Page 36 of Their Fated Magic

Frustrated, I decide to go to the river and sense the water again to see how close we are to the source of the curse. I get up and walk towards it, feeling sets of eyes on me as I do so. But I don’t care. I need some space, some time to make sense of this all.

As my feet crunch on the leaves and twigs, I try to get my thoughts together, but I’m so lost, so confused. What is my role here, outside of finding the cure? To run off with Garrick and never see the wolves again? It feels… wrong. Yet, that’s what everyone wants, right?

And I shouldn’t want to be near them. They’re assholes.

I sit on a rock by the river and watch the water rush down the mountain. How can something so beautiful be used as a weapon against innocent people? My mother’s a monster. Leaning forward, I dip my fingers in and close my eyes. Metal and magic are there, as always, even stronger, but not strong enough. We still have a ways to go.

Sighing, I pull my fingers out of the water and settle back when Wisp appears on my lap. Her sudden bright golden light chases away the shadows from my mind.

“I’m so happy to see you!” I whisper, smiling.

Wisp takes a bow on my lap, and I giggle, overjoyed to see a familiar face after such an emotional few days. This little creature might be responsible for getting travelers lost, but she’s always been a guiding light for me. And unlike the wolves, I value the special people in my life.

“Happy,” she whispers, and she smiles too, making my heart warm.

Then she waits, and I know she wants me to talk. To tell her what’s on my mind. That’s one thing about Wisp: she likes to cut right to the chase.

So I decide to start with some of the important things. “I’ve learned a lot about myself since I’ve been here with the shifters. I don’t feel so useless anymore. My magic has gotten better.” I lean in and whisper, “I even used Battle Magic! I melted a giant monster!”

“Battle Magic,” Wisp repeats, and her voice is filled with awe.

“Well, I never knew I could use Battle Magic – not that those wolves believe me – but I did use it, and all my other magic has improved. I don’t know why. But I’ve been brainstorming what’s different here than back home. I realized that there’s no pressure here to use my magic right, so I just end up doing it right anyway. I really like it here.”

“Good magic, no pressure.”

“Exactly.” She waits, and I decide to spill another important fact. “Something else good happened. I had sex with Garrick.”

“Good sex?”

“Most definitely. Wisp, it was so so good. Garrick is nice. He actually cares about me.” I smile and close my eyes, replaying our encounter in the hot spring together. It was… magical.

I sigh, opening my eyes. “But the wolves are just like my mother. They plan to throw me away when they’re done using me. At best. What does it mean when wolves divorce? Do they kill their ex? What if they just leave me out in that forest to fight off monsters?”

At least Garrick would be there with me. Right?

“Divorce monsters,” she says very seriously.

I laugh. “They aren’t always monsters, but they have been during this trip, and I’m really worried about what they’ll do to me when I do find the cure. I have to be braver and stronger than I really am if I’m going to walk away from this safely.”

“Brave, strong Tara.”

“Exactly, Wisp. But I don’t know if I can.” I give Wisp a weak smile. “And then there’s the other thing. I like the wolves. As imperfect as they are. As stupid, and mean, and possessive as they can be, I like them. I think we could be happy together, if they could just learn to trust me.”

“Stupid and mean,” she says in a pouty voice.

“They are,” I agree, but my thoughts cling to them. “And handsome. And brave. And loyal. They care about each other, and their people. They fight for what’s right. If only I was one of the people they cared about.”

“They care,” she whispers, and I’m about to ask her how she knows, but she disappears, making me tense. What’s here? I draw my dagger, suddenly on alert as I hear something approaching from the woods.

Suddenly, Garrick’s huge frame appears from behind some trees. “Hey. I heard voices. Are you all right?”

I let out a breath and put my dagger away, telling myself I'm happy it’s him and not any of those jerks. Or a monster. I’m definitely glad he isn’t a monster.

“I’m fine.” I force a smile.

He gives me a look. “Are you really?”

His question makes my shoulders sag and the truth seep out of me. “Truthfully? No.”

---