Page 24 of Dawn Unearthed

I sighed. “It means that we’re not ready, and we need to be.”

“Ready for what?” Sage asked.

Ignoring her, Rowen said, “And you need to begin training.” My bear growled.

Training meant that Sage would become a witch. She would find her powers. And danger would come at her quicker than ever.

And that wasn’t something I was sure I would ever allow my mate to do.

Even if she didn’t know who I was to her yet.

Chapter Seven

Sage

Istood inside Into the Wood, my body still shaking as Rowen shoved a cup of warm tea into my hands.

“Drink up. There’s nothing in there that will hurt you. Just some good strong tea with a little bit of sweet.”

I looked down at the steaming cup and then up at her. “It’s all real, isn’t it?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. I didn’t know why I was saying this. I’d already let myself believe, but watching the revenants come after my new friends and town had hammered everything home.

Rowen raised a single perfectly crafted brow but didn’t smirk. Instead, she studied my face as if she expected me to say more. And perhaps I needed to.

“It’s real,” I said again. “I still can’t believe it,” I added. “I guess I have to, though. I saw them. I felt them as they came at me. As my bat connected with them.”

“You’re right. Those abominations were very real. I haven’t seen them cross the Ravenwood borders since I was a child, and my mother was still teaching me how to control my powers. There were rumors of a necromancer coming closer to Ravenwood, and I believed them, of course, but it seems it was true. And they are no longer traveling. They’re here. Though for what purpose? I don’t know that as yet. What I do know is that we must get you trained. Soon.”

“Will you tell me what’s going on?” I asked after a moment, taking a sip of the tea. It was warm, sweet, and seemed to soothe me from the inside out, even though I was still energized from what had happened. The guys had left to go clean up or fix whatever had been broken by the oncoming horde.

Rome had given me a long once-over, had looked as if he wanted to say something, but had only left. Something inside me felt almost bereft at that. I didn’t understand it. It didn’t make any sense. I didn’t even know the man.

Laurel had gone with them after glaring at Rowen and stowing her sword. It had disappeared as if it had never been there. Was that another kind of magic?

“It’s time I explain as much as I can to you so you can begin training.”

“Training,” I repeated. Why did that sound ominous?

Rowen sighed and tapped her long fingernails on the workbench in front of her. “You’re a witch, Sage. A strong water witch, from what I can tell. Which is good because I have air, Laurel used to have fire—and will have it again if I have anything to say about it—and you would be water. That’s three of the elements there, three corners of the triangle.”

I frowned, having so many questions. “Isn’t there earth, as well?” I asked, trying to remember what I’d read in pagan books over the years.

Rowen’s eyes tightened for a brief moment before she shook her head. “It’s one of the four main elements, yes, but not one of the three for our triad. Earth is the base, but when the other three come together, we can create our own base, so we don’t need earth.”

For some reason, it sounded as if she was trying to convince herself of that rather than it being true. Or maybe I was thinking too hard about what she said.

“I was the one who moved the water from the stream.”

“Yes. And you have so much untapped power, it’s dangerous. We need to train you on at least the small spells. That way, you won’t hurt anyone around you.”

My heart raced. “Oh, God. I need to check on Penelope. I forgot,” I blurted. “How could I forget?” I needed to get my head out of my ass and focus on what was important, not the idea that this was no longer a dream.

Rowen shook her head. “She already texted to check in. She’s fine.”

“She texted you?” I asked, a little hurt. Though I’d been the one so lost and trying to keep up that I’d forgotten to text my own aunt. I had no right to that pain. I was so caught up in current events and a certain man who could turn into a bear, I felt as if I were flailing about.

“Your aunt has been a surrogate aunt to Laurel and me for many years. I’ve known her my entire life. And she was checking on you. I’m sorry she didn’t contact you right away. I’m sure she texted you, as well, but your phone is off,” she said softly.

I frowned and pulled my phone out of my pocket. It was indeed powered off. I looked up at her, shaking my head. “How did you know?”

---