Page 57 of Beta Hybrid

Gaia places a strand of her hair around each of our wrists. ‘I do care for each of you. You, too, are my blood. I won’t stand against my sister, no matter how brutish she may be. But I will offer each of you some protection.’

As the hair is closed around my wrist, it glows, then reforms. Instead of a thin strand of hair, it looks like a copper bangle. I glance at the others, watching the same thing happen. ‘What will this do?’

‘It will offer some protection. Nature protects nature.’ Gaia chucks Divina’s chin. ‘Even dark nature.’ Gaia stands tall. ‘The elements, nature, the very core of the earth is bound to me. Now, a small piece of it is yours.’

I incline my head. ‘Thank you.’ I try to hide the bitterness in my voice. She could do so much more.

‘There’s something you should know,’ Gaia says slowly. ‘Drusilla is right to want us dead. In a self-preservation way, that is. Only a great wolf can defeat a child of blood, regardless of the spell which Divina used to bring us back.’

Before she can elaborate, Aldrich rolls his eyes. ‘So soft, sister. Protecting the babies.’

In my mind, Cai desperately wishes to give him a filthy gesture. I hold him back. Though I agree.

I stick my chin out. ‘And you? You’ve done nothing.’

Aldrich raises a brow, then looks at Gaia, who hides a smirk.

‘Very well.’ Aldrich purses his lips, contemplative. ‘Gaia and I are the two sides of nature. Of the same coin, we say. I like blood. Not like Dru. But the deeper, darker side of nature. The rage of a tsunami rising to devour a land, washing away the humans that plague it. The burning of fires, purifying land. One day, I will watch the earth slip underwater, and I will smile as it washes itself.’

My mouth drops open. ‘That’s dark.’

Gaia rolls her eyes.

‘Nevertheless,’ Aldrich says, ‘like your thorns, Zenna, nature can bite back. Hard.’ The Father of Fae takes a strand of snow white hair from his head, and—as the only child of his here—beckons me forward, alone. As he winds it around my wrist, it forms something like a silver bangle next to the copper one.

‘What does it do?’

Aldrich smirks. ‘It boosts your own fae power, Zenna.’ He brushes the vines on my arm. ‘Know this. Even Origins die. Everyone does. If you die in this battle, do not consider it a failure. Whatever happens, let nature take its course.’

I jerk back. ‘You think we’ll die?’ I glance at Cai. A great wolf. Like, an alpha?

Aldrich offers a sad smile. ‘I don’t know.’

I exhale. He cannot lie. I look to the others, who look as chilled as I feel. ‘I—I think we’ll go now. Thanks for these.’ I raise my wrist to show the bangles.

Gaia inclines her head gracefully. ‘I can send you home. Like I sent Divina to you.’

Cai raises a hand. ‘No. Could you send us to your brother?’

Gaia’s face darkens. ‘He has a temper on him. Worse, since we were revived. I do not recommend it.’

Cai glances at me, then Vale. ‘Would he kill us?’

Gaia shrugs. ‘Quite likely.’

‘We’re wolves.’

‘Only two of you are.’ Gaia glances at Reagan, still in wolf form, chasing a butterfly. ‘Well, two and a bit.’

Cai meets my gaze. I want her to send just me and Vale. Is that okay?

I blink. Are you really asking my permission?

Well… yeah. You’re my mate.

I glance at the Mother. If she agrees, yes. You can go. But be careful.

Gaia smiles. ‘You will not be able to maintain your bond link. You will not be able to communicate. But I will send the wolves.’

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