Chapter 47
Forty-Seven
IZZY
Ichoose to cancel dinner with my fathers tonight. I’m just not ready to deal with them. I still have yet to process everything Travan told me.
Instead, I have Jake drive me to the Council headquarters, where he leads me into a room below ground they reserve for feral wolves.
Christian paces in his cell, his teeth bared, saliva dribbling onto the bedding below him.
I sit outside of his cell, my back against the wall, as I flip through my mother’s book.
“You would have all the answers,” I whisper, wondering if she—wherever she is—can hear me.
It’s too hard to see properly, so I’ve given up on reading a bit ago. Instead, I just mindlessly flip through the pages, dimly making out strange illustrations and random words.
One captures my attention, and I squint, struggling to read it better.
Is this a chapter on Hearts?
Interesting.
I debate moving, but I’m not sure I want to leave Christian just yet. He needs me, even if he doesn’t know it. Thinking through my options, I decide to utilize a spell I learned at the covenstead.
I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and will power into my palm. Just a little bit, though.
It courses through my veins, electric wave after electric wave, and migrates into my hand. I reopen my eyes to see light emanating from my skin, bright white tinged with orange streaks.
Hovering the light over the book, I prepare myself to read the text.
Only to see the words have changed.
Where before there were typed letters detailing the various supernatural species, there’s now an unfamiliar scrawl.
February 12
Delaney refused to talk to me today. She walked in on me and Kyle kissing.
I tried to apologize, to explain myself, but she didn’t want to hear it.
I know she is jealous and misses them, but what am I to do?
I’m their mate, and they’re mine. You can’t just ignore that.
I’ll talk to her, get her to understand, apologize. I want to make things right.
Holy fuck.
Is this…?
It is.
Holy fuck.
This is Helena Craft’s diary.
What did Soraya say before? That Helena found this book enlightening? That must’ve been the secret.
Light.
Witch’s light.
Or maybe just my light, because I’m related to her by blood.
My heart hammers in my chest as I flick through the pages until I reach the beginning of the book. This entry is dated February 20—probably from the year before.
I settle in to read.
M keeps talking about marriage. He brought it up on Valentine’s Day, but I didn’t know how to respond.
I love him. I do, but I’m not sure I’m ready for that.
I’m still so young, and to be honest? I’m not sure if he’s my forever.
I hate admitting that, but it’s the truth.
We’ve been together for so long that I think we’ve fallen into a routine. And routines aren’t always good things.
M? Who the fuck is M? Obviously Helena’s boyfriend before she met my fathers.
I turn to the next entry.
Delaney is sneaking away to meet up with shifters. Mom and Dad are going to be pissed if they discover the truth. I guess I’ll just have to keep her secret.
I flip the page.
Delaney is in love. She hasn’t said it out loud, but it’s plain as day on her face. I can’t help but compare her relationship with the shifters to mine. She has fallen in love, but I’ve fallen out of love. When did that happen? How? I don’t know what to do.
The next entry is only a few lines.
I met Delaney’s shifters. What’s happening to me? Why do I feel this way?
I’m just about to turn the page, desperate to read more of my mother’s story, when my phone pings with an incoming text. I allow the power in my palm to die in order to read the message.
Ashton
Can we talk? Please? There’s something I need to tell you.
My heart stutters before slowing to a stop. Ashton…wants to meet with me? I don’t know how I feel about that.
Does he want to discuss what almost happened in the woods? My rejection of him?
My fingers shake as I type out a reply.
Me
Where?
Ashton
My house. Fifteen minutes?
Me
At two in the fucking morning? Ugh. Fine.
I lower the phone to my lap and then twist my head slightly so I can see Christian better. He’s currently curled into a ball, sleeping soundly, tiny snores emitting from his flared nostrils.
“Is this a bad idea? Meeting up with him?” I whisper, desperately wanting Christian’s advice. Of course I don’t receive an answer in return. “One last chance. I’m giving Ashton one last fucking chance.”
It’s one chance too many, but I’m a fool, apparently.
I gave the others a chance, and look where that got me?
And if Ashton fucks me over…
I’ll make him regret it, even if it’s the last thing I do.