Page 47 of Lycan Prince's Secret Baby

“Lyvia? What’s happening?” I begged.

Lyvia’s incantation, usually a welcome addition, now scraped the air a little too sharply as her hands wove over the air around Lina.

“Amaraq Tuk. Igaluk, Maguruk. Auk Agaktuk. Anuyaut Aliuktuk. Tumaksrugaa.”

I told myself that it was the darkness and the thunderous wind prowling around the house that was making her tone seem urgent and sharp. But dread had its claws firmly through me, and as my friend didn’t respond but continued with her chanting, I started to shake.

Roman’s strong arms came around me, and he hauled me to his side. I clung to him, feeling as if I were going to be swept away.

The witch’s chant played over Lina’s unconscious form again and again.

Then, suddenly, Lina’s breath deepened. Tears pricked my eyes as I sensed her breathing steadying just like last time with Lyvia’s careful administrations.

“The dissonance in her blood has peaked again,” Lyvia said.

“But our infusions—” I said.

“And our wolves guarding her—” Kyle blurted out, too.

“Have helped her,” the witch said, “but the dissonance is flaring again. The spirit of one side of her is threatening to suffocate the other.” Lyvia’s golden skin was like sunlight amidst night’s heavy veil.

“Oh goddess, please don’t rob her of her wolf,” I uttered, tears stinging my eyes. “I’ll do anything!”

Lyvia’s quick eyes seemed to glow as she zeroed in on me, then turned her gaze to Kyle. “There is something—a ritual I can try. I’ve never performed it, but I know the theory. It will requireyour combined strength, Leah and Kyle. I can plumb the depths of your wolves and take as much as I can, magnifying it with Igaluk’s divine words.

“But I can’t pretend this won’t hurt both your bodies and your minds. This is taking more than should ever be taken from your wolves. The pain, both physical and mental, could be excruciating,” Lyvia warned.

My body vibrated with determination. “Do it,” I uttered without hesitation.

Kyle affirmed. “Yes, do it.”

His fierce voice had my eyes turning to him for the first time. His emerald stare brushed mine fiercely, too. I realized he was only wearing a pair of boxers. As we held each other’s stare, I felt the weight of everything we had endured, and for once, it felt like a promise, a promise that we could get through this challenge, too.

“Ensure Lina’s safety above anything else,” I urged the witch.

“Lina needs her parents’ psychic energy,” Lyvia continued, her voice commanding, “Roman, you’ll have to wait outside.”

I knew from the concern edging his serious features that he wanted to stay with me and Lina and, that if he thought I’d listen, he’d have urged caution. But he knew better than anyone that when it came to my protectiveness as a mother, there was nothing I wouldn’t do. Whatever it took, I’d do it for my daughter.

As Roman stepped outside, I felt the quiet settle around me—a hush amidst the fear. The magic of my wolf stirred beneath myskin, ready and waiting. She, too, was ready to give all to our little wolf.

Silvery sikin crystals began to glow about the room as Lyvia sent her magic into them. The room was bathed in moonlight, too. Lyvia added other crystals in a circle around where Kyle and I stood at the foot of the bed while Lyvia kept Lina on the bed by her.

As the ceremony began, she lit a sage stick, cleansing the room of stagnant energy. Once again, as I waited, I met Kyle’s green gaze. “She’ll be alright, Leah,” he assured me, his gaze holding me firmly.

I nodded, determination firing through me as I felt myself becoming stronger beneath the intensity of his stare as if he were gifting me some of his strength.

As usual, Lyvia instructed Kyle and me to call on our wolves’ spirits.

Our emerald and cerulean auras that had become like muscle memory were soon threading through our minds, answering immediately, and winding into Lina’s form.

Lyvia’s incantation became even sharper though as she began to chant,

“Amaraq Tuk. Igaluk, Maguruk. Auk Agaktuk. Anuyaut Aliuktuk. Tumaksrugaa.Talim Auk Taktak.”

My arms prickled with a strange sensation as if I were being pricked by devil clubs and nettles. I clenched my fists, realizing that the ritual was taking effect and that Lyvia’s warning about it causing physical and mental pain clearly hadn’t been empty.

The stinging sensation started along my face. I gasped, gritting my jaw as it tore and bristled along my body, flooding it with an uncomfortable heat and pain. Beside me, I sensed Kyle responding similarly. As my eyelids fluttered open for a moment, I noticed his scowl was even deeper than before, and his fists were clenched like mine. Although, his gaze held Lina unwaveringly.

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