Page 56 of Beta Hybrid

‘Because I can’t let her keep hurting people. Her hunger will only grow, you know that. And because she told me herself, she doesn’t want the competition of you two and Alaric. For all you know, she could be here soon to kill you.’

Gaia frowns, the first sign of true anger. ‘The little leech can try.’

‘Mother, please,’ Divina says. ‘They’re right. She’s a problem. One we can’t deal with alone.’

Gaia’s gaze slides to her brother. ‘What say you, Aldrich?’

Chapter Twenty-Four

Zenna

All my life, I have wondered where I come from. My ancestors, I knew, were witch and fae, but little else. I’ve wondered where my love of reading comes from. Where my drive to find answers was born. I’ve so often wished for my birth parents, someone connected to me by blood and history to casually say something like, ‘You have your father’s humour,’ or ‘You look just like your mother.’ Having now seen my parents and met them, there’s little I search for in the Mother of Witches. I watch her, admiring her calm grace, but see nothing of myself there. Believe me, I’m not graceful.

Knowing that my mother is as unique as I am—a hybrid in her own right, also half witch, half fae—and knowing I look like a perfect match to both my mother and father is enough. There’s plenty more I will always want to know. About my grandparents. If my parents ever considered leaving the Hunt to come for me, if they even could do that. If they ever marked my birthdays, or felt it when I was rejected. A million things that cannot go unasked.

But I have enough. For now.

Given that we are here to ask for help in a brewing war, a strange sense of peace comes over me, easing the cracks within my heart.

I wish my parents were here with me now. I wonder if they’re thinking of me, even though I left them only an hour ago. I wonder if they’ve always thought of me with regret or longing.

I glance at Cai. My mate. Something settles into place. I have more now than I imagined I would.

He reaches out and takes my hand, then turns to the Origins. ‘We need your help.’

Gaia turns her face up into the breeze, letting it caress her long hair. A look of distain passes over her smooth, pale face. ‘A long time ago, I met a man. A lovely, kind, young man. He was a witch. Very sweet, talented. An amazing lover.’ Aldrich makes a face. ‘And I invited our dear sister over for supper. She was a wild thing. Always.’ Her gaze grows distant. ‘I loved that witch for a decade. Then my sister came. And butchered him.’

I inhale sharply. I should have expected that. ‘That’s awful. I’m sorry.’

Gaia doesn’t look at me. ‘He’d done nothing to her. Nothing at all. She simply smiled and said she thought he was for supper.’ She swallows, clearly still pained by this loss. ‘Little brat. I wrapped her around a tree and let her starve, nearly going out of her mind for months. ‘Course, a mad sister would have made matters worse, so eventually I fed and released her.’ Gaia’s nose crinkles. ‘She was always doing things like that.’ Her eyes darken. ‘I should have known better.’

Aldrich approaches his sister and sets a hand on her shoulder. ‘I’m sorry, Gaia. I remember him. Drusilla was—is—a dangerous, petulant little beast. Bloodthirsty. But she is our sister.’

Gaia sniffs. ‘Alaric and she would tussle. Oh, would they ever.’

Cai nods. ‘Werewolves and vampires—they’ve always fought.’

Aldrich gives a wry smile. ‘Bred into the blood from those two.’

‘You’re saying that Drusilla killed your lover, and you won’t lift a hand to stop her?’ Jana snaps.

Gaia looks down at her through long lashes. ‘Mind your tone, little witch. And no, I will not. Pain as she may be, her power, her status is to be respected. She has done me no ill will since being revived. I should like it to stay that way, so I plan to keep to myself. And not invite her to any suppers. That is all.’

‘I’m afraid I agree with my sister,’ the Father of Fae says. An apologetic shrug. ‘Sometimes you hate your family, but they remain so.’

Vale growls, low in his throat. ‘Fine. Let’s go.’

Anger roils down the bond from Cai. We have to get Alaric on board. He’s our only chance.

I shake my head and step forward. ‘You don’t care about us?’ I beseech, looking between them. ‘What she’s done to us? If we die?’

The Origins glance at each other. ‘Everyone dies, sweet halfling,’ Gaia says, almost softly. ‘You will return to the earth when you do, feeding nature.’ The Mother takes a few, slow steps forward. ‘I know this must be… difficult for you. If your mother or father did some evil, would you want them dead?’

I open my mouth, to say yes. Then close it. ‘I can’t—’

Gaia nods. ‘Precisely. Family is family. No matter the blood on their hands.’ She looks between us. ‘I am sorry.’ She turns and tugs a strand of her hair, plucking it from her head, then two more. ‘My daughters, come.’

I glance around. Jana, Divina and I step forward.

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