Page 30 of Fire Touched

The Water wolves will have to leave without their alpha, and we will ask them to go home. Though there’s been much deliberation on Julian and what his fate is to be, none of us has yet agreed. Kill him. Banish him. Release him. So, he’s stayed in his cell, kept quiet and out of the way, and though Carter and I never spoke it, there’s been a silent agreement between us since his uncle wrapped his hands around his throat not to go down there again. It’s not worth it.

The water around me bends and moves. It seems I’ve come into the power well. All those years I was left in the dark about it, I wish I knew.

I wade out of the river, dripping wet, then twist every molecule of water out of my hair and clothes, off my skin, and set it back within the river. A handy trick I’ve come to adore. So much faster to dry my hair, too.

Though skilled Water wolves can manipulate water in much more advanced ways, I’ve never had a teacher, and a Water wolf couldn’t instruct me, anyway, for I am half Tide Witch, and though they are similar, our powers differ in ways I am still coming to understand.

The peace I feel when I use my Tide magic often leads me to resent my fire power, and the trigger it comes with. If I were a pure Fire wolf, I’d have learned that power when I was little, and it would be like breathing, instead of drowning in molten anger.

Sitting on the riverbank, lost in thought, I barely notice as the sun melts along the horizon, painting the sky in fiery hues of red and orange.

I stare down at the body of water, watching the lights and colours play together. With my power, I send ripples through the surface, watching it distort into shades of blood. A glimpse of a potential future tomorrow.

If I cannot distract the Water wolves, and they die, Carter will be devastated. Even though he has been treated poorly by his uncle, it’s still his pack. His people. I wonder if his girlfriend—ex-girlfriend—Courtney will be here tomorrow. Since she beat the hell out of me, I wouldn’t mind dropping a wave on her.

As worry fills me, I soon notice it’s dark, and that I’m hungry. My mind in a daze, I gather some fruit from a basket in the courtyard rather than heading into the main kitchen. I don’t feel like being around anyone. There’s a gnawing worry in my belly that I will disappoint everyone tomorrow. My powers have never been accurate or reliable. What if I mess up?

Munching quietly on an apple, I curl up on one of the soft outdoor chairs and nestle up, under a blanket, to watch the stars burst into the dark sky.

At some point, I must have fallen asleep, because I start awake, getting quickly to my feet. Someone is calling to me.

My bare feet move, taking me where I need to go. To the water.

It’s very important I get to the river.

One foot in front of the other, I move quickly to the riverbank and stare down at the shimmering, dark surface. My sisters. My mother. My coven. They’re calling me. I step forward, one foot in the river. They’re calling me. Slowly, I wade in, up to my neck.

They’re calling me.

I plunge beneath the surface, answering their call.

Chapter Fifteen

Killian

I’m still getting used to this place. It’s so much… softer. Grassier. Than Cinder. Friendlier. Glancing between Verron and Prescott as the news settles over them, I marvel at how different the two men are.

Verron, the alpha, clenches his jaw, green eyes wide and worried.

Prescott inhales and nods. He sets a hand on his son’s shoulder. ‘Thank you for bringing us this news right away.’ He’s calm. Clearly worried, but not vein-thrumming-in-his temple worried. More often than not, I think Prescott would be a better alpha.

‘What do we do?’ Moira says. ‘I wish there was something I could do.’

‘There is,’ Prescott offers. ‘Katherine and Carter will be at the front. If we place too many wolves there, that’s all they will see. It will be a confrontation. You three will be just outside the guesthouse, ready to join, if necessary. Ella, as a Water wolf, should remain out of sight, if possible. I worry if they see one of theirs, they’ll assume she’s a captive and charge through.’ Prescott glances at his alpha, who nods for him to continue. ‘Our Earth wolves will keep to the shadows. We’re good at blending in around here.’

Moira nods, though her hands are clasped together tightly. ‘So, either they’ll notice Katie’s wave and stop, and Carter will talk them down… or a lot of people are about to die? Those are the options?’

Prescott pales. ‘Unless you have any suggestions, I’m afraid so.’ His brows draw together. ‘I do not want any wolves, from any pack, to be harmed.’

Elijah rubs his hands together. ‘We’ve all been practicing.’ He glances at me. He has a mean roundhouse kick, and throws some pretty terrifying earthquakes. ‘If need be, we’ll fight back.’

I don’t miss the doubt in his father’s eyes, but Prescott smiles at his son. ‘Good kid.’

‘Any word back from my father yet?’ I ask.

Verron’s moustache does an angry wobble. ‘No. I warned you your father was a stubborn old goat.’

The first few times he called my father a goat, I bristled, but I’m starting to realise how true it is. I run a hand through my hair. ‘I hate this. All of it.’ I can’t believe the only plan we have rests on my mate and Carter’s ability to talk down his whole pack. It’s not going to happen, I can feel it. They think they can do this together, but, as much as I hate to think it, I don’t believe so.

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