Love to Love

The Explanation

"My grandma asked you for a binding spell for my mom? You tricked them into a payment of knowledge without explaining. You didn't say anything before they entered the salt circle. You didn't tell my mom what would be happening. You didn't even tell them the consequences?" Nadia fought tears.

"I had no reason too. Your grandma was an i***t. How dare she seek a witch and not know anything about us! She had the f*****g guide book! She never read it. She was like you, naive. Just wanting a quick fix. Her stupidity is her own fault."

"She was trying to help her daughter. My mom. Me. She was doing what she thought was right. You and your darkness took advantage!" Nadia's sadness turned to anger.

"Maybe. But that's also who I am. A dark witch." Blair shrugged her shoulders and stood to make another drink.

"Revoke my magic. Right now." Nadia said softly.

"What?" Blair's eyes looked up from her glass but her head didn't move.

"Revoke my invitation to your coven. I want nothing to do with you Blair. Nothing."

"Revoking your magic isn't gonna fix what I know. Information is power." Blair's eyes returned to her drink.

"What can you even do with this information? You live in the shadows Blair, you're forever hiding. What are you afraid of?!" Nadia protested.

"I'm a solitary witch by choice. It's none of your business what I do with my magic, information or power!" Blair stood, angry and annoyed now.

"Bullshit. I bet you can do NOTHING with this information. So what, I'm a wolf. So what my parents' royalty isn't legitimate, so what! Who is gonna care!?"

Suddenly the room began to shake. Glass clinked, the chandelier swung and the bookcase rattled. The air became thin again and Nadia started to regret her sass. Light green fog rolled in, the room seemed to get darker, colder, smaller. Blair's eyes turned white and a black cloak grew from her clothing. Gone was the look she had...the look Nadia always saw her in. A young woman with black hair, fair skin, grey eyes morphed into an old, wrinkled woman. Thin white hair, drooping, hollow face. Long, boney fingers with dirty long claws. She stood tall but a large hump on her back forced her body to contort downward. She smelled of rot and decay. Nadia moves as far away as she could from this Crone.

"Who's gonna care, you ask?! WHO?!" A harsh, smoky voice broke from her dry, thin lips. "After today you will never be able to call me again. You are now removed from my Coven. I revoke your invitation. You will be a stupid, pathic wolf who knows NOTHING! I will let you leave unharmed, with only a name. Zander."

The green fog filled the room and Nadia felt dizzy. She reached out to steady herself and saw her hand shifting to a paw. She couldn't feel her bones cracking or skin pulling. The fog was like a sedative and she couldn't resist shifting. Her body began to sweat and she felt her clothing rip. She couldn't even see Blair anymore or the sanctuary. The fog completely took over. The dampness from the fog made her skin...her fur feel heavy and sticky. Her lungs deflated and breathing was difficult. She lowered herself to the ground and wished she had her magic. Out of habit and last resort she began to chant.

"Take me away, take my home. Never again will I roam… take me away, take home...never...again...will…I...roam."

The warm sun and breeze hit her fur first. Then the smell of lavender and dirt. Nadia slowly opened her eyes and focused slowly on her surroundings. She was in a lavender field she didn't recognize. She remembered her mom always saying she smelled like fresh lavender. She kept her head on the ground, scared to move and also exhausted.

…

POV Nadia

…

Did I teleport? How can I teleport if my magic is gone? Blair said my magic would be gone. She must have sent me away because this isn't home, like I chanted. Man, this field must be huge. I can't smell anything but these flowers. I'm too tired to move though. I'll just stay on the cool dirt and rest. The breeze feels nice through my fur. MY FUR?! I'm still in wolf form?!

…

...POV Ryan..

Nadia has been gone awhile. How long does a conversation with a witch take? What was the conversation about? Was she safe? I can't stop my mind from thinking of my beautiful bride. Her eyes, her lips, her body, your skin on mine. Damn, she really hasn't been gone that long and here I am, craving her! I suppose that's why she's my mate. I ache when she's gone. A nice cold shower ought to do the trick! Maybe.

…

Nadia jumped to her feet with incredible speed. She looked around the field that never seemed to end. Which direction was home? She needed to focus and use her wolf instincts. Smell the breeze and block out the obvious scents. Look at the sky and the clouds. Jump and try to see beyond the field! Find a way home!

"Don't panic. Stop. That will only make it worse. Calm down. Breath. Think of Ryan. Ryan." Nadia said.

Suddenly all the words her mother told her in her chambers came rushing to her. Being told now that she's a wolf, how being scared and panicking won't help her natural instincts. Right now, lost in a field of lavender she needs to stay in wolf form and find her way home. She sat and focused, much like she would if she was chanting or preparing to teleport. Keeping her mind clear helped her sort her senses. Smell, hear and see beyond the lavender. The first new scent finally reached her snout. Fire, burning wood, burning leaves, it was close. She took steps toward the new scent, kept her nose to the sky and her eyes closed. Even if this was the wrong direction it should be better than staying in the lavender field.

She walked and walked till she finally saw trees. She took a leap in the air and saw a green forest. Lush with leaves. Not the typical pine trees, these were different. Maple maybe? Or oak? She couldn't be sure since there was only pine in her Kingdom. The closer she got the more the air smelled sweet. These trees were beautiful close up. Tall, bright green with a lighter colored bark. Maple, these have to be maple trees. She had a sudden craving for more pancakes she had at breakfast. The trees were spaced enough to fill the canopy with leaves and apart enough to clearly see through the trunks. On the far side was a stone wall covered in moss. A wall meant people… but how close would they be?

Now feeling anxious and nervous about her surroundings she wondered if she should shift back. Being naked would be upsetting but would it be safer? Unless she came across a coyote or mountain cat, maybe staying a wolf was the best choice. These are important life skills pups are taught! Pups! Not a young woman in her early twenties who relied on magic for the past 10 years! As Nadia fought with herself the snap of a twig caused her to freeze still! The sound came from behind her. Her eyes grew wide and her ears perked up. Soon the smell of maple was gone and in its place was the smell of coal and iron. Two strong scents from two distinctive sources. Then a low growl. Another low growl. Nadia slowly turned around and saw two huge white wolves. Both snarling, eyes black and in an attack position.

"I'm princess Nadia! I'm the Queen to be. I have just married Prince Ryan Daniel Johnson of Jenkin, Dakota. Please! I'm lost. I mean no harm!" Nadia spoke nervously.

The low growls continued and these two were not backing down. From their build and stance she immediately feared they were warrior wolves from a patrol… from Ryan's pack. If they were warriors their first responsibilities lie with their pack, not with her Kingdom. This would also mean they couldn't hear her speaking. They have no connection to her. She hasn't been introduced as a wolf to their pack yet. If they were rogue wolves she might have a chance at communicating. She repeated her words.

"I am Princess Nadia! Hear me, please!" Her voice strained and they didn't flinch. They approached her slowly, one on each side, snarling and drooling. They looked to each other, probably speaking and she couldn't hear a word. Suddenly she felt a nudge at her side. The bigger of the two pushed her towards the wall. Another nudge and another. She found herself against the cool rough stone, following along its path. Both of these monsters at her side and rear. Snapping and growling for her to move. They were leading her somewhere.

After sometime they came to a gate where two more wolves stood guard. They too growled at her and looked on to the warriors. More nodding, looks and probable conversation. She was lost in all ways; physically, mentally and emotionally. Could Ryan hear her if she called him? What about mom and dad? How the f**k did mind-speaking work in a pack? The gate slowly creaked open and sounded like it hadn't been opened in decades. She was pushed aggressively into the land that was surrounded by walls, wolves and warriors. She wondered who else was watching, who else she may meet next.

...POV Ryan…

Something is wrong. She should have been back by now. I've paced the floor long enough to start to wear the rug. She's my mate, I should have felt her by now. Right? Just because she has magic doesn't affect our connection? Nothing can affect that! Right? "Kie! I need you!" I shout on the phone.

Within minutes my keeper is knocking on the door. When I open it his face is filled with worry. He enters the room without a word but he's searching for something. For someone.

"Where is Princess Nadia? Your majesty, what is going on? Kie's eyes can't stop scanning the room.

"She's gone to talk to her...ah, what did she call her? Her witch mother? No. Her…"

"High priestess?" Kie questions.

"Yes! Thank you. Wait, how did you know?" Ryan spins around making direct eye contact with Kie.

"Well, when I found out Princess Nadia held magic, I did some studying. I need to be the best Beta I can." He smirks and shrugs.

"Right. Cool..thanks, I guess." Ryan laughs. "Anyway, I think something is wrong. She's been gone awhile, and I can't hear her. Can I contact her? She's my mate, I should be able to contact her."

"Yes, your majesty. You should, at least I believe so? I'm sorry sir, I haven't reached that part in my studies yet." Kie looks away, ashamed.

Suddenly there is a rapid knock on the door and both men turn quickly.

"Open the door Ryan! It's Helena!"

Kie rushes to the door and the moment it's cracked Helena pushes her way into the room.

"Tell me she's here! Tell me I'm having a nightmare?!" Helena too searches the room for Nadia.

"Helena, stop. What's wrong?" Ryan grabs her hand.

"Nadia, she's in trouble. In pain! I can feel it! Where is she?"

The color from Ryan's face fades. Why didn't he feel it too? "She's with her high priestess...umm, her name is Blair."

"NO! Blair?!" Helena shouts and the room vibrates.