“There is nothing to lose,” Philip said looking at her.
Antonia rose from her chair, crossed to the shelves, and took down some books. Each person followed until everyone had a few beside them and the shelves were empty.
Philip had also summoned his brother and male cousins because this was something they could all help with as there was no danger of an ill-advised spell being cast.
As the moon set and the sun began to rise on what would be the final day before the full moon, nobody was willing to leave to find their bed even though they’d already been awake through the night. Instead, they poured over book after book. Tea was delivered, as well as sustenance provided. Books with references to beasts were set aside to read again if necessary.
Antonia rubbed her eyes, then rolled her stiff shoulders as she picked up the last book in her stack.
She wasn’t reading any of the words, or at least not the stories, but skimming each page for a reference to wolves, beasts, Lycan or animals even. They did not have the time for everyone to read in depth unless it was something that could possibly assist them.
If she did not find something within these pages, then all she could hope for was that another found a helpful reference.
She stifled a yawn behind her hand and rose to pour herself a cup of tea.
“It cannot be so easy, so simple, can it?” Petra murmured to herself, which drew Antonia’s attention as well as everyone else in the library.
“What?” Philip asked, and Antonia experienced the excitement and hope that had suddenly grown in him.
“I also cannot believe I’d forgotten this. I knew it once. A long time ago.”
“What?” they all demanded.
“In this story, after Lycaon had deceived him, Zeus struck down Lycaon’s sons, one after the other, with a lightning bolt.” She glanced up. “He had fifty. But when Zeus was ready to kill the last one…” she picked up the book to read. “The Goddess Gaia laid a hand on Zeus’ shoulder, which calmed his wrath and the youngest was spared.”
“I do not understand how that can help us now.” Antonia had truly been hoping for an answer. They were running out of time.
“The Goddess Gaia. She can intervene,” Petra said.
They were exhausted, that was the only explanation for why anyone would think to ask a goddess for help. They did not interact with humans any longer.
“How?” Philip asked as if he were entertaining the possibility. Of course, he didn’t want to endure changes for the rest of his life and would grasp on to anything that could save him.
Instead of arguing, Antonia would let him have his optimism even though she believed it to be futile.
“A sacrifice,” his mother answered from the entry.
“Who and what?” Philip asked.
“Something very precious, and it must come from the person who cast the first spell.”
Antonia’s stomach sank. Did she have anything to even give that was worthy of a goddess?
Chapter Twenty-One
“Why not me?” Philip demanded. “I am the one that wants to be rid of the beast, and I am the one who brought this on myself, therefore I should make the sacrifice.”
He couldn’t let Antonia take on any more. She had suffered enough. She also continued to hold on to the guilt. Philip could feel it.
“I am the one who walked into the garden that night! I am the one who did not let anyone know that I was there and was sneaking around. I should be the one to make a sacrifice.”
Antonia placed her hand on his. “It does not work that way, Lord Chedworth.”
He also hated that she was formal when others were around. He was Philip, not a blasted title.
“Your frustration also will not assist in what needs to be done,” Antonia added.
“I am the one who wants something,” he said to his mother. “I made the error. I should sacrifice.”
