Page 57 of The Fae's Gamble

A sinkhole in Scotland?! Fern broke into a cold sweat. What the fuck is happening?

“Please,” she whimpered. “Calum, if you can hear me, say something!” All the pleasant feelings associated with their mating evaporated. Her body was dizzy with panic and magic, and she couldn’t tell which sensation overwhelmed her more.

A flicker of light caught her eye.

In the room’s corner, Fern watched as a million tiny, bright lights sparkled in the darkness. Fern squinted and tried to focus, but as she leaned forward, she was knocked backward with a fresh burst of magic.

Except she knew this magic.

That’s what Calum feels like.

“Calum!” Fern tried calling out again but got no response. The lights had blurred together and got brighter and brighter like a rising sun. Another rolling wave of magic ran over Fern’s body. It was a power that was unmistakably Calum’s.

When the light became too strong for her to look at, she rolled on her side and shielded her eyes. Her own magic was rising in response, ebbing and flowing within her. The power in her bones soared, and Fern thought that her heart was going to give out.

Please, please don’t kill me now.

She pleaded with the magic running down her spine. It had to be more sentient than Fern thought because her heart rate dropped to more normal levels.

Fern cracked her fingers open and peeked through, realizing the study was now as bright as midday.

“It’s okay, my darling mate, open your eyes.” Calum’s voice flooded her senses, and Fern almost wept in relief. She sat up and turned to the direction of his voice. Fern saw him and nearly fell over again.

The study was in shambles. Furniture had been overturned and nearly everything had fallen off the walls. Fern could see that it was still dark outside, but all the light in the room was coming from Calum.

He walked towards her slowly, as if not to spook her, radiating magic and power from every pore of his being. Calum carried himself like a different person. He was even bigger now, which Fern wasn’t sure was possible. He was taller, and his shoulders were wider; even his features were sharper.

Fern realized that the glimpse of Calum she’d gotten at Dunino Den was nothing compared to him now.

“Your magic!” Fern gasped, her hand flying up to her mouth as the realization dawned on her. “It’s… It’s back!”

Calum’s eyes were shining like molten gold, and he was swathed in a heavy cloak of the same color. He had an intricate set of armor on over a tunic, and Fern could tell even from a few paces away that it was silk and richly embroidered. His loafers had been replaced with boots and in his hand he no longer held a cane.

There was a broadsword strapped to Calum’s waist, and Fern zeroed in on the handle. It was carved in the shape of a stag’s head, with emerald gemstones for the eyes. Fern’s gaze finally landed on Calum’s face, and she stopped breathing for a second.

Not only were his features sharper, but his ears tapered off to delicate points, and he was happy. A circlet was resting on his brow, a woven band of gold, covered in more emeralds in the shape of leaves. There was a smile on his face that nearly outshone the light from the magic dancing off of him, and Calum slowly extended a hand to Fern.

She realized that there were glowing runes drawn in woad all over his arms, disappearing under the armor.

“Don’t be afraid.” His smile faltered slightly. “I’m still me.”

“Of course you are.” Fern leapt to her feet and ignored Calum’s outstretched hand, throwing her arms around him. “Calum! Oh my god, how is it possible?”

He laughed, a deep, baritone sound that made his chest rumble. Tears welled up in her eyes at such a happy, unrestrained sound coming from her grumpy professor. Calum hugged her tightly and swung her around in a small circle, holding her for a moment before setting her back on her feet.

He dropped to one knee in front of her, cupping her face with his hand. “I don’t know, my sweet mate. I don’t know. How do you feel?” He scanned her over for any injuries. “This must mean your magic is unbound too.”

“I can tell,” Fern sighed, leaning into Calum’s touch. “I feel like a human pinball machine right now.”

Calum chuckled, full of mirth. “You’ll get used to it.”

“Wait,” Fern’s eyes got wide, and she looked towards the door. “Does this mean…? What about everyone else?”

Their bubble was shattered, and Calum jumped up so quickly, Fern didn’t even see him move. One moment, he was kneeling, and the next, he was on his feet.

It’s going to take a while to get used to fae reflexes. Fern realized that if she thought she had to get used to a lot when she learned about Scotland’s magic, she’d have to relearn everything now.

“I don’t know.” Calum shook his head. “Accepting the mating bond must have had something to do with it, but I can’t be sure. I don’t know if it only affected us or if it broke the curse for everyone. We need to go find out.” Calum’s voice was tense and resolute, and Fern could see him slip easily back into the role of a prince.