Page 80 of Chosen Destiny

“I need to go, but Dina can tell you the rest.” She smiled sadly. “There’s something she needs to inform you about.” With that, she headed off, leaving the five of us glancing at one another.

Something was up, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to know what.

However, putting off things always had a way of biting me in the ass, so I opened the door and prepared to face the problem head-on.

CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR

Forcingone foot in front of the other, I entered the den with Bodey at my side.

What do you think Chelsea meant?Jack linked.She could’ve been less cryptic, or maybe she shouldn’t have said a damn thing.

I heard awhack,and I guessed it was Lucas thumping Jack on the back of the head. Confirming my suspicion, Lucas grunted and linked,None of us know, and we’re dealing with witches. Cryptic is ingrained in their blood.

The corners of my lips tugged upward, easing some of the chill that had sunk into my bones thanks to the eerie situation. There was something comfortingly normal about Lucas and Jack bickering that grounded me.

Dina sat in the center of the couch with Michael and Phil at her sides. Carl and Dan stood between the back of the couch and the kitchen island, where Stevie was sliding a plate of scrambled eggs over to the men.

Dan reached for it just as Janet clucked her tongue and turned from her spot in front of the black stove. “Wait. She needs a fork.” She got one from the center drawer and placed the utensil on the plate. “There! Now give it to her.”

My stomach grumbled, but I wasn’t sure I should eat. The stench of ash, which I suspected was due to the missing witches, tied me in knots.

“I’m really not hungry.” Dina sighed as Dan obeyed and handed her the plate despite her protest.

She put the plate in her lap, her hand shaking. Between her skin not glowing like usual and her confident manner so subdued, she didn’t resemble the priestess I’d come to know.

Still, having her sitting up and talking was much better than how I’d left her on the lawn. I went to stand against the overhang of the fireplace in front of her and met her gaze.

I gestured to the plate. “Eating should make you feel better.”

Dina smiled sadly. “I’m not sure anything can do that.”

“You were lit up like the fucking Fourth of July.” Bodey gestured outside just as Miles shut the door. “I’m sure those lightning bolts shooting from your body will take time to heal from.”

The image flashed through my mind, and I shuddered. She’d protected all of us at a great cost to herself. I’d always known she took her role as priestess seriously, but I respected her twice as much after witnessing her willingness to sacrifice herself for everyone else. “Chelsea said you almost died.”

Jack strolled to Stevie and placed an arm around his mate’s waist.

“I did.” Dina took a bite of the eggs before placing the plate on the coffee table.

Not wanting to interrupt the conversation, I linked to Michael and Bodey,Where are the other mates?

Helping the packs calm down and settle in after the attack since Dina asked that the former advisors stay here until you got back. She and Chelsea were whispering before we heard all of you marching up.

A lump formed in my throat, making it hard to swallow. Dina wasn’t one for theatrics, so whatever was going on had to be big for her to want to tell us all at the same time.

Dina took a sip of her water and set the glass next to her plate before leaning back and inhaling. “Honestly, Chelsea shouldn’t have been able to save me, but the moon goddess blessed her wish. I almost wish she hadn’t.” She rubbed her arms and closed her eyes.

“What?” Bodey’s shock barreled through our bond, adding to my panic. “You can’t mean that. You couldn’t have really wanted to die.”

“You’re right.” Dina dropped her hands into her lap. “I didn’t want to die, but I also don’t want to live like this.”

Moving to the other spot beside me, Samuel tilted his head and examined the priestess. “Live like what?”

Chelsea’s words echoed in my head, so I asked, “Is it because you didn’t have a sacrifice for the spell?”

Dina flinched, and her face was strained.

“A sacrifice?” Stevie’s brow furrowed. “Like a rabbit or something?”

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