The Nature of the Warden

  COVEN OF LOVE

  L.J. ANDERSON

  LARK LETTER PRESS

  Copyright © 2023 by L.J. Anderson

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Epilogue

  Also by L.J. Anderson

  About the Author - Lark

  Sneak Peek

  Chapter One

  Chapter 1

  NADINE

  Avery’s hand squeezes mine so hard her knuckles turn white. I look over and see that she’s smiling at me, her eyes alight with joy.

  While I remain shrouded in bitter worry.

  Of course, Avery is happy. What shouldn’t she be? She’s always known what she was destined to be: an ether magi. One who controls air.

  Being indecisive, I never studied any element particularly hard. I had a talent for water but decided it bored me and focused more on nature. Again, boredom took hold, leading me to earth magic, which I was terrible at, and fire magic, which caused me to scar my wrist.

  To round out the big five, I dabbled in air, and took to the spells nicely, but being indecisive, I never wholly committed.

  Which I now regret, because since I haven’t strengthened my talent in any of the core elements, I could end up specializing in a fringe element, which is terrifying.

  So much is unknown about the outlier elements, because magi inclined towards them are so rare. As if that wasn’t bad enough, magi who specialize in fringe elements have a much harder time finding a warden.

  Wardens make it possible for magi to walk freely upon the earth, as they assist magi with controlling their magic.

  As the Witching Tribunal peaks, I watch as faces light when their true elements are revealed. Of course, Raven communes with nature, just as Tory was always destined to be an ignis magi and wield fire.

  Sophie showing as a stygian magi is a shock to everyone because communing with darkness often leads to deviant practices. Typically, they’re paired with lux wardens as they are strong in the light.

  When Avery’s name is called, she squeals with excitement and bounds up to the maven mother, the one who watches over us all as a mother should.

  A sour feeling spoils my gut. Avery has always been a good friend to me, and it’s shameful that I should be jealous.

  But it’s not just that she knows her place in the world that has me envious.

  It’s that she has him.

  Blane, the hulking nature warden she’s been so keen on since she found out she was inclined towards ether.

  They’re so close, it’s like they’re already bonded. Even the mavens have chuckled over it.

  I want to be happy for her. I truly do.

  But how is that possible when my fate is so clouded?

  Avery kneels, and I watch as the maven mother touches her forehead, uttering words of old.

  To my surprise, fiery orange runes connected by thin lines rush across Avery’s flesh.

  I blink a dozen times, wondering if I’m seeing things, but if I had any doubt left, the shock of red hair that appears from what was once flaxen blonde tells me the poor girl’s fate.

  Ignis.

  Gasps fill the room, because no one expected Avery to be anything other than air. It’s what she’s trained so hard to be for over a decade.

  But all those years don’t matter now. Not with those runes emblazoning her skin.

  Guilt needles me. It’s not like I had anything to do with it. You can’t hex anyone into a different element. It’s just not possible.

  Avery struggles to rise, clearly stricken with the revelation. She’d hardly bothered to practice fire magic, as she felt she wasn’t inclined towards it.

  She’ll have a lot to learn.

  “Nadine,” the maven mother calls next.

  I swallow a lump welling in my throat and take my position in front of her, head bowed. Her hand touches my forehead and I hear the words, followed by a burst of white light.

  I feel weightless, like I’m floating. I look at my arms and see silvery incantations manifest.

  I’m…I’m air. I’m ether!

  “You may rise,” the maven mother says.

  I look up at her smiling down at me.

  “Did you know?”

  She shrugs. “I had a hunch, and I’m rarely wrong about such things.”

  My eyes shift over to Avery. The maven mother winks at me. “I knew that, too. Now, run along.”

  Dazed, I make my way over to the others who’ve found themselves strong in ether. Arianna welcomes me with a bright smile. The runes lining her skin make her look angelic, and I can’t help but wonder how I appear, my once red hair now silver.

  “It’s good to have you as a sister,” she says.

  “Same…though I can’t say I expected it.”

  “The path for some isn’t as easy as it is for others, but we all get to where we’re supposed to be.”

  Am I supposed to be here? The maven mother thinks so.

  A strange feeling of fulfillment lets me know I’m exactly where I was meant to be. I’m ether, bone and blood.

  We watch in wonder as the rest of the girls are sorted, concluding the Witching Tribunal. Then we’re ushered into a larger room where the wardens await us for tethering.

  A magi without a warden is a dangerous thing.

  Unlike magi, who are female, wardens are wholly male. They experience the same elements as magi, though differently, and serve to control a magi’s power.

  I’ve long wondered, as the others have, about the tethering ceremony that is about to take place. Some see it as a blessing; others, a curse.

  If you refuse the bond, you’ll be imprisoned and possibly rendered, the maven mother had said at least once a day for as long as she could remember.

  Having your magic rendered, or stripped from you, is a ghastly thing, and some do not survive it.

  It seems so cruel that we do not get to choose our wardens, but the mavens insist that it’s for the best. Somehow, the maven mother knows exactly who to bind, taking several factors into account, such as: strengths in various elements, temperament, and personal history.

  Mavens pluck us from our groups, bringing us to our intended, and when it’s finally my turn, I’m shocked by who they place in front of me.

  This can’t be. It’s simply not possible.

  “Hello, Nadine. You look good in ether,” a familiar voice rumbles.

  Dumbfounded, I blurt, “Blane?”, unable to believe what my eyes are telling me.

  Which is that I’m about to be tethered to my best friend’s intended.

  Chapter 2

  NADINE

  No-no—no!

  This can’t be real.

  Blane can never be mine.

  He was always Avery’s. It's why he hasn’t been chosen for any of the other magi during past tribunals. With her appearing stronger in ether and him a nature warden, they were all but destined to be a perfect pair.

  Wardens train alongside apprentice magi the moment their powers are discovered. They’re often moved from coven to coven, unlike magi, who stay at one from the moment their gifts manifest.

  The reason they are so nomadic is that strong bonds between magi and wardens are essential, not just to optimize a magi’s use of magic, but because their lives would be diminished significantly if paired wrong.

  Blane came to our coven when he was just eight, and we were but six. Twelve years is a long time not to move, and everyone had assumed it was because he was meant to be paired with Avery.

  But no, he wasn’t.

  He was meant for me.

  Nature wardens are never a good match for ignis, as fire consumes and can best be controlled with earth. If they were paired, it’d be a disaster.

  He’s probably so disappointed.

  Our bonding may not be ideal, but perhaps we could be friends. We could grow close in our studies. Never that close. Close enough to care.

  Looking over at Avery, I’m needled with guilt. Her once jovial face looks stricken.

  When I’m being honest with myself, I admit how jealous I was of my friend. Never hatefully so, but still.

  I’d thought her lucky to be destine to bond with Blane, a warden of unparalleled talent that looks as though he were crafted by the hands of the Great Magus himself.

  Dark hair, piercing green eyes, a smile that could melt a magi. It’s a shock he’s not more inclined towards fire with the way he sets hearts ablaze.

  And he’s my warden.

  Night and day, he’ll always be present. Guarding me, helping me control my magic, feeling my emotions as only a warden can.

  He’ll know I want him. He’ll be disgusted by it.

  “You look good in ether,” he says, offering a wolfish grin. He reaches over and touches a lock of my now silvery hair, and I realize my eyes are now the white hue of ether magi.

  “I’m sorry!” I blurt, my lip trembling. I fight back tears because I don’t want to look any more pathet

ic than I truly am.

  “Why?”

  I nod over at Avery, then return my gaze to Blane without a word.

  “If that is what has you anxious, you needn’t worry.” The look on his face suggests honesty.

  Does that mean he wants to be tethered to me?

  Maven Rissa and her warden Feladar take their places on each side of us, one to our right, the other to our left.

  “Position yourselves,” the maven says, holding up the binding cloth.

  I bring my hands up, embarrassed by how badly they’re shaking. Feladar has to place them crossed over Blane’s because my limbs refuse to obey me.

  “It’ll be okay,” Blane assures me.

  Maven Rissa clears her throat and begins.“Earth, fire, water, air, nature—blessed be the blood of old that runs through our veins…”

  I whisper the words, unable to take my eyes off Blane’s, whose essence is opening to me.

  We glow as our union forges, warden and magi, bonded pair.

  It’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. A feeling I could grow addicted to.

  Why do I have to feel it with Blane? He’s not meant for me.

  Once the ritual is complete, Maven Rissa moves on, leaving us to get to know each other in a far different way than we had before.

  He holds out his hands, studying the greenish glow, a slight smile playing on his full lips. Just looking at him makes me giddy.

  Why, oh, why Great Magus must I want him?

  This really couldn’t have gone any worse.

  Chapter 3

  NADINE

  I watch as magi hug their friends before parting. A few come over to me, talking excitedly, but I’m so confused I can’t make sense of their words and they leave to see others.

  This would be easier if it were some other warden that had never had eyes for my friends. Perhaps, over time, we’d strengthen our bond with the intimacy of flesh, but that can never happen with Blane. I’m destined for celibacy.

  Why do I care so much about this, when I know so little of what sex entails?

  I notice some of the other magi are leaving, which is typical after the tethering ceremony. After being confined to one coven for so long, everyone just wants to get on with their lives.

  “Is there anything I can get for you?” Blane asks in a respectful tone.

  A shudder runs up my spine, and I loathe the reason for it.

  Lust, an emotion I’ve only ever heard about, I’m now experiencing for the first time.

  And I hate it.

  Powerful and consuming, it haunts me, stirring unwelcome sensations that needle me with longing.

  If only I could shake it off.

  How long will I feel this way around him? Like I’m floating. Like my whole body wants to burst into song.

  “I’m good,” I say simply, my voice an octave higher than normal. “Did you want to say goodbye to any of your friends?”

  His eyes slowly rove down my body, then back up again, making me shiver.

  “My goodbyes have already been said.”

  “What about Aver—” I stop myself from saying her name, as though it would ruin the moment. Looking over, I see her across the room, looking at us with hurt eyes. My smile is automatic, because I always smile around her. I hope she doesn’t take it the wrong way, because while I may have been jealous of her, I never wanted to see her so heartbroken.

  Why should I feel bad about something that’s outside of my control?

  Because she was your friend and never wished ill for you.

  Looking over at Blane, I see that he’s spotted her too. He looks sad.

  He never wanted this. He never wanted you.

  Fate pushed us together, and now he’ll forever wonder what it would be like to be paired with the one he truly wanted. Over time, his resentment will grow. You’ll be his bane.

  Tears sting my eyes, but I refuse to let them spill down my cheeks. I’m not a child anymore, and it would be good of me not to act like one.

  “Are you okay?” Blane asks, sensing my emotions as I can now sense his.

  Forcing a smile, I rush out, “I’m fine.”

  Judging by the look on his face, I’d say he knows I’m not.

  Dammit!

  “Let’s retire back to your chamber to rest,” Blane offers.

  My shoulders slump. “I don’t want to pretend things are fine. I know you would have chosen differently if you could have.”

  “Then you know very little about me. Good thing there will be plenty of time for us to get better acquainted.”

  I snicker, downcasting my eyes so he can’t see my humiliation.

  Too bad he’ll still feel it.

  As terrified as I was by it, I’d always looked forward to my tethering. Now, it’s a curse.

  “Come on,” he extends his hand out to me. “Let me take you to your quarters.”

  “Don’t you want to spend time with her before we go?” I nod over to my once-best friend.

  His lips form a thin line. “I think it would be best if we left.”

  I try to search his mood, but I’ve never been tethered to someone, and my emotions are so strong, they cloud his.

  Annoyed, I say, “Why? Do you hate the thought of her being paired with someone else? Will it hurt you too much to stay?”

  A mischievous glint lights his emerald eyes that suggests anything but disappointment. “No, I’m just really excited that I’ll finally get to lick your pussy.”

  My face scrunches in confusion. “Huh?”

  He bends to whisper into my ear, his earthy scent invading my nostrils. “That place between your thighs. It’s mine now, and I’m going to spend all night eating it.”

  Chapter 4

  NADINE

  What did he just say?

  What does it even mean?

  My heart races in my chest as my mind explores the various possibilities of his words.

  “Come with me, Nadine. You’re my magi now, and I long to take care of you.”

  I don’t resist as he pulls me from the room, up stairs, down long corridors, until we’re standing in front of the entrance to my dorm.

  Is it possible I misheard him?

  I must have. What he said was nonsensical.

  Entering my room feels different, and I can only guess it’s because I’ve never been allowed to have a man in my quarters before.

  But now that I’m bonded with Blane, there is no choice in the matter, for if we were to ever stray too far from one another, the pain we’d feel would be excruciating.

  “Do you need to get anything?” I ask.

  Blane casually removes his tunic, allowing me to see his broad chest and rippled abs.

  Great Magus help me.

  “Wardens may take nothing with them once they’re bonded, as we should not be distracted from our calling.”

  “Oh, yeah…right…”

  It’s not typical for me to be so forgetful, but in Blane’s presence, I can hardly remember my own name, let alone the code of the Great Magus.

  He stretches his thick arms up over his head, his eyes brazenly staring at me.

  The air stirs, causing my hair to flutter. It takes me a moment to realize that I’m causing it.

  Suddenly self-conscious, I step away from Blane, pulling my hair back. A moment later, his hands are on my shoulders. I tense under his touch, unsure of what I should do.

  “Will my magi allow me to please her?” he asks, his thumbs rubbing light circles on my neck.

  What am I to say to that?

  Apprentice magi are told very little about carnal pleasures, because nothing should detract from our studies. It doesn’t help that magic makes things more complicated. We feel differently than typical humans. Many magi despise carnal acts, and some wardens are incapable.

  His hand gently roves over my chin as he guides me to look over at him. “We could take time to get to know each other better, if that would make you more comfortable.”

  “Do you even want to?” I blurt. “With me?”

  “Want to?” He chuckles. “Of course I want to. Being so close to you is driving me half mad with lust. So much so I’m leaking into my trousers.”

 

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