Page 97 of Bewitching the Wolf

“How long will that take?” I ask.

“Several hours. We can leave them to it.”

After a few more minutes of gazing at the remarkable show in front of us, we all bow our heads. Mom murmurs a few words of thanks to the books and then removes the cape from around her shoulders “Shree, ya dii,” she tells it quietly. “Rest now, you need to replenish your magic, my friend.” And then she hands the cape to Brody. It wilts into his big hands as he strides away to place it in its case in the adjacent room.

“We’ll need to convene this evening and go over the final plan,” Otis says. He puts his arm around Clem. “But for now, I think we should take some time to ourselves. We had an early start, and Clem, you are looking tired. And Aurora, I’m sure you could do with putting your feet up.”

“And I want to spend some time with my wife,” Bradley says, his arm encircling Sally, who has now joined us. She beams up at him with dewy red eyes.

“Let’s go home and I’ll make a nice pot of tea,” she says.

Bradley laughs. “That’s your answer to everything, Sal.”

“Yes, it is.” She smirks. “A nice cuppa is good for any occasion, whether humble or auspicious.”

I glance at Tippy, who’s been standing next to Clem. She gives me a little eyebrow waggle, and I see her tail swish from side to side. I’m learning to read her body language. She wants what I want—time alone together.

“If it’s okay with all of you, Tippy and I might just go for a stroll,” I say casually.

“You two youngsters go off and enjoy yourself,” Felicia says magnanimously.

Traggar nods, and they turn to leave together. Traggar’s hand rests lightly on the small of Felicia’s back, just as it did when I first saw them together. My lips twitch. It looks like they might be planning a little alone time too.

“Be back by five, Jax. There’s still strategy to work out,” Otis warns.

I mock salute. “Yes, boss.” And then, grabbing Tippy by the hand, I practically drag her out of the Vault.

TIPPY

Jax and I walk hand in hand like any other young couple in love. Any couple you might see on any normal day in the market square.

Except this isn’t any normal day.

This is the most momentous day of our lives.

Soon everything we know will change forever.

Tomorrow, Jax and Aurora and a group of warrior wolves and monster sheriffs will make their way up to the Labyrinth, and change the course of history for monsters and humans forever.

It’s scary. But it’s also exciting.

I have faith in our magic.

And most of all, I have faith in Jax.

And now, we have a couple hours to spend together before he must go and ready himself for the task ahead.

“Do you want to talk?” I ask. He looks at me sideways. “Do you?”

I shrug. “I don’t know if words can to do justice to everything that’s happened.”

He shakes his head. “Words can’t touch it.”

“I mean, it’s mind-blowing, reuniting with your mom, finding out about the Dawnwrought Coven, that the three books of runes are—” I stop, feeling suddenly teary.

Turning, I gaze up at him, unable to hide the anxiety on my face.

“Jax, what if something happens to you tomorrow? What if⁠—”