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“Sure, why not?” Wynter echoed.
Delilah waved a hand at herself. “I’d forever be frozen in this beautiful, wrinkle-free form. I’d heal faster, have enhanced strength and speed, and could only be killed by someone strong enough to take me down. I’m not seeing any negatives here.”
Stunned, Wynter looked from person to person. “I don’t . . . You’ll just . . . Really? You’d really want immortality?”
Anabel heaved a sigh. “You’re making this more complicated than it needs to be, but I think I get why. Many of your decisions are influenced by Kali, She has a very tight hold on you, and it makes you feel mightily restricted at times. Like you can’t be your own person. Cain’s asking for a deeper level of control over you, and it unnerves you some even though you trust him. Am I right?”
Sighing, Wynter gave a curt nod. “Yes.”
“Okay, let’s filter out all the bullshit in your head by summing the situation up,” said Anabel. “You have two choices. Remain mortal, grow old, keep partial rights to your soul but eventually lose Cain, who’ll then later find someone else.”
Wynter’s chest went painfully tight at the mere thought of that.
“Or you could choose to live forever, get to enjoy the perks of immortality, and remain his consort indefinitely.” Anabel tilted her head. “Which would you prefer?”
It should go without saying, but it apparently didn’t. “The latter obviously, but—”
“Is the ownership of your soul really more important to you than he is?”
“No.”
“Then you know what you have to do.”
It really was that simple, wasn’t it? Wynter either wanted to stay with Cain permanently, or she didn’t. The price was hefty, but—
Just then, the back door hinges squealed as it swung open.
A book in hand, Hattie made a show of awkwardly shuffling into the house, a self-deprecating smile directed at someone outside. “Oh, these old bones of mine need oiling.” The moment she was inside the kitchen with the door closed behind her, she walked normally to the table and took a seat.
Delilah shook her head at the woman, a smile plucking at her mouth. “You’re diabolical.”
Hattie smiled. “Why, thank you, darlin’. That’s always nice to hear.”
Xavier slanted his head as he stared at Hattie. “I don’t suppose you’d give up your mortality, would you?”
“My mortality?” Hattie repeated.
“Cain wants to make Wynter immortal,” began Xavier, “but she’d have to give him full ownership of her soul in exchange.”
Hattie raised her shoulders. “So?”
Wynter frowned. “So it’s a high price.”
“The best things in life usually require sacrifices,” said Hattie.
Xavier nodded. “Exactly. Me, Del, and Anabel were saying we wouldn’t mind making that same deal with Cain.”
Hattie set her book on the table. “I’d be on board.”
“You’d be ‘old and frail’ forever,” Delilah pointed out.
Hattie let out a low chuckle. “Dear, I’m going to hell for certain. If I can delay making that journey somehow, I’m all for it.”
On the one hand, Wynter was delighted that her coven wanted to give up their mortality right along with her. It would mean she didn’t have to watch them age and die; that she wouldn’t lose them. But on the other hand, it made her incredibly selfish, didn’t it? Because she knew exactly what would happen to their souls when they died. Cain could allow them to be reborn, of course, but whether he would or not she couldn’t be certain.
Anabel went rigid. “Oh God, what’s buzzing? Is it a wasp? Tell me it’s not a wasp.”
It was in fact a wasp, but it quickly zoomed upstairs.
