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

“It is, yes,” he said, answering my question. “Not sure what it means, though. In theory, everyone should be powering up. But whatever is causing this is taking into account a person’s proclivities? Doesn’t make sense.”


He was right about that. Magic in and of itself wasn’t light or dark, only the practitioner who wieldedit. It was all about the choices a person made, the spells they used and for what purpose they used them,not about the magic itself. So if the magic in the world was increasing, it should have been doing so evenly across the board.


“So,” I mused thoughtfully, absorbing that information. “Is someone somewhere somehow directing it?”


I thought Wes hissed, but then I realized he had dropped raw chicken into the heated wok. It sizzled loudly for a few moments, then grew quieter. Wes stirred the chicken pieces with a wooden spatula. “If that’s the case, then we’ve got bigger problems than anyone suspected.”


Chapter 26