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“Is there a spell or hex you can do to keep them away from us for just a while? Something besides the salt?” Julian asked.
“The salt will buy you a few days. But maybe,” Samantha stood and blew out a breath and crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t know. Maybe there’s something I can conjure up to help keep them from attacking. It’s not any kind of a quick fix, but it may give you more time to find out what they want.”
“I can’t believe this is happening.” Cassia rubbed her eyes.
“Do you mind giving me a few pieces of your hair?” Samantha asked Julian. “I need to tie my protection spell to you.”
“Hair. Blood. Whatever it takes.” Julian’s heart pounded in his chest. Something about all this had been fate. Cassia. She can’t be my mate. His father had always told him he’d have a mate who’d change the world. The world, not just his world.
As he looked to Cassia, he sensed her pain. He reached out her, placing his palm on her shoulder and released his power. She lifted her head slowly, her eyes meeting his. She knew.
Fuck, he didn’t know what to do. Years and years of being on his own, he’d never counted on finding a mate. And she wasn’t even a wolf. Goddess almighty. What the hell am I supposed to do now? Without pack nor territory, his nomadic lifestyle wasn’t exactly desirable.
“I’m okay.” Her lips quivered through a muffled whisper. “I think we should go back … home.”
Home? “I think we should go now.”
“Your hair.” Samantha pointed an athame directly toward him. With a flick of her fingers, she extended its obsidian handle.
Julian accepted it, quickly cutting off a thatch of his unruly hair. He turned to Cassia who’d already tugged off a long strand and handed it to the witch.
“I will work on this. Give me a minute.” Samantha accepted the donations, walked to her altar and deposited the hair into a small bowl.
As Samantha began to chant and add ingredients, Julian reached for Cassia’s hand, his heart tight with emotion as she wiped away her tears.
Logic warned him not to deny a rightful mate, yet his stubborn streak would fight it. Of all the timing in the world, why would the Goddess do this to him now?
But as he glanced to Cassia, her amber eyes glassed with tears, and his heart tightened with emotion. Her energy radiated clear through and around him, and his wolf growled.
Julian broke his focus and looked to Samantha who raised the smoking bowl up to the air. The witch grimaced and his gut told him something had gone wrong.
“I’m sorry—this protection spell. It’s not taking, the magick of whoever’s coming for you is too strong. I’m going to need blood.”
“What?” Cassia rubbed her forehead.
“Just a drop. It’s nothing really. I promise you won’t feel it,” Samantha promised.
“I just … I’m sorry. I really do appreciate you helping us.” Cassia pressed to her feet.
Julian smiled up at her. “That makes two of us.”
As they approached the witch, Julian’s hand brushed the small of Cassia’s back. “I’ll go first.” Samantha struck like lightning, piercing his finger. “Hey now. Easy.”
Cassia laughed. “Okay, mister tough guy.”
“Just kidding.” Julian held his finger up to the air revealing a tiny dot of blood.
Cassia clenched her jaw and gritted out a smile as the knife pierced her finger. “So yeah, that still hurts.”
“This could save your life.” Samantha began to chant as the single drop of chameleon’s blood splashed into the cauldron.
Julian tugged Cassia away from the witch. Smoke drifted around them, licking their faces. Flashes of bright white light circled around both Cassia and the Alpha.
“What is this?” Julian asked as the smoke encircled his hands. Though he stretched his fingers, he couldn’t see them moving.
“It feels … good. Ah …” Cassia leaned her head backward, encased in the light.
Julian couldn’t deny it. The light, blessed with all the goodness of the Goddess, warmed him from the outside in, throughout every cell of his body. As it dissipated, he sucked a breath, still reeling from the experience.
