Page 56 of Curse of Ancients

Juni shoved it in his mouth, juice rolling down his chin. It did no good to wipe him off until he finished eating. It was a good thing the boy liked bath time.

Silas stuck his head in the door just as an alarm went off on Carleigh’s phone. “Incoming.”

Carleigh checked the app. “It’s the Goyles.”

Dominic and Julian were headed to the compound with several of their Clan to take out the remaining mages. The two males rose from the table. Dominic pulled Lilly to her feet and bent her backwards, kissing her without caring who was watching. When Julian held out his hand to Kat, she sighed heavily but allowed him to tug her out of her chair. His kiss was much gentler as he framed her face in his hands. He whispered words of adoration to her and promised he would be safe. Dominic hugged his daughters, ruffled Juni’s hair, then set his large hand on Bayu’s shoulder.

“You are in the best hands, Bayu. Do not be troubled.”

Bayu inclined his head. “I trust them.”

Julian made the rounds, saying goodbye to his daughters, Juni, Gemi, and then Bayu. He instructed Silas to watch over his family.

Silas fisted his heart and vowed, “With my life.”

With the elder males gone and breakfast finished, everyone jumped in to help clean the dishes. The witches wanted to mix the ingredients in the kitchen, stating it had the best light. Kat, Juniper, and Gemi were on Juni duty. Promising the cub another day in the pool got him outside without a fuss.

The twins set out the ingredients they had brought from their shop, and Nekoma added something he called foondue and auderberry sap. Solara, being the twin who worked with potions most often, gathered them together and placed the list from the mages’ journal beside them.

“Since we are doing white magic, Luna and I will invoke our own goddess. We have rewritten the spell to strengthen it with good magic. The intention is the same. I will mix everything together, and as we get to the end of the spell, I will add a drop of your blood. Any questions?”

Bayu’s body shook in anger. “Are you telling me my sister was killed when they could have taken a small sample of blood from her?”

Carleigh wrapped her arms around him from behind. He didn’t want her comfort. He wanted the heads of every fucking Black Lotus mage severed from their bodies and burned with the hottest flame imaginable.

Solara placed her hands on her chest. “I’m so sorry.”

Lilly stepped closer and touched Bayu’s cheek. Her magic seeped into his mind, calming him. “Dominic and Julian will get revenge for Kiki and your parents. Once you have your Tiger back, you can join them if you wish.”

Bayu closed his eyes, squeezing them to keep the tears from falling. He wasn’t a vengeful being. He was his mother’s child. But his precious mother and amazing sister had suffered, so why shouldn’t those who took them from him also suffer?

“I will portal you to them, if that is your wish,” Nekoma offered. Bayu felt Carleigh tense. His mate did not want him to participate. He couldn’t blame her. The mages had powerful magic, and Bayu had no defense against them.

Bayu blew out a breath and looked at the fae. “I appreciate the offer, but I will not be joining the Gargoyles. I will entrust them to take care of the mages, and I will remain here and begin my duties as Nuhuala by reading the ancient scrolls. I am ready.”

“Then let us begin.” Solara measured out each ingredient adding them one by one to a metal bowl. When she indicated, Nekoma added those he had brought. She then swirled her finger over the contents, and the ingredients mixed together. Luna produced a knife from the bracelet on her wrist and held it toward Lilly. The elder witch snapped her fingers, and fire caught along the blade. Luna twisted the knife so the flame coated both sides, then she blew it out.

“Bayu, please hold your hand over the bowl.”

He did as she asked, and when Solara indicated, the three witches began speaking the counter curse together.

"Blessed goddess, we call on thee.

By blood and potion, we unravel these twisted threads.

We seek your wisdom, your guidance, your care.

Grant us the strength to embrace this transformation.

To release the bonds, making the two halves whole.”

Luna made a small cut on Bayu’s palm, gathering blood on the tip of the blade. She then allowed one drop of blood to fall into the bowl. As the ingredients sizzled, the trio ended the spell with, “So mote it be.”

Luna once again held the knife out to her mother, and Lilly relit the blade. When Luna blew the flame out, she returned the weapon to her wrist. Solara poured something from a small, purple vial into the bowl, swirling it around. Bayu stared at his arms, waiting for the markings to return. Waiting to feel a stirring from Tiger. It didn’t take long at all for his beast to rumble in his mind.

“It worked!” Carleigh squealed. Everyone stared at her as she grabbed Bayu’s face and kissed him. “Tiger is happy to be back with you.”

Before he could stop the beast, Tiger pushed forward, and Bayu found himself on four paws. Carleigh dropped to her knees, hugging his neck. “Hello, my tiger. It so good to see you.” Tiger licked a stripe up Carleigh’s cheek, and she giggled. Bayu didn’t rush his animal. He let Tiger enjoy the moment. Tiger sniffed the air and chuffed, then walked to the back door, looking up at Carleigh.