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“Under the lose floorboard in my room. I hid it when they weren’t looking.”
“Xadiel,” I whisper, feeling his rumble in answer against my chest. “I need you to check on my aunt and the others outside.”
“Done, my little moon.” He lifts us from the ground and turns me, eyeing me from head to toe before giving me a soft and sweet kiss. Speaks against my lips. “Do what you must, my love. No matter the cost, I trust you. Will be here when you’re ready to talk.”
“Thank you, my king.”
“We are one, my witch.”
Once my mate’s next to Silla and checking her pulse, I turn to Leo. I hold my hand up for him and he meets it, palm to palm, before intertwining our fingers. We’re going to need to be a united front for this to work. I’ll need him to be there when I crash after and find Xadiel.
“You ready, kid?”
“What are we going to do?”
“I’m going to make a bargain with the god of death in exchange for Gabriela’s return, little brother. But more importantly, I know what he’ll ask for…a life for a life.”
“You can’t die, Isa. We need you, too.”
“Not me.” Another pang tears through me, but I grit my teeth and keep walking toward his room. It’s near the back and right where he described with Thanatos’s prayer opening, the pages flipping on their own the moment I pick it up. Dad’s showing us the way, even in death. “But I’ll be giving up my right to having children until our sister’s return.”
It’ll be a hundred years before I meet the little one I dream of every night.
EPILOGUE #1
Isabella
One Year Later…
I’m staring out onto the pack grounds, watching as the last arrangements are made by the she-wolves in charge. They’re all so happy tonight as the moon sits high in the sky. Their emotions wrapping me in warmth, as I try to shake off the sadness in my heart.
My family won’t be here today. Not even Leo as he’s off training with Augusto to help control his awakening powers. Right now, they’re volatile—need containment—and there’s no one better to help him than the elder guard.
Moreover, I miss them. My Father and Mother and their warmth; the cocoon of their tethers calming my nerves while cracking jokes. My sister’s laughter and at-times bossy disposition while Leo complains about being hungry.
When will the path of tears end?
“They’d be so proud of you, Isa,” a female voice says from behind me and I turn, finding Xadiel’s mother dressed in a beautiful velvet gown the same green color as their crest. Her eyes are glossy and smile soft. “You’re a wonderful daughter, a pure soul, and the best gift my son could’ve been given. I’m so proud to have you in my family, sweetheart. Thank you for giving him a second chance.”
“I love him.” No answer could be truer than that. “Xadiel is my heart.”
“And you are his.” Closing the distance between us, she embraces me. Not the first time she’s done this, but today, it feels different. Lavender and patchouli, the familiar scent teases my nose, and I swallow hard. I love you both, too. So much. “Just as we all knew you’d be mates when you were young.”
At that, I pull away just enough to raise a brow. My lips curling into a grin. “How so?”
“When you were but a babe, your mother would bring you girls here. We’d chat and gossip and while Gabriella would play with her dolls, you’d press that adorable face of yours against the window and watch him train.” A flush of heat runs through me at that. I’m blushing, but Eda doesn’t mention it. Instead, she walks me over to a small couch and we sit, my hand in one of hers. “Isabella, you were awestruck. Would watch him quietly for hours on end while my son would wave here and there. And we’d know the moment he did, because at two-years-old, you’d squeal and clap.”
“Why hasn’t he ever mentioned this?” I ask, a small giggle slipping from me.
“Because we decided to cloak his memories until you came of age. Neither of you were supposed to know then about the other, and fate took care of that,” Eda’s grin matches mine as she bumps my shoulder with hers. She’s amused. “Your father saw this; it came to him in a vision while they sparred.” I’m thrown by that, but brought back into focus by her laughter. Literal peals of laughter and I’m close to following. No part of me is mad they hid our connection; I’d be a hypocrite to do so when I carry so much to save so many. “Xadiel nearly knocked Paolo out with a single blow to the temple, while your father tried to make sense of the timelines. Literally beat up by his son-in-law and my husband never let him forget it.”
“Is that why we stopped visiting?” My memories of this place are distant and blurry; I was too young to catalog the details. “Why they kept me and Gabriella isolated? They knew who—”
“Your parents knew they’d die to save you, hours after Leonora gave birth.” I gasp, and my chest caves in at the confession. “You two were their little miracles, Isa. They loved you beyond words and knew the sacrifice each of you would make. Just like I’ve been instructed, and accept happily, to step in and be your shoulder to lean on when the time comes. I might not be your birth mother, sweet girl, but I’m just as proud of you, if not more.”
“Eda, I—”
“The world doesn’t see your burden, but I know the weight is crushing.” I’m not sure when a few tears fall, but she wipes them away a second before the door is thrown open. My beast stands in the doorway, broad chest heaving while our eyes meet. “Keep moving forward. You’re his world.”
