The Witch’s Lycan Mates

Truce

“She got in trouble again!” Reina paced about the room pensively while rubbing her temples.

I did not have to ask her who to know that Isadora had gotten up to some mischief once again after promising she would behave.

I sighed and stood up from the chair and went to Reina who had stopped pacing and was now looking out of the window thoughtfully and I placed my hands on her shoulders and massaged the knots out of her tense shoulders.

She groaned in pleasure while her head rolled back and rested on my chest.

“Hmmm, i just love when you do that.” She moaned and i took my thumbs from her shoulders to the side of her neck, rubbing out the knotted muscles there.

“She reminds me so much of my grand mother, she was very mischievous too. Isa will be okay, you know she is just a kid.” I said softly trying to be the mediator and Reina tensed up, making me instinctively drop my hands before she whipped around to look accusingly at me with narrowed eyes.

“And that is why you think her antics are cute. She is almost eighteen, she is not a child. I had taken charge of the coven by the time I was her age, Anaia is just about a year older than her but miles ahead of her in maturity, even Tywin acts better than she does and he is a child.” She ground out angrily and I grimaced.

I knew that Isadora’s naughtiness could get pretty annoying but I hated it when Reina compared Isadora to her cousin, it would surely bring only conflict and bitterness.

“I am just so tired.” She broke down bitterly and I took her in my arms, hating to see her in pain. I know how much Reina loves Isadora but Isadora can be quite a handful.

“She is willful, does not act like a lady and it’s unfortunate that she is so intelligent but she is bound to use her smarts to get in trouble, she never seems to do anything right.” She continued.

“That is not entirely fair to Isadora, she is all of these things but she is also a sweet, considerate and loving girl, she just needs to grow out of this childish phase.” I tried again and Reina pushed out of my arms and fixed a withering glare on me.

“You are always on her side.” She said accusingly and I sighed.

“You know that is not true, you are my partner and she is my daughter, I’m not on anyone’s side, I am just saying that if you stopped taking her antics to heart you might find amusement in it.” I said softly.

“She cannot afford to be amusing, she is my heir and one day she is going to be the High Priestess, how is she supposed to be able to deal with that position if she is currently so irresponsible.” Her voice broke at the end.

“Anton, we need to be able to present a strong front to all, most especially now that we are going into this truce with the Lycans, we can’t afford to look weak. Only a leader who is firm and up to task can be able to keep up with these constantly changing times and you and I will not be here forever.”

“We at least have fifty more years to live.” I joked and Reina walked away to the other end of the room.

“This is not a joke Anton! Do you think my parents thought that they would die and leave me at seventeen to become the high priestess of the coven? Do you think Elise and Kean would have thought that they would be killed in their prime and leave their only daughter behind?” She erupted, her arms wrapped around her midsection.

“I am sorry, that was a joke made in bad taste, forgive me my love.” I pleaded.

“I feel like you are not seeing the severity of the situation, when i chastise Isadora and you are not as strict as you should be you undermine me, she will never see how important it is for her to grow up.”

I sighed deeply at her words, being in charge of the lives of all these witches was a huge responsibility and equally huge burden, I knew that Reina had had to grow up really early to be able deal with the responsibilities that were suddenly hoisted on her after her parents death and she wanted Isadora to be equipped for the life she would have to face but our daughter was so carefree and playful, I did not want to take away the spark that made her who she was.

“I apologize Reina, forgive me.” I said tugging at her hand until she sighed and let me envelope her in my arms. “We will talk to her together.”

Isadora

When I got into the house it was quiet and almost all the lights had been put out except the one in the drawing room, I silently tiptoed to the stairs but was stopped by mother’s voice coming through the open door of the Drawing room.

“Isadora, come in here.” She said and I stopped and walked to the room with my shoulders slumped forward, I had hoped to make a quick escape then sneak out early in the morning and avoid her until she got tired of looking for me.

I walked into the room which was lit by oil lamps and noticed my parents sitting on the couch that had the massive painting of our family right above it, They held hands and looked like a unit.

My parents were obviously very much in love with each other and they always dotted on each other to the point of making me feel like an outsider and as I looked at them I felt a frisson of fear when I realized that papa was frowning and did not look in the least impressed by me, usually he was more sympathetic than mama towards my plight.

“Please sit.” Mama gestured at a seat by her right and I removed one of the tasseled pillows and hugged it to my chest before sitting gingerly and we looked quietly at each other for an uncomfortable moment of silence.

“Isadora, you know we won’t be here forever and when the time comes and we are gone you will become High Priestess of the coven.” Mama broke the silence and I suppressed myself from rolling my eyes and instead executed my version of a demure nod which I knew was fooling nobody.

“Then act like it.” Papa said harshly and i flinched, even mama seemed shocked at his outburst.

He had always been my silent supporter and sometimes even partner in crime, his sudden attitude towards me scared me, I had only just missed one class with boring old Ms Esme, it’s not like I had damaged something priceless or broken a law again or tried to sneak out.

“What your father is trying to say is that you have so much responsibility as the future High Priestess, your coven will look up to you for leadership.” Mama said softly.

I wanted to scream and run. Why not Anaia? Everyone already thought that she would make a perfect High Priestess anyway, it was only due to a mistake of biology that I was the heir of the priestess. I want no parts of that life, I want to be able to go out of the coven walls and venture in the city and even go to other continents without any expectations from me. My turmoil must have shown on my face because mama left her seat and knelt before me and took my hands in her soft slender ones.

“I know it is not easy, you might want to be an ordinary girl but you are not, you have all this power to direct the course of history. So many girls want to be like you, I am so sorry that I am hard on you sometimes but it is because I want to prepare you for what is ahead, you understand that don’t you?”

I felt tears blur my vision and I bent my head nodding and her hand went to gently caress my cheek.

“I am going to have to ask you to start some of those duties now.” She continued and I looked up into her eyes and saw that she looked at me with only so much love and I felt a twinge of shame for how I felt about being her heir.

“We have been invited by the Lycan King.” She said and I stared at her, sure she was joking and but she did not c***k into a smile, I looked up at papa’s face, at this point they have to just be trying to scare me but he too looks grim.

“But we are enemies with the werewolves, aren’t Lycans the same?.” I said hesitantly and pulled my hands out of my mother’s hold and looked at her with stricken eyes.

“They are not Isa, they are actually a lot different, you have not been paying attention in your classes.” Papa responded drily and I stared at him uncomprehendingly.

“There have been too many deaths, we needed to ally ourselves to people stronger than werewolves, fortunately the Lycans feel the same way, for the sake of the futures of our people.” Papa continued.

“So our family is going to have a visit with the Lycans at their Castle and spend the weekend with them.” Mama chimed in.

“All of us?” I asked wide eyed.

“Tywin will have to remain here, it’s going to be me, your father, you and Anaia.” she said and I almost groaned, why was Anaia coming along too?! I bet she would make me look bad just by being casually perfect.

“It would be like an adventure, I am sure you would enjoy it.” Papa’s tone was softer and he looked at me with an imploring look.

“That’s okay I guess.” I muttered reluctantly and I could feel relief pass between them and I felt like a monster, surely I was not that bad.

“We will go to the modiste and get us girls new frocks and we will have ourselves a lovely time.” Mama said animatedly as she hugged me.

“You can go to your room now.” Mama said when she released me from her embrace.

As I left the room my stomach growled and I wondered if there would be any snacks in the kitchen.