Page 62 of Little Mate

I will one day see you again.

When the singing comes to an end, my siblings and I approach a hole in the ground with a plant beside it. Nature is a large part of our beliefs and way of life, and there is no better place to rest than to become one with what you cherish.

Our parents will rest here.

They will fertilize the ground where a large willow tree will grow, providing shade and a resting place for our coven members for generations to come. Kneeling on the ground, I find their tethers to this world, my fingers digging into the dirt, and slowly send them on their way. “Vale.”

No sooner has the word left my lips that the ever-present essence that’s been following me for months is gone. It hurts, but it’s the right thing to do, and my siblings join me on the ground.

Leo pours their combined ashes while Isa brings in the plant that will one day be large and beautiful, while I press in the dirt all around the base. We each pat it, making sure it stands firm, and then rise to face those attending.

Many faces hold tears, their emotions a mixture of grief and pride.

We will be okay.

And I truly believe that.

The next day is a little bit livelier. Everyone’s outside catching up when a familiar face waves me over. She’s standing next to Christopher, the last remaining Rossi, and a still-out-of-place Marcia. The younger female seems so lost, lonely, and I’ve vowed to bring her along as much as possible. She’s missing the guidance of a mother, and while I can’t fill those shoes, a sister is something I can offer. “I’ll be right back.”

“Everything okay?” Theo asks, his eyes shifting to the woman standing not far from us. “You know her?”

“I do. She’s a survivor of the Salicio Coven.”

“Survivor? I didn’t end them.”

“But someone made it seem as if you had.” An idea occurs to me then, and I grab his hand, tugging him with me. “Come. I feel as though we are missing something important here.”

Meera eyes Theodore as we come closer, fear and respect on her face. She also curtsies, which I find awkward and so antiquated. “Your majesties.”

“Please don’t. Not to me, Meera.”

“I’m sorry, but old habits are hard to break.”

“How so?” Theo asks, his arm over my shoulder while not so subtly tucking me into his side. Always touching me.

“My father would beat any woman that didn’t do so for the males in our coven. It was just another way to break us, make us submissive.” I wish he were alive just so I could kill him myself. “From children to the old, he didn’t care much for the females of his tribe. We were worth no more than the blood in our veins and produce more males. It’s why he killed the two children he adopted. Neither fit into his sick world.”

“What about the children we found in the hidden cavern? There were boys—”

“He found those to be defective. Weak.”

“Who killed him?”

A small tremor runs through Meera, fear flashing in her eyes, but I’m proud of the way she squares her shoulders back and breathes out her tension. It might take her a minute, but a sudden calmness fills her with enough strength to meet our eyes once again. “My father was feuding with the fae king for more territory, unhappy with the three-way agreement between the Salicios, Rossis, and Marianos. The latter of which killed them with the help of the fae and a traitors from your lands. They needed to make it seem as if it were vampires.”

Where is the Mariano widow and child? I thought they’d be here?

“How are you alive? How do you know it’s someone from my coven?”

“The cell I was kept inside of was deep beneath the ground, but everyone inside could still hear the outside world and many conversations were held there. It was part of the torture.” Meera exhales roughly and her hands shake, but Marcia takes one of them in hers for support. I appreciate that. I’m proud of her for stepping out of her shell a bit. “Help was so close, many times standing against the damn tree hiding the truth, but our pleas were never heard until…”

“Until what?”

“Only a powerful witch can sense that level of dark magic and break through its bind. Isa and Gabby are the reason so many are alive today; I owe her my life and…”

Another being steps into the clearing and in his hands are two males, both beaten and bleeding, but more important, is the way he’s watching Meera.

Tero drops the two bodies and slowly walks over, his warm pastel eyes filling with so much gratitude and love. He’s at Meera’s side in an instant and down on one knee, his head bowed in a submissive pose while his sister gasps. Marcia’s warm eyes, the color of her animal, become wet with tears and she smiles at me.

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