Page 59 of Dark Moon Secrets

“How about you tell me about these wolves who killed my parents.”

“I’ll tell you a little, then we need to focus on your initiation,” said Willow, leaning back in the chair.

“All of it.”

Willow shook her head.

“You know what I’m going to say, right, Tanjie?” interrupted Luna.

I groaned a little. Apparently, I was going to have to be satisfied with a bit of information.

“Promise,” I said to Willow.

“I promise.” She took the cup of fresh tea that Luna handed her and inhaled the scented steam.

Luna set the cup in front of me, and I hesitated. I wouldn’t put it past them to drug me if it meant they got out of telling me anything.

“The coven is important to all mystical creatures who live on Earth. Our coven manages those living in Australia and ensures they don’t step out of line and cause chaos.”

“How would they cause chaos?” I wrapped my hands around the mug, seeking warmth for comfort.

“You know, the usual.” Willow waved her hand casually, and her eyes widened when I didn’t respond.

“Of course, you don’t know. The coven ensures that vampires or wolves aren’t out turning humans into their kind.”

I hadn’t even known that was possible. “So I assume we keep all of this knowledge from humans.”

“That’s part of it too. Some sneaks out, things get messy, and there are a lot of memory-wiping spells to cast. Fortunately, that hasn’t happened in a long time.”

“What has happened…” started Luna as she gingerly sat down between us with her cup of tea, “… is that from time to time, the wolves or vampires, in particular, want to be in charge and challenge us.”

“You fight? And how do you keep this from humans?” I asked.

“Like I said, there can be a lot of memory-wiping spells to cast,” responded Willow before sipping her tea. “Perfect blend. Thanks, Luna.”

The argument between them appeared to have cooled, at least for now.

“Part of their challenge on the coven in the past has focused on our children, especially if they showed any promise. Our skills are fading with each generation, and your parents were both the most powerful of their generation, so… they had you.”

“Are you saying they were… forced to have me?” I could barely say the words.

“No,” said Willow, but at the same time Luna said yes.

I glanced between them, my mouth agape, trying to ascertain whether this was true. This was unnatural. This happened hundreds of years ago in royalty, where people were forced to marry to have kids of a particular bloodline. This didn’t happen today or to my parents.

“We owe her the truth as you have been reminding me,” said Luna.

“It’s true, the marriage was forced on them by the coven, but they did learn to tolerate each other and had you,” said Willow. “Only you.”

I thought back to all those times growing up pestering my parents for a sibling, but they laughed it off. There were the arguments behind closed doors, the whispers, and then they slept in different rooms, always under the excuse of Mom wanting to work at night. It made more sense now. Sort of.

“We had to be careful, and so the coven bound your magic when you were a baby, setting it to be released when you were eighteen—”

“I know,” I interrupted, not wanting to hear this again. “But what about the wolves?”

“I’ll get a book for you to read, but for now, we need to discuss your initiation.”

“I’m not doing it if I have to be naked,” the words rushed from my mouth without any thought.

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