Chapter 11 #2
I thought about it. “Seductive,” I said after a long moment.
“I thought it felt like compulsion. I’ve never cast a spell like that, but everything about it felt like she was trying to seduce him or get him to do what she wanted.
She said something like she knew what he wanted and mentioned thanking her for the gift she left us later.
Ethan seemed fine at first, and I thought the spell had slid away.
Not too long after, he dropped like a stone.
” Whatever gift she’d left behind was certain to be awful, but my priority was Ethan first. Deal with the fallout later.
The healer grunted. “Witch magic, the others said.”
She slid a curious look my way. “Word is she’s your mother?”
“She gave birth to me.” There were worlds more to that statement.
Henrietta’s face softened. “As a healer, we see all kinds of wounds. Many are not physical. If you ever wish to see me in a different capacity, my door is always open.”
My throat tightened. Hot tears pricked the backs of my eyes. All I could do was nod. Anything else might have opened a door I’d kept firmly shut for a long time, confiding in only a couple of people. Evie knew the important tidbits now and was better prepared if she ever had to face my mother.
Mom might be able to walk through Ethan’s wards now, but once Evie got a hold of them, only the most powerful of gods would be able to breach them. And Mom, for all her power, was no god.
Henrietta reached over and gently squeezed my arm.
“Ethan is physically unharmed. The wound appears to be in his psyche. I do not possess magic that allows me to see the purpose of a spell if it does not cause physical harm. This one surrounds both his heart and mind.” Her lips thinned.
“Whatever its purpose, we won’t know until he wakes up. ”
“When will that be?”
She shook her head. “His vitals are good and registering as being in deep sleep. If they change, I’ll let you know. The Lord needs time.”
“May I sit with him?”
Henrietta nodded. “Of course. We’ll give you two some privacy.”
The Keep Healer snapped her gloves off and jerked her head at the two other mages in the room. “Come.”
They followed her without a word. When the door shut with a quiet click, I pulled up a chair next to his bed. His color looked good, and his body was warm. Physically, he looked fine. Like he was taking a nap.
But I knew Mom had done something to him, something that could change everything when he woke up.
I suspected whatever spell she’d cast had something to do with me, and all I could think about was Caelan and Evie, and how her world had fallen apart when someone had cast a spell that turned the other Lord against her.
Come to find out, that wasn’t the actual purpose of the spell, but Caelan’s doubt about Evie’s origins and their future children had only strengthened the magic. Eventually, that spell tore them apart.
What might help us was not having a relationship. Which seemed ironic after the reason he’d run from me into the forest today. I sighed and scooted forward, resting my head on Ethan’s chest. He smelled the same, though my mother’s scent was entwined with his.
I wanted to wash it away, erase every bit of her presence on his body.
Who was I kidding? I wanted to erase my mother from the entire world, wipe her away like a drop of pasta sauce on the counter.
She was a blight upon the world and lived her life seeking power and youth—all of it stolen from innocent people.
Ethan’s fingers twitched. I sucked in a breath and lifted my head. The machines around him beeped.
Henrietta came back in, shooed me away, and examined Ethan. “He should be awake very soon.”
She turned to face me. “Do you wish to be here when he wakes up?”
I nodded.
“Very well. I’m afraid I won’t be able to give you much time alone, though. Almost the entire Keep awaits news of his condition.”
She looked away. “Losing two shifters in one evening is unheard of. But losing the Lord would destroy us.”
Henrietta flipped off a couple of the machines and leaned against the wall to wait. I scooted closer once more and took Ethan’s hand.
It took several more hours before Ethan opened his eyes. By then, the sun was high in the sky. I rose from my seat and watched, muscles tensed just in case he tried to attack me. But Ethan merely stared at me with those midnight eyes.
“I’m so glad you’re okay,” I said, squeezing the hand I held.
Ethan’s brows drew together. “Why are you here?”
He tugged his hand from mine. “And why are you touching me?”
Henrietta’s attention sharpened. I gawked at Ethan. “Excuse me? Why wouldn’t I be here?”
A look of distaste rolled over his features. “You’re Evie’s friend, right? Moira, I think?”
He was looking at me like he’d never seen me before, like I was someone he didn’t know. Oh gods.
I swallowed hard. “Yes. Moira. That’s right.”
I took a step back. “You don’t remember anything from today?”
Ethan’s brow furrowed. “I remember everything except for why you’re in my house and in my clinic. Is Evie with you?”
I slowly shook my head. “No. She’s with Rowan.”
“Then please enlighten me why you’re here.”
Henrietta’s eyes were soft with empathy as she looked at me. “Lord Ethan,” she said a moment later. “We can answer that later—”
“You invited me,” I whispered.
Ethan let out a scoff. “The hell I did.”
Henrietta’s jaw tightened. “Lord Ethan—”
“Where’s Kinsley?” Ethan demanded.
“He’s outside,” Henrietta said.
“KINSLEY!” Ethan barked.
The Second responded instantly, pushing through the door to stand at Ethan’s side. “Yes, Lord?”
“Please see Evie’s friend off Keep property immediately. She insists she was invited, but there’s no reason for her to be here. Obviously, there’s been some mistake.”
My heart felt like it was cracking into a thousand pieces. Kinsley’s eyes flickered with regret, but he nodded. “At once, Lord.”
He stepped forward. “Moira. Please follow me.”
I didn’t move for a moment, only stood there soaking in Ethan’s handsome but haggard face. “When you’re ready to hear the truth, find me,” I said quietly.
Annoyance flickered over his face. “Where’s Sarah?” he demanded.
Sarah? My brows furrowed. I’d never heard that name—
“I’m right here, Ethan,” a woman’s voice said.
Henrietta went pale. Kinsley’s jaw dropped, and he let out a low, colorful curse as he took a shocked step back.
A human woman with hair the color of spun gold stood in the doorway.
And I knew at that moment I had lost everything.