Page 72 of Captivating Magic

“This is the Tyet,” Isis said, holding the necklace up and shifting to face Laszlo. “I’ve engraved the surface with the ankh. Together, they will provide protection and life to the wearer.” She looped it over his neck. “Your mate will keep its match on her person at all times.”

His gaze locked with Ebba’s. “Mate. You’ve said that before, Exalted One. What does that mean?”

“I believe you know, Beloved.” Her tone shifted, deepening as she said, “You need onlyremember.”

Frowning, he pressed his fingers to his temples and swayed seconds before his eyes rolled back in his head. As his knees crumpled beneath him, Isis was prepared with a golden staff and waved it in his direction, suspending his body in midair.

“He was always going to be a problem,” Isis said without concern. “Now, let me truly explain. Death needs two souls to reap today. Spencer’s and yours.”

The sick feeling lingering in the pit of Ebba’s stomach grew exponentially.

“However, there’s a third in the mix. Kyrella.”

“Who—”

“Me,”the wolf said.

“Oh.” Ebba nodded. “Gotcha.”

“By merging the souls and removing the impurest parts to combine and create another, Divina will have the two needed to maintain the balance,” Castor concluded with an admiring grin. “Brilliant, really.”

“Thank you,” Isis said without a hint of pride or vanity. “The trade-off is the shift every month.”

“Why does it sound so ominous?” Ebba shared a wary glance with Kyrella.

“It’s painful,” Damian said. “Your bones will break and reform into that of a wolf. Your consciousness will disappear, and the animal will take over for three full days until the moon wanes.”

“Is she vulnerable to danger?” Ebba asked, unconcerned for herself but fearful another car might strike Kyrella while on a nightly run.

“That’s up to you and Laszlo,” Isis said.

“You may use my estate during that time,” Damian offered.

“And I’m certain Alastair will offer his or the woods behind Thorne Manor, in Tennessee,” Castor added with a supportive smile.

“But she’ll be okay?” Ebba asked.

“Yes,” Isis assured her. “While human, the amulet is simply a necklace designed to protect you. When you transition into Kyrella, the stone will burn through her fur and become one with her skin. It serves as a shield of sorts.”

“Burn?”Ebba’s fingers tightened in Kyrella’s fur. “No! She’s suffered enough!”

“She won’t feel it, child.Youwill. The broken bones and seared flesh are your penance for taking her life and prolonging your own.”

Nausea churned in her gut until she thought she might vomit. But ghosts didn’t puke, did they? Still, she felt weak and plopped on the ground to lean into the wolf’s strong shoulder.

“Are you okay with this, Kyrella?” she asked in a low voice. “Tell me if you aren’t, and I’ll go with Death. You can live the rest of your life.”

The wolf’s golden eyes glistened with something akin to compassion and love as they met hers.

“Yes. We will be joined. True soulmates.”

“You’re too generous.”

“No, friend. You are, and it makes you the perfect human to bind souls with.”

“If, at any time, you change your mind?—”

“I won’t. My mate is dead. You deserve to experience the type of love we did.”Kyrella nuzzled Ebba’s face.“Maroke would say the same if he were here.”

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