Page 55 of Predator

CHAPTER 16

THE LUNA’S GUARDIAN

Another laugh, probably at my shocked expression. “I know. It must be a huge surprise. I rarely need one of my guardians to be my avatar here on Earth, but because of my agreement with Hecate, I decided to make the allowance.”

Hecate… what? “I’m so freaking confused.”

“I know, my pup. There’s a fine line when it comes to resurrecting souls. Too many memories of your first life will color your second. You were brought back because of a plea made from one of my wolves and another from Hecate’s witches. I could never do it on my own, but we agreed that it was worth it in this case so that your soul could do what it was meant to.”

“And what the hell is that?”

“Unite the supernaturals in this sanctuary town. Born of a witch male and a she-wolf, you carried parts of both of their powers in you. As Jolie Bordeaux, and, later, as Fallon Witt. You were fated to Lucas Guidry, but he wasn’t the only tie drawing you to this place. Hecate, my fellow goddess… she chose you to lead her witches into another world.”

“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me!”

The Luna laughs. “I assure you, I’m not. It took decades of pooling our powers to bring you back to a time where you could do what you were meant to. Plus, power of that magnitude required sacrifice.”

I gulp. “The curse.”

She nods. “That’s right. Marie Bordeaux trapped her coven in the stasis spell that Hecate casted over the supernaturals in this town. Lucas gave up part of his own soul in the hopes his mate would return to him.” Her eyes turn even more brilliantly silver. “You.”

“Because I’m Jolie.”

“Because you were,” corrects the Luna. “But, I told you, there’s a fine line with resurrection. If you lived your life again as Jolie, you were prone to make her same mistakes. Instead, you were reborn as Fallon, a name given to you by a human woman who would keep you away from supernaturals until the time was right. But, alas, humans aren’t as hearty as my pups so when she fell ill… I gave you two of my best guardians.”

It takes a second for me to understand. I know she’s talking about Mom and her cancer, but guardians.

Holy shit.

“Jeannie and Lorelei?”

She nods again.

I… I don’t know what to say. I mean, yeah, the Lipton twins moved to my school the same year that Mom was diagnosed. We were fast friends at a time when I needed them, and though I was always closer to Lorelei, Jeannie was there, too. Through Mom dying, then college when we lived together, to me being stubborn Fallon who insisted on living alone in New York…

Lorelei wanted me to stay in New Jersey with her and Jeannie. I put my foot down, and she accepted that I would do what I wanted… but maybe that was because, firmly in my twenties by then, it was time for me to do what the Luna expected of me.

And I guess I did, didn’t I?

“So… is the curse broken? Because Lucas stopped being the feral already, but the years started to catch up to him when we tried to leave.”

“I am aware. That’s because I removed my power before Hecate did. You bonded to Lucas so my clause was settled. But until you accepted you were also of the coven… the spell endured. It no longer does. It’s over.”

It’s… over?

Finally?

Right. And if I believe that, then I really am freaking gullible.

“So the curse is broken. What happens now?”

Instead of answering me, the Luna as Jeannie blinks a few times. When she finally stops, the eerie silver glow is gone. Her pupils are the same dark brown I’ve always known.

Jeannie is back.

She exhales softly. I guess it takes a lot out of a wolf shifter, being the avatar to a freaking goddess.

Then, with a shrug, she answers my question. “You tell me, Fal.”

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