She knew this part would be harder for Greya to swallow, given how much was entrusted to her as the future matriarch of the Auster Coven. How could she explain to her what she’d learned, what she’d felt, about the necessity of Iblis’s chaos without sounding like she’d betrayed Gaia and descended?
“Greya, the more I’ve learned, the more I’ve realized that witches have made mistakes too. We are not without fault in this, and I think it’s time we try something different—for daemons’ sake and witches’. Gaia gave me that vision for a reason.”
“What do you mean, try something different? You think Gaia wants you to do something about this bond?”
“Yes. We—Ty and the other two daemons who kidnapped me—figured out a way to break the bond to Iblis. To allow daemons to access Gaia’s magic once more, and I believe this is what Gaia truly wants.”
Greya was silent as she took all this in, hesitation and fear written across her face. “I don’t know, Ena. Why didn’t Heran tell me about all this? Why haven’tyoutold her?”
Greya was asking some good questions, and Ena tried her best to answer them.
“This knowledge is apparently only for matriarchs. Heran only told me because Gaia revealed it to me on her own, and Herantold me not to tell you, but I had to tell you, Greya. I don’t think it’s right that this is being kept from us. And as for Heran…I do want her to know—eventually—but she is stubborn, and I think, to her, change and a loss of the status quo is more important than what’s right in this instance. I don’t want to risk her stopping us.”
Greya shook her head. “Stopping you? You mean, you’re going to do it?”
“Yes. We are ready to break the bond and reverse the spell. We have most of the necessary elements, including a witch from each Coven. But there’s a few things we don’t have, and that’s why I reached out, Greya, because I need your help to get them.”
“A witch from each—” Greya’s brows hit her hairline. “You don’t mean…”
“Yes, we have an Occidens witch. And Cris, he’s helping us too. But Greya, listen to me,” Ena said, her voice turning serious as she felt the flow of blood start to slow from her hand. “We are coming to the Sacred Grove to complete the spell. It has to be done there, but we still need a ceremonial chalice and an athame. We need—Ineed you to bring them to us.”
“Ena…” Greya said sadly, shaking her head. “I believe everything you’ve said, but I don’t know. About any of this. I am the future matriarch of this Coven, and if I am seen aiding daemons…that could destroy our standing with the mortal villages. Or our alliance with Aquilo. I can’t just—”
“Please, Greya,” Ena began, infusing her voice with as much sincerity as possible. “I know it’s a lot to ask, but we’re on our way now. I really want—no, Ineedyou to be with me on this. I don’t want to do this without you, and this is our only chance to change things. For the better.”
Greya closed her eyes and was quiet, her reflection rippling even more with a new breeze that blew across the pool. “Okay,” Greya said. “I hear you, and I’ll do my best.”
“Thank you,” Ena said, relief spilling through her. “Thank you, Greya. I know once you have a chance to commune with Gaia about this, you’ll know it’s for the best too.”
“I will,” Greya said, “but that’s not why I’m doing this. It’s because of you, Ena. I hated how we left things, and even though I’m still trying to catch up to all of this…you know that I trust you, right?”
“I do,” Ena said. “I know this is a lot, but thank you for listening to me this time.” She gave her sister a small smile, an olive branch. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” her sister responded, smiling back at her, even though her eyes were still wary and distressed.
“Meet us in the Sacred Grove at dusk in three days’ time,” Ena said.
“Alright,” Greya replied, nodding cautiously.
“Blessed be, sister,” Ena said, and with that, she pulled her hand back, stopping the flow of blood into the pool, and the image of her sister vanished.
For the first time since she’d begun the spell, Ena sat back on her heels and took in her surroundings.
The trees were blurry, tilting. She felt incredibly dizzy all of a sudden. Maybe she should stand up? Looking up, she saw Ty and the others approaching her from their camp, just as the world went dark.
Chapter Thirty-five
Ena
Enafeltcold.Theback of her head felt like it was resting on ice, and her fingertips were beginning to hurt. What was going on?
Slowly, she opened her eyes and her gaze landed on Ty—like he was the gravitational force from which she could not escape. Blinking a few times to clear her vision, she looked around to see Cris and Turner kneeling beside her as well. All of them had concerned looks on their faces. What had happened?
“Easy,” Ty said, placing his warm hand on the back of her head and lifting her into a sitting position. “Are you alright?”
“I…” Ena looked around at the forest surrounding her, getting her bearings. She was still beside the Sacred Pool, laying on the snow-covered ground. “I’m fine, I think. I must’ve passed out.”
“It was probably the blood loss from the spell,” Ty said, his face screwed up in concern. “Go slow.”
