“Morgana!”
I practically leapt at the alpha witch who had first helped me escape, wrapping my arms around her neck and accidentally pushing poor Vesper off. He cawed his surprise and landed on my shoulder with a flap and a hop, nudging me with his beak.
“Hey, kiddo,” she laughed, hugging me back. “Sorry I haven’t stopped by yet; I’ve been a little busy recently. Plus, I’m pretty sure if I see that mate of yours, I’ll punch him in the face.”
“And I’m pretty sure he’d be the first to say he deserved it,” I chuckled, still not ready to let her go.
I’d gotten in touch with her and Selene once I’d left Ignareth to let them know I was safe, and that the bounty hunter who’d sold his soul to find me was actually my mate.
Selene found it hilariously ironic, and offered us a free drink the next time we stopped by the bar, while Morgana was… a little less amused.
“Fucking bounty hunter…”
She took a step back, holding me by the shoulders and pushing back the hood of the cloak so she could get a better look at my face. Failing to find any hint of mistreatment, she sighed with a smile. “You look healthy.”
“That’s goat milk for you.”
“And freedom. How are you doing? Really?”
I didn’t blame her for still being a little skeptical about Ronan. My dad might never fully like the poor demon, either. But I knew she meant beyond my mate.
“I’m good. Some days are better than others, but the time between the bad ones is getting longer.”
She smoothed her hand down my hair, her nails running through my curls. “That’s a relief. I haven’t stopped worrying about you since I first picked you up in Noctis. Not even when I left you alone at Selene’s. Not sure I’ll ever stop, to be honest. Witches aren’t meant to be alone.”
Vesper hopped off andpoofedinto his other form, towering beside us. “She won’t be so alone after tonight, though.”
My eyes misted, my lips quivering. “A-are you sure?”
“Did you ever stop wanting your familiar?” he asked.
When I shook my head, he smiled. “Then rest assured, your familiar has never stopped wanting you, either.”
Morganatuttedsoftly and wiped the tears that fell down my cheeks. “Hey now, no need to cry. This is one of the best nights of a witch’s life. I’m just glad I could be here to make sure you were doing okay, and to wish you a happy bonding.”
Priestesses entered the room, chanting low, and the witches lined up for the procession.
Morgana gave me one more quick hug. “Can’t wait to meet them.”
She and Vesper left, along with the other guests who’d come to see their friends, siblings, partners, and children off.
Ronan had wanted to come, but this was a witches only event. Not even mates got to enter the Temple tonight.
Instead, he was busy cooking up a feast at the house, preparing a little bit of everything—meat if the familiar was a carnivore, salads if they were an herbivore, and pasta for me because I couldn’t get enough carbs.
The doors creaked open, and the procession began.
The Covenant Woods were behind the Temple, and after circling the building thirteen times, the priestesses led us to the entrance.
Two of them stepped forward. One held a book, the sacred texts of the goddess, while the other read the passage.
“When Hecara’s soul sprang from the earth, it was whole, yet torn. For within her, a second half lay hidden, waiting through the cycles of moon and star.”
I trembled beneath the cloak, wondering if it was the excitement, the priestess’s words, or the strange cool air that blew towards us from the woods that was making me erupt into goosebumps.
Maybe I should have opted for a dress.
“On the new moon after her twenty-sixth year, she found it: Leveryn, small and trembling, a creature of her own spirit, yet its own being. And there, in that joining, the first bond was made, and no witch would ever walk alone again.”
