Upon entering the office, Magnus takes his seat, and I settle beside him. Yiselda positions herself on the two-seater couch against the far wall.
An uneasy silence envelops the room as Magnus shifts his gaze between Yiselda and me. His voice cuts through the stillness, breaking the tension. 'So, which one of you is going to tell me what's going on?' he questions, his eyes narrowing with curiosity and concern.
Yiselda and I exchange glances. With a nod from Yiselda, I take a deep breath, preparing to disclose the revelation that could alter the course of our lives.
'Do you recall how you noticed this symbol on my wrist and when I told you it appeared when Alec grabbed my wrist?' I begin, my voice carrying a hint of trepidation.
'Yes, you said it slightly burned at first, and you felt a little strange?' Magnus responds, his brow furrowing in recollection.
Swallowing hard, I continue. There's a quiver in my voice. 'Well, um,' I hesitate, grappling with my emotions. 'Alec marked me. I'm his blood flame,' I confess.
Magnus gives me an odd look, his fingers instinctively reaching for my wrist to inspect the mark. 'I don't get it. What is a blood flame, and why would he inflict this mark on you?' he questions, a mix of confusion and concern on his face.
'You know how werewolves mark their fated mates?' I point out, seeking a point of reference that he can relate to.
Magnus nods in understanding.
'Well, for vampires, their fated mates are called blood flames. The mark they leave on wrists shows other vampires they are taken and claimed already,' I explain, my words settling in the room like a dense fog.
The room plunges into an unsettling silence as Yiselda and I observe Magnus, his expression shifting through a spectrum of emotions. The weight of the information hits him, and it's evident from his face that he is grappling with the enormity of the situation. Suddenly, a visible tension seizes him, and his features tighten. His face pales, and his eyes widen, locking onto mine.
'No… no, no, no, no,' he mutters frantically, his grip on my hand tightening before he abruptly drops it. Magnus steps back, running his hand through his hair as if trying to grasp what has happened. Panic flashes across his face, and his eyes dart around the room, searching for answers. 'How? You can't?' he stammers, struggling to form coherent sentences. He comes to an abrupt standstill, his gaze fixated on me, a mixture of panic and desperation etched on his features. He glances down at my hand, fumbling with my fingers anxiously. 'You had said you felt strange that day. In what way did you feel strange?' he asks, a hurt look in his eyes, though it's evident that he already knows the answer. I take a deep breath, meeting his gaze with sincerity.
'B-because since that day, I've felt the same mate bond with you as I do with Alec. I feel a sense of overwhelming wholeness since he marked me as if I could never live without either one of you. My heart and body tell me I'm meant to have both of you. The bond has been pulling me and urging me to go to him as it does with you,' my voice shakes as I confess.
Magnus turns away, his movements heavy. As he approaches the window, his troubled gaze is fixated on something beyond the glass. The room echoes with his laboured breathing. His hands clench tightly, portraying the pressure building up inside, and blood begins to seep from beneath his short nails, dropping onto the window sill. 'He's not going to be able to have you, Nina. You are MINE!' Magnus shouts, the declaration punctuated by the resounding slam of his hand on the window sill.
Abruptly, he turns to face me, bridging the distance between us. Placing his bloodied hands on my shoulders, he pulls me into his chest, his touch a mix of reassurance and possessiveness. His hands trace soothing patterns on my back as he speaks, determination lacing his words. 'We'll fix this, Nina. We are going to be okay. You will never have to see him again,' he states, his voice a mix of command and desperation.
I flinch within the confines of his embrace, contemplating the impossibility of his promise. Before I can articulate the truth—that staying apart from Alec is not an option—Magnus detects the sandalwood scent on me. His expression shifts from determined to scared as he takes a step back. 'That scent I smelt earlier, it’s his, isn’t it?' he asks, a mixture of dread and realization dawning on his face. I nod slowly, keeping my eyes downcast. Magnus closes the gap between us again, his hand gently lifting my chin to meet his gaze. Through his touch, the sparks of our connection reignite. 'Nina, please tell me nothing has already happened between you and him. Please give me another explanation as to why his scent is all over you,' he implores, his voice softening to a near whisper.
Tears cascade down my cheeks, staining Magnus's fingers as he holds my chin. The agony reflected in his eyes becomes unbearable, and I attempt to avert my gaze, only to find a tumultuous blend of pain and anger across his face.
'I’m sorry, Magnus,' I whisper through my tears. 'Alec kissed me. It was sudden and unexpected. I couldn’t fight against the bond,' I confess with regret. 'Then, before I left him, we kissed again,' I admit, each word carrying the weight of my shame.
His eyes narrow, and a sharp edge enters his voice, 'Did you like it?' The question hangs in the air with vulnerability and anger in his tone. Magnus releases my chin, and I crumple to the floor, my heart pounding.
'W-what?' I stammer, my voice barely audible.
'You heard me, Nina. Did you enjoy the kiss?' he demands, the intensity of his emotions visible.
I collapse to my knees, crying, and meet Magnus's gaze. 'It felt magical and euphoric, the same as when we kiss,' I confess.
Magnus looks at me with a heartbreaking mix of hurt, anger, and betrayal. He abruptly storms out of the room, leaving me shattered on the floor.
'Magnus, please!' I cry, attempting to chase after him, but Yiselda restrains me.
'Luna, he needs to process everything. It will help if you give him some time alone,' she advises, her voice filled with empathy.
I nod hesitantly with the lingering desire to hold Magnus and assure him of my love for him. My inner wolf whimpers, echoing the longing to comfort him.