Magnus's POV
The portal sealed behind us with a soft hiss, the air snapping back into place as if nothing unnatural had just torn through it.
Vasu moved first—fast, frantic—carrying Madhu like she might disappear if he loosened his grip. I reached the door before he could fumble with it and pushed it open.
The moment we stepped into the living room, his mother rose from her chair.
"Vasu!" she called , eyes wide with panic. "What happened to Madhu?"
He opened his mouth—
I intervened.
I placed a steady hand on his shoulder and spoke before fear could spill everywhere.
"She fell asleep on the way home," I said calmly. "He didn't want to wake her."
Vasu turned to look at me.
That look said everything.
Who the hell are you? What did you bring into my house?
I leaned closer and whispered, "Take her to your room. I'll send Hope up in a minute."
He hesitated.
Then I gave him a small nod.
Go.
He obeyed—running upstairs with Madhu cradled against his chest. Hope followed without a word.
The living room fell silent.
Vasu's mother stared at me—curious, concerned, unafraid. Humans always were, until it was too late.
I smiled and stepped forward, extending my hand.
"Hi. I'm a friend of Vasu and Madhu," I said lightly. "Magnus Bane."
She shook my hand warmly.
"Nice to meet you, beta."
If only she knew how dangerous it was to trust me.
I sensed it before I saw him.
Vasu storming back downstairs—rage rolling off him in waves.
This could not happen here.
Before he could explode, I raised both hands and stepped into his space, pulling him into a hug that looked friendly to anyone watching.
"Hey, buddy," I said cheerfully. "We had quite a day, didn't we?"
He struggled against me.
I leaned in and whispered, sharp and controlled, "Do not make a scene in front of your mother. I'll answer everything—but not here."
His body went rigid.
Good.
Aloud, he said through clenched teeth, "Let's go to the study. There are things I need explained. Now."
He gave his mother instructions, shot me a warning look, and disappeared down the hall.
I closed my eyes and exhaled slowly.
Hope came to stand beside me.
"This won't be easy," I muttered.
She crossed her arms. "It never is."
"How is she?" I asked quietly.
Hope hesitated. That was answer enough.
"I've done everything I can to keep her stable," she said. "I don't know when she'll wake up."
I placed my hands on her shoulders.
"Stay with her."
She nodded. "You handle the detective."
Lucky me.
The study door loomed heavier than it should have.
I took a breath.
Then pushed it open.
Vasu was pacing like a caged animal.
The moment he saw me, he crossed the room and grabbed me by the collar.
"Who the hell are you?" he roared. "And what is happening to my Madhu? Answer me—now!"
I didn't flinch.
I placed my hands over his wrists, calm against his fury.
"First—breathe," I said evenly. "Then listen."
He released me and stepped back, folding his arms tightly across his chest.
"Speak," he snapped.
I studied him for a moment.
Strong. Loyal. Dangerous in the right way.
"I'm Magnus Bane," I said. "Chief of the Witch Community in New York."
Silence.
Then—
He laughed. Bitter. Broken.
"Witch? Magic?" He stepped toward me again. "This isn't a fantasy, you asshole. This is real life."
I snapped my fingers.
The room froze.
Vasu froze with it.
Every muscle locked. Every breath stalled.
"What the hell did you do to me?" he demanded, eyes blazing.
I smiled faintly.
"I stopped you from interrupting the truth."
I circled him slowly.
"Madhu is a witch," I said. "Not trained. Not inherited. Born. A Gifted Witch from a bloodline older than any coven."
His anger drained—replaced by fear.
"She's in danger," I continued. "Because power like hers doesn't stay hidden forever."
"No," he whispered. "She's human. She would have told me."
His voice cracked.
"She lied to me…" he said again and again, like a wound reopening.
I released the spell.
He collapsed to his knees.
I knelt in front of him.
"She didn't lie," I said gently. "She doesn't know."
He looked up at me, tears burning in his eyes.
"How do I believe you?"
I stood and walked to the corner of the room.
"Where's the first aid kit?"
He pointed numbly.
I cleaned the blood from his forehead, methodical, grounding.
Then I said quietly—
"Madhu is adopted."
The bandage stuck.
So did the truth.
Vasu's eyes widened.
Slowly—mechanically—he nodded.
I stayed seated across from him, watching the weight of the truth crush into his spine.
"Listen to me," I said quietly, deliberately. "She is not lying. Not to you. Not to anyone. No one knows who she truly is—not even her own family."
His jaw clenched hard enough that I thought his teeth might crack.
"Do not judge her for a truth that was stolen from her," I continued. "If she ever senses doubt from you—if she believes you don't trust her—it won't just hurt her."
I leaned forward.
"It will break her."
Vasu dragged a hand through his hair and shook his head violently, cursing himself under his breath.
"You cannot make this harder for both of you," I said. "Hope and I can reveal everything to her—but we shouldn't."
I let the words settle.
"It has to be you. Only you can anchor her. Only you can keep her from being lost when the magic wakes again."
That was when he snapped.
He shot up from the chair, fury and fear colliding violently inside him.
"My head is completely fucked!" he roared.
He paced the room like a trapped animal.
"Today—I found out two things about the woman I love," he yelled, voice cracking. "Two truths she doesn't even know exist. And now I'm supposed to protect her by lying to her?"
His chest heaved.
"This is hell," he snarled. "An absolute hell."
He grabbed the glass from the table and smashed it to the floor.
It shattered violently.
I closed my eyes.
And snapped my fingers.
The shards lifted from the ground—rewinding time—sliding back into place until the glass stood whole again, untouched.
Vasu froze.
His breath caught.
I stood and approached him slowly.
"You can trust me," I said calmly. "If I were your enemy, Madhu would already be dead."
His lips curved into a dark, dangerous smirk.
"Before you even touched what's mine," he growled, "I'd put a 9mm through your skull."
I chuckled softly and tapped his shoulder.
"I know."
And then—
The door burst open.
Hope stumbled inside, gasping, panic carved deep into her face.
"What happened?" I demanded.
"I can't hold her," she choked. "She's unconscious—but the magic is leaking. The wards are collapsing. I need you. Now."
Every muscle in my body went rigid.
I turned to Vasu, my voice dropping.
"We need you," I said quietly.
He didn't hesitate.
We took the stairs two at a time.
The moment Vasu shoved the bedroom door open—
The temperature plummeted.
The air vibrated.
"Madhu!" Vasu shouted.
She lay motionless on the bed.
Unconscious.Pale.
Her body was unnaturally still, as if life itself was barely clinging to her skin. Violet runes burned faintly beneath her, etched into the mattress like scars of light. Frost crawled along the walls. The ceiling groaned, cracked by unseen pressure.
Her chest barely rose.
Magic bled from her like poison.
Uncontrolled.
Dangerous.
"She's not waking up," Hope whispered, voice shaking. "Her body can't contain it."
The room pulsed.
A surge of raw power ripped through the walls, shattering glass somewhere downstairs.
I swallowed hard.
"This is worse than before," I muttered.
Vasu stumbled toward the bed.
"She's cold," he said hoarsely, gripping her hand. "Why is she so cold?"
I moved fast—drawing sigils into the air, sealing the room, reinforcing barriers that were already cracking.
"Her magic is trying to awaken without her consciousness," I said sharply. "If it succeeds, it will tear her body apart."
Hope looked at me, terrified.
"What do we do?"
I looked at Vasu.
"You anchor her," I said grimly.
He looked up. "How?"
"You stay," I said. "You touch her. You talk to her. Even unconscious—she knows your presence."
The bed shook violently.
A pulse of energy blasted outward, throwing Hope back against the wall.
Vasu didn't move.
He held Madhu tighter, pressing his forehead to hers.
"I'm here," he whispered.
The magic hesitated.
Just for a second.
Enough to prove one terrifying truth:
Even unconscious—
She was still listening.
And if she slipped any further—
No spell.
No coven.
No power in this world—
Would be enough to bring her back
I turned back toward the bed.
And my blood ran cold.
Madhu's eyes were glowing again—pure, molten gold, burning through her closed lashes like light trying to escape a sealed tomb. That's when I understood what Hope had meant.
She wasn't stabilizing.
She was slipping.
A low, guttural groan tore from Madhu's throat, followed by another—each sound wrong, strained, as if something ancient inside her was waking and furious at being restrained.
"No…" I breathed.
The air around her distorted violently.
An unseen force wrapped around her body and yanked her straight off the bed.
She rose into the air, limp and unconscious, hair floating wildly, limbs jerking as raw magic spiraled around her like a living storm. The walls groaned. Furniture rattled. The windows screamed under pressure.
"Shit—she's breaching containment!" Hope shouted.
We lunged forward at the same time, grabbing at her arms, her shoulders—trying desperately to pull her back down.
Her skin burned beneath my fingers.
"You could use a hand, tough guy!" I barked, shooting a furious glance at Vasu—who stood frozen, shock written into every line of his face.
Before he could move—
The door exploded open.
Alec strode in first, Jace right behind him, followed by several witches from the Institute, their eyes already glowing as they took in the scene.
"What the hell are you all doing here?" I snapped, stepping toward Alec.
He didn't flinch.
"You need every ounce of help you can get," he said sharply. "Channel me. Now."
He thrust his hand toward me.
I didn't hesitate.
I clasped it.
Power surged into me—wild, controlled, burning through my veins like lightning. The room pulsed as the witches formed a containment circle, sigils igniting beneath their feet.
"Hope!" I shouted. "Now!"
She joined us instantly.
Together, we forced Madhu downward—inch by inch—until her body slammed back onto the bed.
But the magic didn't stop.
It fought back.
"No—no—this isn't working!" I yelled, panic slicing through my voice. "Her power's too strong—she's overpowering the channel!"
The room shook violently.
And then—
Vasu moved.
He stepped forward, slow but unyielding, and placed his hand over Madhu's.
The moment his skin touched hers—
The storm hesitated.
The magic stuttered.
Golden light flickered erratically around her body, as if confused—torn between destruction and surrender.
"Stay with me," Vasu whispered, his voice breaking. "I'm here. You're not alone."
The power recoiled.
Collapsed inward.
The glow drained from Madhu's eyes completely, leaving her terrifyingly still.
Her body went limp.
She started to fall.
Vasu caught her instantly, cradling her against his chest before gently laying her back onto the bed.
Silence crashed down.
The magic was gone.
For now.
I stared at them—at his hand still clutching hers, at the way the storm had bowed to him.
"It's true," I breathed, disbelief and awe flooding me. A grin spread across my face despite myself. "I've seen it with my own eyes."
Vasu looked up sharply.
"Seen what?"
"When a gifted witch finds her true mate," I said slowly, reverently, "and chaos overwhelms her—only he can anchor her. Only he can stabilize her power."
I exhaled shakily.
"And you just did."
Relief washed through the room, heavy and fragile.
Vasu rose slowly, confusion etched deep into his features.
"What are you talking about?" he asked softly. "What is happening to her? When will she wake up?"
Fear cracked through his voice.
I stepped toward him, lowering my tone.
"I'll explain everything," I promised. "Every truth. Every danger."
I glanced back at Madhu—unconscious, peaceful for now.
"But understand this, Vasu…"
This night wasn't the end.
It was the beginning of something far more dangerous.
He groaned, fingers tangling harshly in his own hair as his breathing turned uneven—too fast, too shallow.
Panic.
I stepped closer and placed a steady hand on his shoulder.
"Vasu," I said firmly but gently, "breathe. Please. Calm down."
He tried.
Then—
A soft groan cut through the room.
Both of us froze.
Madhu.
Vasu moved instantly, crossing the room in two strides and dropping onto the edge of the bed.
"Hey… sweetheart," he whispered, brushing his thumb against her cheek like he was afraid she'd vanish again.
Her lashes fluttered.
Slowly, painfully, her eyes opened.
Confusion clouded them as she scanned the room, the unfamiliar faces, the strange tension in the air. She pushed herself upright, wincing.
"What… what happened?" she asked weakly. "How did I get here?"
The question shattered into a sharp groan as pain ripped through her skull. She clutched her head, breath hitching.
Vasu slid closer, supporting her as she leaned back against the headboard, her body trembling.
"It's okay," he murmured. "I've got you."
She blinked again—and then her gaze locked onto me.
Fear struck instantly.
She recoiled from the bed, pressing herself back, her voice shaking.
"Who are you?" she demanded. "What the hell is going on?"
Her eyes darted back to Vasu.
"What happened to your head?" she cried, tears spilling over as she noticed the bandage. "You're hurt—why are you hurt?"
He pulled her into his arms before the panic could fully take her.
"Shhh," he whispered, holding her tightly. "I'm fine. I promise. You're safe."
Her hands fisted into his shirt, wrapping around his neck as if he were the only solid thing in a world suddenly gone wrong. Her breath came out in broken sobs.
He pulled back just enough to wipe her tears, his own eyes glassy.
"Vasu…" she whispered weakly. "I'm… I'm feeling cold…"
Her body began to tremble uncontrollably.
He looked up at me—fear naked on his face.
I stepped closer, careful not to startle her further. With every step, I could see the terror building in her eyes—instinctive, primal, as if some part of her knew me even if her mind didn't.
"Vasu," I said quietly, keeping my voice low and steady, "cover her with a blanket. Stay close. Don't leave her side."
I met Madhu's frightened gaze and softened my tone.
"She's coming down from something her body doesn't understand yet," I continued. "She'll be alright."
I hoped the lie sounded convincing.
Vasu pulled the blanket around her immediately and sat beside her, one arm firm around her shoulders, the other holding her hand like an anchor.
Madhu curled into him instinctively, still shaking.
The magic had receded—but it hadn't gone far.
And as I watched the way she clung to him, I knew one thing with terrifying certainty:
Whatever was waking inside her…
It already recognized him as home.
...
A sudden, sickening pull twisted in my gut.
Instinct.
I turned toward the window and yanked the curtains aside.
A black car sat across the street—engine off, lights dead, perfectly still.
Too still.
My breath caught when I saw it.
A black dragon sigil, etched into the hood like a brand.
My blood went cold.
Black witches.
They'd found her.
I turned back toward the bed.
Madhu was asleep in Vasu's arms, her face pale but peaceful, unaware of the war gathering at her doorstep. I wasn't about to shatter that fragile moment.
"Stay with her," I told Vasu quietly. "Don't leave her side. I'll be back."
He looked up, alarm flashing in his eyes—but nodded.
I moved fast.
Downstairs, Jace, Alec, and Hope were mid-conversation when I stormed in.
"Something's wrong," I snapped. "Secure the perimeter—now."
Hope stiffened instantly.
Before anyone could question me, I said it—
"They found her. The Black Witches are here."
The air shifted. Sharp inhales. Tight jaws.
Hope's magic flared—raw, unstable.
I grabbed her hands before it could spiral.
"Hope. Look at me. You need to stay calm."
Her eyes burned bright blue with fury.
"She's my sister," she said, voice shaking with rage. "I won't let them touch her."
"I know," I said firmly. "But you lose control—you help them."
I turned to the others, command snapping into place.
"Alec—front entrance. Jace—backyard. Witches, raise the wards. Full coverage. Now!"
They moved instantly.
I began weaving a mind-link spell, binding us all together—every whisper, every danger shared instantly.
Hope paced, breathing hard.
"Hope," I called twice.
Nothing.
I grabbed her arm and turned her to face me.
"You stay with me. Vasu is with Madhu. We hold the line here."
She hesitated—then nodded, jaw set.
As we moved toward the front door, another thought struck me.
Vasu's mother.
I linked to Jace instantly.
"Get her out. Take her to Madhu's place. Now."
"Then who guards the yard?" Jace shot back.
"Alec."
Alec met my eyes and nodded.
"Don't let her know anything," I warned him.
"I've got it," he said—and vanished toward the back.
Hope and I took position at the front door.
"They'll come any second," I muttered.
I glanced at Hope. I knew that look. She was ready to burn the world.
"Don't do anything stupid," I warned. "If you do—I'll kill you myself."
She scoffed.
"They won't even get close. I'll turn them to ash."
A voice cut through the night—cold, venomous.
"Before you do that… I will."
A woman stepped out of the shadows.
Black dress. Hood pulled low.
Only her jaw and throat were visible—but the dragon tattoo on her wrist glowed faintly.
My heart slammed.
"Hope—she's the head of the Black Witches," I sent through the mind-link.
"I know," Hope replied calmly. "I've got this."
Hope stepped forward.
"You'll go through me first," she said, voice steady with lethal promise.
She began chanting.
Fire ignited in her palms—wild, furious, uncontrollable.
She hurled it.
The witches recoiled—but struck back.
Magic clashed violently, tearing up the lawn, shattering stone, splitting the air with sound like thunder.
Hope's power surged.
Too much.
Too fast.
"Hope—stop!" I shouted.
Too late.
A shockwave blasted me off my feet and slammed me into the yard.
Pain exploded through my ribs.
"Magnus! Are you okay?" Jace demanded.
"Fine," I snapped. "Stay with Vasu and Madhu."
I staggered up.
Now I had two problems.
The Black Witch leader.
And Hope—spiraling.
I mind-linked everyone.
"I need backup. Hope's losing control. Now!"
I reached her and grabbed her arm, spinning her toward me.
Her eyes were glowing—electric blue, feral.
I locked my hands with hers and absorbed her magic, letting it rip through me like fire in my veins.
"Stop it!" I yelled. "That's enough!"
She screamed—then collapsed against me, power dimming.
Relief barely had time to settle—
A whistle cut the air.
An arrow.
Alec's.
It tore through the night and struck the Black Witch leader's shoulder.
She screamed, collapsing.
I rounded on Alec, furious.
"What the hell?!"
He smirked.
"Sedative. Relax. She'll live."
Hope straightened, eyes burning with warning.
"Take her and leave," she snarled. "Now—or you'll die."
Fear finally cracked the witches' resolve.
One of them grabbed their leader.
In a blink—they vanished.
Silence fell.
I exhaled hard.
Hope turned to me.
"Are you okay?"
I shot her a lethal glare.
"Seriously?"
She smiled.