Page 58 of The Rowan
The crowd gasps, and arguments break out as individuals take sides. Realizing the crowd is distracted, I glance at Astor. With a flash, he burns every drop of my blood.
As my blood burns in the bowl, my wrist burns, too. I look down in disbelief when the words “The Rowan” and a tree show up, tattooed onto my wrist. Lifting it up, I subtly show it to Theron. He frowns, studying it for a second, before blowing an icy wind to soothe the sting. He tucks my hand into the crook of his arm to hide the tattoo.
Suddenly glad that Caro invited the entire coven to my ceremony, I murmur to Theron I’m ready to leave. He signals to Valerian, who steps up on my left. Flanked by them both, I stuff the papers in my clutch and walk over to Caro.
“I can see you’re busy, so we’ll let ourselves out,” I announce. The crowd around her quiets. “But don’t worry, I’ll be in touch. If the witches are to recover our future, we need changes, starting at the top.”
She steps up to my face. “Over my dead body,” she spits out. “I’ve given everything to this coven. It’s mine.”
“I wouldn’t say that too loudly,” I reply, eyeing the angry red faces around her. “Have a good evening.”
35
ARDEN
Emerging from the portal, I stand staring at The Abbey in front of me. Instead of dark and forbidding, the sight of the dark grey brick evokes a feeling of warmth and safety, like home. Valerian touches my arm in inquiry, and I shake my head.
“It’s nothing. Just happy to be home,” I reassure him.
At the word home, he beams, then wraps his arms around me. “Home,” he repeats. “I like the sound of that word on your lips.”
Astor holds the door open. “Hurry,” he shouts. “I’m dying to know what’s in those papers.”
With a roll of my eyes, I slip out of Valerian’s arms and stroll through the door, where I find everyone waiting for me.
“Let’s head up to the VIP area. I could use a drink,” I say, heading to the staircase. Between the healing, transforming twice, and losing all that blood, I’m swaying lightly with exhaustion. Daire swings me into his arms and carries me up the stairs.
“Thank you,” I murmur.
After putting me down, he snags a bottle of Macallan and a few glasses. Pouring a healthy amount into each, he hands me one and takes one for himself. As the others arrive, everyone grabs a glass of whisky except for Solandis, who conjures up a glass of her favorite wine.
After taking a few sips, I pull the papers from my clutch and lay them on the table. There are three pieces of paper, but one feels newer than the others, so I start with that one.
I pull it from the pile, and stare at it. “It’s a letter…” I glance over to Solandis and continue, “from my mother.”
She inches forward on the sofa and clasps my hand tightly. “She didn’t say anything,” she says. “If you want to read it privately, we’ll understand.”
My thoughts race while I stare down at the letter. No more secrets. I straighten it out and start reading it aloud.
My darling Arden,
If you’re reading this letter, you’ve reached the first and most important step on the path to your destiny. You are the Rowan. I know you don’t understand what that means, yet. Unfortunately, it’s going to take time to unravel your future, but I’ll do my best to guide you without interfering in your destiny.
Gemma Perrone, our ancestor, lived during the time of the MacAllister massacre. She saw a disturbing future for all witches and decided to intervene, hoping she could change it. Her visions guided her to save a young MacAllister witch, the key to saving the seventh bloodline and the future of witches everywhere.
She convinced the witch to leave her family and travel far away, to hide herself and her bloodline from everyone around her. Through her, the MacAllister line would survive, and one day, from her line, would come the Rowan.
The MacAllister clan used to be the strongest witch family, the branch that grew from the trunk, and they believed their strength came from the mating of a witch and another non-human race. They often found their mate within the dragon clans. When the dragons turned on them, the other six families jumped at an opportunity to destroy the MacAllisters once and for all, setting the witches on the path to purifying their blood.
You, the Rowan, are the only witch from all seven bloodlines. With your blood, the keys to the past are unlocked, the tapestry and our original heritage revealed to all. If the witches are to survive, they must embrace their origins and seek other races to strengthen their family lines again. With you leading them, they will survive better than ever.
I bound your powers when you were younger to prevent your father’s family from finding you. Now that you’ve found your witch heritage, the binding is broken. Search for the MacAllister matriarch’s journals, and they will lead you to your other half, the home of your father. Once you are whole, your ultimate destiny will become clear.
Tell Solandis she did a remarkable job raising you and I miss her terribly. And whenyou see your father, tell him I don’t regret a thing. When you find your lovers and mates, you’ll know how I feel.
I love you, my darling.
Your mother, Gia Perrone
