With a groan, he pulled himself to his feet. For the first time, his vision cleared as if a spell was ripped from his eyes.

"Sorry, love, I had to bespell your vision to keep you from getting sick on the journey."

"Um, thanks." He didn't know what else to say. Did you thank a man for kidnapping you?

"You're welcome."

Blinking, Jaynell looked around the place in surprise. The room was warm and intimate. It should be. It was his family home.

"I thought you'd be most comfortable at your home.

You don't need to go back to that school. Those morons couldn't teach you anything anyway. I, and your other teachers, taught you more than most of the people at that 106 *

college. The only reason you went there was because your father had a stupid vision you'd meet your soul mate. I told him I would take care of you, but he wouldn't listen. That's why he had to die." Dragonspawn shook his head sadly.

"I-I thought I killed him."

Michael laughed. "No, honey, it wasn't the lack of magic that killed him. I finished him off because he was dragging you down. I knew you hated the thought of him wasting away." The older man patted his shoulder. "I've always looked out for you."

Jay froze under Dragonspawn's touch. He casually stepped away, both to avoid the other man's hands and to try and figure out a way to get out of the situation. He didn't mind killing the master wizard, not after he'd killed Jay's father, but he didn't want to end up dead. Despite his safeguards, he wasn't positive Thomas would survive his death.

"What do you see us doing in the future? What are you plans?"

There was a long pause before Dragonspawn spoke.

"You are taking this really well."

Jay shrugged. "I wondered why father sent me to that stupid school. The teachers weren't very knowledgeable." He gave the other wizard a knowing smile even though he was certain it cost a piece of his soul. "Not 107 *

like us."

Michael trailed his fingers across Jay's arm.

Jay swallowed to keep down the bile.

"What of your wolf?"

Jay shrugged. "Just because he's bound to me doesn't mean I have to stay with him. He was good in bed, but he has no magical ability. He's fun, but I need more in a permanent match." He was glad Thomas wasn't there to hear him tell such horrible lies. His wolf would be heartbroken if he thought that was really Jay's opinion.

"That's just what I wanted to hear," Michael said with a wide smile. The wizard stepped closer to Jay until they were almost nose-to-nose. "You are the one I waited years for, but there is only one problem."

Jay swallowed the hard lump in his throat.

"What's that?"

Michael sank his fingers into Jay's hair and gripped it tight. "You're a terrible liar."

Gasping, Jay's fingers scrabbled to pull Michael's hand away. "Let me go."

"Certainly, sweetheart. As soon as I drain you of all that lovely power." Dragonspawn licked his lips. "I thought to mate with you, but I see you're foolishly devoted to your stupid wolf. The only thing more appealing than your beautiful body is the amount of power harbored inside.

108.

Power I intend to have for myself."

At the look in Dragonspawn's eyes, Jay lost his fear.

He forgot to be afraid of the man who was stronger, bigger and knew more about magic than Jay probably ever would.

This was the bastard who murdered his father, killed innocent gnomes, and pulled him away from the man that he loved.

"The less you struggle, the easier it will be on both of us," Dragonspawn said in a coaxing voice.

"There's something you never really understood about me," Jay said in an equally calm voice.

"What's that?"

"I'm a difficult man." For the first time in his life, Jaynell pulled upon the total strength of his magic. For a single sparkling moment, his soul brushed across Thomas'

as he was flooded with the power. "You want my magic.

Here you go!"

Focusing on the other man, Jay collected his power until it glowed like a shining brand, and then shoved it into Dragonspawn.

Michael fell to the ground, screaming and clutching at his chest.

Before Jay's cold gaze, the older man started smoking as all the power forced inside started eating its way back out again.

109.

"What did you do?" Michael gasped.

Dragonspawn's skin glowed fiery red like a sun burned from inside. Jaynell's only warning was a whisper of smoke drifting from the wizard's steaming eyes.

Michael's body exploded in a shower of ash.

Before he could do more than stare in amazement, Jaynell fell to his knees as all the power he sent into Dragonspawn returned to him, along with all the magic from the master wizard.

"Fuck," Jay screamed. His body burned, and for a bright, light-blinding instant, he thought he would follow Dragonspawn's fate.

Share your burden with me, Thomas' voice whispered through his head . As we are bound, so must we die. Choose our destiny.

"No!" Jay shouted. Never would he let his beloved mate die over his incompetence. Jaynell's abilities were tested as he tried to concentrate while every molecule of his body was burning. Knowing his lover was strong, Jay poured magic into his mate over their mating link. Jay leaked the magic as slowly as he could so he wouldn't overwhelm Thomas. Convulsing on the floor, Jay kept his mind tightly bound with his mate.

You don't get out of eternity with me so easily, Jay sent back through their link. He could feel the stress 110 *

Thomas was under, then suddenly there was a snap, and he felt his magic spread.

"What the hell happened?" Jay asked out loud. The magical pressure was over, and he could feel the power bubbling happily through his veins. Extending his magical senses, he could feel his magic was spread across miles, still accessible, yet living in other hosts.

The gnomes!

He could feel the creatures reaching out to him to share the burden. Dozens of creatures who could hold magic but couldn't use it. Quickly, he bound them to the earth so they were free.

Jay's cell phone rang, causing him to let out a startled shout.

"Some kind of big, bad warrior I am," he muttered deprecatingly.

Reaching into his pants pocket, he pulled out his phone. "Hi, lover," he said, flipping it open.

"What the hell were you thinking?" Thomas shouted over the line. "He could've killed you!"

"Sorry. I'll try to keep my abductions to a minimum in the future."

"See that you do," Thomas said in a quieter voice.

"You have a bunch of gnomes here who are glowing like candles. What did you do?"

111.

"Are they hurt?" Concern filled Jaynell. What if he did something to hurt the kind creatures?

"They say not. Apparently the gnomes you bonded with were able to share your power along with all the members of my pack. How much magic did you siphon off this guy?"

"Absolutely all of it," Jay said bitterly, looking at the blackened spot on the floor. "I took every last drop."

There was a long silence before Thomas said in a quiet voice. "Can you teleport like Dragonspawn and get back to me?"

"No. That spell takes a lot of preparation, and although I might have the power, I don't have the skill to make sure I end up at the right place. I'll have to take a plane to get back to you and I don't have any identification."

He was pondering the obstacles to catching a plane when a loud scream outside broke into Jay's conversation.

Walking to the window, he reached it in time to see Gideon land on the grassy yard outside. Besides a scratch on the middle neck, Jay didn't see any damage.

That reminded Jay of his own injury. Reaching up, he felt smooth, unblemished skin. Catching his reflection in the window, he saw that there was no longer any damage, and the pain was gone.

112.

"You still there?" Thomas' voice growled over the phone.

"Never mind, honey. I'll see you in a few minutes.

I'll be taking the dragon express."

Not letting his lover argue, Jay hung up and opened the outer door. It was time to get back to the life he was supposed to have as the magical mate of an amazing werewolf. Now, all he had to do was make sure his magic hadn't harmed the other creatures he'd unknowingly shared his abilities with, hope no one wanted to charge him with homicide, and spend happily ever after with his grumpy mate.

Life was looking up.

With a smile of anticipation, Jay went outside to catch a ride to his lover.

The End.

About the Author.

Amber Kell lives in Texas with her husband, two sons, two cats and one very stupid dog. To learn more about her current books or works in progress, check out her blog at http://amberkell.wordpress.com...

Wizard's Touch.

Kevin's Alpha.

Amber Kell.

Dedication.

This is for those who asked me what happens next.

Trademarks Acknowledgement.

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:.

Chapter One.