Page 96 of Bewitching the Wolf

This must surely contain the Golden Book.

Gradually the procession gets closer, until we are standing just a few feet apart. The sun’s light now forms a glowing circle around them. I can see the box clearly now. It’s covered in jewels. Rough-cut and multi-colored. Treasures of the earth.

The elves step forward and Aurora closes the gap and raises her hands to receive their precious cargo.

Two elves, taller than the rest, come forward. They hold out the box and remove the lid, then take out a small, thin volume, bound in simple brown leather.

I feel a stab of disappointment.

Is this it? This modest little volume?

It really is as small as Aurora said. Very humble—like the elves themselves. But then it starts to glow, until there is a halo surrounding Aurora and the elves, bathing them all in golden light.

As Aurora takes hold of the book in her cupped hands, a shower of sparks arcs up toward the morning sun. I could be imagining it, but it’s as if it stretches right up into the heavens.

“Thank you, elven folks, for keeping the Golden Book safe these past years,” Aurora says, bowing her head.

The elves bow in return, murmuring quietly in their elfen tongue. Their words are hard to hear, but Aurora seems to understand.

Gently, she opens the cape and secretes the tiny book within it, next to her heart.

Now that the formal part of the ceremony is over, there is a burst of greetings and laughter. Sheriff Cane steps forward and extends a big hand to our High Priestess. “Aurora, the books will soon be together. May the magic quicken.”

“Aye, dear friend. May it quicken and help all sentient beings prosper.”

Bradley then turns to Jax. “Hello, Jax Summers,” he says, and slaps him on the back as if they are long-lost friends, even though to my knowledge, they have never met. “I believe I am looking at our future,” he says. Jax smiles hesitantly, a little confused, but grips the hand held out to him. “It’s good to meet you, Sir.”

Finally, Bradley turns to me. “Tippy Honeywell. Look at you. A fully-fledged wixen now.”

“Oh, not quite yet… I don’t think,” I demur. “But it’s good to have you back, Sheriff.”

“Lovely to be back.” He moves on down the line. “Felicia, looking as vibrant as ever.” And then he claps Traggar on the back, and the two huge males hug, like brothers

I look around the group, at everyone exchanging such warm greetings. All these years there have been a small handful of monsters devoted to reinstating the white magic. All this time, they were working to find ways to stop the evil that controlled us. And I had no inkling of the part I was about to play.

I am humbled and grateful that I, Tippy Honeywell, have something meaningful to offer.

CHAPTER 29

JAX

As the three books are placed together in the Vault, I wonder if anything will happen.

One red, one silver and one small modest brown volume are laid side by side on the stone plinth that was crafted to hold them when the Vault itself was built, nearly four hundred years ago.

Silas and Brody step forward and place a domed glass case above the plinth, sealing the books inside.

And that seems to kickstart something.

The books begin to vibrate. I rub my eyes, wondering if fatigue is deceiving me, but they are definitely vibrating. Suddenly the covers fly open and their pages start to flip wildly.

Moments later, beams of light shoot from the center of each book, forming a complex intertwined pattern above them.

“The Dawnwrought Mandala,” Mom says.

We all watch, mesmerized, as the light reconfigures into a multitude of interwoven patterns, and the pages keep on flipping.

“They’re running through the runes,” Mom explains. “Ensuring the connections are strong.”