Page 76 of Hexmate

Professor Blackwood’s shoulders sagged. “The Cromwells have been untouchable for generations. Their influence extends far beyond what you can imagine.” She looked at me directly. “But yes. I should have done more to protect him. And I see now that my…prejudicehas gotten in the way of my judgement.”

The admission startled me. I’d expected denials or justifications.

“He’s stronger than any of us realized,” she continued, gently brushing a strand of hair from Caden’s forehead. “The amount of power he channeled should have killed him instantly. The fact that he’s still breathing is...” She trailed off, shaking her head in wonder.

“What aren’t you telling me?” I asked, sensing her hesitation.

She sighed, her gaze drifting to the window where the evening light cast long shadows across the room. “What Caden did—channeling that much elemental magic and destroying someone as powerful as Damien Cromwell in an instant—it’s not just rare. It’s supposed to be impossible for a witch his age.”

“But he did it,” I said, my thumb tracing small circles on Caden’s palm.

“Yes,” Professor Blackwood said, her voice dropping to almost a whisper. “Which means the Cromwell bloodline isn’t what everyone thought. Damien was obsessed with purity, butthe irony is that Caden’s power suggests something… that Damien made a mistake.”

I looked down at Caden’s peaceful face. “What kind of mistake?”

“It’s my belief that Damien Cromwell had a child with someone that wasnota witch.”

My head snapped up. “What? That can’t be. His father seemed so sure!”

“And yet the ritual turned on him thanks to Caden’s blood. If he was pure-blooded as Damien thought, that would never have happened.”

“I thought it was because we broke the blood curse. Because my werewolf healing replaced all his blood.”

“A good theory,” she nodded. “But unlikely. It’s more likely that Caden’s mother was some sort of nature spirit or a dryad, masquerading as a witch. And whoever she was, she was powerful enough to fool one of the most powerful men in the entire country.”

I stared at Professor Blackwood, trying to process her words. “A dryad? Are you serious? Does Caden even know this is possible?”

She shook her head. “I doubt it. And there’s no way to confirm without finding his mother.”

My mind raced. If Caden wasn’t purely witch, but part nature spirit, it would explain his affinity for plants, how the forest seemed to bend to his will that night. The way the massive tree had consumed Damien, branches and roots entwining around his struggling form until there was nothing left but bark and leaves where a man once stood.

“So, what does this mean for him now?” I asked, squeezing Caden’s hand tighter. “Will it help him recover?”

“It might. Nature spirits heal differently than witches. They draw energy from the earth itself.” Professor Blackwood movedto the window, pulling the curtains fully open. “Perhaps what he needs isn’t just time, but connection.”

I followed her gaze to the academy grounds below, where winter still clung to everything, cold and icy, the earth fast asleep. The idea clicked instantly.

“You think I should take him outside?”

Professor Blackwood looked back at me. “Not just outside, but someplace special. Someplace that means something to him. A place he found joy with the green things of the world.”

“The herbalism conservatory,” I whispered. It was the only place on campus with green life while the depths of winter clung to the land around us. “But… how do I get him out?”

“Leave that to me,” she grinned. “Take your mate and bring him back. He still has several essays to finish for my class.”

“Several essays?” I laughed despite myself. “He’s in a magical coma and you’re worried about homework?”

Professor Blackwood’s lips twitched. “Maintaining normalcy is important. Besides, his analysis of sympathetic magic theory was quite promising.”

After she left to arrange our unauthorized field trip to the conservatory, I leaned close to Caden’s ear.

“Did you hear that? Even in a coma, you’re impressing the teachers.” I brushed my lips against his temple. “Always the overachiever.”

A few minutes later, Professor Blackwood returned with a set of master keys and a mischievous grin. I lifted Caden gently out of the bed, throwing him over my shoulder.

“The night guards have been temporarily… reassigned,” she whispered as we slipped through the infirmary doors. “You have an hour before they realize he’s gone.”

“Thank you,” I said, giving her a nod.

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