Jewel looked down at what she was wearing and felt her cheeks flush. Apparently her dream-self was feeling flirty. She had on a hunter green, sleeveless nightgown that came to her knees. There was nothing particularly revealing about it, and she was sure the green looked great with her hair, but she’d never worn a silky nightgown before. Even her dream-self made her feel likeadork.
“What’s wrong?” Daltonasked.
She shook her head and swallowed back a laugh. “I look ridiculous.” She felt his fingers under her chin as he raised her head until she was looking upathim.
“You do not look ridiculous. You lookstunning.”
“So my subconscious is telling myself, through my dream via you, that I’m stunning?” Jewel asked. “I’m pretty sure that I should be institutionalized if I need to give myself compliments through my mate in adream.”
“I like it when you call me your mate.” Daltonpurred.
Jewel was pretty sure most people probably didn’t analyze their dream while they were in the midst of it. Instead, they enjoyed it, or they were terrified, or mad, or whatever emotions the dream evoked. Most likely, they just went with it. Why couldn’t she just gowithit?
“Your mind is a wondrous place, Jewel Stone, mate to DaltonBlack.”
Jewel sucked in a breath as Dalton disappeared right in front of her. She turned around slowly and bowed her head at the beautiful woman standing near the window. The figure was bathed in a brilliant white light that emanated from the white gown she wore. Her very presence radiated peace, and Jewel wished she could feel that peace allthetime.
“Great Luna,” Jewel said and bowed her head. The girl had so many questions, so many things she wanted to say, and yet none of them would come to mind. She was still dumbstruck that the heavenly being had removed her mate and taken his place in thedream.
“I have not forgotten you,” she said in a voice that was both matter of fact and soothing at the same time. “I have been watching you, and I know that you are weary. Do not be afraid to call outtome.”
It was several heartbeats before Jewel finally responded. “I don’t understand why,” she admitted. “Why did I meet him, only to be taken from him? Why did any of us, Anna, Heather, Stella, or Kara, just regular girls, get drawn into any of this? We are supposed to be special, yet I can’t fight off the darkness that is trying to strangle me. Why did any of this happen?” She was crying. She hadn’t meant to cry. It just happened all of a sudden. One minute, she was basking in the Great Luna’s peace, and the next, she was a mess of tears andquestions.
“The ‘why’ is not always for you to know,” the goddess said gently. “There is a time for everything in its own season. You are in the season of growing, and growing can be incredibly painful. The only way to stop growing is to cease living. And it is not time for that just yet. No, a new season of life is on the horizon for you, Jewel. During this season, you will be many things, student, mother, and daughter to name a few. But perhaps most importantly, a time will come when you will need to become a warrior. You must use this current season to grow into that person. The transformation will be painful. It cannot be done any other way. There are no shortcuts for growth, and you must not stop until the task is completed. There can be no half measures. Can you imagine what the world would be like if things simply stopped growing halfway through maturity because the process became too painful or overwhelming? Imagine half a car, left to rust because a builder grew tired at his labors. Such a thing wouldn’t travel very well. It couldn’t serve its intended purpose. Imagine the student that completes half of medical school. One cannot be half adoctor.
“Imagine the heartache that comes with half a childhood, cut short by some misfortune. A void is left, a life left half unlived. Such a thing is a tragedy, no?” She paused, and then Jewel felt a hand on her bowed head. “You cannot stop halfway, Jewel. You must finish the race you’ve begun. You must grow and become who I’ve destined you to be. It will hurt, it will be lonely, and sometimes, sometimes, my child, it will be glorious. Dalton is waiting for you. He loves you. He is yours and youarehis.”
“What about the bond?” She spit out before she could stopherself.
“The bond is so much more than the ability to speak to another’s minds. I havedestinedyou for one another. Such an act binds you with many strands. If one of those strands is severed, you are still connected. Surely, you know that in your heart. Do not throw away the entire fabric of your relationship because of a small tear. You are made for Dalton, with or without thematebond.
“Do you not think I could foresee the severing of the mate bond? Do you not think that I would know if you and Dalton were capable of handling such a challenge? You will have to choose to love, even though you won’t feel his mind or spirit within your own. This is another form of growth. Take heart, Jewel Stone. I will never give you more than you can bear. You are weary. I come to give you rest.Sleep.”
Andshedid.
* * *
Magic,dark and thick like oil, was heavy in the air when the four travelers stepped into the Museum of Salem Witch Trials. Jewel could feel the magic coating her skin, and by the look on Anna’s face, her partner could feel itaswell.
“So perhaps the witch trials weren’t totally without merit,” Annamurmured.
“Why do you say that?” Zasked.
“You don’tfeelit?”
Z looked at Sly and they both shook their heads at the same time, a look of confusion on bothfaces.
“You’re supernatural beings,” Jewel said. “Shouldn’t you be able to feel the presence ofmagic?”
“Yes,” Sly said. “We usually do. Why can you feel something we can’t? That’s slightlydisturbing.”
“Hello,” a newvoicesaid.
All their heads whipped around at the same time. A short woman wearing an old-fashioned Puritan dress was standing in the archway. Her brown hair was wrapped up in a thick bun on her head. She had a kind face, but something about her grey eyes made Jewel hesitate to speak. She looked over at Anna and saw the samehesitation.
When Sly realized they weren’t going to say anything, he stepped forward and put the charm onthick.
“Good evening, ma’am.” The warlock smiled warmly. “We were hoping to look around a bit, maybe takeatour.”
