She saw her through her mom’s eyes, and it was so incredibly humbling to see how her mother viewed her daughter. To Gem, Jewel was the most beautiful thing to grace the face of the earth. She marveled in Jewel’s success and wept with her over painful failures. She hurt deeply about Jewel’s isolated high school years, understanding that people avoided her because of Gem’s life. People didn’t understand that Gem was the real deal. She was a prophet. And Jewel felt awful for the times she blamed her mom for herloneliness.
“Do not feel bad, lovely Jewel,” her mom said into her mind. “You had a tough lot in life because of me, and for that, I am deeplysorry.”
“You don’t have to be sorry, Mom,” Jewel assured her. “I didn’t understand then, but I do now, and I should be the oneapologizing.”
“It doesn’t matter now. We have important matters to discuss and must do soquickly.”
Jewel didn’t understand what was going on. Was this happening because of their bloodrelation?
“You need to go see Anna’s mother. Go back to her store and talk to her. She will have the information that you need in order to do what Volcan requires. I don’t know the details. I wasn’t allowed to see that in my vision. But I know she can help you. Perizada of the fae will be coming to you very soon, and she knows a powerful male named Thadrick. You must speak with him if you want to gain the power to use Volcan’s army against him. Stay with Anna’s mother until Peri finds you. Use the information she gives you to create the witches, even though you hate to do such a thing. It must happen this way. You cannot veer from this path or all willbelost.”
“What do you mean, all willbelost?”
“Volcan will be too powerful if you are unable to turn the witches against him. Destroying him would cost hundreds of thousands oflives.”
“So this Thadrick will be able to help you as well?”Jewel asked as hope grew in herheart.
“No, love, my time on this earth is over. If I allow you to change me, I will be under Volcan’s control, and he will have access to my visions. He cannot be allowed to have access to the future. Such a thing would make him too powerful to defeat, even with Thadrick’s help. This is goodbye, my dear. But do not despair. I didn’t think I would even get a goodbye with you, so I am so very thankful to Volcan, if only for this small amount of time with you. Do not forget what I’ve told you to do. And Jewel, I could not have imagined a more incredible daughter with which to be blessed. You have been the joy in my life that I could never have predicted. And the woman you are growing into is nothing short of incredible. Don’t give up, not on Dalton, not on the other people who love you and will fight beside you, and, most importantly, not on yourself. I love you, Jewel Stone, and one day you will have a child and understand just how inadequate any words are to describe what you feel for yourchild.”
“Mom, please don’t leave me.”It was cruel of her to ask such a thing, but how could she not? How could she just let her mother go? How could she move on from such a loss?“I’m notready.”
“None of us are truly ready for the next step in our lives, no matter what it is. All that matters is that we face it and move forward, knowing that change is necessary. Change means growth, whether it is through failure or triumph. Never be accepting of stagnancy. Always move forward, growing and changing for the better. I’ve no doubt that you will triumph. One last thing, then I must go. You’ve recently found a very important book. Keep it safe and hidden, especially fromVolcan.
“Fight Jewel. Fight for all those who cannot fight forthemselves.”
Jewel felt her mother’s hand go slack in her own, and Jewel’s eyes flashed open. There was a burst of light, and then all was calm. Her mom lay still at her feet. Her face was peaceful, as though she’d simply slipped away in hersleep.
Jewel fell to her knees and wrapped her arms around her mother’s lifeless form. Her heart shattered in her chest, and the pain felt as though it would destroy her. “No, please not this, not this.” She wept, unable to contain her grief. “I love you, Mom. I love you so much.” Her mother had said there were no words adequate to tell your children how you felt about them. Did she realize that Jewel felt the same way? There were no words that could ever express the love and gratefulness that she felt for Gem Stone being her mom. How did you thank the person who has stood beside you through everything you’d ever faced? How did you thank the person who cared for you when you were sick, fed you when you were hungry, cheered you on as you stumbled through this journey we call life? How did she ever say thank you for the unconditional love her mom had given her? Shecouldn’t.
“What have you done?” Volcan asked frombehindher.
She didn’tanswerhim.
His hand was suddenly wrapped around her arm, and he jerked her away from her Gem’s body. She would have scrambled back to get to her mother, but Volcan’s grip was like iron. Anna hadn’t moved. She stood in the middle of the room, as still as a statue. Her face was ashen, and her mouth slightlyagape.
“You killed her,” saidVolcan.
Jewel had to think fast, even though her mind was still reeling over her mother’s words and death. “I told you that you wouldn’t get the outcome you wanted,” Jewel said to him. “If you would have listened to me, we could have been working on finding a solution instead of this.” She made a motion toward her mother. “This is what has happened every time we’ve attempted to use your magic to change a woman. We don’t know why they aren’tsurviving.”
“You must be doing something wrong,” heargued.
“Well, we certainly aren’t doing something right,” she spat back. She should probably remain calm and try not to provoke him, considering he was already quite worked up, but Jewel couldn’t bring herselftocare.
He released her, but before she could get back to her mom’s side, Gem’s body disappeared. Jewel whipped around and glared at him. “What have you done with her?” Anger was pulsing through her body, and her blood felt hot in herveins.
“When you start doing what I command, you may have her back to give her a proper burial. But if you do not, then you will never see her body again. I’ll leave it to rot as an example of how I treat those who fail me.” He paused for a moment. “I have high hopes for you, Jewel.” The fae walked toward her, his eyes drinking her in, and the appreciation she saw in them made her sick. “I have plans for us. You will succeed, and when my army is ready, you will take your place at my side asmymate.”
She started to tell him just where his plans could go, but Anna’s hand on her arm stopped her. Instead, she ignored his words and tried to appeal to the side of him that understood the power of knowledge. “In order for me to accomplish this task, I need more information. Perhaps we cannot properly control your magic working through us. There’s something we aremissing.”
He began to pace, his hand stroking his chin. His lips moved as though he was talking, but no soundcameout.
“Do you remember anything about how you made them before?” she asked. “You know, however long agothatwas.”
He shot her an irritated look. “Of course. Why do you think I gave you my blood and the spell I used? It worked just fine, then. Once the woman was changed, she had to make a blood sacrifice in order to claim the magic and finish thespell.”
“Blood sacrifice?” Jewelfrowned.
He rolled his eyes as if he was talking to an exasperating child. “Kill someone and offer their essence to me. In this, they prove theirloyalty.”
