Page 23 of Claws for Celebration
"I'm protecting you from information overload," he corrected. "One revelation at a time, or you'll never be able to process any of it properly."
"And if I decide I can't handle any of it? If I choose to leave Hollow Oak and pretend none of this ever happened?"
The possibility sent sharp pain through his chest, but Lucien kept his expression neutral. "Then that's your choice to make. Though I suspect you'll find that running from your nature is more difficult than embracing it."
"Because the magic will follow me?"
"Because you'll always know that you left a part of yourself behind." He gestured toward the golden traces of protection magic that still shimmered faintly around her workspace. "This is who you are, Moira. The question isn't whether you have these abilities, but what you choose to do with them."
She looked down at her hands again, flexing her fingers as if testing whether they felt different now that she understood what they were capable of. "The Shadowheart Codex. It's been teaching me, hasn't it? Preparing me for this conversation."
"Ancient magic recognizes its own bloodline. The grimoire has been waiting for someone with your heritage to claim it for over a century."
"Claim it," she repeated. "As in permanent ownership? Staying in Hollow Oak to fulfill some kind of hereditary obligation?"
"As in making an informed choice about your future based on complete understanding of your options." Lucien kept his voice carefully neutral despite his panther's desperate desire to convince her to stay. "No one will force you to remain here, but you deserve to know what you'd be walking away from."
As afternoon light shifted through the bookstore windows, casting new shadows across Moira's face, Lucien found himself studying the subtle changes in her demeanor. The scholar's curiosity was winning over the frightened human's desire to flee, but he could see the internal struggle playing out in her expressive brown eyes.
Whatever she decided, he realized with crystal clarity, she needed to make that choice with full knowledge of what was at stake. The magical incidents would only continue to escalate, and without proper guidance, her awakening power could become dangerous to both herself and the community she was unconsciously protecting.
Soon, very soon, he would have to trust her with the complete truth about Hollow Oak's supernatural nature. His own shifter identity would have to be revealed, along with the Council's expectations and the growing threats that her magical awakening was attracting.
For now, though, watching her process the reality of her witch heritage with the same methodical intelligence she brought to historical research, Lucien found himself hoping that when the time came for full revelation, Moira's courage would prove as strong as her curiosity.
14
MOIRA
Lucien's revelations felt heavy with possibility and terror in equal measure. Moira stared at her hands, flexing her fingers as if they belonged to someone else entirely. Magic. Actual magic flowing through her veins like some kind of supernatural inheritance she'd never known existed.
"I need a minute," she said quietly, rising from her chair with movements that felt disconnected from conscious thought. "I need to process this."
As she spoke, three candles on the windowsill sparked to life without any intervention from matches or lighters. The flames burned steady and bright, casting warm golden light across the late afternoon shadows that had been gathering in the bookstore.
Moira froze, staring at the candles. "Did I just do that?"
"Yes," Lucien said gently, his voice patient of someone accustomed to helping others navigate impossible discoveries. "Emotional responses often trigger unconscious magic in newly awakened practitioners."
"Newly awakened," she repeated, the clinical terminology helping her analytical mind find purchase in the chaos. "So this is... normal? For people like me?"
"It's normal for people discovering their heritage in environments where that heritage can express itself safely." Lucien remained seated, his presence steady and calming despite the supernatural upheaval surrounding them. "Hollow Oak's magical atmosphere makes it easier for dormant abilities to manifest."
As if responding to their conversation, her notebook flipped open on the table, revealing pages covered with symbols she didn't remember drawing. Protective sigils in golden ink that seemed to pulse with their own inner light, ward-work that looked ancient and powerful despite being created by her unconscious mind.
"I drew these," she said, though it felt more like a question than a statement.
"Your blood magic recognizes patterns passed down through generations. The knowledge was always there, waiting for the right circumstances to emerge."
Moira approached her notebook cautiously, as if the symbols might leap from the page and attack her. Instead, they seemed to welcome her attention, glowing brighter when she leaned closer. "They're protection spells, aren't they?"
"Among the most sophisticated I've ever seen," Lucien confirmed. "Your instincts are remarkable."
"My instincts. A week ago, my biggest instinct was knowing when the library's coffee was fresh. Now apparently I'm unconsciously weaving magical defenses around your bookstore."
"Not just my bookstore. The entire downtown area." Lucien's tone carried something that might have been pride."Your protective instincts extend far beyond what most newly awakened witches can manage."
The word 'witch' hit her, even though she'd been circling around it for days. Hearing it stated so matter-of-factly made the reality impossible to deny any longer.
