Page 179 of The Black Witch

She hesitates before answering. “A bite to the base of the throat that draws blood, on the night of the full moon.”

“What will your father do?” I ask, worriedly. “When he finds out about Rafe?”

“My father will like Rafe a great deal,” she assures me. “I am sure of it.”

The two of us are silent for a moment as I fight back stinging tears.

“You know, Elloren Gardner,” Diana finally says, her voice kind, “when I take your brother to mate, we will become sisters.”

I turn my head to look at her, surprised.

“You will be part of my family, then,” she goes on, “whether you become Lupine or not.”

The loneliness, the fear, not being able to go home and be with my uncle, the loss of my quilt, the risks we’re taking, the intense conflict in Yvan’s eyes—all of a sudden, these things wash over me, and I close my eyes tightly, embarrassed to be openly crying into the blanket beneath me. I feel Diana’s hand on my head, which makes me cry even harder.

“It’s not natural, how you people live,” she says as she strokes my hair. “Cut off from each other, so alone. My family will like you very much, Elloren Gardner.”

“They won’t,” I counter, my nose stuffing up. “They’ll see who I look like, and they’ll hate me. Just like everyone else who’s not Gardnerian.”

“No, they will trust my opinion of you, and I like you, Elloren Gardner, even though you are so strange to me. What you did...freeing this Selkie girl, weak as you are. It was very brave.”

Her compliment catches me off guard. I inwardly straighten up at her praise, my embarrassment fading. Diana always seems to be merely suffering through the company of all us non-Lupines, so her good opinion seems all the more valuable and well earned.

“I don’t fit in anywhere,” I tell her.

“You will find a place with my pack,” Diana insists. “I am quite sure of it. I think you should spend next summer with us.”

My tears subside at the improbable thought of spending the summer with Diana.

What if she’s right? What if her people do accept me? Would I truly be gaining family when Diana and Rafe become a mated pair?

Diana and Jarod have mentioned their little sister, Kendra, on more than one occasion. Would she become part of my family, too? And Diana’s mother? Maybe she would become my friend.

A little bit of hope takes hold inside me.

Her hand on my head is so comforting, so kind. It’s so good to be touched, and I feel myself letting go of some of the stress roiling inside me.

“You didn’t hesitate to help me,” I tell her. “You didn’t hesitate to help the Selkie. Thank you.”

Diana nods slightly in acknowledgment.

“I’d be very happy,” I tell her, “to have you as a sister someday.”

I realize, with warm surprise, how deeply and genuinely I mean it.

Diana’s lips curve into a small, satisfied smile, and a few minutes later I let my eyes fall shut like the Selkie’s, the rhythm of Diana’s fingers soothing on my hair, a blessedly dreamless sleep quickly overtaking me.

* * *

“Elloren, wake up.”

Diana’s insistent voice pulls my eyes open the next morning. The strange expression on her face, her gaze focused on the door, drives out whatever sleepiness remains.

She’s off the bed and in a defensive crouch. Ariel and Wynter are gone. The Selkie is awake and backed up against the headboard of my bed, motionless except for her terrified ocean-gray eyes, which dart wildly around.

I push myself up and into a straighter position, my back stiff from sleeping all night propped up against the bed.

“What’s the matter?”

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