Chapter Twenty-Five
My mind rushed through all the runes I could remember.
I could only see a little of the rune on Vince’s arm, but it was distinct enough that I should be able to narrow it down.
The rune on Vince’s looked to be circular at the very bottom, but there was a clef at the bottom that reminded me of a sickle.
A pit opened up in my stomach as my mind whirled.
What could it be? I closed my eyes so I could focus on the shape I saw, and match it to a rune.
But I…couldn’t. I felt sweat bead on my forehead as a tremble started in my hands.
My eyes kept jumping back and forth as my mind raced through all the runes.
Something felt off, so I snapped my eyes open and looked at Rowan.
He was mid-conversation with Vince. I had lost the connection to my spell when my panic spiralled, so I couldn’t hear what they were saying any longer.
I stepped forward, but something held me back.
“Calm yourself, little one.” A soft voice whispered into my ear.
“Don’t speak. No one else can hear me. You are panicking because you are worried about your mate.
I understand. But in rushing through your runes, you are bound to make mistakes.
Rushing through your magic, or allowing your panic to make you forget about your magic could kill you.
” My grandmother placed her hand on my arm.
“Settle yourself. Let your inner self slow. Take a few deep breaths.” She paused as I did.
“Good. Now try again. Start at the beginning. Which rune has what you are looking for?”
I looked towards her, but there was no one there. I snapped a sound bubble in place so I could speak to her. “I don’t know.”
“Yes, you do.” Her soft voice reached me past the panic, and my mind slowed down. “That’s it, my girl. Calm your thoughts. Sift through the options. What rune could it be?”
The options flashed through my mind. Strength made no sense, and it was missing the bottom curve.
Poison might be closer to their intention, but there was no cross to be seen.
The death rune made sense, and it had the sickle part, but again there was no rounded bottom.
“Grandma, I can’t find it.” I turned to Rowan, and I watched as he tried to pull his hand back from Vince, but he held his hand in place. “Why won’t he let Rowan’s hand go?”
“Runes need time to snap into place. He is trying to ensure his intent is burned into your mate’s skin. But that doesn’t matter. What matters is his actual intent. What is he trying to do?” Her voice was still soft, but there was a little urgency buried under her words.
Instead of panicking, I took another deep breath as my mind continued to flip through the rest of the runes. Finally, when my stomach rolled, I felt something click into place. Subdue. “The rune is subdue.”
My grandmother’s voice was closer. “And why would Vince want to subdue Rowan?”
“I don’t know.” She made a noise, and I knew she was looking at me as if I were being stupid.
“Come now, girlie. Lycan’s are a different breed compared to a wolf.
They are more resilient against poisons, like wolfsbane.
But more susceptible to silver. They have made the first move by choosing silver.
That means they know more than they should.
Lycans never shared what worked against them.
” She moved closer to me. “Silver will weaken a Lycan, depending on the amount. It can affect a lot of things, maybe even kill them if the amount is large enough. But there is one thing it could never stop. Unlike wolves, Lycans always retain their ability to do what? Think back to our book and what I had written on the page.”
I flashed back to the Lycan page. I remember the half-human, half-wolf form, and I focused on the words scribbled around the drawing.
“His shifting.” My head snapped over to Rowan, and everything clicked into place.
“Vince poisoned him with silver to weaken him, and he is trying to use runes to stop his shifting so that when they attack him…he will be easier to kill.”
“Exactly.” She sighed. “Now. How do you protect your mate while still sticking to the plan?” She sounded like a proud parent when their kid finally solved the issue.
“Remove the rune and break the bond, like I did with the others…”
“Or?”
“Or what? That’s the only way I know how to break a rune.”
“There is another way. It’s more dangerous, and it takes more power. The gamble of it all is that you are gambling that you are the stronger witch.” I felt her hand squeeze my arm. “Tell me, my love…are you the stronger witch?”
“Am I the stronger witch?” I turned again to look at her face, even knowing she wasn’t there.
I felt her hand disappear from my arm; I knew in my mind she had left me alone to figure out my next move.
But her words kept bouncing around in my mind.
Am I the stronger witch? Wolf, yes, a hundred times over.
I knew that without a doubt. But I had never actually put my power against someone else’s. Not like this.
I had broken runes and charms, even unraveled a love spell. But I had never fought against anyone with magic as my weapon. Never measured my power against another’s. Whoever put the rune on Vince, whatever power he was tapping into, could be stronger than I am.
Nix snorted. You are overthinking it again.
Megan sighed. I agree with Nix on this one.
I’m not wrong, though. I dropped the sound bubble and redid the spell to listen in on Vince, Verity and Rowan. I have never fought with my power being the main attack. What if I fail?
Then we all die; Rowan dies, we die. Nix looked up at me. And we leave our mother to raise Carly in the cabin.
And hopefully… Megan pressed against the barrier. She didn’t fail in her goddess-given task like we did.
You guys aren’t helping. I looked around. I don’t know what to do.
Nix seemed to shrug. You save our mate, or we all die. It seems pretty straightforward here, babe. Megan snorted.
“I can’t believe you would do this to me,” Verity shrieked, and I turned like everyone else to watch her meltdown.
Vince’s hand tightened on Rowan’s as he turned. So it was this awkward half turn, making Rowan look between Vince, Verity and their hands. I pulled out my phone and sent another text. ‘Vince is trying to brand you with a rune. Make him let go of your hand. Now.’
I heard the chirp of Rowan’s phone, and he pulled back his hand, or tried to, from Vince. “Let go.”
“My King.” Vince started but Rowan pulled his hand back again, causing him to stumble into the pew. Despite that, he refused to let go.
Go Nix. I called out to her, sending her down our bond. I’m so stupid. I should have just sent it earlier. I shook my head as I adjusted the tray again. I wanted to throw it at Vince and had to hold myself back.
I watched Rowan’s back go rigid, and then his power slammed out of him, making everyone near him drop to the ground.
This gave me the perfect opportunity. I dropped to the ground, along with the rest of the Omegas, tray falling to the ground with me.
Champagne went everywhere. I laid in the glass trembling.
“Let go of me right now, Vince.” The command was so strong that a few wolves cried out.
I turned, but since I was on the ground, I couldn’t see anything. “My King. I don’t understand why you are doing this display at my son’s mating ceremony.” Vince’s voice was trembling. But still held an edge of hatred, barely concealed.
Rowan pulled back his aura, and everyone picked themselves off the floor. The few Omegas stood on shaky legs, but one gasped and rushed to my side. “Are you okay?” She whispered.
Everyone turned to see me soaking wet, and surrounded by glass. “I’m fine.” I stood, making my legs shake. “I’ll go get changed and come back with a new tray.”
Rowan’s eyes were a little tight, and he turned to Vince.
“You refused to let go of my hand. You forced me to command you to release me and caused your own Omega harm. If I didn’t know better, I would feel like you were trying to challenge me.
” He stepped closer to Vince. “But that can’t possibly be the case…
can it, Vince?” There was a soft growl in his words.
The Omega rushed me away from the guests, and just as we stepped in, Shannon and her procession had reached the landing. “Why are you a wet rat?” Her words had us freezing.
I bowed low, and I heard her approving murmur.
Megan pushed forward and took over speaking.
Thankfully, Shannon had never heard Megan speak.
“I’m sorry, Luna, apparently.” I stayed low.
“The Alpha and the King seemed to be in a disagreement. And the King used his aura over the crowd. All Omegas dropped to the ground. I was carrying a tray of champagne.”
The other Omega stepped up and bowed. “We are cleaning the mess, I’m taking her to change, and then once everything is reset I will come and let you know so you can start the ceremony.” She grabbed me and pulled me up, rushing off.
The Luna cursed. “He fucking fought with the king?”
The last thing I heard was a soft chuckle. “The king came to my mating ceremony.” Shannon was as stupid as ever.