Page 81 of Chosen Destiny

Jack brushed his thumb against her chin and cooed, “Aw. You’re so cute.”

“And who is the death goddess?” Lucas propped his arm against the door, blocking our view of the outside. “I’ve heard of the nature goddess and the moon goddess but never a goddess of death.”

“I’m assuming it has something to do with evil magic.” Miles lifted his chin as his attention locked on Dina. “Priestess River always told our packs no good comes from magic involving death.”

Hanging her head, Dina blushed as everyone looked at me.

I wanted to laugh. They expected me to know how to get Dina to talk, but I didn’t want to push her when she was clearly struggling with whatever had happened. I understood the pain of having everyone stare at you while you wished you could disappear. That was how I’d felt every day for the past seventeen years… until I’d found Bodey.

My eyes widened. I could tell Dina was retreating inward and that she felt very alone. She needed to know shewasn’talone.

I released Bodey’s hand to move closer to her, but he held on tight, pulling me back. He linked,There’s something not right about her. Maybe you shouldn’t get too close.

Staying away was the worst thing you could do to someone who felt broken. Eggs and water wouldn’t cut it. She needed to know that the people she was desperate to protect were just as willing to stand beside her.

Trust me,I linked, and I walked around the coffee table and squatted in front of Dina. I placed a hand on her knee and said, “After what you did out there to save us, you can tell us what’s bothering you.”

Her head lifted, and her eyes lasered in on my hand before flicking up to meet mine.

“Priestess River is right.” Dina exhaled noisily and straightened her back. “The death goddess is vindictive and greedy. She offers up the sort of magic that the earth and moon goddesses refuse to get near. She’ll kill without a moment’s regret as long as she gains something from the person making the request or the witch casting the spell. Like how Zeke killed his beta to block you from accessing your wolf.”

“Dear gods.” Michael shook his head. “Why would you ask a deity like that to help you?”

“We were greatly outnumbered, and there would have been deaths on our side.” Her gaze never left mine as she nodded at me. “Callie could have gotten caught in the cross fire. The witches came here to prove themselves to Kel, which means they were probably desperate to kidnap Callie, no matter the cost.”

My limbs trembled. “You did this to protect me?”

“Not just you.” Dina pressed her lips together. “All of us. I didn’t want any of our coven or our wolves to die either. Queen Kel’s witches would’ve used the unconscious wolves to get you, Bodey, and the royal advisors out there. I could see it on your faces after Queen Kel hung up, even though none of you realized your decision had been made. By sacrificing myself, I was protectingallof you. One life for, no telling how many.”

“No harm, no foul.” Jack tapped his free hand on the island. “Chelsea saved you, and the enemy died. We don’t have a problem.”

“Son.” Carl pursed his lips. “Life isn’t usually that cut and dried, especially when witch magic is involved.”

Dan pulled out one of the barstools and sat. “It’s all about balance, and Dina thought she would die. So, is something going to bite us in the ass now?”

“No, it won’t,” Dina said. She removed my hand from hers and stood, moving to the front side of the house, opposite the deck. She stared out the window before turning to stare at each of us. “The moon and earth goddesses decided on another fate in lieu of my death.” She wrapped her arms around her waist, holding herself.

I climbed back to my feet, holding my breath. Whatever they’d decided seemed as if it might be worse than death.

“Which was?” Bodey murmured gently, going still as stone.

Her bottom lip quivered, and just when I thought she wouldn’t answer, she did. “My magic.” Her chest heaved as she tried to hold back a sob. “It’s gone.” A tear trickled down her cheek.

My brain short-circuited. Out of every possible scenario, that wasn’t one I’d expected. A witch losing their magic would be like me losing my wolf.

An integral part of myself.

Even when I’d been closed off to my wolf, she’d had influence over me, and I couldn’t fathom living without her. The only thing worse would be losing Bodey.

“Dina, I’msosorry.” I wished there was something more I could do than say those futile words.

Bodey rubbed his hands together as he moved closer, the mate bond drawing him to me because of the heartbreak I felt for our friend. He rasped, “There has to be a way to get your magic back. If the moon and earth goddesses saved you, maybe—”

“They won’t give it back.” Dina wiped the tears from her cheeks. “The only reason I’m alive is because I performed the spell to save my coven and your pack. The goddesses told me that before they allowed Chelsea to bring me back. Still, that sort of spell can’t go unpunished, and the cost was my magic. I’ll never get it back.”

My throat tightened. We’d ended Kel’s attack and struck the enemy dead, but Dina had lost her magic as a result. She’d been the strongest witch in this coven and this region, and she was the royal priestess assigned to protect the marked king and queen.

Even when we beat Kel, shestillwon.Our resources were weakening, and I had no fucking idea how Bodey and I would make it out of this alive and together.

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