Zodiac Aligned

38

"How did you know she was my mother?" I asked.

She shrugged. "It seems obvious to me. Which means that Evanora must know as well. Be careful."

"I will," I said, clutching the book to my chest. "But even if I can learn to do the spell on my own, it won't be enough. I need Evanora's staff."

Brea moved to stand behind her desk, her eyes narrowing. "What are you asking me?"

I sucked in a breath, already knowing the answer, but needing to ask anyway. "Could you take us to Solundra?"

"It has been many decades since I've crossed into that realm." She touched her wrinkled face as evidence. "No, I can't take you there. Going to Solundra would be suicide for all of us."

"But—"

She held up a hand. "You wouldn’t stand a chance there, no matter how many shifters you had on your side. The Sun Witches are even more powerful there than they are on Earth, and you wouldn't be able to use your moon magic in Solundra. With the blessing spell still active, Evanora could easily take over the wolves again too."

I sighed, disappointed even though I'd known it was a long shot. "Then I'll have to find some other way to get her staff."

"Perhaps the Moon Witches have something similar," Brea said with a wave of her hand.

"I'll check next time I visit them, though they're reluctant to help us."

"It's hard to fight when hiding seems much safer," she said, gazing outside once more. "I understand this all too well."

"Would you fight?" I asked her. "If we stand against Evanora and her witches, would you help us?"

“We’re old ladies,” she said with a soft chuckle. “We won’t be of much help to you.”

"We both know that's not true." I took a step forward. "I've felt your magic. You're as powerful as Evanora is, and you know she needs to be stopped. Just like you know she will find this place someday. You won't be safe until she is gone—and it might free you from Helios's curse too."

Brea sighed, brushing back her wispy silver hair. We heard the sound of Griffin laughing from the kitchen, and Brea closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them, they were filled with resolve. "Yes, we will fight. When the time comes, and you make your stand, we will be there."

"Thank you," I said, getting choked up once more. I'd never in a million years expected a Sun Witch to help me, let alone stand beside me against Evanora. "For everything."

“Don’t thank me,” Brea said, her mouth twisting. “I have never been a friend to the wolves or the Moon Witches." She paused, glancing down at her fingers once more. "But I have many regrets. Perhaps, someday, I will be able to right a few of my old wrongs, or at the very least, free the next generation of such burdens."

"As long as we're alive, we still have a chance to make things right," I said, thinking of Jordan and Kaden, and how I'd come to forgive both of them for all that they'd done. I'd made plenty of my own mistakes too, and I had regrets of my own, but there was nothing to do but keep moving forward and trying to do better in the future.

"Yes, and thank you for reminding me of that." She came forward and rested her hand on my shoulder for a second, in an unexpected gesture of fondness. "You’re the first person I’ve seen who could actually unite everyone. I wish you luck, Ayla, daughter of the sun and the moon and the stars.”

I swallowed harder, the lump in my throat growing. "Thank you again for all of your help. I couldn’t have done it without you."

I clutched the journal to my chest as I walked out of her study. Excitement rose in me as I held it tighter, knowing it held secrets about magic I'd never imagined I might know, secrets that could help us win against the Sun Witches. I couldn’t wait to look inside.

Jordan and Kaden were waiting for me in the living room when I emerged, and something about their posture made them seem more relaxed around each other. Like they were no longer one second away from punching the other at any moment. Love for the two of them swelled in my chest.

"Let's go for a walk," I said, gesturing for them to follow me outside.

They did, without question, and once we were away from the house I told them everything that I'd learned from Brea, and we began to make plans for what to do next.

"I need to get back to the Leo pack," Jordan said. "I have a lot of changes I want to make now that the Sun Witches aren't controlling me anymore. I’m sure Bates f****d everything up as well as he could too."

"No doubt," Kaden said.

“I’ll try to get the Taurus and Aries packs to join us,” Jordan added. “They used to listen to my father, so I’m hoping I can get them to listen to me. Assuming the Sun Witches haven't sunk their claws into them too deeply by now."

"It's possible," I said. "But we have to try."

"We should get back to Toronto," Kaden said, looking at me. "The Ophiuchus should be ready by now to leave for Coronis."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" I asked, biting my lip. "The Sun Witches know where our pack lands are now. What's to stop them from coming for our people?" Our people. The novelty of being an Ophiuchus pack member had yet to wear off. I wasn’t sure if it ever would, at this point.

"They will come, no matter where we are. It's time to go home and prepare to face them.” His eyes fell on Jordan. "All of the packs need to get ready for the battle that's coming."

"The Leos will be ready," Jordan said.

“I’m coming with you," I said, taking Kaden's hand.

He squeezed my hand with a wry grin. “Obviously."

I turned to Jordan, realizing I would be saying goodbye to him soon. I threw my arms around him. "Be safe. Don't do anything too crazy."