Chapter 35 #2
She had forgotten the black ripped pants and instead had on a floor-length flowing dress made of rich black velvet with intricate lace. Her choice of clothing today made her look wiser and more mature. Her lips were painted in a shade of deep burgundy.
Although her appearance didn’t scream dark magic, Cordelia was skilled in manipulating dark energies and spells. And apparently, she didn’t die easily.
Her dark aura drew me in—maybe it was a witch thing. Like werewolves preferred to live in packs, witches clustered together in covens.
Watching the woman, I wanted to know more about witches and their covens. The royal library in the kingdom, where Dad and his ancestors accumulated many books, had no books about witchcraft.
During my studies, I’d read witchcraft books as written and perceived by humans but facing Cordelia on several occasions made me realize how little I knew.
Her menacing hounds resembled wild dogs with terrifying, demonic features that instilled fear and killed whatever they were around.
Her pets were large and muscular. Standing at shoulder height, their bodies were covered in coarse, jet-black fur that seemed to absorb the sunlight, making them blend seemingly into the shadows.
Several creatures had patchy fur revealing exposed scarred flesh, hinting at the savage battles they had endured.
My pulse sped up as I stared at Cordelia, expecting her to wave her hands and mutter her spells, sending the beasts to attack us.
They possessed ferocious, fearsome heads, reminding me of the mythical Cerberus.
At least Cordelia’s animals didn’t have horns jutting out of their skulls.
It would have made their appearance even more nightmarish.
Their eyes burned with an intense crimson glow like embers. Their gazes reflected their dark and sinister nature, unnerving me.
Right next to Cordelia, one demonic dog opened his mouth, displaying rows of razor-sharp teeth, long and pointed and capable of easily tearing through flesh and bone.
They could open their jaws wide, unleashing a torrent of inferno flames that scorched everything in their paths. The flames were molten orange and left a destruction trail, reducing anything they touched to ashes.
At the end of their muscular bodies, a long spiky tail extended, tipped with a cluster of barbed spikes that could whip and thrash violently.
Snarling and growling, the creatures stared at Torin and Hayden.
I didn’t want them to unleash their fire breath on us, so I stayed still until I found out what Cordelia wanted this time.
“We have some unfinished business, child,” Cordelia said.
But before I could answer, Torin adjusted his position as if ready to pounce.
“I thought I killed you,” he said.
“I don’t die easily, Alpha. Women are more resilient than we’re given credit for. Isn’t that right, child?” Cordelia looked at me, eyebrows raised.
I only nodded and mumbled, “Uh-huh.”
Her words were valid. But Torin had gone through so much in his life that his trauma made him resilient, and so had Hayden with his abusive father. But the dark witch couldn’t see past her own pain.
My leg muscles twitched when Cordelia gestured with her fingers, and the demonic dogs split up into groups, moving closer to my mates. But it was not too close to start an attack. It was a good thing that their mouths were still shut.
“While your mates are busy with my pets,” Cordelia said, “I need to talk to you.”
“There's nothing to talk about. Leave my mates alone,” I said.
“I can't, my child. You still have my bracelet.”
I groaned. Not again.
Cordelia’s gaze lowered to my backpack that I held in my hand.
“If you cooperate, I am willing to cast the opening spell to your witch book,” she said.
My eyes grew wide. First, did she feel the magic book? And second, did she really want to make an exchange? The bracelet for opening the second magic book.
“I can sense the magic in the book,” she said.
“The Book of Shadows and Memories shows you a preview of the most important memories of a person of your choice. But the book has a defense mechanism. Whoever wanted you to find it protected it so the book would disappear after opening it. You only get one shot, child. Think about which mate’s memory you want to see. ”
This book wasn’t like the first two, which pointed me to a location on a map. The Book of Shadows and Memories would let me preview a mate’s history.
Hayden’s heavy gaze pierced me, so I turned my head and looked at him.
“Sweetheart, you need to see Torin’s memories—”
But a loud growl filled the open space around us before Hayden could finish talking to me.
“No,” Torin said, his voice angry.
Cordelia chuckled. “We all have to face the consequences of our actions. I am certainly ready to do so.”
What did she mean by that?
Torin fidgeted next to me, his face flushed. He took quick, shallow breaths as if he were on the verge of hyperventilating. His blue vein stood out in his neck, throbbing.
Was he that scared if I got to see his memories? Hayden seemed calm, as usual.
The Book of Shadows and Memories required a spell to be opened, and Cordelia was my only chance. Otherwise, I would have to search for another witch. Even if she existed, I didn't know where to find her.
But before I got myself in more trouble by making a deal with a dark witch, I had to find out what she wanted.
“What would it cost me to open the book?”
Cordelia let out a small laugh. “Not much, child. Just your life, but only if you don’t succeed.”
My heart started beating erratically.
“Succeed in what?” I asked.
“Answering a question. It’s more like a riddle. If you answer correctly, I will open the book for you. And you get to choose which mate’s memories you want to see—”
“No,” Torin said.
His loud growl pierced the thickening air.
“It’s a trap, Anna. Don’t listen to her,” Torin shouted.
On my other site, Hayden said, “It’s your only opportunity to find out what Torin hid from you, sweetheart. To find out his true nature.”
I looked at Cordelia, and she shrugged in the most innocent manner. She probably didn’t care which mate’s memories I chose to see, but she wished for me to fail to answer her question so she could take my bracelet.
“You have to choose your mate only after you answer correctly, child. No need to freak out yet.”
“And if I don’t answer your question correctly?”
“You die, and I take the bracelet. How do you want to proceed, my child?” she asked.
My life had to be sacrificed in order for the bracelet to find a new owner.
The dark witch, usually known for her hostility, acted suspiciously gracious today. Yet, instead of feeling relieved, my stomach twisted with worry over the unknown consequences of my choice.
But Torin’s fear of letting me preview his history bothered me even more than the prospect of dying.
What secrets and memories could be so terrible that he didn’t want his mate to witness them?