The spell had to be cast first, once we were in animal form the spell wouldn’t have worked since it was direct magic.

  She said, “See if you can change on your own this time.”

  It would only be my third shift. The full moon was ten days ago, and on that night, I was drawn into the shift by her going first, just like the first time. Even for a shifted shifter the wasteland was a bit brutal, so we’d walked around the cabins outside for a little while then spent the rest of the night resting on my cabin floor. It just made sense, without a driving reason to put up with the arid wasteland, like a patrol.

  It wasn’t likely I could ever forget the sensations, or the trigger. I thought back to those times and felt it out, with the desire to be a wolf, while imagining four paws, a muzzle, and enhanced senses. It was only a few seconds later that the magic surged and my body started to melt and shift into a giant gray and black wolf.

  Carline smiled, then shifted into her tiger form.

  I cared about Carline a lot, after the last three weeks of living together. She’d never failed to spend the night with me, and she’d never failed to rock my world in bed as I did in return.

  She was a hell of a woman. Maybe that’s why when the wolf instincts hit me, I had to resist the sudden and powerful urge to claim her as pack. Now that I knew it was possible, I wanted it, and apparently my wolf wanted it even more. The sounds and scents were even more intense in that form, and I could scent her affection and enjoyment in me, as well as a calm trust. She felt safe with me.

  Instead, I just sat there and tried to master the impulse. Sure, she was mature enough, trained enough, that she’d reject my invitation for a pack bond. A failure wouldn’t signal disaster, but it’d be embarrassing if I couldn’t control that urgent impulse. If she was pack, I’d be able to protect her better. I was far more possessive in my wolf form, which also greatly magnified my natural inclinations to protect.

  I could already resist my wolf instincts, but they were a distraction. I suspected that’s what the training was for, not just to resist them, but to learn how to ignore them completely to maximize awareness and vigilance. It also reminded me that I needed to practice and figure out if any of my martial arts experience could be applied to fighting in wolf form. It would give me an advantage in a fight, if I wasn’t subsumed by a wolf’s base fighting instincts like my opponent was.

  The intense moment passed, and I followed her out the door.

  Carline sent, “Keep your eyes open for anything out of place, but it’s your nose that will guide your path when on patrol. Following well tread trails as we circle the coven territory looking for the scents of strangers. That includes animals, as they’re so rare in the wasteland, that they’re almost guaranteed to be an agent and extension of another witch’s coven sent to spy on us. Mostly birds and snakes for that.”

  It wouldn’t be my job once I was part of the coven, but it wouldn’t hurt to learn another skill and to understand what Carline did. Plus, fighting in shifted form made a lot of sense, when or if the coven was ever raided again. I could wield my affinity magics just fine while in wolf form, though spells would be beyond me as I couldn’t speak. So, in wolf form I’d be able to fight an enemy shifter or witch with equal facility.

  “Will do.”

  Carline said, “This first time you won’t notice anything, since you’ll be learning the scents. Your mind will naturally memorize them, so if you ever have cause to join me again any new scents will really stand out in your mind.”

  “True, but I am picking up those faint scents from the east when the wind blows just right. Two horses, two shifters, and a witch?”

  Carline chuffed, “Yes, good catch. That’s Sophia’s group, their scents are familiar to me, and I’ve already let Astra know they’ll be here in about five minutes. The horses will be pulling a wagon full of bananas. We’re going to do a quick circuit to make sure another coven isn’t using their approach for cover, and then we’ll settle downwind of them so we can judge any false intentions from our guests.”

  Carline took up an easy lope, that would easily cover a mile perimeter in about four minutes, giving us another minute to set up that observation post. I didn’t pick up any new scents of anyone or thing out there, nothing alive I mean, save the trees. It was a pleasure to lope besides Carline’s graceful run.

  The only thing that startled me was the crack of thunder to the north, the city coven was building another storm. They seemed to do so a few times a week, most often in the mornings. Then we stopped and laid down behind some cover, to the southeast of the coming traders.

  Carline said, “You can try to focus your dominance on me, the narrower the focus and intent the more powerful the effect.”

  I replied, “Maybe that training should wait. I’m not entirely sure if I did that, if I could resist the urge to try and make you pack.”

  Carline whipped her tail and looked at me, her scent both startled and thrilled, and more than a bit aroused.

  “Good to know,” she said in a tone laced with smug excitement.

  I chuffed, demanding an explanation.

  She said, “It’s a large commitment, packs are only carefully formed after a long trial period. Your wolf should be wary of doing so if you had any doubt within you over me. Between your delicious scent and strong desire to form that bond with me… I might just swoon.”

  Well, she must’ve been enjoying my possessive protectiveness and the admiration in my scent, if she though it was delicious. It was also clear from her scent, that she not only would submit to it, that she’d do so fully and without reservation.

  “Might?”

  She chuffed and lashed her tail, “This conversation should wait, until you join the coven. It will just drive us both crazy.”

  I could see that, admitting just how deeply we felt for each other would be frustrating, if we couldn’t advance our relationship at the same time. I was fairly sure I was in love with both Carline and Astra by that time in my life, and despite not sleeping with her the feelings I felt for Rue were rather profound as well. She was far more than just a distracting hot and crazy package in my mind, and her angry vulnerability drew me in.

  A part of me was also paying attention to our visitors. There was nothing in their scents to indicate this was an attack or a trick, though I was almost positive they were there for some spying as well. It’d also be insane to attack a coven on their ground, with one witch and two shifters, but that didn’t mean I let my guard down. They were other, and they were on my territory. The human in me in understood it wasn’t my territory until or if I’d joined the coven, but my wolf side instincts shamelessly claimed Carline, the coven, and the territory as mine.

  Vigilance was a good thing, if only because a third party could still show up in the hopes of using the trade as a distraction. Nothing happened though, and our visitors left an hour later with crates of oranges, leaving the banana’s behind.

  We ran one more circuit, then I went back to my cabin while Carline stayed on patrol a little longer.

  Rue followed me inside, and I didn’t hesitate to shift human and get dressed, if she wanted a show I wasn’t going to let her down.

  Rue studied me for a long moment, then nodded as if satisfied by something.

  “What?”

  Rue laughed, “Just making sure you followed instructions. I’d have been able to tell if you’d read ahead without permission. Now, let’s do the communication spell one more time, then we’ll get started on the next spell.”

  I wondered how she’d have known that, but let it go as I focused my mind, prepared a pool, and said the words of the spell.

  Rue sighed as she let it in, then sent, “Show off.”

  I laughed, then said the cancellation word.

  She waved, “Next spell.”

  I almost immediately knew why she’d have known if I’d read ahead, I doubted I’d have been able to hide it if I had broken the rules and read ahead. I’ve been wanting her too long, wanting to feel her against me while I plundered her hot body and watched her stunningly beautiful face twist in ecstasy while she quivered and writhed around me and under me.

  The second spell was simply put, a tantric spell. Of course, it wouldn’t be personal, it was going to be coven-based sex for magic, not personal, but I doubted it was that simple. She wanted me as badly as I did her, wanted to be cherished and to connect, she just feared it. It seemed to me those desires would be inflamed and irresistible while engaging in the act, but I also wasn’t going to make assumptions or take liberties before or even after. I’d have to step carefully, like I did with my friends with benefits in the coven, and I’d let her set the intimacy levels.

  Still, even in that moment, her own desire and arousal were skyrocketing as she saw the realization and deep desire for her on my face as I read it. It engendered a fierce vulnerability in her that she was afraid to surrender to. Unfortunately, the fear and distrust were still present as well in her scent, so that could very well poison our first time if I wasn’t careful and took unwarranted liberties physically or emotionally.

  For instance, kissing, or playing with her body other than our joining, any foreplay at all wasn’t technically required. The tantric magic would ensure she was ready for me, and our libidos and pleasures would balance. I wanted to explore her body, but I’d be a fool to try without invitation and just ruin my future chances.

  A tantric spell or not, taking those liberties would be a form of rape, it was her choice, and she was not inviting personal intimacy. Still, I wouldn’t lie, I’d still enjoy it even if she did keep it purely clinical.

  Regardless, I read through the whole spell as I did the first one.

  The first word as the last spell, set the magical type, which as I’d already mentioned was tantric. The knowledge behind that was our passion and release, as well as our mixed auras and magic, would both power the spell and be the lingering and supporting conduit to maintain it. The foci was to form that conduit to join and sync our auras, as well as synchronize our satiation. It would ensure we came simultaneously, for the rest of the spell to set in the vulnerable moments of ecstasy.

  The second word of the spell would build on that base, and it’d join our magic as one for the duration of the spell. The intent was important, because I couldn’t steal her magic or her use mine, it was a sharing spell. I could channel magic for her to use though, or vice versa.

  The third word was a sharing of emotions, and the fourth word would share our state of being, general health and stress levels, both mentally and physically. The fifth word was to cancel the spell, and only spoken later, just like the communication spell. It was in fact, the same word that cancelled the communication spell.

  So just four new words to learn.

  The first four words were spoken all at once, once the spell was released into our bodies, the second through fourth words were held in abeyance until the first part, the first word of the spell’s intent, was satisfied by our joining. There was no focusing or magic work required during the actual sex, the spell would ignite and finish with our joint satisfaction based on the intent.

  Which just made sense. Magic required focus and control, something not easily accomplished while feeling pleasure surging through the body and mind, much less during the rush of overwhelming ecstasy.

  The spell itself sounded intense, syncing our auras and libidos, sharing magic power, emotions, state of mind and body, all through our synced and bridged auras. Well, it was only fair she got to know what I’d been feeling about her, I’d been scenting her emotions for weeks, after all.

  Hopefully it would draw her in and break down that wall of anger in general and distrust, but I was all too aware it might just scare her away. My feelings for her had grown intense, not a one-sided love or anything puerile like that, but a friendship built on admiration, respect, curiosity, and a deep desire for something deeper. Along with the shallow feelings, a cheap thrill in her dangerous wild emotions and power, the hot and crazy, and how stunningly beautiful and sexy I found her. There’d be no hiding it, any of it. Deep and shallow.

  I also didn’t have a choice. The magic enforced intimacy and there was simply no possibility of deception or hiding.

  Then I went back to the beginning, and I studied it slowly. Reading through it several times, and doing practice runs in my mind, only to read it again to verify I hadn’t left anything out in the mental run through. Then again, and again, until I was sure I could cast it. That time it took about ninety minutes, since I already knew one of the words and had developed a memorization system of sorts with that first learned spell. One that I didn’t have to waste time making this second time around.

  “I think I’m ready.”

  It only occurred to me then, that she might have me cast it and then cancel it, without the sex. But I dismissed that thought almost immediately, as my statement engendered a sharp rise in her own anticipation and arousal. She wanted me, badly, but was trying to hide it behind magic business. Plus, the only way to be sure I’d gotten the whole spell right, was to let it run its course.

  Rue said, “Go ahead. Give it a try.”

  I pushed the lust down, along with the anticipation that already had me hard as a rock inside my pants. It took me a minute to focus past that anticipation of a moment that had been long in coming.

  Then I cast the spell in about eight seconds, each word spoken with authority and enunciated clearly, while I dredged up the foci and knowledge behind the word.

  Even just the first part of the spell felt incredibly intimate, as the first word of the spell took effect and our auras and libidos were linked and synchronized. I couldn’t feel her emotions or body state, but I could feel the effect of her libido on mine.

  She nodded, “Good.”

  I couldn’t take my eyes from her, as she rose up and turned her back to me, while opening up and pushing down her shorts as she sexily bent at the waist. She had no panties on, and I could see the already glistening and slickened folds between her petite and tight little ass cheeks. Then she crawled up on the bed, and she got on her hands and knees.

  Which really, set the rules of engagement so to speak, without her having to speak then out loud. Intimacies such as kissing and vulnerable eye contact would be impossible in the doggie style position. Leaving the leather vest on was also a statement, and I admit I was a bit disappointed I wouldn’t get to see her generously pert and torpedoed B cups in all their glory, nor have an opportunity to play with them at all.

  On the other hand, her needy lust and heady arousal told me she couldn’t wait to be ravished from behind, and the slight regret in her scent told me she wanted to connect. She was just too afraid to. She was also more than wet enough to take me, if I wasn’t too firm in the beginning, so the lack of foreplay wouldn’t be an issue either.

  Trying to force it would be a mistake and ruin my chances of a sea change in the future, so I wasn’t even tempted by the idea of trying to make it personal. I did briefly consider eating her out a little before the main event, she had the sexiest pussy I’d ever seen. Thick juicy folds that were perfectly symmetrical on a mouthwateringly large mound. But I pushed that desire down as I stood and took off my pants and shirt.

  I took my place behind her, and she was already breathing a bit fast. Her hot body trembled as I put my hands on her for the first time, and squeezed her firm and supple petite ass cheeks, then put a hand on her hip while I lined myself up with the other. I stroked the tip of my cock along her silky and fat labia, collecting plenty of liquid anticipation that mixed with my precum. The tingling sensations of pleasure at the feel of her hot and wet silken heat against my tip.

  There was so much I wanted to say in that moment, from the deep and shallow ends of the pool, as well as a simple compliment. But I swallowed it all down as I firmly pushed into her paradise.

  She let out a sexy gasp, and arched her back and raised her ass, as she pushed back into me just as hard. The sensations of her liquid silken embrace, and her hot little body taking me in, had me hissing in pleasure. The tight liquid velvety friction of working her open, her taking me a little deeper with each stroke as I forced her open, sent potent pleasure crashing into my body. She’d also stopped trembling, now that we’d started the act, her nervousness had lessened greatly.

  When I finally buried myself fully in Rue for the first time, I gave her a firm swat, which made her gasp in shocked pleasure, and it caused her pussy to contract and writhe around me as she squirmed. I knew she enjoyed it, the sting of it mixing with the pleasure, as both of our libidos spiked as one.

  She was so tight around me, virginally so, though I imagined her games in bed with her coven sisters had seen to breaking her cherry long ago. For a moment I just let her get used to the invasion, as her pussy slowly relaxed and made room for me, though still incredibly tight. All while I caressed her sexy ass slowly, lightly with my fingertips.

  I was really trying not to take liberties, so I limited myself to those caresses and where we were connected. Giving her a small grind on occasion, waiting for her to be ready. It was clear to me I was the first man inside her body, just like I had been for Astra.

  Rue clenched down around me, and she rolled her hips slightly as she pushed back into me experimentally on her part, milking and grinding me in a way that drew an involuntary moan of pleasure from my mouth. It also made her gasp and release a sound of feminine delight.

  Rue sounded extremely vulnerable, as she said, “Thank you for waiting, Glen. I think I’m ready now.”

  Just in case, I started out with shallow and relatively slow thrusts, with a little grind. I also got up on one foot to change the angle a little further down, and that got quite a reaction on my next thrust as my cock rubbed so firmly across her G-spot.

  “Oh goddess, do that again.”

  I grinned, “My pleasure, Rue,” and I started to increase the length and force of my strokes, and even started to give her a sharp swat every ten strokes or so, alternating ass cheeks. She really loved that, even more than Astra which was saying a lot.