Chapter 95 Nico
NICO
Sitting there, letting Isme’s words fade, I thought about how little we’d really known.
Every story we’d been told as children had been a lie.
Edemas had always been a creature of terror and fear.
Shifters would often tell misbehaving children to behave, or Edemas might crawl from under the bed and attack them.
He was the boogeyman. A thing to be feared.
Now it was clear he’d only been a strong, proud, and stubborn man, A man who’d loved his wife and children so deeply that their loss had driven him mad with grief.
He hadn’t been a monster at all. He’d simply been a father and husband who was pushed to the edge by a jealous family. It was almost too much to take in.
“I do have the vial,” Isme said, her face a mask of…
what? Embarrassment? “The scavenger hunt aspect to locate it was not my idea, but Edemas’s.
He wanted it to be difficult for his descendant.
He said if it was difficult for them, it would be impossible for the royals.
I do apologize for deceiving you. Once we’d been signaled that his descendant had been born, it was time to prepare. I’ve been waiting many years for you.”
Maddy and I looked at each other. The same confusion which was written on her face matched what was on mine. Maddy said, “You’ve known for years? I thought it was just when the magical barriers were crossed. Right?”
Isme shook her head. “I met Edemas again many years ago. In the body of David Samuels, your father. He came to me in his wolf form. You see, your birth father was not in control of himself when he became a wolf. Edemas was too strong in spirit for David to maintain control. I sensed his presence and teleported to him. He was still full of anger and rage. He didn’t even realize any time had passed.
He believed it was still the night of the attack.
He was out of his mind and hunting royals on his own, putting your father in terrible danger with his reckless actions. ”
I remembered the letter Maddy’s birth mother had left.
The times her father had returned, covered in blood, unaware of where he’d been.
I shivered, thinking about my wolf taking full control and leaving me in the dark as it chased its own desires.
It was supposed to be a symbiotic relationship, not parasitic.
“Much like the wolf inside you, Maddy, Edemas only returned as the wolf rather than fully reincarnating in a new body. Edemas demanded the vial of blood. I refused. I could see that he was not in any state to be trusted with full reincarnation. I only wanted that power to go to someone not twisted by hate and rage. I teleported away before he could force the issue. There was no way he could get out of the country in wolf form, so he stayed. He continued to hunt the descendants of the royals until his actions caused David to be discovered. I think you know how the rest played out.”
We did. Tragedy and pain. In his anger, Edemas had put both Maddy’s birth father and birth mother in danger.
I couldn’t blame him, though. If I looked at it from Edemas’s point of view, could I truly say I wouldn’t react the same?
I tried to imagine everyone I loved being taken away and then fighting to the death, only to wake up hundreds of years later trapped in a body I didn’t know.
It was no wonder he went on a killing spree.
It was enough to drive even the sanest person crazy.
“How do I play into all this?” Maddy asked.
“I feel that you are the best person to end the royals’ reign of terror.
Lillian was a sweet child and not prone to anger.
I think her spirit is more balanced than Edemas’s.
You and she can coexist and bring about the downfall of the royals without the need for a new massacre like Edemas wanted.
” Without another word, Isme pulled a small red vial from within a hidden pocket of her robe.
Maddy gasped and clutched my hand so tight that I thought she might break my fingers.
I stared at the vial in the old woman’s hand.
It was tiny, almost insignificant. How could this thing be what everything was about?
From the very beginning, all the way back to Maddy’s attack in the bar.
So much had happened in the search for this thing.
False leads, dead ends, and danger. Now it was right there.
An arm’s length away. I squeezed Maddy’s hand, hoping to give her whatever courage I could.
In the chair behind Isme, Sinthy sat with her face in her hands, sniffling. She was crying. I wasn’t sure what had her that upset. Isme drew my attention away from her daughter as she leaned forward, holding the vial up to the light in front of Maddy’s face.
The old woman shook the vial slightly, and the blood inside sloshed up against the sides.
Remarkable, given how old it was, but I had to remember that it had been enchanted.
Isme took her free hand and placed it on Maddy’s knee.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, looking very tired.
When she opened her eyes again, she said, “If you choose to take the power within this vial, you must be certain that you do it with a clean mind. You must be sure that you do it without the intent to cause harm. Yes,” Isme nodded reluctantly, “there will be fights and battles. I’m not talking about that.
I mean, you must not desire the type of vengeance Edemas wanted.
This power is meant to protect those you love.
If you don’t think you can do this with a calm mind, then you should destroy it. ”
After the slightest hesitation, Maddy agreed. “I’ll make sure the right thing happens. Whether that’s taking it or destroying it, I promise I’ll do it for the right reasons,” Maddy said in barely more than a whisper.
A thin smile appeared on Isme’s lips. “Sinthy?”
The younger witch lifted her face and stood to approach Isme.
The tears were streaming down her face now.
The jovial and flippant witch we’d grown used to was much more somber, almost like she was attending the funeral of a loved one.
The thought struck me like a hammer blow.
I looked at Isme, the way she clutched the vial, then back at Sinthy.
Isme wouldn’t survive this. It filled me with sadness.
I’d only known this woman for a short while, but we’d already built a connection that I’d never forget.
Isme patted Sinthy on the cheek and wiped at her face, clearing away the tears.
“You are such a good girl. You’ll never know how happy you’ve made me.
To be a mother after all these years, even an adoptive one, has been the greatest gift I could have ever asked for. My lovely girl, you make me so proud.”
Sinthy let out a wet grunt that was possibly a laugh or maybe a sob.
I couldn’t tell which. Isme turned back to look at us.
“Sinthy has access to all my spells. Hundreds of them that stretch back to the days of the Celts and the first witches.
I ensured they were all well-documented for her.
Once our business is concluded here, I would like her to be your witch.
To bind herself to the Lorenzo pack and assist you in your endeavors to bring about the end of the royals.
My jaw dropped, and I jerked my eyes back and forth from Isme to Sinthy.
The only time I’d ever heard of a witch binding herself to a shifter pack was in fairytales and legends.
If it had ever truly happened, it had been centuries ago.
I blinked a few times to get my bearings before opening my mouth to speak. “Why me?” I asked.
“You are an alpha of integrity. Your power grows stronger, yet you don’t use that power to force submission from others—and you are her mate,” Isme said, pointing to Maddy.
“Her wolf is my Lillian. She would not choose anyone but the best, the most honorable, and well-intentioned of men. The fact that she chose to entwine her life to yours is all the knowledge I need to know so that I can safely entrust my daughter to your service. Your pack will be strengthened by Sinthy’s service, of that you can be certain.
As scatterbrained as she seems, she is one of the most powerful witches I’ve ever known. ”
Sinthy shrugged and made jazz hands, and Maddy and I both laughed. Sinthy grinned and wiped at her still-wet eyes. “I think Mother is a bit long on the hyperbole, but I can hold my own.”
Maddy squeezed my hand again, an unspoken message that I understood immediately.
She was giving me her consent to bring her with us.
I looked at Sinthy. “I don’t know what it means to have a witch in my service, but knowing what we know now, I trust Isme’s judgment.
I’d been honored to have you join us, Sinthy. ”
Sinthy’s smile faded, but not by much, and she gave me an accepting nod before looking back to Isme. The old woman sank back into her chair, looking more tired as each minute passed. She waved Maddy over, who moved to Isme’s side, sitting on her knees, her face level with the witch.
Isme looked at peace when she locked her eyes on Maddy. “I’ve waited a long time for this. I’ve extended my life beyond what anyone could imagine to be able to get to this point. It… is difficult, and I am ready for the next great adventure. It’s time for me to rest, young one.”
Maddy leaned forward and embraced the old woman. Isme wrapped her free arm around Maddy, and the two held each other for a long moment. Sinthy began to cry again as they held one another.
Isme took Maddy’s face in her hand and looked deep into her eyes.
Looking deeper than Maddy, looking all the way inside her to the young child wolf who resided within her.
“My sweet Lilly. You no longer need to be afraid of those who hurt you and your family. Remember who your mother and father were. Remember their strength. Remember their love. Remember how proud they would be of you now.” Maddy’s own eyes filled with tears as she probably thought of her own adoptive and birth parents and all they’d sacrificed for her to still be where she was.
“I am so happy you found your way back to me after all these years.” Isme’s eyes seemed to refocus, and she was again looking at Maddy rather than the soul that shared her body.
“Maddy, you are stronger than you know. It’s time to show these royals that history will not repeat itself.
” Without another word, she slipped the vial into Maddy’s hand and sank back into the chair.
Sinthy dropped to her knees and embraced the old woman, who lifted a hand and patted the younger witch twice.
Then she took one final deep breath, closed her eyes, and breathed out one final time.
Sinthy, still sobbing, took Isme’s hand. “You can rest now, Mother. The job is done.”