Page 72 of Summer of Sacrifice

All four witches nodded.

“These passages that you write, they will come forth within this sacred Grimoire.” A tome of great beauty materialised in Thanasim’s outstretched hand. “They will come to you at the proper time, for a future generation, and you will write them down. What is written will be deemed an Order—an act that the witch must perform.”

“In doing so,” Thanasim stepped in, “History will be moulded to protect not only the Sisters Solstice but magic in its entirety.”

Asteria nodded, continuing, “Our spell this night will bind this all in place, and it will set forth the terms for the witches who will follow in your place when it is time.” She swallowed hard, wholly shaken by any discussion of an age when their daughters would be no more.

“As you know, there was a great deal of time before your father and I met, and in that span, a race of half-gods was birthed. In some realms, they are called Elves, in others Keepers or Druids. These beings carry power much like your own, but they are not witches.

“Though I did not birth any children before the four of you, I did bestow portions of my limited magic upon many prior to my rebirth as Goddess of Magic. This created a type and shadow of my own children, in much the way the Goddess Three bestows a new life upon her chosen—the gods. The descendants of this gift of limited magic are referred to as the magi. Once I was given the kernel of Primordial magic directly from Hespa, I continued this bestowal as She had before me.”

“Witches,” Talan finished for her.

“Witches.” With a deep breath, Asteria pushed on. “The spell we set in place tonight will dictate the following:

Any descendant of Lord Night who joins with a descendant of the magic I personally gifted, magi or witch, will have four daughters each born on the Solstice or Equinox, and they will become the new Sisters Solstice when they come of age.”

“There is still one thing that doesn’t make sense to me,” Hissa broke in. “The magic you gifted to the magi before you became Lady Magic is different because it was a portion of your limited magic as a witch. But the magic you bestow upon witches and warlocks now, it differs from the magic in Athania?”

“Yes, darling. The gift of magic bestowed upon a witch or warlock is neither a seed nor a thread of The Primordial’s well of magic—the Source of all magic. Hespa’s many facets have been placed within The Thirteen making up The Primordial. We only share of the giftings, never from the essence of the gift.”

Except once. Goddess help them. She had made such a mess of things.

“But you did share of that Primordial Source with Athania.”

“Yes,” Asteria answered solemnly. “Does that make more sense?”

Hissa nodded, but her brows were still knit together and the sight warmed Asteria’s heart. She was both immensely glad and immensely pained that the Sisters were more than mortal, yet less than gods.

“Athania has a thread of magic’s essence,” Monarch explained simply.

“Yes, darling.” Shame licked up Aseria’s neck. This was all her fault.

Thanasim slid his hand across the small of her back. You loved her, he said in her mind. Never feel shame for that.

I love you, she whispered back. In all lives, forevermore.

How could she leave Thanasim? Their daughters? She stifled a sob. Caught it in her ribs, like a spider traps prey, before the lament could escape. There was no other way.

Thanasim was watching her closely with those night-sky eyes. I will always find you, my love.

Asteria cleared her throat. “Are we ready?”

Reluctant nods passed around the gazebo. When the spell was cast, Thanasim would seal it with his power, and they would leave.

All of them.

Separately.

Asteria’s palm slipped into Thanasim’s as he took Talan’s hand. She, in turn, grasped Hissa’s. Monarch took her other, Belfry closing the gap between Monarch and Asteria.

“Love?” Thanasim addressed Asteria. “Do you have it?”

Asteria nodded, a beautiful amulet appearing in the middle of the circle, simple in its elegance, adorned with four intertwining petals—one for each of their daughters.

Asteria closed her eyes, lifting her face to the rain-slicked glass of the gazebo, to the moon and all her cohorts. Her voice was strong, crystal-clear as she began the invocation of spirits yet to be. Their descendants. Their salvation. Their sacrifice.

“Tonight, we call upon the blessing of Hespa.

---