Page 15 of Witch Unbound
“You think the entity is?” Leif asked.
“She must be,” Rune said. “Question is, why? Why does she want you to free the varga and Croatoan? What connection does she have to them? Are the varga and Croatoan linked in some way?”
I stroked Wren’s head and handed him another biscuit. The little guy had somehow pulled Rune back to us. He couldn’t explain how he’d done it, which made me think it had to be instinctual. Either way, we were all grateful to him, and as far as I was concerned, he could eat a whole box of biscuits if he liked.
We sat in silence for a bit. They needed a moment to absorb everything I’d just laid out.
I gave them that moment before continuing. “The entity said I’d need allies because a war was coming. She mentioned the varga and the Sons of Adam. I don’t get how Croatoan fits into it, like…is he going to start the war? In that case, does she want me to free him to kickstart a war, and then gather allies to fight him? Urgh, it makes no sense to me. Maybe Anna can shed some light. I get the impression there’s a lot she hasn’t told me.”
“Then we head back and speak to her,” Tor said. “The focus right now is to find a way to protect you from death and strengthen our connection. The rest can wait.”
I hadn’t told them about my conversation with Ursula yet, and the extent of the changes occurring to my body. They needed to know.
I set down my mug with a sigh. “There’s something else.” Three pairs of eyes zeroed in on me with concern and more than a hint of wariness. Yeah, being the bearer of bad news was becoming my MO. “Ursula called me earlier. It’s actually why I went for a walk. I needed to think.”
“What did she say?” Tor asked.
“That my DNA is being altered.” I smiled thinly. “I’m changing into something…else. I may no longer be a tulpa or even a witch when these changes are complete.” I paused, letting the implications sink in.
“The seal needs a witch born under the thirteenth sign…” Rune said.
I nodded. “I think our weakening connection is a result of my changing. Jasper and I have been having issues too. He keeps getting sucked into a place called the abyss and we weren’t sure why, but I think my changing might be affecting his hold on me. He tried to save me at the cliffs. He got there before Rune, but then he just…vanished. I think he’s stuck. If he’s not back soon, I’m going to have to go after him and get him back.”
“How?” Tor asked. “How will you go after him? What is this abyss place? There’s no way we’re letting you do this alone.”
I should have anticipated his reaction. “There’s a blood witch who can help.” He opened his mouth to speak, but I cut him off. “No, you can’t come with me. She lives in a hidden place called Shady Lane. Lauris has access, but he broke the rules by taking me there. I can’t ask him to take you guys too.”
The set of Tor’s jaw told me he was about to argue, but Rune beat him to it.
“Don’t blood witches require payment in sex, blood, and pain?”
Tor’s chest expanded. “Fuck that. No. Not happening.”
There was no doubt in my mind that Tor understood he wasn’t the boss of me, just like there was no misconception in my mind that he would tie me to the bed if he felt he was saving my life. These three shifters were my mates, and I needed them on my side when making these kinds of decisions.
I locked gazes with Tor. “Would you do it for me? Blood, sex, and pain? Would you pay the price if I were lost and there was a chance to get me back?”
His jaw ticked. “Fucking hell, Cora.”
“Answer me.”
“In a heartbeat, and you know it.”
Good. I’d made my point. “I’ll give Jasper a few hours first. He might be able to claw his way back. In the meantime, I need to see Ursula for more tests.”
Silence reigned for long, agonizing seconds.
“There has to be a way to stop the changes,” Tor said.
I’d been hoping the same thing. “I don’t know. I guess with more tests maybe. I just don’t know.”
I dropped my gaze, not wanting them to see my fear. I was scared, afraid of what I’d become. But more than that, I was terrified of losing them.
“No.” Leif took my hand across the table, scanning my face as if reading my thoughts. “You won’t lose us. We’re going to get through this.”
Tor sat back in his seat. “First thing tomorrow morning, we go to see Ursula. We get more tests, and we find out for sure what’s going on. Then we’ll go see Anna and fill her in on what we know, and then…then, if Jasper isn’t back, we’ll deal with that too.”
“One step at a time,” Leif said.
