SPELLBOUND

"Stop tempting me. I am already in heat like this –" Gideon groaned out as he squeezed his eyes shut, trying his best not to jump Vera right there and then.

Vera's eyes suddenly widened. The word 'heat' finally reminded her again about Gideon's condition. He was having something like a fever! She had totally forgotten about it! 

"R-right! Heat! Your abnormal temperature, we still need to do something about that first!" Vera placed her palm over his head, panicking again when she felt how hot he had gotten since earlier. Even though he had told her that dark faes do not get fevers, she still could not ignore this. She had never felt him this hot before so she could only deduce even to the dark faes, this was not something normal and harmless as he had implied it was! 

"I think I should go ask for help. Evie… she can definitely –" Vera muttered as much to herself as to Gideon.

"Calm down." Gideon said calmly, holding both her wrists in his large hands. There was seriousness in his eyes now. "Listen to me carefully… no one can take this heat away unless…" he paused and stared at her for a few seconds. Then he cleared his throat and continued, "… unless we complete the mating ritual."

Vera blinked. "Ma.. mating… ritual?" she stammered out, not expecting that their topic of discussion would suddenly jump towards their mating.

…

Back in the castle, Gavriel had just returned inside the room after their talk was interrupted by a commotion going on outside the castle. 

Gavriel had left to check on what was going on but returned immediately as soon as he realised that the commotion was not something serious. 

"Is everything alright?" Beatrice asked and Gavriel nodded as he sat down next to Evie again.

"It's just the two dark fae lords horsing around and making some show." He answered dryly and Beatrice sighed as she rubbed at her temples. 

"Those two..." Beatrice could only shake her head.

"I couldn't sense Gideon's presence in the castle anymore as well." 

"He must have run off to somewhere again to hide. He always does that. But it's alright, at least, this time he took Vera along with him." 

"But I don't think he's alright though..." Gavriel commented softly. However, his statement was heard by the other two ladies, causing Evie and Beatrice to look at him with creased brows. He saw their questioning looks and started to explain.

"I felt that he had somehow gone too weak. And… his temperature was certainly not normal just before he left. He was burning up like hell." 

Beatrice suddenly rose from her seat, seemingly alarmed. "Are… are you sure about that son?!" she exclaimed, wide-eyed. 

Gav nodded at her. He was certain. Gideon's temperature and that weakness he showed was certainly not normal. "Yes mother, I think something's terribly wrong with him."

"Oh my goodness!" Beatrice's expression turned into a happy surprise, and she even gave a little happy clap. That just caused Evie and Gav to look at her with confusion. Why was she happy when hearing that Gideon seemed to be unwell? "I understand now! Oh my, why didn't I think of that?! Those two… they're definitely mates! The possessiveness Gidy just showed and that bloodlust… he usually would never attack his best friend like he's going to kill him even if he's jealous. But when you mention that he's in heat, I suddenly remembered! I think this is the only explanation!"

While Beatrice was all smiles and excitement, Evie and Gav looked at each other. Mates…?

"Oh my, we must go find those two right now. They will need to complete the mating ritual immediately."

"Mating ritual? Now?" Evie asked. Was there need for such haste to complete it? 

Knowing that the mating bond was unheard of on the surface, Beatrice told Evie and Gav everything about this scared bond. 

"If they really are mates, I must make sure their mating bond is complete before we go back to the Great City." Beatrice said. 

Evie rose as well, wondering what was with the queen's haste in rushing the mating bond. "Is it bad if the mating ritual is delayed?" she asked and Beatrice nodded. 

"Yes. It will be very hard for Gideon. And I will never be in peace if their mating bond is not completed before we leave. I must make sure they complete the bond and solidify it before we leave them."

"We will leave them?" Evie asked again, surprised. They had just talked about this earlier and because of the King's summons, Gideon must head back to the Great City with them whether n he liked it or not. Then why was the queen saying that she would leave them back here?

Beatrice grinned at her meaningfully. "We don't have a choice. After the ritual, we can only leave them alone. It would take at least a few days until the heat caused by the completion of the mating bond to subside. It's like the consummation after the wedding, just that, for two mates, the sexual frenzy will take a long time."

"Oh… I see…" Evie did not know how to respond to that information and there was a slight blush on her cheeks.

"That's also the reason why we can't delay anymore. They need to complete the process as soon as possible because of this problem waiting to burst." 

Evie nodded. Beatrice was right, it would be much better if they complete the process now. And after this, Evie believes that Vera would definitely be able to change Gideon's mind on whatever that he was planning. She thought that this was probably a blessing, definitely a sign of hope for them all. Because it was just too timely. Vera's appearance at this crucial moment and now being Gideon's mate as well could not be simple coincidences. 

"Alvion." Beatrice summoned and the big man entered the room. 

"Yes, Your Majesty." Alvion bowed before standing at attention.

"Go drag those two lords over here. We need them to bring us to Gideon's hideout now." she ordered, and Alvion immediately moved. 

Moments later, six people – Beatrice, Evie, Gavriel, Alvion, Kione and Azrael – arrived in the middle of the Monster's Forest. But the monsters who were guarding that small house came at them ferociously and a fight quickly broke out until the monsters suddenly halted as if someone had turned them all into stone. 

"Stop that. Don't you dare attack them again." Gideon's voice echoed out and the monsters cowered after hearing his voice and they backed off timidly. Like obedient pets they followed his instructions and returned to their original posts. Everyone looked towards the source of the voice and saw Gideon standing there, with Vera right next to him being held within his arm's embrace. 

____

Thank you so much for the greetings yesterday spellbounders! Muah! Muah!

For those who asked, this is my kofi account if u want to send me cofee 😆 https://ko-fi.com/kazzenlx