Chapter Five
1166 Words
"Sealgair draíochta," I'm sitting across from Uncle Ryan trying to hide my excitement at the fact that I'm holding one of the unknown books in my hands. I must be failing though because I can see the brothers trying not to laugh. I kick them both, hard.
"What does that mean?" Ryker asks, leaning down to rub at his shin.
"Hunter of magic," Ryhes answers for me.
They both look over at him surprised and even I can admit to myself that I am impressed.
"What?"
"Anyway, I've never heard of this before." I skim two pages then stop and backtrack to the first.
They sit in silence while I read and for a few minutes, I almost forget that there are even people there. The words pop out at me and I latch onto the story. I'm pretty fluent in Irish but even I have to think hard about some of the words and sentences.
"Why have I never heard of them before?" I'm not actually asking anyone, the words just slip out.
"They're sort of like a fairytale."
I turn to the next page and a headless corpse takes up one full page. It's a hand-drawn drawing, and probably very graphic in its time.
"What even made you think of them?"
"You. From what I remembered every magic seems to have its own feeling to you. You're always able to tell a shifter from a witch and even different types of witches. The only thing that I could think of that you haven't felt was one of them. It just didn't make any sense because they haven't been around in years."
"This reads like a journal. Like someone went through this."
He nods, "My great grandfather."
"Of course," I grumble flipping to the next page.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"I mean come on. Your dad is a True Alpha, your uncle a badass witch and now your great-great-grandfather is a real life brothers Grimm?"
I pause and look them up and down, "It must skip a generation."
I bring my eyes back to the book and read over a few more pages, more invested in the story now that I know it's basically someone's private journal. Something that was probably never meant to be seen by me or anyone else for that matter.
"So they're humans that carry magic?"
"Isn't that just a witch?" Ryker asks trying to lean forward to look at the book.
Instinctively I pull it back, not wanting any more eyes to see it than necessary. Which is dumb because it's his family's journal.
"No, they're born human and later in life get these gifts that allow them to take magic. To destroy it."
"And they've been gone all these years?" Ryhes asks his uncle.
Uncle Ryan shrugs, I don't think I've ever seen the man so lost before. Usually, he's the one you call for all the answers, the one you want to go to when things aren't making any sense. You start to feel like the man knows everything when really he doesn't.
It makes me feel bad for all the times I've called him for help. Especially since he was the one that actually helped me take down the Dark Witch. I told him I would keep him out of it and not tell his nephews.
"Why now? Why all of a sudden are they back now and why Maddie?"
"Maybe because she's the True Alphas daughter."
"So why not take Ryhes or Ryker?"
The table falls silent and I look up to see six eyes on me. They look at me like I'm stupid.
I narrow my eyes, "You think they took her because she's a girl? Because she's easy prey?"
"We're not saying we think that way, but they might. Come on Summer really think about this."
"I think I want to hit you."
"You always want to hit me."
I sigh, " Okay, so they went after Maddie because she's a girl and she's a true Alphas daughter. What do they want with her though. I get that they take magic to destroy it, but why now? What is so different now than all these years that they've been gone?"
I look at Uncle Ryan and I can tell he wants to say something and if he happens to have an answer that can make the slightest bit of sense he needs to spill.
"What?"
"You."
I laugh, "Right, in case you haven't noticed I wasn't born yesterday."
"No, but you are Ryhes' Luna. Separate you both are strong, together? I don't think I've known a stronger pair. Including my brother and Cindy."
"Does everyone know about this?" I feel my cheeks heat and all I want to do is sink in my chair. I don't know if I'm more embarrassed that everyone knows or that everyone knows that I've known and I haven't done anything about it.
"Doubt it. Things like this don't stay quiet in a family like ours. Especially because my brother already knows."
I drop my head onto the book on the table and groan, "Oh my god."
Ryhes clears his throat, "Actually they should be here tomorrow."
I stiffen, "What?"
"Well I didn't want to tell them about Maddie over the phone, and I thought the best way to get them here was to tell them that you were finally coming around."
I breathe through my nose a few times willing my anger back. I can understand why he would use that to bring his parents out here. I can also respect the fact that he didn't want to tell them about his sister over the phone, but I can't get around the fact that I have to face them tomorrow.
"Okay."
All three of them let out a collective breath and Ryhes rest a hand on my neck, caressing it gently. "I'm not trying to push anything on you Summer."
"I know."
I sit up and close the journal gently, sliding my hand over the worn cover.
"I want to cast a location spell for Maddie tomorrow. I have someone on the other side asking around if anyone has seen anything."
I stand and push in my chair, I can physically feel my body draining of what little energy I have left.
"I think I'll turn in."
I leave the library with Ryhes hot on my heels, I want to turn on him and tell him to leave me alone. To let me go to my room and be by myself, but if I want this to work I can't retreat.
"Come to bed with me Summer."
"I'm not having s*x with you."
He grabs my hand and spins me to face him, "I'm not asking for that, I'm just asking you to be with me. To relax with me."
I don't have to do much thinking, I nod my head and let him pull me down the hall and up the stairs to his room.
- Writer
