Mona flinched. She recalled the day she and Prue had discovered their witch coven required one of them to die so the other could acquire enough power to become the Maiden. She and Prue had both beenso angry.More lies kept from them. More deception.
That was when they had opened the Book of Eyes. They had hoped to find a spell to merge their powers as the daughters of Janus.
But it had backfired. And then, Mona had died.
“As for the prophecy of the three witches…” Gaia continued. “There were parts of the prophecy that indicated one of you would die when the Triple Goddess powers were unlocked. I prayed it was a mistranslation, that it wasn’t true. And when you gave yourself up to the Book of Eyes, I—I shattered. I couldn’t even imagine having to watch you dietwice.”
“Is that why you tried to prevent Prue from bringing me back?” Mona asked quietly. She couldn’t stop a tear from rolling down her face.
Gaia offered a sad smile. “Yes... and no. I didn’t realize what your soul had gone through. I truly believed that bringing you back would undo your sacrifice and unleash the Book of Eyes once more. I was wrong, and for that, I’m sorry.
“But… I also wanted you to have your rest and your peace. I wanted you to be free. Bringing you back only meant you had to suffer more, and I—I wasn’t sure I could bear it.”
“It wasn’t aboutyou, though,” Mona said. “It never was. And that was the problem. You did whatyouthought was best. You made the choicesforus, instead of giving us the truth and allowing us to decide for ourselves.”
Gaia nodded. “You are right.”
Mona blinked. “I am?”
“I have long since regretted keeping you and Prudence in the dark. There are…manythings that I regret.” Her voice broke again. Her eyes filled with a despair so potent that Mona’s heart twisted.
Perhaps she was thinking of Trivia.
Or perhaps she was thinking of Sybil, the woman she loved, whom she had left on Krenia.
“You might not have known me,” Gaia said. “But I knew you to your core, Pomona. Youhavegrown and changed into someone different, but I knew your soul before you became a goddess. I know how you react to failure. You give up.” She gestured to Mona, who was still stretched out on the cot. “You become languid and unresponsive until something new piques your interest, drawing you back to the surface.”
Mona’s eyes narrowed. “I am notlanguid.”
“Then prove it,” Gaia challenged. “Perform a simple healing spell on your body. See if it works.”
Mona shook her head. “I can’t heal anymore.”
“You can with the proper ingredients.” Gaia lifted a small sack at her side. “Which I happen to have here with me.”
Mona stared at the sack, her heart racing. Her gaze flicked to Evander, who was watching her intently, Hope gleamed in his eyes.
Did he agree with Gaia’s assessment? Had Monagiven up?
“I—I have been through a lot,” Mona stammered. “I’m not sure if I’m ready…” She trailed off, unable to pull her gaze away from the sack in Gaia’s hand.
Mona knew exactly what was inside. Saffron root. Lavender. Eye of newt. Mugwater. The standard ingredients for a healing elixir. It wasn’t quite as powerful as using her goddess powers, but it was still effective. They had used it for many illnesses and injuries in Krenia.
“Just try,” Gaia urged. “If it causes you physical pain, we will stop, and you can spend a few more days recovering.”
Mona licked her lips, uncertain. Fear wriggled in her gut. Why was she so opposed to this? She took a shaky breath and looked at Evander, whose brow was furrowed.
“What do you think?” she asked him.
Evander glanced from her to Gaia, then back again. “I think,” he said quietly, “that the decision is yours. But you have always been in tune with your witch abilities, Mona. It’s a part of you. And I think that… casting a spell can remind you of that connection.”
Mona swallowed hard. He was right.
But that wasn’t what Mona was afraid of.
She was afraid that itwouldn’twork. That her magic was completely gone. That she wasn’t even a witch anymore.
She wasn’t sure if she could process that loss. She wasn’t strong enough.
