“Oh yes, since the beginning of the kitsune and witches, so many centuries ago. It was theorized that the witch magic might be strong enough to combat the magic of the kitsune, and vice versa. It’s essential that a being’s magic be balanced within themselves. If not...” She clucked her tongue. “All sorts of problems can come about. Your mother was a remarkable witch. Her magic was as strong as Belinda’s, even though she died young. I never met your father, but if his magic was as strong as your mother’s, we’re in for a surprise.”
What she really meant was that I was in for a shitstorm. “Why did they marry, then? Why’d they have me?”
“Don’t you know? It’s the oldest answer there is, something I suspect you’re starting to have a notion about.”
What on earth was she talking about?
“Love. Your parents loved each other so fiercely that no one could stand in their way. Not even Belinda, and there weren’t many who could stand up to her,” the witch explained.
No, there weren’t. Gran had been a bit of a bulldozer when she needed to be.
“Ultimately, your parents married despite Belinda’s warnings and my own, and despite the ancient laws that forbade it. And even though the most dangerous thing they could have done was have you, they did.”
The sting must have been apparent in my eyes.
“I assure you that Belinda never regretted you for a moment.” she added. “Neither did your mother or father. You were the light of their lives, never doubt that.”
Shit, I was going to cry, and this witch would eat my emotional mess for dinner.
She offered me a sense of privacy by ignoring my reaction. “Since your parents did have you, and combined powerful witch and kitsune magic, my advice would be to allow your powers to settle. Give yourself as much time between shifts as you can, so as to let your abilities a chance to merge together harmoniously. It will be much more pleasant for you if your magic can learn to work together, instead of against each other.”
“It would seem like it,” I agreed, then cleared my throat. “How long do I have to give myself in between shifts?” I could scarcely believe those words were coming out of my mouth. If I had things my way, I’d never shift again. I hadn’t asked for this kitsune deal, and all it’d done was complicate my already messy life.
Her sharp gaze trailed across my body before settling on my face again. “Who knows?”
I chuckled, unsettled and off balance since meeting the witch. I hadn’t been expecting that.
“There’s never been another one like you,” she emphasized. “That means we can approximate and guess, but we can’t be certain. If you err on the side of caution, and shift as infrequently as possible, that should delay the full activation of your kitsune—and witch—magic.”
“Should delay?”
“Yes, should. Again, there are no guarantees. Evie Black, my advice to you is to be prudent in all things. That means that, had you not already been pregnant, I would have counseled you not to become so.”
Yeah, no shit.
“Is there a threat to the baby from all this?” My voice went up two octaves before I could subdue it.
“Maybe. Maybe not.” Willemena whipped her silver hair casually over one shoulder.
I waited for more, but there was none. This woman wasn’t proving to be very helpful.
“So... we really have no idea what’s going to happen to me, or even if it will be good or bad?”
What the hell had I driven out here for?
“You’ve been listening,” she commented dryly.
“And I should be ‘prudent.’” The word left a sour taste in my mouth.
She cackled abruptly, a grating sound. “I have no taste for prudence either.”
“So just lie low?”
She paused, meeting my eyes with her gray ones. “I take it Belinda already told you that the kitsune’s duty is to guard the gate to the underworld.”
“Yes.” I grimaced. There wasn’t a hint of playfulness in the woman’s eyes now.
“You must guard it with your life, child.”
