Page 96 of The Sins of Silas

“What about the children?” I asked.

“Us Warlocks have a great sense of community. They will all pull together to support my brother and his family until my return.” Her eyes scanned the group behind me, all of whom were staring at us with raised brows as they mounted their rides. They were too far away to hear our conversation.

“I am powerful, and having a Warlock on your side will help. There is much I can teach the Mages, actually—secrets my kind have kept for millennia.” She took a steadying breath. “I…need to help.”

I blinked, then gave her a nod. “Then we’d be happy to have you.”

She gave a hesitant smile. “Lena is speaking with Leroy. She'll be out in a moment.” She adjusted the bag on her back before taking it off and shoving it toward me. “I’ll be an extra ride for one of you!” she called out to my group, and I watched in awe as she shifted into a light blue mare, the hair almost iridescent.

I gave her a lopsided grin. “Always a show-off,” I teased, and she nudged my shoulder with her nose.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

LENA

We were getting ready to leave this morning when Dani insisted I meet her in Leroy's study. When I stepped into the spacious room lined with bookshelves, desks, and a large fireplace with two armchairs in front of it, Dani strolled up to me, a book clutched to her side.

“Do you know why the Warlocks have hated the Mages?”

I crossed my arms, unsure why we were having this conversation. “Not particularly,” I answered honestly.

“We envied your power. The Mages were always the superior witches—before that term was stained by bigotry.” She held out the thick tome in her hand. My eyes shifted down to the dark and mystifying cover. There was no title.

“I’m not following,” I said with furrowed brows, taking the book in my hand. I flipped through the pages. These were all spells.Warlock spells, many of which were in a language I didn’t recognize.

Dani cocked her head to the side. “We hated each other because we both believed our people to be the strongest. We wished to rule over one another.” Her smile faltered. “The truth is, despite our shapeshifting capabilities, the Mages are far more powerful. Always have been.”

I raised a brow, looking up at her from the archaic pages. “Because of our ability to use magic without the use of incantations?”

Dani gave me a proud grin. “Because of your ability to useboth.”

I blinked over and over before finally releasing a scoff. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Her cobalt eyes sparkled. “It has been a secret long kept. A myth amongst our people. That the Mages were the original beings created by the Gods—created in Oquerene. The Warlocks, the Sea Nymphs, even the Angels are not as strong.” She studied her manicured nails, her lips pulling to the side. “Half-lives are below us all, in terms of strength, anyway. But it has always been the Mages who had the most power.” Her eyes shifted back to mine. “Us Warlocks have long suspected that the Mages are able to utilize our power, save for the shifting, of course.”

I wasn't sure I was breathing. “Why?”

“If the Mages only believed their power to be that of what innately belonged to them, it kept them less powerful. It kept the playing field level.”

I was silent for many moments, processing this ridiculous information. “Wait…so if this myth is true, you’re saying we can recite spoken spells? Use magic like you?”

“Yes.”

“Seems like a simple theory to test out…surely we would’ve discovered this revelation years ago if that were true.”

Dani shook her head. “The Warlocks have done well keeping our spells a secret. Not only that, but training is required to use them properly and get the results you desire. Much like your ability to enchant, you may know the recipe of an elixir or potion you wish to make…” She tapped on the side of her head. “But if you don’t know how to make that connection in here, in your body, those words will be nothing but gibberish.” She paused. "The pentagram is heavily used in Warlock magic. I believe the necromancer has somehow managed to learn how to wield our power."

My eyes fell to the grimoire, then back to her. “If the Warlocks have kept this secret for centuries, why tell us now?”

She took the spell book back from me, tucking it into the bag resting on her shoulder. “Mages are the most powerful magical beings on the planet. That dark Mage…that necromancer…he has the power to destroy the entire world. I think that is more than enough reason for our people to put our differences aside and work together to stop him.”

“Yesterday was proof of that,” Leroy added as he ambled into his study, his brows lowered as he spoke to us in a low voice.

I swallowed. I hadn't spoken with Leroy since the battle yesterday…since the death of his wife.

“We have two enemies lusting for power. Two enemies that have no issue ending our people for good. It’s time we test this myth.” Leroy shifted his eyes to his sister. “Dani will be joining you on your journey.”

My eyes widened, then shot to the blue-haired Warlock. “You are?”

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