The Hero they thought was a Nerd

Que sera sera

Carol's POV

"If she doesn't find her mate soon, she will die on the next full moon."

Prudence's words were like knife stabs on my heart.  A hex made to undo a mating bond needs a mate to be nullified.  But this was not supposed to happen to Lei.  She's not even a werewolf, vampire or a witch.  She's a human, for god's sake.  Humans do not have the ability to find their soulmate.  They have the trial and error method in finding their forever after.

Does that mean she has a werewolf, vampire, warlock or fairy as a mate?

I pinned Prudence with a look.

"That's it?  She'll die on the next full moon if she doesn't find her mate?  How the heck are we going to look for her mate?  She's human!"  I asked in an irate tone.  Maxim and Jace entered our kitchen at the same time and I nodded at them to take a seat.  Prudence nodded her head and fixed her gaze at baby Lei.

"She's not an ordinary human.  You should have felt it Lady Carol.  Her aura is different from that of a human.  It may be dormant as she has yet to reach eighteen but I am sure she is either a witch from another country or fae."

I gasped and looked at Leilani.  A witch or fairy?  It is true that she is enchanting and the way she carries herself was out of this world but this is my childhood friend.  I mean, I would freaking know if she was a fairy or a witch.

But as I looked at the girl with the curls and big green eyes, I was left with something to ponder.  It's not that I doubt what Prudence was telling me.  I just don't want to think of her as someone involved in this part of the world.  I mean, the world is not ready to find out about us being real but her existing as such would really open up this reality.

Come to think of it, I do know my childhood friend but do I really know her?

I remember the first day I met her.  She was just as cute as she was now, with her parents dressed in formal clothes and introducing her to my preschool teacher.  I've heard that she came from England but had to stay here in our little town because of something that happened.  We became friends when she helped me nudge off the bullies from the playground.

We had shared everything from tampons to lollipops (eeewww you might think) to secret crushes and reaching our dreams.  She was there when I lost my parents and became my rock.  I held her when she lost hers in an accident.  We've lived under the same roof for years and I have never questioned her loyalty and the life that she had led.  But this happened.

I mean who would believe that Leilani Wagner was a witch or a supernatural.

"How are we going to find her mate?  Technically, humans don't have mates unless they are the given mates for supernaturals like us."  Jace asked worriedly while looking at the baby.

I know that Leilani was listening in on the conversation.  So far she hasn't been responsive but I know that she is trying to come to terms with what she had heard.

Prudence looked at us before settling her eyes again at the baby.

"There is a spell that we can use to connect her soul with her intended but there are complications."

"What complications?"  Maxim asked.

"The spell may connect her to someone unworthy, older or younger.  As this is a mating spell for our kind, using it on a human has drastic risks that may or may not be beneficial to her."  She replied and I buried my face in my hands.  The possibility of Lei being mated to anyone she sets her eyes on will really be problematic.

"Unless my mate is a werewolf, vampire, witch, fae or demon." Leilani stated as she placed her spoon down carefully and looked at us in the eye.

Prudence grimaced.

"Or a human.  The possibilities are endless but at least we can find your mate before the spell takes over and kills you."

"When can we begin?"  Leilani asked.  Maxim, Jace and I voiced our protests, saying that there must be another way.

But Leilani held up her hand.

"I am willing to try this out.  Whatever will be, will be. "  Leilani picked up her spoon and started eating her mashed banana.

*****

I have poring through the magical tomes in my library for a way out of this predicament.  I consider myself responsible for what happened to Lei.  She is my only family and I will be damned before I will allow some creature to become her mate.

"You need to rest, ma cherie."  My grandmother enters the room I'm in.  Prudence was performing the spell with Leilani.  Maxim and Jace offered to babysit her for me so that I could focus on finding an alternative route.  So far my search has proven to be the same thing.  There were some references that indicated the same solution was made with wonderful results but the person in question were from supernatural descent.  It seems that there has never been an instance where a human was involved.

Frustrated, I huffed before slamming the book shut.

I shoved my hand into my hair and looked out of the window.  It was almost the end of the day and I couldn't help the sense of failure that I feel.  I am supposed to be the most powerful witch in our coven.  The magic was supposedly stronger with this inheritance.  Why?  Why can't I do this thing for my sister, my family?  I feel so much of a failure.

"Am I powerful, grandma?  Why did you make me the leader of this coven?"

My grandmother sat before me and smiled gently.  She may have given me the title but she is still the leader in all sense of the word.  She may be old but her grace and beauty has not really waned.  She has wisps of gray hair curling around her wizened face but her clear blue eyes were as clever and keen as before.

"It is your birthright, love.  You may think that you don't have the power but you are from my blood.  you have it in you.  You are enough."

"If I am enough, why can't I do something to undo Mariana's spell?"

"That child has embraced the dark arts.  Even though it is tempting to follow this path, it does not mean it is more powerful than what we have.  It is difficult to undo the effects of a human sacrifice but not impossible.  Prudence is working with us to undo the spell of her daughter.  That shows how she believes in the goodness of your heart.  It is our duty to bring back her daughter from the dark."

I sighed and leaned back in my chair.

"She says that Leilani maybe a witch or a fairy."

I turned sharply when my grandmother chuckled.

"Ah.  It seems it is almost time.  How old is the dear child?"

My brows furrowed at her words.  What the heck did she mean with it's almost time?

"She'll be turning eighteen soon."

"Ah.  Then this spell is a godsend.  Assist her in any way.  We must make sure that she can return to her previous form."  With that, my grandmother flounced away, leaving me baffled in more ways than one.