Page 43 of Beta Hybrid

‘Yes, it is, young wolf.’ Aldrich’s gaze lands on me. His eyes are green and bright as grass. ‘Faeries cannot tell lies.’

I blink. Of course. I glare at Andrea. ‘But you evaded most of my questions.’

‘We can do that,’ Aldrich says, almost apologetically. ‘But I will answer you, Zenna. Focus on me for the moment, if you please. Your mother isn’t going anywhere. I know you want to know why I called you here. It’s very simple. Your wolf’—he inclines his head to Cai—‘is not wrong to think a war may come between my siblings and myself. However, I have no intention of causing bloodshed. I don’t do that anymore,’ he adds.

I decide not to ask about that. ‘So, what do you want?’

‘What I want is to live here. Peacefully. Left alone.’

Cai frowns. ‘What about Drusilla?’

‘What about her?’

‘She wants destruction,’ Cai says. ‘She wants to kill you and the others. To be the only one left.’

Aldrich sighs. ‘My sister has always hungered for blood, that’s true. In a past life, so did I. If she finds herself on a path of destruction and attempts to kill me, I assure you, she will fail.’

‘How can you be so sure? Just because you believe something, doesn’t make it true,’ I say.

Aldrich smiles. ‘Clever. Yes, you’re right. Though, I am confident. While I may wish to live in peace, do you understand the power of our kind, young one?’ I shake my head. ‘No,’ he glances at my mother. ‘I suppose you couldn’t. Well, the power of me and my descendants is thus: we own the earth. That is, in a deeper, more primal way than my sister, Gaia. She is witching, yes. We are the heat and blood of the core of the earth. Whenever we are mistreated, we lash out, seeking blood of retribution.’ Those grass green eyes meet mine. ‘Tell me, young one. When you’ve believed yourself in danger, have you not wanted to pierce flesh in return?’ His eyes slide to my ears, the vines up my forearms.

‘I have.’ I hadn’t thought of it like that.

‘So, you’re saying, Drusilla can’t attack you?’ Cai presses.

‘Not without every inch of nature, the earth, and the heat and hunger of the core of the world fighting back, no.’ Aldrich looks a tiny bit smug. If that’s true, he should.

‘Then help us,’ Cai says.

The Origin shakes his head, smiling gently. ‘I won’t. I’m sorry. I won’t seek bloodshed again. I’ve been given a second chance, being raised. I intend to use it wisely.’

‘And letting Drusilla run wild, killing innocents, seems wise to you?’ I snap.

Aldrich smiles again. ‘I do appreciate your candour, little one, but yes. It does. It is better to prevent a war than to fight one. Don’t you think?’

‘We don’t know how to prevent it!’ My hands ball into fists in my lap. This is getting us nowhere.

‘Zenna,’ Andrea hisses.

I shoot daggers at her with my eyes.

Aldrich clears his throat. ‘I understand the tension, but please keep your tempers at bay, ladies. Now, Zenna. As much as I enjoy my serenity, have you considered how I and my siblings were brought back? We were dead, after all.’

I frown. ‘I don’t know. I wasn’t there.’

‘Think on it.’ He sounds like a teacher, encouraging me to find an answer he seems to think I already have.

‘It was a spell,’ Aldrich says.

A long time ago, I would have known that. Before my life was turned upside down again and again, it would have been obvious. Now, it’s hard to know which way is up.

‘Necromancy,’ he clarifies. ‘And who can perform such a thing?’ Aldrich says, leading me, like holding a child’s hand.

‘Only…’ My head whips to face Cai. ‘A Dark Witch.’

Aldrich hums thoughtfully. ‘Indeed. I do believe there is a way to reverse such a spell. Two ways, actually.’

It’s the basic law of witching. ‘A life for a life. To reverse it, you and the other Origins would be dead. Again.’

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