Page 20 of The Rowan
Raising an eyebrow, I stare at her, then give her my best smile. “Of course, how silly of me. I look forward to our discussion later.”
“I’m so glad you understand. We appreciate you coming out and meeting us, and we’re looking forward to the placement ceremony. You should finish the testing in the next week or two, right?” She waits for me to nod. We approach the front door, and Henry silently appears in time to open it for us. “Well, you’ve seen most everything. Unfortunately, it’s late and the others have already left, but you can visit with them once you’re a member. Cassandra will be in touch for your little shopping trip. Bring your grimoire over soon. It’s important to understand your lineage before the placement ceremony. Have a good evening.”
With those words, she turns on her heels and leaves us with Henry. “The car is ready for you in the driveway, sir. Have a good evening,” he tells us.
I can barely contain my laughter as I glance at Lord Theron.
I guess they’re kicking us out.
Apparently, bringing a Fae lord to the witch meet and greet was a big no-no. I stroll out the door. “Ta-ta, Henry, I’ll see you soon,” I call out, waving my fingers at him.
Lord Theron helps me into the car. As soon as he looks at me, I bust out laughing.
“An enlightening evening. I’m guessing you knew my attendance would play havoc with Caro’s agenda?” he muses while pushing the button to start the car.
I did. And yet, I hadn’t expected him to tell Caro I was under his protection, to draw a line in the sand. I mentally trace each of his perfectly symmetrical features, wondering why he is so willing to help me. “It’s time I brought you up to speed with what I know,” I tell him, my face serious. “And I apologize for my deception. Coming to you was not my choice, but letting you believe the task would be simple was my decision. I didn’t know if I could trust you, and with my life and others at stake, I needed to be sure. If you hear my story and feel it’s too much, I can ask Solandis to consider your life debt paid in full.”
He stares intently for a minute, reading my face. When convinced of my sincerity, he puts the car in drive and takes off. “Tell me,” he demands.
“I guess the best place to start would be the beginning. My mother was Gia Perrone, the second most powerful witch seer in history.” I pause, breathless for a few seconds. I’ve never said those words to anyone. Solandis knew my mother but forbid me to tell anyone.
“Before I was born, Solandis and my mother met at a Fae ball. In fact, my mother specifically attended to meet Solandis. She’d seen the Princess of the Light Fae’s mate in a vision and felt compelled to tell her. Solandis didn’t believe her, especially since my mother saw a demon lord in her future and not the Fae Solandis loved at the time. But when Solandis met her mate, Vargas, she realized my mother’s vision was accurate. They became fast friends.”
Lord Theron pulls into an overlook and parks. When the car lights go off, the night sky surrounds us, sparkling and clear, while the city shines in the distance. “I always wondered how the Princess of the Light Fae could love a demon lord. I didn’t realize they were mates,” he remarks quietly. He turns towards me, closing the distance between us in the car.
“Mmm…and they’re so in love, it’s disgusting and beautiful,” I confirm with a laugh, before continuing my story. “Solandis and my mother stayed in touch over the years. One night, my mother appeared on Solandis’ doorstep, pregnant and alone, asking for her help. She needed somewhere safe to hide, where she could have her baby. They created a pocket dimension around Solandis’ home, moved it to the edge of the Wilds, and hid from the world. My mother lived there with Solandis and Vargas until she had me.” I tell the story as Solandis told it to me, but I can’t help but imagine being pregnant and fearing for the safety of my child.
“After I was born, my mother’s visions became more frequent. She wrote some of them down for Solandis, but others she kept to herself, for fear of influencing the future and my destiny too much. For the next few weeks, she gave Solandis many instructions. The biggest one? I must live in the bubble they created. While I could visit the land of the Fae or the Underworld, I was to avoid the human world and witches until the third Killian blade appeared.” My voice is tight as I explain, the years of isolation having taken their toll. I look at him. “She even instructed Solandis to save your life.”
He stares out into the night, a contemplative expression on his face. “Solandis told me your mother was the reason she and Vargas stepped in to save my life.”
I nod. “When the second Killian blade appeared to Solandis, it was a sign. She said it appeared the night you met?” I ask, waiting for him to confirm.
“The assassin who came for me had a Killian blade,” he admits. “I’d met Solandis earlier that evening.”
Nodding, I continue, “In my mother’s visions, the Killian blades appear three times. Each time, they serve as a signal for Solandis to follow the corresponding instructions my mother gave to her. When she saved your life, it was the second time a Killian blade appeared. Right before I arrived here, assassins entered our home and the third Killian blade made its appearance. I left and came to you the next day.”
He taps his fingers lightly on my arm while he thinks, and I smile. He probably doesn’t even realize he’s doing it.
“What about the first time the blade appeared?” he asks, shifting the attention back to the story.
“According to Solandis, my mother left their home to find my father. She hadn’t heard from him in a few months, but they’d set up a time and place to meet in case anything happened. We don’t know what happened when she got there, but a few days later, Solandis found her dead, the first Killian blade buried in her chest,” I say, my voice hoarse as I explain.
He seems puzzled. “A Killian blade is overkill for a human witch. And your father?”
“He wasn’t there. I don’t know who my father is, where he lives, or anything about him,” I explain sadly and continue, “my mother never told Solandis much about my father, except he was an immortal and if his family found me, they’d kill me. To prevent me from finding my father before it was time, she bound the powers I inherited from him. Once I claim my witch heritage, the binding is supposed to fade and give me a clue to my other half.”
“I’m sorry to hear about your mom,” he says sincerely.
“Thank you. It’s strange, though. My mother gave birth to me, obviously loved me very much, even sacrificed her life to keep me safe. And I’m grateful. But the best gift she gave me was Solandis. I don’t feel like I ever missed having a mother,” I explain, and my voice cracks slightly. I miss Solandis. This is the first time I’ve ever been away from her.
“That’s understandable. Tonight must have felt strange, walking into an unfamiliar heritage. You’ve always known you were a witch, right?” He waits for my nod, then continues, “You know your mother’s last name. Why didn’t you tell them?”
“My mother forced Solandis to hide me from the witches. She brought in a couple of tutors, but they never knew my name. Why?” I muse. “Until I’ve figured out the reason, I’m keeping them in the dark. It’s weird and sad. I felt so isolated from everyone growing up, especially when we would visit the Fae and I saw their sense of community and belonging. A coven is something I dreamed of my entire life. A place where I could learn and make friends with others like me. But I felt nothing tonight. Honestly, after meeting Caro and the others, I’m glad I haven’t given them any information. The air in Witchwood is heavy with layers of intrigue and undercurrents. The coven feels like a one woman show, where Caro seems to have all the power and the others serve as props for her agenda instead of the coven’s benefit. Instead of this grand world, it felt small and petty.”
He hesitatingly explains, “You’re unlike most witches I’ve met. They seem to have a superiority complex which exceeds most of their talents. And yet, their numbers are dwindling. About a thousand years ago, with the exception of the demons and Fae, witches outnumbered most supernatural races. They used their power to gain riches and wealth, sometimes at the expense of others, and many races feared them. Unfortunately, their exclusivity became their downfall. The bloodlines became diluted, with fewer witches born every year. They must be salivating at finding a new witch. I’m sure it’s why they wanted to test you right away. Maybe you can add new powers to the coven.” He pauses in thought. “It might also be the reason behind the assassination attempts.”
“Maybe? I don’t know. Merindah gave me a book on witch heritage. I’m about halfway through it, but I’ve spotted nothing unusual. Of course, I don’t know enough about witches to spot anything irregular yet, but it’s an interesting book. Caro’s family is one of the original founding families. No wonder she’s so smug…and powerful,” I concede.
