Page 54 of Cursed Wolfsbane

Through the strength of thorns

And compassion worn

Like a necklace of gold

Will she break the mold

To free those

Who have in suffering froze

Dying without ever a roar

In truth will she find the home

Of that which she seeks

Across the sea will she roam

And vengeance will she wreak

Unless wrong shall she choose

Blinded by deceits

Everything dear shall she lose

When mistakes of old she repeats

I scribble the verses frantically as she translates it for me. When I’m done writing it down, I take a moment to read through it, hoping I heard and processed everything right.Did I copy it down correctly?

“You did, child.”

What does it mean?

Dido makes a quiet humming noise.“That is the subject of much debate. There is no clear answer as to what it means. Youwill find interpretations throughout the years in many books in the section where the book was located. Ultimately, however, it is up to you, the one prophesied about, to interpret the true meaning.”

Well, that’s literally no help, but that’s not her fault.Thanks for translating it for me.

“You are welcome. I apologize I am unable to offer more insight.”Dido solemnly dips her chin at me before disappearing to wherever she goes in my head when we’re not talking.

Glancing up, I see my mates staring at me with concern. “I have the translated prophecy.” I shove the book with my hurried transcription toward them. Malachi picks up the notebook, and his forehead wrinkles in confusion or concern as he reads it. Xander reads over Malachi’s shoulder, but Saint waits for Malachi to hand it to him. He rubs the back of his neck distractedly as he reads.

Bastian is the last to read it. He frowns as he works through the rhyming verses that seem like a whole lot of words to say nothing. “That’s super confusing. Why are prophecies always riddles instead of straightforward directions?”

I snort, which turns into mildly hysterical giggles at his comment. This day is definitely getting to me. “Probably because whoever made it felt the need to seem smarter than everyone else. Who even wrote the prophecy? Or are we just supposed to trust that some random poem in a random book in a random library is actually true?”

Bastian’s mouth hitches up into a lopsided grin. With his long arms, he’s able to reach over the table to snag the book back. He leafs through the pages until he finds what he is looking for. “It says the prophecy is from Anna Perenna in 803 B.C. That would be around the time Dido was alive. Maybe she knew her?”

“Maybe.” I smile slightly at Bastian before closing my eyes and asking,Dido, did you know Anna Perenna?

A deep feeling of sadness invades my mind and chills my bones. I fight off the shiver that wants to shake my frame.“I did, yes,”Dido informs me, the sorrow infusing her words tugging at my heart.

How did you know her?I ask carefully, not wanting to make Dido feel any worse.

“She was my sister and a hybrid like you are. We shared the same wolfen mother, but her father was a mage who had the power of sight. Owing to her dual magic, Anna was the most powerful seer in generations. No one has matched her power since.”

Dido flashes images in my mind of what looks like a younger version of her with a small girl with raven hair and pale skin. They’re weaving together cloth of some sort, and the younger girl is struggling to get the material to wrap correctly around the loom. Instead of getting angry, Dido patiently coaches Anna until she gets it. Dido then picks up her younger sister and spins her around the room, the two of them giggling the whole time.

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