by Valia Lind
"And what about you? Is the council going to protect you too?"
I smile, squeezing his hand, "Don't you know, I can protect myself?"
"I know you can. Doesn't mean that I want you to be fighting this battle." And I can see the truth in his eyes. He glances down at our joint hands, before raising them to waist level, and taking my other hand, pulling me to stand directly in front of him. Our ever growing attraction is blooming right before our eyes. He's worried about me on a whole new and different level, and I would be lying if I said I don't feel the same.
But my own desire is mixed with worry for him. He’s caught up in this, just as much as I am, if not more. Those traps are directed at his pack, his family. We're both in uncharted territory, on so many levels.
"I'll protect myself with whatever means necessary," I whisper, watching his thumb make small circles over my skin. His breath ruffles the hair against my forehead and then his own is leaning against it. We stand linked by our hands and our foreheads, holding on to this moment for as long as possible. My body is buzzing with energy and want, heating up the space around us.
"Harper,"
"And I'll protect you, just the same," I add, interrupting whatever he was going to say. He freezes at my words, and I wonder if I've said too much too soon. But then he's pulling me even closer, his left hand cupping my cheek and when my eyes meet his I am lost...lost in the pureness of the moment. In the emotions dancing between us. He leans down, and I think that the stars have aligned. But before his lips can actually touch mine, the door opens, springing us apart.
Mama stands on the threshold, her eyes moving between the two of us. She has been in power long enough to know how to keep her face free of all emotion, but I can feel the disapproval in her. Then, the disapproval turns to fear.
"Mama?" I ask carefully, moving closer to her, as her eyes fly around the room.
"Who was here?" she asks so quietly, I have to strain to hear her.
"What do you feel?" Connor is instantly on alert, coming up to stand beside me. I glance at him in surprise, but his whole attention is on my mother, as if whatever she's going to say next holds all the weight.
Mama looks him straight in the eye, her voice that same dangerous calm I've known to expect in every situation, but her look is full of an emotion I haven't seen on her in years. When she speaks, all of my fears are realized.
"Pure evil."
7
“There is a legend, passed down through the families of every coven."
We're seated in the back room, Mama on the couch with Bri next to her, while Connor and I sit in the chairs facing them. Mama is holding a cup of tea Bri made her, moving her fingers up and down around it. Bri keeps throwing concerned looks my way, she was only a few minutes behind Mama, coming to meet us after the council let out. Now we're waiting for Mama to explain exactly what she meant by "pure evil". I didn't exactly expect a trip down memory lane.
"A legend?" I probe, when she doesn't continue. Glancing up at me, she gives me a tense smile, before continuing on.
"Yes. Of ancient creatures, much older than anyone we've ever come in contact with. Older then the first shifter, older then the first witch. They're called the Ancients. I know," she hurries on to add, "it's not exactly an original name, but it's who they are."
"I don't understand. Who exactly are they?"
"They're creatures born of pure magic, long before there was any control over it. They ruled, with immense power, waring against each other out of spite and boredom. They experimented with the supernatural, finding ways of pushing their power to the next level. Some infused their DNA with other creatures, creating the first shifters. Some exercised the knowledge, creating first witches.”
She stops, her eyes fixed on something far away. My mind is twirling with the new information, trying to find some kind of understanding, but all I find is more questions.
"So what happened to them, if they were so powerful?"
“War after war, experiment after experiment, they exhausted their magics to such a point that they had to rest. They've been asleep for generations, but the legend says that one day they will awaken, bringing with them a dark age. The Ancients are vicious and vile. All they want is the ultimate power, and if they awaken, we will all be collateral damage."
She grows quiet after such a strong statement, letting us mull over her words. I can't even wrap my mind around it, much less find something to say. Bri looks about how I feel, her gaze focused on the wall behind us, trying to process all we've heard. I glance down at my hands, squeezing them together, before flexing my fingers, and then repeating the motion. When Connor reaches over and places his hand over mine, I jerk to attention.
His eyes are once again full of worry, but also of determination. This knowledge maybe new to him, but I can see his alpha side coming out. He's already preparing for a fight. Turning back to my mother, I see that her and Bri's eyes are on where Connor's hand rests over both of mine. He notices as well, and goes to pull back, but I beat him to it by threading my fingers through his, keeping him in place. Sitting up straighter, I look my mother straight in the eyes. She understands what I'm doing, even if she doesn't approve of it.
"What do these ancients have to do with the man I met?" I ask, keeping my voice surprisingly steady. A bit of respect creeps into my mother's eyes, before she sighs and takes a sip of her tea.
"If I am correct, the man you met is one of the Ancients."
"What?!" Bri and I exclaim at the same time. Connor stays quiet, but because I'm still holding his hand, I can feel the uneasiness in his body. He’s ready for action, and his wolf is fighting to break free. I squeeze his hand, letting him know I understand his struggle, and he calms instantly.
"They were the original shifters, but they were also people."
I've never seen Mama afraid before, but now, I see that's all she is. And it makes me that much more scared.
"There have been signs," she continues, standing up and placing her tea cup on the table. "The issues the council has been keeping under wraps for months. Someone has been going around killing creatures in the forest, you've seen the traps first hand. We thought they were preparing for a sacrifice and in a way we're still right. But what they've been preparing for is the return."
"Murders? Sacrifice? Why are we only hearing about it now?"
"We didn't want to cause panic before we knew what we were dealing with."
"And now?" I stand, agitated. "The people are not prepared. And you're going to spring the Ancients on them, and they'll be that much more unprepared. We should've been doing something from the beginning."
"There's not much to be done," Mama says, turning fully to face me. The urgency in her voice sends me back a step, and I'm now flush against Connor, my side at his shoulder, his hand still in my own. "The Ancients are more powerful than you can imagine. The first time, we had no idea how to protect ourselves. They put themselves to sleep. Now, after generations of rest, they'll be more powerful than ever."
"We are not the unlearned ancestors. We've had generations to prepare as well. If you're saying this legend has truly been passed down for years, then someone, somewhere, has been preparing for this day. I'm going to find out who that is."
I don't wait for a response. Dropping Connor's hand, I step over to where I left my bag and pull it over my shoulders.
"What has the council decided about Evan?" I ask, my voice firm.
"I am given permission to help."
"Then help," I glance at Connor, before looking back at Mama. "Connor will go with you. Help Evan. Any way you can."
"Harper?" This comes from Bri, still seated on the couch next to the spot our mother vacated. "What are you doing?"
"Whatever it takes," I reply, "I'm going to the coven's library and I'm going to see if I can find something about these Ancients."
"I should be going with you," Connor speaks up but I wave him off.
"No, Evan needs you." I soften my voice, as he
starts to move toward me. The wolf inside of him is so close to the surface, I can almost see him. Shifters are known to be protective, alpha’s even more so. But I can’t let him sacrifice his brother for me. “I will be okay."
"He came after you once already. He'll be ready for your magic next time." Connor whispers, but we all hear him anyway. I see my mother glance his way, but I can't read her expression. Instead, my sister steps up.
"I'll go with Harper. Two witches wielding battle magic can at least slow him down enough for us to get away." My sister comes around, giving me a small smile. Her support fills my heart, and I could hug her. But now is not the time.
"Then, that's decided. Mama," I turn to my mother, who has been surprisingly quiet, allowing me to take charge. "Keep him safe. Please."
She looks at me for what seems like a long while, before finally coming to some kind of a decision and nodding. Connor still looks worried, so I take a step toward him, running my hand briefly over his face.
"Don't frown so much. It'll leave marks."
"Please be careful," he whispers, his eyes full of a million things he can't say. I know we have an audience and I know this is forbidden, but at that moment, I don't care. I stand on my tiptoes, placing a quick kiss to his cheek.
"Go with protection," I whisper, before hurrying away. I don't look at him or my Mother. I don't meet Bri's eye as she falls into step beside me. I don't know if I will be able to afford whatever I'll have to pay for feeling how I do about Connor, but I know it will be worth it. He is worth it. My lips tingle from the feel of his skin against them, and I hold onto that and the promises I saw in his eyes before we were interrupted.
I wasn't lying when I say I will do whatever it takes to see him safe.
Bri and I walk in silence, each of us lost in our own world. But I know it won't last long, because I can almost see the gears turning in her mind, questions forming on her lips. When we round the corner, putting Main Street behind us, she finally breaks.
"What are you thinking, Harper?" she exclaims, throwing her hands up in the air. When I don't answer, or slow down, she hurries in front of me, putting out her hand to halt my progress.
“Bri..."
"No, answer me."
I sigh, looking into her stubborn face and wishing she would just leave it alone. But she won't. I wouldn't. We're alike in that sense.
"What do you want me to say?"
"First, I don't understand why you didn't call for help the moment that man showed up. Second, I can't believe you actually used battle magic and how was it? Third, you're are out of your mind in the way you've been speaking to Mama and I am shocked and impressed. But what has come over you? And lastly, you and Connor? What did we walk into, because Mama was ready to blow a casket, and holy moly he looks so much hotter in the morning light."
When she seems to run out of breath, she stares at me expectedly. I can't say I've ever seen my older, level headed sister this wound up, but here we are. I'm pretty sure she wouldn't appreciate it if I laughed, so I'm fighting the impulse.
"I still don't know what you want me to say. You heard Mama. We're up against something we are not prepared for, so I didn't even think of sending out any kind of SOS signals. I was acting on instinct. The battle magic instinct. And yes, it's as amazing as you would imagine, except I was also terrified the whole time. It’s also more draining than I remember, but that’s probably because I don’t use it enough. And Connor..."
I trail off, because I don't know what to say to that. Just saying his name sets my body aflame. I sneak a peek at Bri and I find her smiling at me. She can sense my emotions, without me having to say anything. I roll my eyes at her smug look, and walk around her, resuming our walk.
"Harper, you and Connor..."
"I know okay?"
I don't need to hear her words of caution or concern. I know the rules myself, but as cliché as it may sound, I don't care. He makes me feel so much more than I have ever imaged. I couldn't give it up, even if I tried.
"They would never allow it," she says softly, and my body tenses at her words.
"I know. But I can't give him up, Bri. I can't even if I wanted to. There's something between us that breaks all the known rules of the universe. I thought it was all in my head at first, because you know that I'm very picky when it comes to men. For a second, I just thought it was a physical reaction. And yes, it's still that."
I pause, trying to find the right words to describe to her, and to myself, what I feel.
"It's more than physical. It's almost...mystical at times. An otherworldly connection, unlike anything I've ever experienced. It's not just that I knew him when we were younger, it's more than that. I feel like he...completes a part of me I've been missing."
Maybe it sounds sappy or overly romantic, but the moment I say it, I know that's exactly what it is. The moment I come to realize it, my whole chest fills up with this feeling of rightness and for a second, I can't breathe.
"Harper, we talked about it this morning. You remember, right?"
I turn to my sister, finding her eyes on me, her face full of shock and wonder. I shake my head, because I'm in denial. I don't want her to voice what I just basically proved with my words. All I know is that I never want this feeling inside of me to go away.
"It's the prophecy of soulmates."
"That's not possible," I gasp, because soulmates are a unique and precious aspect of our culture and it has never happened outside of our magic line. It's impossible. Or so we’ve been taught, since no one I know has every experienced the phenomenon. But I can't deny that after our talk this morning, this doesn’t feel like it fits. Connor knowing I was in danger isn’t a normal reaction either. I know more and more evidence is presented to support Bri’s words, but if I’m being honest, I’m terrified that it may be true.
"You said yourself, we are in a completely new ballpark here. Actually, we're in a game we don't know the rules to. Who's to say this isn't part of it?” Bri simply shrugs.
“So, what Connor and I have is some magical anomaly based on the evil creatures that are waking up after a super long nap? Gee, thanks."
"No," Bri places her hand on my arm, stopping me before we can walk into the building we’ve just arrived at. "I think that everything is changing. And if Connor is truly your soulmate, I think you should fight for it. With every part of you."
I smile at the intensity of Bri's words, and my own resolve solidifies. I may be terrified of the concept, but I already decided that I would do whatever it takes to protect Connor. If this…soulmates bond makes us stronger, than who am I to stand against that? We need each other, and in the end, we’ll have to fight for one another.
"I intend on doing just that."
When we step inside the building, a sense of reverence washes over us. I know Bri feels it as intensely as I do. Typically, the coven's library is reserved for the coven's leaders and the coven's keeper. I see her seated at a desk, farther into the room, and she stands at our approach.
"Girls," Miss Myla has been the same age since the moment I met her. An older woman, with graying temples, she's graceful, but tough. I smile at her greeting of us. "What brings you in here?"
"I'm afraid nothing good," Bri replies, taking the position of the eldest sister, her voice all business. "Mother has sent us to research the legend of the Ancients."
The moment Bri utters that word, I swear it grows ten degrees cooler inside the library. Miss Myla tenses, her eyes sharp on both of our faces in turn. After a long pause, she sighs, motioning us to follow.
"I've been afraid of this," she says, leading us between stacks and stacks of books. "The council has been keeping the happenings in this town under wraps, but I know the signs. I've studied the books myself."
"You knew it was coming." It's not a question, but she nods anyway.
"Here are the texts on the legend. I've been pulling them out since the moment I began to suspect," she motions to a number of stacks spread out across a few table
s. "I still have some to find. They're not exactly a light reading. But you can get started, and I will help any way I can."
Bri reaches for a book, taking a seat at one end of a table. I head for the other chair, placing my bag on the table near me and pulling out a notebook. Miss Myla turns to go, but something takes hold of me.
"Do you know anything about soulmates?" the question seems to burst out of me. Bri jerks her head up, looking between Miss Myla and myself. My face has gone hot under Miss Myla's scrutiny, and I think I've said the wrong thing. Until she smiles.
"I can see it on you. The glow of love," she finally says. It's my turn to jerk to attention and I shake my head.
"I'm not in love."
I can feel Bri's eyes boring into me, but I don't turn to look at her.
"Maybe you don't know you are," Miss Myla replies, tsking. "But you are falling. And soon, you will land."
"What if?" I begin, swallowing hard and clearing my throat. "What if I'm not allowed?"
"Oh honey," Miss Myla coos, running a hand over my hair in a comforting gesture. "Love has no reason or rules. One can come up with a million restrictions, but when you meet your person, there is no stopping what's to come. Stars align for a reason, and so do hearts who are meant to be together."
With that, she turns on her heels, and marches back into the shelves. I sit still, staring after her retreating back, allowing her words to wash over me. Bri doesn't say anything, and after a second, I hear her turning the pages.
My mind fills with the image of Connor and everything he means to the already. A week ago, I would’ve said all of this was a hoax, a way to give little witches a hope of a magical future. But now, with every passing moment, I’m learning more and more about the world I was born into.
Is it possible to find someone who completes you in such a way that all rules fly out the window? I can't answer that question just yet, but I think I'm going to find out. Very soon.
With that, I reach for the closest book, opening it up. First things first.