Kris T. Bethke

Julian Thomas made the unpopular decision to become Beholden and focus his magic only on scrying. Because of it, he’s the best at his job and the top scryer for the Department of Extranormal and Magical Affairs. Which why Investigations Agent Wes Caldwell goes right to Julian for help locating a missing person.<br><br>When Wes needs to use his magic to boost Julian’s, they find a magical resonance between them that quickly leads to more. Julian doesn’t want to move too fast, but Wes knows Julian is it for him. He’s fine with waiting, as long as Julian stays close as they work through it.<br><br>But then Julian falls ill, and it’s clear there’s a magical reason. Wes will stop at nothing to find out what’s plaguing Julian, and when they realize just how deep the plot goes, they have more questions than answers. Magic is increasing in the world, and no one can figure out why. Julian and Wes have found love, but will it be enough to get them through what’s to come?

Beholden

With a few quietly spoken words, Wes cleaned himself with a cleansing spell. All traces of our activities vanished in a blink of an eye. I felt strangely disappointed he could so easily erase me fromhim. I wasn’t exactly a territorial kind of guy, but I sort of liked knowing I had marked him in a primal way. The rational part of my mind argued that I couldn’t expect him to walk around covered in my come, so I let the disappointment go. Since I didn’t have his abilities, I’d have to get up and clean myself in the conventional way, though. But as I started to figure out the best way to get up without making matters worse, I saw he’d included me in the spell as well. That was thoughtful of him. I lifted my hips enough so I could tuck myself into my pants and briefs.


Chapter 13