“Neil offered to hunt for us. A wolf’s aid in the upcoming winter would benefit us greatly. But it’s not worth the price of sacrificing your lives--you, Matheson, and your child.” Her eyes darkened. “Who knows what those beasts would do to you?”
I held back a shudder. “Nothing good.”
She shook her head. “I won’t allow it. Not after what you’ve done for me. The humans will stand with you, if or when you need to fight. I only ask that it’s a mutual truce.”
I thought about her offer. She’d already saved my life by lying to Neil, and now I’d helped her as well. There was no more need to fight between us--both our people could co-exist.
“I’m not a pack leader, so I can’t make those types of decisions myself,” I said, “but I’ll do my best to convince the others.”
“Thank you.” She nodded curtly. “Now, tell me why you’ve come.”
“We plan on leaving in the morning, so I want to try one last healing session,” I told her. “It’s going to keep nagging me if I don’t.”
The corners of her lips twitched into a slight smile, the one I only saw when the topic of the conversation veered towards potential pregnancy and babies. “Very well.”
She assumed her usual position laying on the bed with her now-faded scar exposed. Outside, the moonlight was strong, and I felt its light seeping into my bones. Focus came easily to me as I let my hands touch the Madame’s skin. Magic vibrated on my fingertips like a living organism.
This time, I remembered what I’d said to Ramsay, about how my magic seemed to originate from my core--almost as if it came from my unborn baby.
Please help me heal this woman so she can bear a child of her own,I thought desperately.
The healing magic flowed like ethereal water, pulsing stronger and stronger like a building tidal wave. Everything around me grew dark and silent as my concentration peaked. I poured all my energy into her, summoning from the deepest part of the magic well.
In my mind’s eye, something clicked together like a puzzle piece. I opened my eyes with a sharp gasp. I sucked air into my lungs and grabbed the headboard to steady myself. The Madame sat up abruptly as if startled.
On the surface of her skin, nothing changed.
But deep down, we both knew what happened.
We locked wide eyes. A silent understanding passed between us like a jolt of electricity. We were both mentally struck as if by a physical blow, shocked and amazed by what had just happened.
“Matheson,” the Madame said softly. “I felt something.”
Her hands trembled as she touched her body, careful and delicate as if not to hurt herself.
I nodded as the initial jarring moment passed, and I was left with cautious but intense optimism. “I felt it, too. It was like…” I raised my hands, trying to find the right words, but they wouldn’t come out. What had just occurred was so far outside the realm of normal understanding that it was still dawning on me.
But it was real. My magic had seeped into the Madame’s tissue, deep down, andrepairedher ruined organs.
A soft knock at the door drew our attention.
“Hello?” Ramsay said, peering in. “Is everything okay? I heard a bit of a commotion.”
When Ramsay saw me trembling, he came to help me stand.
“It’s okay, I’m fine,” I said. “I just--”
“Matheson healed me,” the Madame cried, pure joy across her face. “I felt it. My womb is healed!”
Ramsay’s green eyes went wide and he laughed, both shocked and delighted. “What? Are you serious?”
“Yes,” I said, unable to stop my smile from spreading. “I know it the same way I knew the moment I became pregnant. My pregnancy… I think it helps my magic somehow. I called on my baby’s help, and it worked. I healed her, Ramsay. I did it!”
“Mathe, that’s unbelievable!” He kissed my forehead. “You’re really something else.”
I smiled, happy that he’d believed my words and experiences without question. But I was even more happy at the Madame’s expression. Her smile lit up the room brighter than any light. She came forward and embraced me, and I could’ve sworn I saw tears in the corners of her eyes.
But the joyous moment was cut short as screams rang out outside--human screams, followed by the snarl of wolves.
