My birth mothersavedme. She gave me a life by keeping me alive, getting me to Banff, and away from whatever she ran from. I owe her everything.
And I don’t even know her name.
But my mother is Mom, and what her memories revealed changes little. My birth mother didn’t give me up, so there’s no hard feelings for either of them. This much I already know, despite only learning the truth now.
I also owe Mom everything. She took in a baby who was orphaned by a complete stranger. She raised me as her own, gave me a life, and made me into Carina Hargrove. While Mom’s fear is understandable, it’s misplaced. The truth doesn’t change my feelings. Yet, it does change everythingaboutmy life.
I’m from a whole other coven. One that went missing—or into hiding. I may have siblings, grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles. Other water witches who could relate to me. A coven who would have been home. And…a father.
“The man you claimed was my father… That was a lie?” Mom always said a warlock impregnated her and disappeared. She never knew where he was from or even what his name was.
“Yes,” she whispers. “I don’t know who your father is, or what your mother’s name was.”
“My mother’s name is Morgan.”
Mom releases a choking sob into her hands. I slide off the couch and lower to my knees beside her to take her hands in my own, pulling them off her tear-streaked face until she’s forced to look at me.
“I’m not upset, just surprised.”
“I tried.” Another tear slips down her cheek. “Sohard. When you were twelve and coming into your powers, your signature was also developing. With it becoming familiar, I travelled to Vancouver; that business trip I went on that summer wasn’t for the shop. Instead, I went to the area they were last known to be, hoping their traces would match with yours. There was nothing to be found. I tried again, two years ago, but still nothing.”
“Even if you found them, I wouldn’t have gone back. This is my home.”
“You deserve the truth, and I’m sorry you may never have it. Your mother was scared, Carina. You saw the memories; she saved you from something. Now, Sloane’s asking foryouspecifically…”
Realization unbalances me until I fall back onto my ass, her hands sliding from mine. “You think I’m descended from the original water witch.”
“The BC covenisone of the original four covens, so it’s plausible.”
Suddenly, my plan gets a lot more dangerous—feelsa lot more of what Mom’s been telling me. If she’s correct about my parentage, then I’m about to hand myself over to the people intent on making me into a Dark witch. It’ll change me, morethan what the truth revealed today. It’ll be a permanent mark on my soul.
More importantly, it’ll change the tide of the war. With me and Harlow Dark, it’d be two out of the four needed.
Going to Twilight Grove doesn’t feel like a sacrifice any longer.
It’s a death march.
Weight presses onto my chest. My breaths come out short and my vision blurs as the ground shakes beneath me. Mom disappears, as do the three shifters who are observing this not-so-wholesome family moment. Hands on the floor, I push to my feet.
“I, uh…I need air.”
I streak from the room and past the three of them, whom I’d forgotten were even present.
One of whom looks as though he was just kicked in the balls.
Seventeen
RYDER
Carina takesoff out of the house with Morgan staring after her with an expression of utter devastation. Conan and Xander glance at me, Xander shuffling his feet as this visit took an unexpected and awkward tone.
I stare after Carina as the door slams shut.
“Stay here, don’t move.” An instinctual tug leads me outdoors—and then urges me to follow her. A feeling beyond the bond. Not friendship, considering we barely know one another, but it’ssomething. Something that propels me to where she’s standing by the edge of her front lawn, gazing at the vast mountains on the other side of us.
Taking Carina from her coven was supposed to be simple. She’d fight me for the week, I’d keep her locked up until the other witches came, transaction would be completed, Dad would be healed, and Carina would be on her way. We’d all move on from this.
Pityingher wasn’t an option. She’s gone from a captive to making herself the pack’s guest by agreeing to this. It’s a High Priestess’s sacrifice for not only Highridge, but everyone on Earth.
