Spell Bound

by Pelaam

Dear Author,
There’s a group of young men standing nervously outside the old mansion, but there is one that draws my attention, like a beacon of light among the crowded masses of grey, black and leather clothing.

But his light is dark, mysterious and ensnaring. I cannot avert my gaze as desire scorches in my veins, even though my mind tells me; he is of them, belonging to that strange cult and the black house with its secrets and dark sounds.

“Witches,” the townspeople whisper. “Born devil spawn, they are.”

But witches aren’t real and I’m a Dom. I take what I want and who I want, and I want him, like I need air in my lungs.

I will have him collared, kneeling and begging for my touch, but I cannot help feel that this strange attraction for the beautiful creature goes deeper than lust, stronger than desire, and it will be the end of my reign as the Alpha Dom.

“I shall have him,” and yet at those words the radio starts playing: “I Put a Spell on You” by Creedence Clearwater Revival.

Photo Description:
There is a group of young men, well dressed in greys and blacks, but one stands out from the crowd. Unique, powerful, graceful, his aura sets him aside from the others. They mill together, nervous and excited, outside a three-floored mansion.

The mansion calls itself a centre for holistic studies, but the locals regard it differently.

All who attend there are branded as witches.

This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love’s Landscapes" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.

This story may contain sexually explicit content and is intended for adult readers. It may contain content that is disagreeable or distressing to some readers. The M/M Romance Group strongly recommends that each reader review the General Information section before each story for story tags as well as for content warnings.

Genres: M M Romance, Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, BDSM, Magic, Short Stories

56 pages, ebook

First published June 12, 2014

About the author

Living in New Zealand I'm a multi-published author of m/m romance and erotica. My preferred genres are paranormal, sci-fi, fantasy and steampunk. When not writing I can be found indulging in my other passions of cookery and wine appreciation.

Reviews

[Anna Kļaviņa]

The prompt made me see red.

Blah blah

But witches aren’t real and I’m a Dom. I take what I want and who I want, and I want him, like I need air in my lungs.

I will have him collared, kneeling and begging for my touch, but I cannot help feel that this strange attraction for the beautiful creature goes deeper than lust, stronger than desire, and it will be the end of my reign as the Alpha Dom.

Blah blah

[Maiko-chan [|] · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started off very well and had a lot of potential and for approximately the first...60(?) percent I thoroughly enjoyed the story. However, the last part - the climax of the plot, the binding of Mordecai and Kerr, and their copulation both times - felt too rushed to be properly enjoyed, as I know it all could have been.

[Penumbra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spell Bound was written for the M/M Romance Group’s 2014 Love’s Landscapes event. This story is told in third person through the eyes of Mordecai, a male witch, and Kerr, a Dom who runs a dungeon.

Love the interesting world the author created. It was a blend of our world, and something extra. It reminded a bit of Harry Potter with a magical world hidden among the ordinary, something normal humans couldn’t see. It included demons, and other horrific creatures, and good versus evil, with the elements a key component to that balance.

Mordecai is a very powerful novitiate that has come to the mansion to study magic. He’s arrived with his best friend Mithras. When Mordecai arrives the first day, he senses his mate, the man who will be the one who can help control, and at the same time, increase Mordecai’s power. This man is Kerr, a BDSM dungeon owner. I love the character names and very much enjoyed their bonding ceremony. I liked the MC’s, but didn’t feel invested in them because they weren’t gone into depth.

This story moved quite swiftly through events such as kidnappings, chases, the bonding, and finally the battle. I think a story like this would have benefited from filling out more because there were so many interesting things happening.

An interesting world with a fast pace, but too short a read. I also wish the characters were fleshed out more. I give this 4 Stars

[M'rella · Rating 1 out of 5]

I liked absolutely nothing and no one in this story, but had to read it for a challenge. I almost DNF-ed at 50% yet wanted to see if I could salvage it for maybe two more challenges. Nope. Waste of time.

FYI - there is NO BDSM in this book. Abduction and abuse does not count as such. The MC's ownership of a BDSM club is not a reason for the book to be tagged BDSM either.

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this, even though it felt a little all-over-the-place.

[Verity · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this story and I felt the world that Pelaam created was wonderful. I just would have liked to have seen more, I felt that some parts of the story were rushed over too fast.

I liked that Mordecai was bold enough to pursue Kerr by finding out he was at the club and then going after him. I did find it odd though, that when he was at the club he used a spell to counter the lock in the elevator and the basement, but then had to get the key from the chain around Kerr’s neck for his rooms.

I also liked the bonding ceremony with the colours and elements being corners of strengths for their relationship.

I was annoyed by the fact that when they rescued Mithras and discovered that he had been flogged and drugged, which was probably by magical means, they didn’t immediately take him back to the mansion for the teachers to heal. I didn’t understand why when they are attacked again and they finally leave, Kerr takes them to his house and not next door to the safety of the mansion.

In the beginning of Chapter 7 I found a paragraph without an ID tag to say who was talking and as it didn’t sound like it had been Arana, who had just spoken, I assume it must have been one of the other tutors.

I did wonder when did they know that Lilith was the demon and if they knew before Kerr left for the club, which it seems likely, as they said that when they realised that he had left, they formed a plan to rescue him, and set up defences at the mansion, why didn’t they tell him about her.

I got lost in Chapter 10 with the fight, there seemed to be a lot happening, with battles on two fronts but it just wasn’t described very well. I was never sure where everyone was supposed to be. I had no idea how Mithras got separated and yet he was able to hold hands a moment later with Kerr with no mention of him moving back with the group. I was confused with what they used to fight the demons with, if it was magic then what did Kerr use? Mordecai mentioned that they had been injured but it was never shown when or how they did.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good paranormal set in modern day New Zealand. Mordecai and Mithras are entering a "holistic college" which is actually a training centre for witches. On their first day, Kerr, a local man, sees them and forms an instant bond with Mordecai. Kerr is a Dom and part owner of a BDSM club, which the two young witches go to to find him. Kerr and Mordecai's bonding happens very quickly, and their relationship is tested by the arrival of a Demon who seeks to destroy them for the power they will hold. I enjoyed this story, I just wished it was a bit longer/more detailed in the middle section as the relationship just went so fast.

[Jeanne 'Divinae' · Rating 2 out of 5]

I solid, 2.5. This was an okay story. It didn't suck me in like other stories have. But, it did have a good plot and ended well enough. It could lead to other stories, but it is good enough as a stand alone story.

I was mostly disappointed by the big 'battle' in this story, it was very anticlimactic. It was over before it started. I did think the concept of mates/bounded was interesting and the ritual was executed very well.

This story is about a up and coming male witch who finds his mate. But there is an evil fiend that wants to destroy them.

[Serena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the characters, and their world and hope I get the chance to read the story again and/or to read more within the series.

My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.

[Sandra]

Offered for FREE from the M/M Romance Group's Love's Landscapes event. Thank you too all the amazing authors who participated!

[Cassie Richards · Rating 1 out of 5]

I appreciate the time and effort that went into writing this story and I'm glad the author chose to participate in the Loves Landscapes event, but this story really wasn't for me.

I tried hard to get through this, but it was a bit too cliched for my tastes. Fated mates and magic-based fantasy aren't my favourite things to read, but there didn't seem to be a lot of depth to the story either.

[Melanie~~]

[NOTE: I rate most writing event stories (free reads) 4 or 5 stars because of my appreciation of the author's participation and gift.]

[xiin · Rating 3 out of 5]

BDSM! Demons! Mates! Magic! Yes! Badly written/edited! (there were about 5-6 sentences in a row that started with "He" -- really?) Had lots of potential that just wasn't realized! :\

[Rachel Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

More, more, more! I really, really enjoyed this! What a great world this was, I loved the magic and whole school. And yes, Mithras needs his man too! Thanks for a great story!

[Rissa (an M/M kinda Girl!!)]

STORY INFO:
Genre: paranormal, action/adventure
Tags: BDSM, demons, soulmates/bonded, male witch
Content Warnings: off-page abuse of secondary character
Word Count: 17,157

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the bones of the story but not that fond of the writing - extra star in appreciation of the author's gift to us.

[Penny · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars. Like the premise, but a little rushed at the end.

[Finnegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this story as part of Love's Landscapes, but was not looking forward to it, as I am not a fan of BDSM. Luckily the book was BDSM light and thus much more enjoyable!

[GlamLawyer]

skipping that one