Kai growled.
Sylvia looked up at him. Her eyes, once abright green, were silver. “Not by me, wolf. Stand down.”
She looked back down at my palm and sniffedlong and deep. I fought the urge to pull back. “Yes. She has magic, too, fromher grandmother.” She paused, looking up at me tilting her head to the side. “Howodd. Your grandmother was a Witch.” Her brow crinkled. She took a deep breathagain. “Your blood smells powerful, but there is a block. I can’t see more. Idon’t know what clan you are from. Someone has shrouded you in protectionmagic.”
“How can she be part witch? That isn’tpossible.” Devon stated what I was thinking.
Sylvia grabbed Kai’s hand and held it next tomine. “It shouldn’t be possible. Old lore states that Matefinders can take ontheir mate’s ability. She can do what Kai can do. Matefinders are alwaysfemale, always born in a set of twins.”
I gasped and pulled my hand away, breakingthe spell. Her eyes became green again. I choked on a sob.
“Drake.” I couldn’t speak. A rush of imagesbombarded my brain. My little twin brother drowned at six years old, pulling mefrom the raging creek. My father never forgave me for losing his precious son.That’s when he began the drinking and abuse.
Kai picked up on my thoughts. Sylvia grabbedmy hand and looked into my eyes with compassion. “Like I said, Matefinders areborn in a set of twins. The female always inherits the gift and the male is herprotector.”
My mind was still playing catch up. “Wait, mygrandmother was a witch? That means my mother or father is half witch?”
“Men are called warlocks, dear.” She smiled,but a sad look came over her. “The story is written that the last Matefinder,your mother I presume, was half witch and half wolf. She gave you and your twinto a guardian for safekeeping, someone she trusted. She gave you to yourmother, as you call her. That’s what the legend says. Your biological motherwas the only other Matefinder on record. You are the second. It’s believed tobe a genetic gift.”
My mind was reeling. “My… my biologicalmother. You said was… she WAS half wolf and half witch. How is that possible?”
Sylvia nodded. “She died. She wascaptured and forced with dark magic to use her abilities. She was forced tofind mates before it was time. Wolves started changing humans. Babies. Anythingto grow the werewolf race, but they were changing their mates before it wastheir time. Or their mates were already wolves, but it wasn’t yet the righttime to meet. They forced the mating ceremony living out unhappy marriagesbecause it was not a union guided by Spirit. It was evil, what they were doing,and so your mother… she killed herself. As far as how she was half witch andhalf wolf, we don’t know. The legend stops. There is no information to suggestinterspecies child bearing is even possible. It’s a mystery. The harder I lookinto it, the more confusing it becomes. So we call it a legend. Those thatlived through it have only vague memories. Very powerful magic has been putinto covering this up. Then you come along.” The silence was permeable.
I sat on the floor and stared at a crack inthe baseboard, completely numb.
“I think that will be all for today,”Kai told Sylvia.
She nodded. “I understand. Then thereis just the matter of my payment.”
He held out his arm and to my shock sheproduced a steel knife and sliced his arm catching some blood in a jar. Onceshe was done, the wound healed before my eyes. She looked at me indicating thejar.
“Weres’ blood makes for some powerful spellcraft. When you want more stories come and find me. I’ll be expecting aninvitation to the mating ceremony.” She smiled knowingly.
Kai knelt and cupped my face. “Tellme you’re okay.” His eyes were pulsing from brown to yellow. His wolf was closeto the surface.
“I’m okay,” I croaked, lying. “I justneed to lie down. I’d like to take a nap.”
He scooped me in his arms and carriedme down the hall, ignoring the stares from others.
Sometime later I awoke to a single yellowwildflower on my pillow, accompanied by a note. “You twitch your nose inyour sleep. It’s adorable. –Kai (Your boyfriend)”
I smiled taking a deep inhale of theflower’s fragrant petals. After showering and changing, I made my way to thekitchen. Jake and Kai were talking in hushed voices standing over the stove. Afrying pan sizzled and I could smell grilled onions. Kai turned, facing me asif he sensed me coming. He beamed, his smile reaching his eyes.
“Good Afternoon! Are you vegan orjust vegetarian? According to the internet there is a big difference.”
I laughed. “Vegetarian. I have milkand eggs. Free range obviously.”
“Obviously,” Jake agreed, covering asmile.
“Good. Then enjoy this veggie omeletand Jake and I will be back from Arizona before you know it.” He turned aroundtending to the skillet.
I scowled and put a hand on my hip.“Nice try, Kai. Really, well played. When do we leave? I am NOT staying here!”
Jake shuffled his feet uncomfortably.
“You’re not going,” Kai said, puttingthe power of the Alpha behind his words and turning around to face me. Istepped forward holding my head high. “I AM going. I was in the vision and youare not leaving me here. This is MY gift. I need to see this through.”
Kai sighed. “You are safer here. Ihave already called and asked permission from the Scottsdale, Arizona Alpha totemporarily cross into his territory, but he is wary. He will send men to makesure we don’t out stay our welcome.”
