“Am I wrong to assume this isn’t an actual spider? We’re not talking about a pet or something?”
She laughs. “No. The spider is what I call my addiction. She’s a voice in my head that convinces me the only thing that will make me feel better is using gold dust. After the last time I ascended, she told me you were using me, controlling me. That’s why I had to go to Beltane alone. I had to know that I was in control. That I wasn’t your prisoner here.”
I tap the side of my cup. “It wasn’t easy for me to let you go, not when I know there are Order members everywhere. I tried to remind myself that you weren’t a dragon and therefore not a target, but I admit, I almost climbed the walls waiting for your return.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you.”
“If going alone gave you what you needed to accept the mating bond, I’m glad you took the chance.”
“It did, and it also gave me the chance to face Jeremy.”
My skin prickles. “The doctor who messages you at all hours? He was there?”
“He was. And you were right. He admitted to being interested in me.”
A growl rumbles from my chest.
“Seb, do you want to hear the truth or not?” She tips her head and frowns.
“Yes, sorry.” I clear my throat and beg her to continue.
“I talked to my parents, and they agreed to fire him. I never have to see him again.”
“I like this story more and more.”
She frowns. “But that means there isn’t a witch to call if things go wrong with me. No one but you knows that I’ve used again. If it’s worse next time, I’m on my own.”
I shake my head. “Then there won’t be a next time. We’ll find someone else to make this ring.”
She lifts her chin. “That’s the best part. I don’t have to use gold dust to make the ring,” she says. “I can perform all the spells on my own, aside from two things.”
“What are those?”
“I need dragon blood for the potion, just like they used Donovan’s blood.”
“And?”
Her face grows serious. “This ring will be enchanted with five layers of interwoven spells. Think of it like computer code. I can write the code on anything, but to make it work, I need to connect it, power it on. I can lay the enchantments, but infusing them with magic will eventually require my ascension.”
“Or someone else’s, right? You could build the spell, and we could find another witch to power it on?”
She sips her coffee. I really wish she would eat. I have no idea what she had for dinner last night, but she needs her strength. “In theory. But why would you risk it? I can do it.”
“Because every time you use, the spider gets stronger.” I take her hand. “The ring isn’t worth you hurting yourself.”
“And killing Roman isn’t important enough for you to sacrifice yourself.”
I whistle through my teeth. “Not the same thing. It’s my Creator-endowed responsibility as a zodiac warrior to protect my kind. They can’t stay in hiding forever.”
She twists her fork in her eggs, brooding silently. I turn back to my coffee. “I’m your mate, right? Isn’t that like a creator-endowed life partner?”
“That’s one way to put it.”
“Then it’s my responsibility to care for you, right? To protect you if I’m capable of it?”
“Not at your own expense,” I shoot back.
“Then I’ll make you a deal. We make this ring together, and you promise to wait until it’s complete to attack Roman, and I will try to find someone else from my coven whom I trust to infuse it. There is one person I could ask.”
