Page 25 of Captive Witch

“I…” She glances between me and my wolf, her eyes trailing to the mountains, then the field of flowers. Her face softens when she brings her gaze back to me. “Okay… I’ll help our pack however I can.”

This will be draining for her,my wolf says, speaking only to me.

She’ll be fine,I say back to him.She’s strong. She can do this.

He scoffs.In that case…

The world spins around me, and I’m thrown back into my body, sitting in the grass in my back yard. Adara’s eyes are closed, her face relaxed.

That bastard kept her in his inner world without me.

Chapter eleven

Adara

I scream when Gideon is torn from my arms, stumbling forward through the water. “Gideon!”

His wolf chuckles, the deep sound sending goosebumps along my arms.Gideon is fine. He’s returned to your world.

“He’s gone? But… You sent him back, but why?” I look around his wolf’s territory where I stand. Alone. Without him. “Why send him back but not me?”

Because, dear girl, we need to talk.He stands, walking across the sand in the direction of the field.

I push my way through the warm black water to reach the shore. Everything here is so… dark. The dark mountains, the sand, even the water looks like black glass reflecting the burnt orange sky above us. The only source of warmth comes from the flowers—all whites and yellows with the brightest green stems I’ve ever seen. The black wolf before me is much larger than my own, and his eyes are two pure silver pools. They feel cold, sending a chill down my spine, but at the same, I know he won’t hurt me.

Have you ever seen these flowers?he asks, staring into the sea of petals before us. His voice is almost sad, and it reminds me of what Gideon said when I’d asked about his inner world. He’s only been here twice—the first time was after his wife and daughter were murdered.

“Asphodels.” I reach out, brushing over the petals of the white starburst, then the yellow flowers with large cups in their center. “And these are narcissus, right? The flowers of death andmourning… and the flowers of forgiveness.” I swallow past the lump in my throat, looking over at the mountains, their sharp black peaks piercing the sky.

The asphodels have been here since this world was created. Only a month ago, the narcissus started blooming.His silver eyes find me, piercing straight to my soul.A month ago, Gideon found something worth moving forward for.

“What are those mountains?” I whisper. I didn’t realize the wolf’s worlds could change, but maybe they do when something big happens. Something that changes us down to our core. Something like finding our mate. Or losing our family.

Obsidian mountains. They—

“Protect him,” I finish, grasping the necklace on my chest.

The wolf hums beside me.I gave him that crystal. Chipped it from the base of the nearest mountain.

My head snaps around to look at the wolf. “How is that possible? I didn’t realize that these worlds held anything… tangible.”

He laughs.Ah, says the witch to the werewolf.

My cheeks flame. I should’ve known wolf’s had their own sense of magic.

I think you’ve brought him more than strength, girl. You’ve brought him the hope of a second chance. Don’t let it slip between your fingers. Hold it tight—both of you—because hope can be a very dangerous thing to have when evil seeks to ruin you. But… without it, life wouldn’t be worth living.He dips his head and presses his nose to my palm.Just remember, magic comes with a cost. Sometimes it’s as simple as seeping your energy. Sometimes, it’s a greater cost than we’re willing to pay.

Blood rushes to my head as his words echo in my mind. I close my eyes, pressure building between my ears, and when I open them again, Gideon’s face is looking back at me.

“He was a jerk, wasn’t he?” he asks, one corner of his mouth quirked.

Rubbing my temple, I let out a shaky laugh. “No, not at all. Though, he’s quick to kick you out when he’s done talking. Not that that’s new.” My heart constricts in my chest, remembering the flowers and the mountains. “Why did your world change?”

“That’s what he showed you?” He shakes his head, moving to stand and pulling me to my feet.

I follow him inside, then pull him onto the couch. “Gideon…”

“It’s been the same every other time I’ve been there. This time, there were narcissus flowers in the field.” He shrugs. “It’s nothing, Adara.” He tries to stand, but I pull him down again.

---