Natalie and I let out a breath in unison. We knew it was coming, but it’s still a relief to hear.
“Thank you,” I say, the words inadequate for the weight lifting from my shoulders. Finally, I can stop spending every day fighting to prove myself.
A cup of steaming tea rises through the table, earning a little “ooh!” from Hazel.
Fiona pulls it closer. “I owe you an apology, Katie. I just want you to understand that the coven has strict protocols for a reason. Magic is dangerous and even catastrophic in the wrong hands. When people start bending rules, the consequences can be…” She trails off and takes a sip of tea.
“I get it,” I say. After seeing what Sophia did with just a taste of bio magic, I understand all too well. “You’re trying to protect people.”
“My family.” She frowns into her cup. “My niece. She’s six. I’m the only witch in my family, and I want her to grow up in a world that’s safe.”
I think of my own family—my parents and sisters who think I’m getting ready for the start of term and who have no idea magic exists. “I want that too. For everyone.” I draw a breath, gathering my thoughts. “Sometimes, rules need to be questioned. We need to look at why they exist and if they’re still serving their purpose.”
Fiona studies me. Her gaze doesn’t hold judgment or disdain, just thoughtfulness.
Troy clears his throat. “I’ve been thinking a lot about all this,” he says, his hands folded on the table. “About what it means for my job. For all Trackers.”
“What do you mean?” Natalie asks.
“Trying to trap magic, contain it, control it…” He shakes his head. “We’ve given ourselves the wrong mission, haven’t we?”
“Trackers are meant to keep people safe from feral magic, right?” I ask. “Can that be done without trapping them?”
He and Fiona exchange a look.
Troy nods. “Banishing spells.”
There’s a pause. A wordless conversation seems to pass between them, until finally, Fiona says, “This will need to be discussed over a series of town hall meetings.” She sighs. “It’s likely we’ll rewrite the laws to state that bio magic must remain free in the natural world, and attempting to exploit it, seek it out, trap it, or absorb it in any way will be punishable.”
My heart skips. This is progress. Maybe there’s hope of a world where natural magic and humans exist in harmony.
“You don’t think specific people could be licensed to use it?” Hazel asks. “Only for good?”
“Absolutely not,” Fiona says firmly. “The potential for misuse is too great.”
“And it’s not meant to be absorbed, anyway,” I add. “The chimera’s soul—or power, or whatever it is—isn’t meant to bind with a human’s. I think it’s a violation of nature when witches do it.” I recall the chimeras’ beauty as they shapeshifted in the forest, their thoughts entwining with mine, and the ancient wisdom in their eyes. “Some things aren’t ours to take.”
“Some magic should remain wild,” Natalie says. She squeezes my shoulders. “Just ask our resident Guardian.”
They all look at me, their gazes joining a few lingering stares from other witches in the lounge. And though a wave of heat rises in my face, I can’t help smiling.
The door to Natalie’s suite clicks shut behind us, and my shoulders drop for the first time in…well, probably the full week-and-a-half since I landed in Vancouver. The familiar space, with its dark wood furniture, tidy bookshelf, bonsai trees, and Ethel’s bed, feels like a sanctuary after all we’ve been through.
I stagger to the bed and flop onto it, groaning dramatically. “Sleep. Now.”
Natalie follows, the mattress dipping as she collapses beside me. “Agreed.”
We lay there on the duvet for a long minute, both of us on our stomachs, our breathing gradually synchronizing. The silence wraps around us, ringing and strange after everything we survived.
Natalie turns to me, her dark eyes searching my face. “You okay?”
I nod automatically, then catch myself. We’re past pretending.
“Not really,” I admit, rolling onto my back. “I keep seeing you falling, the blood everywhere, and I—” The words stick in my throat like thorns. The memory of her body crumpling, of the life draining from her as crimson soaked her clothes, flashes through me like a lightning strike.
Natalie shifts closer, her warmth seeping into me as she wraps her strong arms around my middle. I curl into her, breathing in her scent—warm and herbal with a hint of sweetness.
“We made it,” she whispers into my hair. “We’re here.”
