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The older woman tapped her eyes. “Seer here, Lily. This is one difference between us. I can see what the near future holds. You, though, predict what might be further out in time.”
Curling down over my knees, I tried to force my brain to work. Ravenal knew. Soren had left and Ravenal had known. Soren left. The words kept cycling in my mind and I wanted to cry. But I couldn’t. I couldn’t.
Sitting back up, I scooted away from her, not wanting her to touch me right now.
“What did you see?”
She nodded, her white eyes focused on me. “Correct question, little one. He needs to do this. Both for him and for you. And he will bring back with him something that was lost. Something important you will require soon. But don’t ask me what it is. That need is too far into the future.”
Something I would require? What could it be? How would he know it was necessary for me? The questions swirled in my head.
“Why did he have to do this?”
The witch shook her head, her white hair free today and moving over her shoulders with her movements. “Not my story to tell, but his.”
I let out a frustrated groan. “Why do I need this?”
Ravenal stood up and put out a hand. I stared up at her before taking it and letting her help me stand. She wasn’t tall, but I still was smaller than her. Thinner than her. My mother had always said that a light breeze would blow me away, but I didn’t think the statement was true so much as I did today.
“Let’s have some tea and talk. Our conversation about seers and oracles can wait,” she stated, her voice faint. She led me out of her garden and into the coven’s airy kitchen.
I didn’t want tea. The only thing I wanted to know was why Soren left, but the coven head wouldn't speak until she was ready.
Sitting at her large butcher block table, I watched her make our drinks while poking at the space in my head where Soren's bond resided. He was my mate and our connection still existed, except it was fragile, appearing as if I could break it with ease. I moved away from it, not wanting to hurt either of us by damaging it.
He was also my Raven, my energy, the way I kept myself sane as an oracle. My unique place in the ether seemed depleted, as if something was now missing. Which was true. I couldn’t feel him like I did before. He wasn’t gone, but with him so far away, our mate bond was dormant.
I wanted to weep, but I couldn’t. Not here. Not with the coven head watching me.
Later. I would try to reach out to him, and if I failed, I could cry then.
Ravenal placed a cup of tea in front of me, along with a plate of cookies. She then retrieved her own drink and sat down across from me, those eerie white eyes studying me.
She sighed. “You are now of age, Liliane. You need to learn how to stand on your own. With Soren here, you rely on him too much. On his ability to feed you energy. On his strength. You have it in you to do for yourself what he does for you, but you do not. And because of this, you don’t grow into your powers.”
She stopped and took a sip of the tea, humming in appreciation, before continuing.
“He will return. You both will have grown into who you need to become in order to fight what is coming. Because this is not just a war between aliens and those of us on Earth. It is also one between the gods. And we mortals always end up on the worse side when they argue. With Lark, Konner and you, as well as all the rest, we may come out onto the other side successfully.”
Shaking my head, I spit out the words, “You don’t understand—”
The witch interrupted me. “Yes. I do, Lily. Really, I do. I have been young. There was someone in my past who helped augment my powers once as well. He died. And I was left alone, unable to function. Until Eve came along and healed my mind. She taught me how to help myself and stand on my own.”
I glared at her. “What does that have to do with us? He told you he was going to leave, and you didn’t think to mention it to me!” I stood, hurt and angry, not understanding how she had done such a thing.
She nodded, taking another slow sip of her tea. “Sit down, girl.” Her magic forced me into my chair with a thump. “Yes, he talked with me about this trip. He was worried as well, but he also understood this separation from you was necessary. You need this time to grow. When he returns, things will be different and you both will be more independent.”
What was going to change? Where was he?
An idea hit me, growing in my head with certainty.
“He didn’t.” I whispered, trying to convince myself Soren wouldn't do something so stupid.
“Didn’t what, dear?” Ravenal studied me, a slight smile on her lips.
“He didn’t go to the same world Betta was on, did he? To make himself older?” I watched her, my breath held in horror.
“Ding! Ding! Ding! Give the girl a prize.” She placed her cup back on the table, her movements gentle. “He and Lexi went. Together. They need to make up the five-year gap. Lark and you have to appreciate them for who they are. They won’t be gone long. In less than three of our Earth days, they will gain the time they want. Then they can get approval from your guardians to complete the mate bonds. Your relationships—and your abilities—will progress at a much faster speed.”
