Mom entered and looked at the window with a sigh. She hurried over, shut it, and spelled the window.
“I wish she would leave you alone, Anders,” Mom snapped.
He rolled his eyes. “Why do you hate her so much?”
“Her parents are pushing you two together. Do you even like her?”
He rubbed at his face. “Yes.”
Mark knew he’d wanted Kindra. She did things to make him want her. And he was just a kid. She had seduced him. He understood that now.
“Why?”
He turned red as he looked down. “Mom, she…I just feel it.”
She let out a bitter laugh. “She’s manipulating you, Anders. She wants you to believe she loves you, so she touches you, kisses you. I don’t even want to think what else she does to make you think it’s love.”
“I feel so much for her, though. Why can’t you believe she feels anything for me?”
“Oh, darling, I’m sure you make her feel good, and she wants what you can give her.”
“That doesn’t make any sense, Mom.”
She sat down at the foot of the bed. “Your choices are important to your future. And I can’t tell you not to have feelings for someone. That’s not how it works. I can only tell you to be careful and make sure what you feel is real, and not just your dick interested in her.”
“Mom!” he exclaimed and let out a nervous laugh.
She shrugged. “It’s a fact of life, but I’ll let your father talk to you about that. Right now, you need to read that book, and we can discuss it in the morning. The window won’t open until tomorrow. I know she’ll complain, but I’m protecting you, Anders.”
He nodded.
Mom moved closer and gave him a hug. “I love you. You know that, right?”
“Of course. I love you too. Don’t be so hard on Kindra. It’s not her fault her parents are crazy.”
She smiled sadly. “You’re right, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t influenced her or her motivations.”
“You’ve told me a million times. I don’t know what you expect me to say.”
“Don’t give your heart away until you know she’s the one.”
“And how do I know?”
“That’s not as easy. Because sometimes, especially when you’re young, and these feelings are new, you think it’s right when it’s not.” She blew out a breath. “Study tonight. You can figure all that out tomorrow.”
“Of course.” He offered her a smile and took the book.
“Don’t mess with that window.”
“I didn’t invite her in. She came in on her own.”
“I know.” Shaking her head, she left him there.
Anders focused back on the book.
Mark sighed. “I was so stupid back then. I thought she loved me. I was so wrong.”
Gina sighed. “She did love you. That part I know, but her parents twisted her head around when it became clear you wouldn’t become the high priest. Then Gerard got into her head.”
“She still loves you,” Robert explained.
“How? How the hell does that work? She tried to kill me for him!” Mark insisted.
Robert shook his head. “He promised to become you, only better. She let him into her head, and he twisted things around. She loves you, and half the time she thinks he is you. Her head is so screwed up, she didn’t realize what she was doing. And now, she’s starting to waiver. Like Gerard’s hold is dissipating on her.”
“Why?”
“Because she’s starting to change, I think,” Robert answered.
“If the change has started, can we save Valen?”
“I don’t know. We’ll find out. In the meantime, follow me.” Robert led them to the year after the wedding. The night he was called out to the accident. His parents were trapped in a car under a semi-truck. Both the car and truck were burned out. Two burnt corpses were trapped inside. And he could feel their magic.
Mark watched the younger version of himself rushing forward, while several witches held him back. His younger version was lost in grief, but Mark caught Kindra’s parents whispering.
Kindra’s mother was first to speak. “Anders should have been with them. Instead our daughter is trapped with the man they ruined.”
Her father sighed. “This will make it easier for the little people to come in and take over. Only thing lost is time. Kindra will still rise to the top.”
Mark blinked, turning to Robert. “What the fuck?”
“I think they set it up,” he answered. “I saw a lot more in Kindra’s head. They were the ones behind the accident, and the ones who brought the doppelgangers to Brightwater Bay.”
“Are they still alive? Tavis and Martha Churnski?”
“I don’t know, but I’ll find out,” Robert assured. “But I think that proves your parents did something to either protect you or tried to warn you.”
“And you can’t find anything else in my damned head?” Mark snapped.
“I’m trying, but you were out of the house, and the chances of you catching the rest of the conversation is small. I think I know who to go to. There is a woman in Kindra’s memory. Cora. Her husband is one of the doppelgangers. I think she may know more about it all. And she seems unwilling to be part of the mess, but they force her to stay.”
“Cora is still alive?”
“Yes, but the one who took over her husband is dying. She’s in danger. I don’t believe any of the doppelgangers trust her because she never tied herself to them like Kindra did.”
“I can try talking to her. We were friends. If any of my coven would understand my choices, she would.” He rubbed at his face. “She had to watch her husband deteriorate, and unlike my wife, she tried to get the high priest and priestess to step in, but I am almost certain another pair of doppelgangers took their place.”
Robert spun them through memories so fast Mark thought he might puke. Then they were out of his head, him sitting in the chair, Gina turned toward him. “You okay?”
He sighed. “I was a dumb kid.”
She shook her head. “She was really dumb. You were always a gorgeous guy. And sweet. I wish I knew you back then. Maybe I could have swayed you from her.”
He grinned. “My parents wouldn’t have liked you. They only wanted me with a witch.” He rolled his eyes. “Only, they didn’t like any of the witches I liked.”
“There was someone besides Kindra?”
“No. I mean, crushes, but Kindra was persistent, and I was stupid. I fell for her, thinking she really loved me. And now, looking back. Shit.”
Tremaine spoke up. “Hey, we all make mistakes. You were a kid. It happens. You know the difference now, right?”
“I do. And this bond is so much more than anything I’ve had before,” Mark answered.
Gina kissed him before sitting back.
Preston dropped into a chair. “So what did you learn?”
Robert ran down what they gathered from Mark’s head. Mark sat on the edge of the couch, Gina beside him. And his mind kept cycling back to Kindra’s parents. They wanted him dead too. Did they bring the little people? Were they still alive? Would Robert let him slaughter the bastards? Or was it better to let it all go?
“Mark. You okay?” Robert asked.
“Just trying to sort out my thoughts. I spent so long burying shit in my past, I forgot there might be something to worry about back there.”
“The coven left this plane. This isn’t on you. Why would you go back to a place where you thought you killed the problem?” Tremaine asked.
Gina squeezed Mark’s hand. “You couldn’t have known. Now you want to stop them. If we can save anyone, you will now.”
Robert nodded. “We will. So relax, and I’ll see what I can find out about who is still alive in the coven and who isn’t.”
“That’s a start.”
“I’ll ask Toryn. He may already know. His company does have information on mos
t Others in the country. Besides, we need to talk to Toryn, if not Morrigan.”
“Why?” Mark asked.
Gina dropped her gaze, suddenly getting distant.
Mark caught her chin and brought her gaze up. “What’s going on?”
“We need answers,” she said.
He watched her a moment. “Just tell me what we’re dealing with now.”
“I, uh…I’m not sure what it means. Can we get someone who might first?”
“What’s going on?” Mark asked.
Robert pushed out a breath.
Preston pinched the bridge of his nose. “Mark, trust me when I say you need someone who’s going to explain this better, because I can see your reaction going very badly as more of it comes out.”
Mark was on his feet, now worried. “What the hell is going on?”
“It’s complicated, Mark. You’ll have answers soon.” Preston pulled his phone out and glanced at it. “In fact, we can go to Toryn’s office now. He’s in, and he already has Morrigan there.”
“I don’t understand,” Mark griped.
Gina touched his face, drawing his gaze to her. “Neither do I, but we will.”
Robert touched them, and they were in Seattle, in a high-rise office with an impressive view.
Toryn lifted his gaze and smiled as he stood. “Let me introduce you to Morrigan. Mom, this is Mark, his mate Gina, who has Badb inside her, and you’ve met Robert, Preston, and Tremaine.”
She smiled. “A pleasure to meet you.” Her head tilted in Mark’s direction. “Why are you so upset?”
“I want to know what’s going on,” he answered simply, heat in his voice. “I’m tired of being in the dark.”
* * * *
Gina patted his arm, but her eyes were locked on Morrigan. She sensed the familiarity. It wasn’t her own, but Badb, who remained silent.
Morrigan smiled at Mark before turning her attention back to Gina. Then she covered Gina’s stomach. A growl tore free of Mark’s lips.
“Relax,” Toryn murmured. “She senses her sister.”
“Her sister?” Mark balked.
“Badb, yes, my sister. Her soul managed to survive what a group of doppelgangers did to her family. She killed the one who tried to take her form and magic, but another killed her physical body. Her soul escaped.”
“And is now in me,” Gina answered.
She smiled. “With a new body.”
“What?” Mark asked. “Don’t tell me she’s going to take Gina over.”
Morrigan shook her head. “No, my sister would never do that to another soul. She simply slipped into the hole that was torn into Gina’s soul when someone ripped her magic out.”
Gina nodded slowly. “That’s what happened when I was little.”
“Yes, but my sister healed the scars. You are whole again, and are now carrying a child, though not your own. You will give birth to Badb. And later, you will be able to carry more children.”
“But I’m a werewolf,” Gina refuted. She felt the truth but was couldn’t wrap her head around it. “We don’t carry babies.”
“You feel it, don’t you? The child?” Morrigan asked.
“I don’t understand how it’s possible,” she whispered.
Mark stood there blinking.
Morrigan lifted Gina’s chin. “You’re so much more than you thought. You descended from my sister’s bloodline. Only your father got himself in trouble with the wrong family. Henroyld sent his goons to tear out the part of you and him that made you Fae.”
“I can’t let her go through the awakening!” Mark blurted out.
Toryn rubbed at his face, walking away.
Morrigan laughed and shook her head. “She won’t have to. There are ways around that. And my sister mended what was broken and shared her magic with Gina. Making her fully Fae, and not quite werewolf in the sense you knew before.”
“I’m not a werewolf? I still feel my beast,” she argued. Though she felt something more than that inside. Was it her magic? She didn’t know.
“You haven’t lost your wolf. She’s more a part of you than ever before, and the wolf is no longer ruled by the moon, and you can have children.”
“How?” Gina whispered.
Morrigan smiled. “Badb fused both pieces of you together. Anything is possible for you now.” She turned to Mark. “And if you wanted to be what you once were, you could be. Badb has the power to make you a witch again.”
“No. I’m happy as a wolf. I like the life I’ve made for myself.”
Badb murmured, I really do like your mate. He’s good for you.
Gina smiled. The idea of someone inside her didn’t bother her as much as before. She was whole again, more whole than she could remember. And all she had to do was make it through pregnancy with an ancient Faery inside her.
Her smile crumbled. And she wouldn’t be worried, except they had a group of doppelgangers to worry about.
“So, she’s having a baby, but it’s not ours,” Mark said.
“No, but if my visions are right, you will have your own soon after. This pregnancy is what heals your mate. It won’t last long. By tomorrow, you’ll notice the bump. I don’t know how fast the pregnancy will be, but I can assure you, everything will be all right.”
“I hope so,” Mark answered. “I don’t want to lose Gina, especially when a group of doppelgangers want me and probably the rest of Edenton, if they can find us.”
“Don’t worry so much. These doppelgangers have been a problem for so long, I will be happy to destroy them myself,” Morrigan explained.
“You’ll help?” Preston asked.
She nodded. “Of course. My grandson lives in Edenton, as well as my great granddaughter.”
Preston blinked. “How do you know what Dacia’s having?”
She tapped her temple. “I’ve seen your little girl. Don’t worry, you’ll have a boy soon enough. And well, they won’t be your only children.”
Mark blinked.
“Mom, you shouldn’t have told them that,” Toryn said.
Preston smirked. “I’m glad she did.”
Morrigan turned back to Mark and Gina, taking their hands. “You will have children of your own with Gina, Mark. Relax and accept the gift my sister offers.”
“Didn’t think we had a choice,” he muttered. “I’m sorry. You can’t blame me for worrying when you’re telling me everything I’ve come to expect is no longer an issue.”
“Of course not.” Morrigan lifted a shoulder. “Still, I promise you everything will be fine.”
Toryn sighed. “Everything I’ve seen leads me to believe she’s right. Though sharing the future is not a good idea.”
“All depends,” Morrigan answered.
Gina sat down, overwhelmed by thoughts. Pregnant. She even knew the moment it happened but didn’t believe it was possible. Badb wasn’t hers, though. No, she was descended from Badb. What did that make her? Just a surrogate?
Mark knelt before her. “You all right?” he asked.
“Yeah. Sorry. Never thought I’d have a baby.”
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, clearly disappointed.
She captured his face. “Oh, don’t think that. I want a baby. I want your baby. I just—I’ve dreamed of our children. I just thought it was dreams.”
“She has the gift,” Morrigan murmured.
Toryn ran a hand through his hair. “Or curse, depends on how you look at it.”
Gina glanced at him. “What are you talking about?”
Morrigan smiled softly. “You see the future.”
She snorted. “I wouldn’t call it the future, just hints, maybe.”
“Practice makes perfect, though if you don’t want too many details, don’t practice.” Taking a seat, Morrigan shrugged.
“How long will it take for Badb to grow up?” Gina asked.
Morrigan tipped her head from side to side. “That all depends.
I imagine relatively fast. But your unique circumstances made her gaining a physical form possible. Before you couldn’t create a viable baby on your own. Now you’ll be able to. Her magic is now yours as well. And no, that doesn’t mean you’ll be tied to her after giving birth. It simply means, you’ll have gained her abilities.”
She touched her stomach. “But this makes it so I can have my own child?” she asked softly.
“Yes,” Morrigan assured. “And children, not child.”
I promise you, all will be well, Badb added.
She took Mark’s hand but looked at Morrigan. “What can you tell us about these doppelgangers? One of them took Mark’s form, while he was still a witch.”
“And he wants Mark again,” Robert answered.
Morrigan leaned forward. “The doppelgangers are an old Fae. They can take on the shape of anyone they choose by taking that person’s life force. They prefer Others because they last longer in the same form, without having to go back to their natural state. Small, weak bodies, failing magic. If they go too long without a new face they wither and die.”
“They don’t have children?” Mark asked.
“No, but if they bond themselves to a pregnant woman, the child does become a doppelganger. So does the mother. There are ways to stop the change, but it’s painful.”
“So we could save my son?” There was no feeling in his voice. Then his eyes narrowed. “But what do we do about Kindra? Because I’m sure killing his mother would turn him against me in a heartbeat?”
Robert ran a hand down his lapel. “Right now, the half of her wanting to reverse the change is stronger than the side wanting to cling to Gerard, if judging by her memories and thoughts is accurate. Right now, she wants to find you, but she isn’t sure what to do. I planted the seeds I could to push her farther from Gerard, though.”
Mark flinched.
Morrigan nodded. “Gerard is the same doppelganger who took Badb’s husband’s form. His mate at the time had taken Badb’s or attempted to. Everything went wrong. She died before I could get there to help.”
“But her spirit escaped?” Toryn asked.
“Yes, she did. Sometimes, we can exist without form. There are a few who have managed. Though I only know of one other case where they managed to find a way to come back into the world, as Badb will.”
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