Page 5 of Cherished By Her Guardian

Morgana Quinn looked exactly like Winterlyn thought she would, right down to the flowy, romantic clothes and the long, dark hair.

She sat in a straight-backed chair across the shiny desk of the most powerful witch in New York and tried not to be nervous. After telling Morgana what her situation was, she waited to hear her reply.

Morgana lifted a brow. “What do you think I can do for you, Winterlyn? I’m genuinely perplexed why you’d come to me about not being able to shift.”

“I’d like you to take me to Northernmost. Or one of your coven members if you’re not available.”

“Because you can’t shift.”

“Right.”

When Morgana didn’t say anything for what felt like an eternity, Winterlyn felt like an idiot.

“Today is a strange day,” Morgana mused. “But I have to tell you, in all honesty, that it won’t work. The Well is for magical people, and the magiconlyworks for our kind. Shifters aren’t magical. I don’t know where you got your information from, but it was clearly not someone who knew what they were talking about.”

Her eyes burned a little from the press of tears, but she wasn’t going to cry. Really. At least not right this second.

“What would be the harm in trying? Maybe it would work. Maybe it’s never happened because everyone keeps saying that the Well is only for magical people. What if it fixes whatever’s wrong with me?”

Morgana opened her mouth, closed it, and then sighed. “I won’t take you there. I think it’s a fool’s errand. I’m sorry you’re in the position you’re in, but there’s nothing wrong with you, it’s just the luck of the genetic draw. However,” she said, putting up her hand when Winterlyn opened her mouth to argue, “if youcan find someone in my coven willing to take you there, then all the more power to you. And I wish you well, whatever happens.”

Winterlyn hummed in surprise. “Okay, thank you.”

Morgana nodded.

When Winterlyn was out of the quaint home and standing on the porch, she debated where to find someone to help her. The witches had a store where people could buy knickknacks and charms, special teas that promoted healing, and even the ingredients for spell casting.

As she prepared to step off the porch, someone said in a small, quiet voice, “I can help you get to Northernmost. Tomorrow at dawn.”

Declan finished his shift and clocked out in the security office.

Sebastian clapped him on the shoulder. “We hitting the Enchanted Oak?”

The Enchanted Oak was a bar in New Jersey that was a favorite of shifters. It was run by an old fae male who opened the doors to anyone, magical or shifter or otherwise.

“Nah, I’m heading down to dinner with the folks.”

Sebastian’s brows lifted. “Something going on?”

“Nope. Mom just bribed me to come for dinner by offering to make my favorite. She hates that we’re busy on Christmas Eve keeping watch up here.”

“What’s your favorite meal?”

“Chicken and dumplings.”

“Oh, yum. Can you bring me some back?”

“Did I hear chicken and dumplings?” Chase, one of the snow leopards, said as he walked into the security office for his shift.

“Yeah, my mom’s.”

“Oh damn. Bring some back!”

“I plan to eat every bit of it, so no dice,” Declan said.

“Rude,” Sebastian said.

“Facts,” Chase said.

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