When I Find You

Chapter 13: The Key to the Lock

    We both came storming into the airy palace. Michael was already waiting for us in the seating area. 

    “Michael, I need you.” I stated, taking him in for a hug.

    “Ava are you okay? Are you hurt?” He worriedly asked. 

    “No no. I’m okay. I remember now. We just need your help and I think you may be the only one to help me. But we’re on a clock.” I was speaking fast so that he understood time was of the essence. 

    “What is it? What’s happened?” He said. 

    “The spell has been lifted, but with it lifted I will no longer be ‘normal’.” I said in quotations. “I need you to help me find a way to cast a spell similar to mom’s so that I can go back to the castle. I just don’t want it to be lifted by being mated when we already are. It would never work that way.”

    “Ava you can’t go back. She’ll know you know. It’s unsafe!” He stammered.

    “Michael, I have to go back. You think Julian wants me to leave after being gone for 15 years? We need to find a way. We don’t have a choice. If I’m not back soon, then we are all in trouble.” I tried to sound convincing. 

    “Okay. I know everything about the spell, but not how undo it. I think I could help, but Ava, the family would like a reunion soon.”

    “I know Michael, but now is not the time. I’m sorry.”

    He nodded his head and understood. I felt Julian’s anxiety through our bond. I hadn’t fully faced the magnitude of our bond as I have yet to bond with my wolf, but I knew I was right. Now was simply not the time and I needed to get back to the castle and fast. Time was running out as Andrea had told me. She texted me on the car ride. Queen Vivian would find out the person in the bed was not me and I cannot be hungover for very long. All this time, I believed she was kind, but she caused destruction on my family. I wanted to cause destruction onto her’s, but part of me would not let myself. No, there were other ways to make her pay.

    Michael was telling me all about this spell. I’ve never used magic and I’m not even sure it’ll work, but I know I have to try. We started with lighting a candle. It took me a few tries, but soon I got it and I kept getting it. We decided I was ready. 

    Julian stood next to me as Michael taught me the spell he believed may work. I needed to mask the scent of my wolf. Tristin would be able to sense it as soon as he stepped into a room I was in. I couldn’t afford to risk the safety of Julian and my brother. I needed this spell to work. I needed to make this as convincing as possible. I needed to act as if nothing ever happened and I was just feeling a bit sick. I feared the distance this will put between Julian and I. I’d wait forever, but I refused to always be on the run from people we didn’t even know were coming. I wanted us to begin our life in honesty. I wanted strength to get through the next 24 hours. 

    As I watched Michael read through the books and scatter the papers, I was reminded of the books I had read in my life. I read about the Alpha Werewolf and his bewitched wife. I read about the little family in the books, but what stood out to me most was the ending; the family disappeared and lost all power, but what if that family was mine?    

    “Michael. What do they say happened to our family?” I asked.

    “I’m not sure, why?” He looked up at me. His blue eyes a shade duller and his face confused.

    “No reason.” I said, pretending to be intrigued by the paper he accidentally threw my way. 

    I wanted to get to the bottom of this. Why say they lost all power rather than saying Queen Vivian single-handedly removed an enemy? All things written in the library needed her approval, which means she signed the paper allowing this ‘historical’ book to be published and a copy into the castle’s library. I began pacing back and forth as I usually do, trying to come up with some logical explanation, but I was stuck. 

    “Ava, baby, look at me. You need to stop pacing.” Julian said reaching to grab me and put me in his arms. I forgot he feels my panic too. His touch instantly calmed me down and I inhaled his masculine smell. I pulled away to look back at him. I reached up to move the little piece of black hair that fell in front of his face. I really looked at him and marveled into the beauty he has grown into today. He is kind, compassionate, caring, sweet, tall, hot, sexy, handsome, with thee most beautiful purple eyes I have ever seen. I felt terrible for forgetting him the day of the fire and every day since. I feel responsible for all of the pain he has felt through the years. My eyes began to drown in tears. I tried to look away, but he caught my chin and his thumb wiped the falling tears. 

    “No no no. Baby, I’m so sorry. What’s wrong? What can I do?” Julian was in panic mode now. I couldn’t say anything right now. I think it just hit me how much of my life I have missed. I’m thankful for Andrea and the hospitality I have received at the castle, but like most, I longed for my family; for my home. Julian’s name on the guest list that day was a name closest to the home I used to have. My mind may not have known it, but my body definitely did. 

    “I…I think it just hit me.” I croaked out in between sobs. Michael was on his way over to also comfort me. I put my head on Julians chest. I felt Julian shake like he nodded his head. 

    I calmed down enough to remove myself from Julian’s embrace. “Michael, I never got to thank you for trying to rescue me that night. I never got to tell you I love you too. I let go of your hand and I lost you in the mess. I’m so sorry for how rude I’ve been. I’m so sorry for dismissing you although you are family. I’ve been so focused on how to save us and get us out of this mess, I haven’t even taken the time to process your feelings. Please, forgive me?”

    Michael’s eyes were forming tears as he listened to what I had to say. Julian took a step back so that I could have a moment with my brother. Michael opened his arms and quickly took me into his embrace. It was apparent that he was fighting back the sobs; Alphas don’t cry, my father would say. 

    “I am happy you’re okay little sis. I forgive you.” Michael said as he smiled. 

    “Great then we have work to do.” I took a step back bringing my hands together in a clap. We all started laughing. 

_________________

    “Are you sure this will work?” Julian asked.

    “My guess is as good as yours, but the success rate is 90%.” Michael stated.

    “And what about the other 10%?” Julian persisted. 

    “Well that’s the percentage that may not work.” Michael’s voice laced in sarcasm. 

    “Boys.” I warned.

    They were both quiet. It was the peace I needed to focus. We have been working hard for 2 hours since the moment I had with my brother and Julian. I just needed to keep my mind clear. Witchcraft is all a mind game. If I believe something to be, then that is what it shall be; and vice versa. I needed to hear 100%, but the odds were too good at 90%. It needed to be convincing and let’s be reasonable, anyone who hears a 90% success rate is more incline to proceed with a ‘yes’ rather than a ‘no’.

    I could do this. I started to read the spell my brother helped me read. The candle lit itself as the spell began. I felt powerful; dangerously powerful and I knew I needed to contain it. I also needed to remind myself that I was good; I am chosen because my heart was pure and that was a quality I was not comfortable with losing. 

    There was a large wind in the room. It didn’t knock anything over, but it blew a lot of papers away. The candle being lit was my indication that this spell was indeed working, as I knew it would. As I finished reading the end of the script, the wind stopped, but the candle remained lit. I’m not sure if this was a good sign or a bad sign, but I didn’t have time to find out. 

    “Are you okay?” They both asked.

    “Yes, I am okay, but I need to go, and now!” I stammered.

    We were rushing out the door, hoping the spell worked. I wished my mother could be here because she would know how to help me in this situation. Off to the lonely castle we go as the limo pulled around to take me to the place I once loved, but now dreaded.