Okay… I didn’t know what that meant. “The Father … being…?”
She frowned. “The father of all creation. God. Prime Creator.”
I nodded. “Right. That’s what I thought.”
“Can all Paladins light candles with a wave of their hands?” I looked at my own fingers, wondering if it were possible. She barked out in laughter and it made her look much younger. Now I questioned my guestimate at her age.
“Obviously not!” She laughed some more, the lightness causing my own lips to curl.
I shifted on the balls of my feet nervously as the candles flickered shadows across her face. “I don’t really know anything about Paladins, Astra. I was raised among humans.”
She frowned, grasping at her chest as if I’d just told her my grandmother died. “Shells of their former selves. May that never happen to us. You have to help us,” she pleaded.
What the what?
I frowned, opening my arms. “I’m here. I have no idea what you need from me, but I’m here. Just help me understand everything.”
She nodded. “This way. I’ll explain everything.”
Why did that give me a sinking feeling in my stomach?
I followedher past the candles to the back of the stage where there was a door. She opened it and descended down a row of creaky stairs. Stepping after her and down into the basement, we passed flame sconces that lit up the walls and I wondered if it was normal fire or that magic fire she’d made with her hands. Could she snap her fingers and make them blow out?
Probably…
When we reached the bottom steps, I took in the large space. To the right was a bedroom with the door ajar and a simple four-poster bed. On the back wall was a fireplace with crackling logs inside. There was a little kitchen off to the left and a sitting area in front of the fire. In the farthest corner of the room was a small floor pillow facing a low table or altar. One single thick blue candle burned on the alter with a vibrant purple flame.
She pointed to the purple flickering glow. “That’s a blessing candle. For you. I’ve prayed for you every night since you saved me from the dark fey and brought me home.”
I swallowed hard, feeling slightly uncomfortable at her kind gesture. Why? I had no idea. This girl had so much faith in me. I didn’t want to let her down.
I was about to respond, when she spoke again.
“When Running Spirit was killed…” She shook her head. “No, I need to go back further. Let me start over.” She rubbed her hands together nervously. “My mother, Faye, was a priestess too. Blessed with healing like me.”
She gestured for me to sit down on the couch and I did, facing her as she snuggled in across from me. Being with Astra felt so … easy. Which was weird considering I literally knew nothing about her.
‘Pack,’my wolf told me, and I nodded. Astra was pack, that’s why we felt like sisters. It was similar to my imprint with Sawyer, the closeness, the reading of her energy but in a familial way. She was nervous now but also excited.
“Was?” I asked, wondering if her mother was…
“Dead.” She nodded, and then pointed to the ceiling. “With the Father now.”
Right…
“I’m sorry.”
She swallowed hard. “She died shortly after Red Moon, your grandfather, passed.”
I frowned. “That was recent. How did she die, if you don’t mind my asking?”
She looked around the home as if still expecting to see her mother walk out of the kitchen. When she met my gaze, I wasn’t prepared for the fear I saw in her eyes.
“Don’t run off or anything, okay? Just hear me out first.” She inched closer to me as if she were preparing to jump out and grab me when I inevitably tried to bolt.
My heart picked up speed then, thumping wildly against my chest. “Why would I run?” I swallowed hard.
“My mom died shortly after Red Moon because … we as priestesses cannot live long without being tethered to an alpha.” She raised her wrist to show the marks I’d made there when I’d claimed her and now it all made sense.
