Page 49 of Old Secrets

Mellisa pulled out a set of photographs, which she reached over and handed to me first. A series of grainy images from decades ago gave the man and woman features similar to my family’s, except their hair and skin were a golden bronze rather than porcelain pale. My eyes widened. Newer photographs showed a woman who could have been me—if only I had golden hair and dark brown tips rather than black hair with white tips. “She’s like me.”

I passed the pages to my parents.

My mother covered her mouth with her hands, and tears welled up in her eyes.

“The Clan of the Air, Sisters of the Wind,” my father whispered, and he traced his finger over the woman’s face. “I thought they’d perished long ago.”

Another piece of the puzzle fell into place, and I understood a little better how a boy, like Jacob, might make the journey to his family.

He hadn’t been alone—and rather than use weapons of steel, like what had killed my first adoptive parents, his benefactor had used claws to dismantle her prey to protect the child who smelled like a wolf.

“There are foxes in the United States, and we had no idea,” Amelia said, and she joined my family in staring at the pictures. “And her coloration would not draw nearly as much attention as yours does, Karma. Is there any chance your aunt may have known of this fox?”

My mother shook her head, swallowed, and gathered her composure. “When the land split and the oceans swelled, we thought their clan had been taken by the earth and water. In our sanctuary is a shrine to them, meant to wish them well in their next lives. We have grieved for so many years, because while not our doing, we had not wished ill upon our brothers and sisters from another clan.”

Reaching over, my father clasped my mother’s shoulder. “We have time to make amends and meet our kin.”

“Is there a clan dedicated to fire?” I asked.

With a smile full of ancient secrets, my father nodded. “They have forgotten their heritage, and they live among humans. From time to time, we check on our fire-haired kin who have forgotten they are foxes. You’ve seen them before. Fire-red hair, eyes of emerald, with a connection to the land and sea. Those were once our proud kin, and we still cherish them for all they have locked away their nature and have chosen shortened, mortal lives. They burn brightly. Perhaps one day one of them will rise from the flames.” His glance settled on Mellisa. “You benefit from their gift to humanity. It is from them you have won your witchcraft, for they chose a mortal’s life, spreading their magic among humans so that humanity might one day know of us.”

“Witchcraft is from us?” I blurted.

“Witchcraft, as you say it, is of the Earth. She has always wanted her children to thrive. Even the smallest insect might one day learn to speak to the wind or whisper flame into being, but what use does an insect have for wind or flame? They lack the ambition needed to control and bring their gifts to life. But magic has always been a part of the Earth. Some species simply made use of the Earth’s gift. But every human could become a witch with enough drive and will. The ability is there, embedded deep within them. It is not like the wolf spirits that haunt some at the table.”

“Haunt?” I asked with wide eyes.

“They’re spirits that haunt their host,” my mother stated, and she gave my mate her full attention. “Your spirit is a gentle little thing, the sweetness of a fruit without a rotten core. He is happiest cultivating seeds and growing gardens. You have both been bruised, but neither of you are broken. But you will become strong from the forging. You will need that strength to withstand our child. She is everything you are not—and you are everything she is not. This is what makes you a good pairing. You are a spirit of air and fire, and she is of the water and earth. Together, you make a whole. And much like our Earth, adversity is required to give you land to stand upon. But your spirit has found peace. You will as well, in time. Fight him a little less, embrace him a little more—and be not concerned about the spirit taking over. He will shy away from anything that might cause our child grief. And losing you both to the wildness would cause much grief. Nobody taught your people how to speak to the spirits. We can try, once this ends.”

Amelia sucked in a breath. “You can do that?”

“The spirit haunting you is tattered and worn, and she has not found peace yet. You fight to contain her because of the wildness, and you do not know how to heal those wounds.” My mother rose, considered Amelia, and eyed the other Fenerec. Her gaze settled on the Alpha Jake had isolated as a potential good match for her. “Your spirit is not as healthy as my daughter’s mate, but he is healthy enough. Come here.”

The wolf grinned but came over at my mother’s request. “Call me Bryce, as it irritates me trying to teach people how to pronounce the name my parents gifted to me.”

My mother captured Bryce’s hand, and her eyes narrowed. “You are old for a wolf.”

“I am.”

“Which era were you born in?” she asked, tilting her head while rubbing her fingers against his skin. “You are not old enough to have witnessed the rise and fall of mountains, but you carry with you the weight of ages.”

“What we know of China was rising during the time of my birth,” he confessed. “I usually answer with ‘old enough’, but for some reason, I doubt that will work with you.”

“It would not. How have you made peace with your spirit?”

“We swore, together, we would stand watch over that which we hold dear. Our land, our home, our people.”

I sat back in my chair, and I got the feeling when he said our people, he meant all people.

He seemed like the type.

“As it should be. Young girl, you should keep this one company. His spirit can help yours. You need the peace he has found. His purpose might also satisfy your spirit. You want to protect, but you never land in a place where you can protect. He will hold no such misconceptions. He knows the power of a woman, and he will not belittle yours.”

My father chuckled and freed the Alpha from my mother’s grip. “Next, you’ll be encouraging them to have many children, as little would heal that spirit more than many children underfoot, giving her many little someones to protect.”

“It’s only natural.”

“Proximity and care will do for now,” my father replied in a firm tone. “But yes, my love is right. Your spirit is tattered and is in need of the peace this wolf has found. I will think on how we can create a more harmonious state between human and spirit.”