces back in shape and make sure they properly supervise the upcoming elections for the Ruling Assembly." "Thank Tah' we're in this together! I wouldn't want it any other way." He bent his head so he could reach Elryk's lips for more kisses. 208

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

Little nibbles along his mate's lips drove them both a little crazy for more. But he wasn't ready to give in to his body's demands. Kaythan pulled back. "There's one thing I want to talk to you about before we kick off our first weekend together in our new home." He'd been wrestling with the idea for a while and wanted to know what Elryk thought before he brought it up in the big allgovernment meeting on Firstday. "Okay." Elryk smiled "But just the one thing. I really do want this weekend to be special. That means no talk about work, in case you were wondering." "I wasn't, and I agree with you." He grinned and squeezed Elryk's shoulders for reassurance. "I've been thinking a lot about the people we'd want in the House of Justice. Add to that the many empty positions in the Ruling Assembly and the Law Forces, and there are quite a few jobs that need filling." "I'm with you so far. It's going to be a huge challenge." Elryk nodded. "I was wondering whether we should suggest something a little less traditional." He cleared his throat. "So far, there were strict rules about who could be a member of which governmental team. Wizards were only allowed in the Magic Council, which didn't accept any non-magical people. Wizards weren't welcome in any of the other groups, and each of the other groups had strict rules about who could be a member." "I can see what you mean!" Elryk looked excited. "Looking at what's happened over the last two hundred years, it's become clear to me that this total exclusivity leads 209

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

to tunnel vision and a lack of understanding of each other's issues. Not to mention isolationism and a lack of cooperation." Kaythan paused. "I think it's time we break the old mould and try more of a team approach." "Some might even call that idea revolutionary." Elryk grinned from ear to ear. "From the look on your face that's a good thing?" He sure hoped so. He'd gotten quite fond of this idea ever since it had first occurred to him. "Absolutely!" Elryk nodded. "As long as we have strict separation of function between the teams that make up our government, there shouldn't be any restrictions on who sits where. Well, except for a majority of the Magic Council needing to be wizards, for obvious reasons. I guess the same would go for the House of Justice and the Law Forces, where most of the top people need to be trained officials." "I'm so relieved you agree." He smiled. "I wasn't going to suggest it on Firstday without having talked to you about it, but it seems to be the obvious next step to me. With the two of us already linking the Magic Council and the Law Forces more closely than ever before, I think the other teams need similar cross-linkages as well. It'll make the whole a lot stronger, I believe." "I think it will also be good for the magic balance to make sure the linkages represent the different types of magic." Elryk leaned his head against Kaythan's shoulders. "But I'm sure we can work out the details when we get back to work. Now, I'm ready for some special celebrations." 210

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"So am I." He wasn't going to try and resist Elryk when his mate suggested what he was sure to be some exciting explorations of their newly formed bond. He got hard just thinking about what they could get up to in the next two days. "Let's take this upstairs?" Elryk got up, took his hand and led the way to their new bedroom. Elryk's eyes twinkled as he motioned for Kaythan to sit on the edge of the bed. He obediently took a seat and leant back on his elbows as he watched his gorgeous mate kneel down between his legs. Elryk opened his pants and pulled out his half hard cock, lovingly giving it a quick lick before he focused on pulling the pants all the way down and off. "Shirt. Off." Elryk pointed at him while he started tearing his own clothes off. "Are we in a hurry?" Kaythan grinned but quickly complied when his mate growled at him. The other man got so wonderfully dominant when he wanted something in the bedroom. He was about to tease Elryk a little more, just for the fun of seeing the caveman in his mate emerge, but the sight of the naked chest completely distracted him. Tah', but this man's body did it for him. Watching him undress was a new delight and he went from half hard to hard as a rock in seconds as Elryk pulled down his pants and revealed his equally hard erection. "You see what you do to me?" Elryk stepped closer, his hard cock pointing away from his body and temptingly close to Kaythan's mouth. 211

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

"It's mutual." He bent forward to try to capture Elryk's cock with his lips, but apparently his mate had other plans. Elryk was back between his knees, his hot lips caressing his shaft and his hands softly kneading his balls before he knew what hit him. "Ungh!" Beyond words already, his hips bucked up as Elryk sucked him all the way down, until the other man's nose was buried in his pubes. When Elryk started to hum, alternating the sounds with swallowing around his glans, Kaythan lost it. He gripped his mate's head and pulled him off his throbbing cock with a supertah'nutian effort. "If you keep doing that I'm going to come. Soon." He caressed his mate's flushed cheeks with his thumbs. "Is that what you want?" Elryk shook his head, his chest heaving for breath. Putting his hands on Kaythan's shoulders, he pushed him down onto his back, motioning towards the middle of the bed. "Move." Elryk grinned, fisting his cock. How was he supposed to do anything but stare? Knowing that neither of them would get to come until he did as his mate asked, he started moving towards the middle of the bed. Elryk got on his hands and knees, straddling his body, and followed him. His mate made sure that their cocks kept touching as they both moved in unison. He groaned. Elryk grinned some more, then rose onto his knees, so his ass was straight above Kaythan's straining cock. His mate reached behind him to take the tip of Kaythan's cock into his 212

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

hand, placing it at his opening. The tight pucker was hot against his cock head and begged him to move towards it. It took everything he had not to push upwards into the tight heat he knew awaited him. He wasn't going to hurt his mate, no matter how blue his balls were getting. He fisted his hands and watched as Elryk got that faraway look in his eyes he always had when he was about to do a spell. Seconds later, cool slickness touching the tip of his aching cock told him that Elryk was ready. With his eyes half closed and his mouth open, his mate started to sink down onto his cock. The agonising slowness made them both moan in anticipation of what was to come. When Elryk was fully seated, he opened his eyes, and put his hands on Kaythan's chest with his palms rubbing Kaythan's already erect nipples. "Fuck!" Kaythan's hips bucked upwards, the drive to thrust overwhelming. "Please!" Elryk's smile was strained, but his eyes were twinkling. "Fuck me hard, dearling." "Oh, Tah'!" It was the first time his wizard had used an endearment and the feeling of closeness and intimacy shot straight into his balls. Kaythan gripped Elryk's hips and thrust up as hard as he could. Elryk's eyes rolled back in his head as he groaned with lust. Kaythan made sure the angle was just right, pulled out slowly then pushed back in with all he had, hitting his mate's special spot "Yes! That's it." Elryk panted. 213

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

Kaythan held on for the ride and thrust up into the tight, pulsing channel of his mate, who was already beginning to come. Spurts of hot semen decorated Kaythan's stomach, the scent driving him on, as he thrust inside one last time and started emptying his balls into Elryk's welcoming body. Moments later, Elryk collapsed onto his chest, burying his face between Kaythan's neck and shoulder. His hot breath caressed the sensitive skin there and Kaythan brought up his arms to hold onto this man he loved. After a while, when they'd caught their breath and his cock was beginning to soften, he pulled out of Elryk's still occasionally clenching hole and turned them onto their sides. His mate waved a tired hand to clean them and snuggled in without another word, one of his legs between Kaythan's thighs in his favourite position for sleeping. Kaythan kept his arms around his mate and closed his eyes. He'd never felt so happy. Everything was going to work out. Elryk had helped him find a way to cleanse Tah'Nut from the evil that had taken hold so long ago. It would still take awhile to spread this new type of justice across the planet, but now that they'd set everything in motion, it should be just a matter of time. Kaythan grinned. Thanks to a wizard's exceptionally long lifespan, which was apparently shared by their mates, they'd have more than enough to return Tah'Nut to prosperity. Taking care of each other while they worked to make their shared passion a reality would be a very welcome bonus.

214

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

Forever had always seemed like a very long time, but with Elryk by his side, his life was certain to be far more interesting than he'd ever thought possible. [Back to Table of Contents]

215

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

About the Author **** I'm a night owl who starts writing when everyone else in my time zone is asleep. I've loved reading all my life and spent most of my childhood with my nose buried in a book. Although I always wanted to be a writer, financial independence came first. Twenty-some years and a successful business career later I took some online writing classes and never looked back. Living and working in seven countries has taught me that there's more than one way to get things done. It has instilled tremendous respect for the many different cultures, beliefs, attitudes and preferences that exist on our planet. I like exploring those differences in my stories, most of which happen to be romances. My characters have a tendency to want to do their own thing, so I often have to rein them back in. The one thing we all agree on is the desire for a happy ending. I currently live in the United Kingdom, sharing my house with a vast collection of books. I like reading, travelling, spending time with my nieces and listening to classical music. I have a passion for science and learning new languages. Email: [email protected]. Serena loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at www.total-e-bound.com. 216

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

**** Also by Serena Yates New Horizons: Discovering the Actor New Horizons: Rescuing the Librarian Men of Riverside: Finding Elliot Stealing My Heart: The Magic Thieves [Back to Table of Contents]

217

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

Total-E-Bound Publishing ****

**** www.total-e-bound.com Take a look at our exciting range of literagasmicTM erotic romance titles and discover pure quality at Total-E-Bound. ****

218

The Magic Thieves by Serena Yates

219