Chapter 13

**Charles**


My power feels weaker than it ever has but I can not postpone gathering my personal items. Psychically accessing the library in my home has only strained my powers even more. This will have to be my last trip through my portal for a few days.

I step through the mist and into the library. A scream nearly has me stumbling back through but I quickly gather myself.

"Heavens above Charles you startled me." A familiar voice has my eyes moving to one of the many chairs in the room.

"Josephine. What brings you here?" I ask as I move over to a section of the library I want to bring with me.

It will not be possible to bring it all but another trip, later on, should cover the rest.

"I was looking for a spell, and got lost in one of the ancient books." She says.

Her voice sounds happy as usual.

"Understandable," I say as I stack several books on a nearby table and move on to another section.

"Where have you been?" Josephine's voice is closer now but I do not turn to look at her.

"I have found a mate," I say simply.

"What?" Her voice sounds a little too loud and full of genuine shock. "You can't have found a mate. That's impossible!"

"It seems to be very much possible since that is what has happened." Does she not understand such a simple explanation?

I had thought her more intelligent than this.

"But-" I turn to her and eye her carefully.

Her face is red and her breathing has become labored.

"I do not understand your shock," I tell her honestly.

Her mouth drops open in clear surprise.

"You don't understand-" Her eyes close and she takes in a deep breath. "Charles what about us? We have...a connection."

I see.

"Josephine you have been a friend for many years, but a relationship between us can never be more than that now. I apologize for any false hope you had, but it is out of the question now. I will be faithful to my mate." I keep my tone firm so there is no question about what I'm saying.

Her eyes are wide and I can see a glossy sheen form indicating that she is about to cry but that does not happen. Instead, she smiles and shrugs.

"You say that now but once you see that she can't understand you as I can you will come back. I'll wait for you."

I blink at her in confusion. Did she not hear my words clearly?

"I will not be returning Josephine. My mate needs me and I will remain by her side for life. That is what being a mate means, which you well know. You have studied these books as much as I have and in every culture where there are mates, there are no changing things. There is no undoing or leaving a mate." I remind her.

She is an intelligent girl, so she must understand this.

"We don't mate Charles. It's impossible for us, so there must be some sort of mistake. Perhaps it's a strong infatuation. You are attracted to her, but those feelings pass over time. My feelings for you have grown since we were young." She sounds desperate now.

"Josephine-"

She steps forward and stops me speaking with a finger to my lips. I flinch back from her but she continues to smile.

"You'll be back Charles and I will be waiting. I'll always wait for you." Then she turns and heads down the stairs.

A few moments later I hear the sound of the door to my home closing and then there is silence. That was one of the strangest conversations I have ever had. How could she think that I would want her after making it clear that it would never happen?

Pushing that away from now I turn to look over my library once more. The familiar smells and memories that live here will be hard to let go of.

Wait...

An idea comes to mind and I rush over to one of the bookcases where I search for an enchantment I remember reading about. It is used for storing large amounts of items in a smaller space. Not exactly a shrinking spell but...

I spot the book and pull it from its place. There is a layer of dust on it so I carefully clean it off before gently opening it. Several pages in and I finally find what I'm looking for. A quick skim over the words refresh my memories enough so I return the book to its place and leave the library. I walk out of my front door and take a few steps back. My powers have grown enough to do this but I'll feel weak again once I'm done.

Closing my eyes I focus on the symbols for the enchantment. I lift my hands and focus my power on the runes I start to draw in the air. The enchantment works similarly to a portal. It causes the item to fold over and over until it shrinks in size. I move my hands in formation and I feel the air around me start to feel heavy. The molecular effect of magic and enchantments has that effect.

There is a pulling sensation before my house snaps out of existence. Now I can travel to it through a special portal and recall items as I need them.

"Charles." A deep familiar voice says from behind me.

I sigh and turn to see my father standing a few feet away.

"Father." I lower my head to him in respect.

"I hear you have been mated. Highly unusual I must say." There is a lot he isn't saying and I am familiar with reading through it all.

"Yes. Unexpected but welcome. My mate is an impressive woman." I have not spoken truer words.

Nova is an enigma in so many ways but she is also a beautiful creature.

"She must be to draw you away from your home. Josephine seems to think it is her you should be mated to." He says and I shake my head.

"She is young." I point out.

"Indeed, but a good match. Her father sits on the council with me. They are a good family. We know nothing of this so-called mate of yours." He moves closer and the air thickens between us.

He is trying to show his power subtly, but he forgets how powerful I am. My mother was far more powerful than him and I am a reminder that he is not the strongest member of our people. I have never wanted to take his place as head of the council, but it does not stop him from feeling threatened by me.

"My mate is of no concern to the council since I will remain with her from this point on," I say firmly and call on a bit of power to push back at him.

He needs to know that any threat to my mate will be met with my full powers.

"You can not leave your people Charles." He says firmly and pushes more power at me.

"Goodbye, father," I say before opening my portal and stepping through it.

I hear him yelling after me but no one can pass through my portal without me, so he can not chase after me.

When I step into the living area of Chace's home I stop short when I see Nova sitting on the couch. How did she break my enchantment on her so soon?

"Nova?" I move closer to her and her blood-red eyes fix on me.

I stop short and take all of her in. Her fangs are on display and she moves before I have a chance to anticipate her next move. She reaches for me and I don't pull away when she takes my face in her delicate hands. Her dark fingertips and slim sharp claws dig into the skin along my neck but I do not flinch. Not even when I feel warm liquid trail down my skin. Her eyes drop to where she has cut me, but she does not attack me any further.

"Where were you?" She asks in a soft voice.

Her eyes are sad, but I do not understand why.

"I returned home to gather my personal items. Are you alright?" I ask her.

Her eyes take me in and look almost pained before she drops her hands and steps away. She is about to move further away but I take her hand to stop her.

"What is it?" I ask her before looking over her shoulder to see Eli and Chase watching us.

"She started asking for you as soon as she woke up," Eli says and I can not help but notice the concerned look in his eyes.

What happened while I was gone?

"Nova?" I focus on her again but she will not meet my eyes.

Without thinking I tug her toward me and wrap my arms around her. Physically touch is not something I do often but the urge is strong for me to comfort her any way I can. It is as if my body knows what she needs without me needing to think my actions through.

Nothing has ever felt more natural and I need to understand why.