Chapter 19
Bayu’s breakfast went untouched. He hated wasting food, but his stomach was in knots.
He did manage to drink the tea Gemi set in front of him.
It wasn’t that he didn’t trust the twins and Nekoma, but he couldn’t help but worry that the counter curse was a lie.
If the mages were as good as they appeared to be, why would they need to write it down?
After saying good morning to the twins and Lilly, as well as being introduced to Dominic, Bayu pulled Luna aside and asked her that question.
“Spells and potions are written down once the formula is exact. That type of magic can be a lot of trial and error. If the Black Lotus mages in Asia were the ones to curse you, then they are most likely the ones to come up with the counter spell,” Luna explained.
“But why would they have a counter spell in the first place? They cursed me for a reason.”
“Maybe they thought to capture you, then once they had you, they would counteract the curse so that you’d be at your full power.”
Bayu accepted her explanation, but he was still leery.
They were eating at the dining room table since there were so many in the house.
Bayu noticed Kat was quieter than usual, and Julian kept glancing at his mate, but she was ignoring him.
Dominic was quite the character, and Bayu had to work hard not to stare.
Major and Tabitha dropped Nekoma off on their way to the office instead of him portalling in to save his energy.
Major was no worse the wear from being zapped by the mage.
Silas was the only one not at the table.
He was standing guard outside, against Carleigh’s wishes.
She assured him the cameras would catch any intruders, then he reminded her how the mages had hidden from view while at the safehouse waiting on Bayu.
The male had a bedroom upstairs, but Bayu had only seen him use it once.
He was up before everyone else, and Bayu appreciated his diligence.
“Bruvver, eat.” Juni held out a strawberry slice, and Bayu leaned over and took it from him.
Juni clapped, and Bayu couldn’t help but grin.
He also couldn’t imagine loving a child more, even if they were his own.
Juni had a strange start to his life, not knowing he had parents, and Bayu was unsure how to talk to the toddler about that, or if he should.
During Bayu’s chat with Gemi the night before, they broached the subject, and Gemi assured him she wanted him and Carleigh to raise Juni as theirs.
She would always love the boy and help as much as they allowed, but she was not his mother.
She said Juni deserved to have two parents, and now that she had met Carleigh’s family, Gemi knew in her heart putting Bayu’s name on the birth certificate had been the right thing to do.
Since Carleigh was an expert in all things computer, she would be able to alter the birth certificate to show she was Juni’s mother, not Gemi.
Bayu had no idea how his mate could manipulate the document, but he trusted her.
He had seen what she did with his father’s money, now his money.
Bayu was good at investing, and he could use the appropriate programs on a computer, but Carleigh, Harlow, and Julian understood coding, something Bayu couldn’t fathom understanding.
His mate was brilliant. She was gorgeous.
But best of all, she had a good heart. That mattered more to him than her looks or her brain.
She reminded him of his mother, and he knew Juni would be in the right hands should something ever happen to Bayu.
“Bewwy?” Juni held out another, but Bayu shook his head.
“Little cubs need their berries. You eat it.”
Juni shoved it in his mouth, juice rolling down his chin. It did no good to wipe him off until he finished eating. It was a good thing the boy liked bath time.
Silas stuck his head in the door just as an alarm went off on Carleigh’s phone. “Incoming.”
Carleigh checked the app. “It’s the Goyles.”
Dominic and Julian were headed to the compound with several of their Clan to take out the remaining mages.
The two males rose from the table. Dominic pulled Lilly to her feet and bent her backwards, kissing her without caring who was watching.
When Julian held out his hand to Kat, she sighed heavily but allowed him to tug her out of her chair.
His kiss was much gentler as he framed her face in his hands.
He whispered words of adoration to her and promised he would be safe.
Dominic hugged his daughters, ruffled Juni’s hair, then set his large hand on Bayu’s shoulder.
“You are in the best hands, Bayu. Do not be troubled.”
Bayu inclined his head. “I trust them.”
Julian made the rounds, saying goodbye to his daughters, Juni, Gemi, and then Bayu. He instructed Silas to watch over his family.
Silas fisted his heart and vowed, “With my life.”
With the elder males gone and breakfast finished, everyone jumped in to help clean the dishes. The witches wanted to mix the ingredients in the kitchen, stating it had the best light. Kat, Juniper, and Gemi were on Juni duty. Promising the cub another day in the pool got him outside without a fuss.
The twins set out the ingredients they had brought from their shop, and Nekoma added something he called foondue and auderberry sap. Solara, being the twin who worked with potions most often, gathered them together and placed the list from the mages’ journal beside them.
“Since we are doing white magic, Luna and I will invoke our own goddess. We have rewritten the spell to strengthen it with good magic. The intention is the same. I will mix everything together, and as we get to the end of the spell, I will add a drop of your blood. Any questions?”
Bayu’s body shook in anger. “Are you telling me my sister was killed when they could have taken a small sample of blood from her?”
Carleigh wrapped her arms around him from behind. He didn’t want her comfort. He wanted the heads of every fucking Black Lotus mage severed from their bodies and burned with the hottest flame imaginable.
Solara placed her hands on her chest. “I’m so sorry.”
Lilly stepped closer and touched Bayu’s cheek. Her magic seeped into his mind, calming him. “Dominic and Julian will get revenge for Kiki and your parents. Once you have your Tiger back, you can join them if you wish.”
Bayu closed his eyes, squeezing them to keep the tears from falling. He wasn’t a vengeful being. He was his mother’s child. But his precious mother and amazing sister had suffered, so why shouldn’t those who took them from him also suffer?
“I will portal you to them, if that is your wish,” Nekoma offered. Bayu felt Carleigh tense. His mate did not want him to participate. He couldn’t blame her. The mages had powerful magic, and Bayu had no defense against them.
Bayu blew out a breath and looked at the fae. “I appreciate the offer, but I will not be joining the Gargoyles. I will entrust them to take care of the mages, and I will remain here and begin my duties as Nuhuala by reading the ancient scrolls. I am ready.”
“Then let us begin.” Solara measured out each ingredient adding them one by one to a metal bowl.
When she indicated, Nekoma added those he had brought.
She then swirled her finger over the contents, and the ingredients mixed together.
Luna produced a knife from the bracelet on her wrist and held it toward Lilly.
The elder witch snapped her fingers, and fire caught along the blade.
Luna twisted the knife so the flame coated both sides, then she blew it out.
“Bayu, please hold your hand over the bowl.”
He did as she asked, and when Solara indicated, the three witches began speaking the counter curse together.
"Blessed goddess, we call on thee.
By blood and potion, we unravel these twisted threads.
We seek your wisdom, your guidance, your care.
Grant us the strength to embrace this transformation.
To release the bonds, making the two halves whole.”
Luna made a small cut on Bayu’s palm, gathering blood on the tip of the blade. She then allowed one drop of blood to fall into the bowl. As the ingredients sizzled, the trio ended the spell with, “So mote it be.”
Luna once again held the knife out to her mother, and Lilly relit the blade.
When Luna blew the flame out, she returned the weapon to her wrist. Solara poured something from a small, purple vial into the bowl, swirling it around.
Bayu stared at his arms, waiting for the markings to return.
Waiting to feel a stirring from Tiger. It didn’t take long at all for his beast to rumble in his mind.
“It worked!” Carleigh squealed. Everyone stared at her as she grabbed Bayu’s face and kissed him. “Tiger is happy to be back with you.”
Before he could stop the beast, Tiger pushed forward, and Bayu found himself on four paws.
Carleigh dropped to her knees, hugging his neck.
“Hello, my tiger. It so good to see you.” Tiger licked a stripe up Carleigh’s cheek, and she giggled.
Bayu didn’t rush his animal. He let Tiger enjoy the moment.
Tiger sniffed the air and chuffed, then walked to the back door, looking up at Carleigh.
“Oh, you want outside?” Carleigh asked. Tiger swished his tail, and she opened the door, calling out, “Tiger incoming.”
Tiger bounded down the steps, ready to see the cub.
Kat whispered, “Oh, my,” and Gemi bowed her head to him.
As soon as Juni saw him, he shifted to his fur and let out a tiny “rawr.” He paddled to the steps with Juniper close behind, and climbed out, his wet body snaking around Tiger’s legs.
Tiger flopped down, and Juni settled between his front paws.
Tiger licked the wet fur, meeting his brother properly.
At that thought, Tiger rumbled in disagreement.
Not brother. He is our son.
How is it possible I can understand you?
Carleigh shared her mating bite with us.