Page 77 of All's Fair in Lion and War
“The other magick-bender. Novik’s mate. She did something to my memory. When Rivian first took me. She erased it.”
Both women stifled gasps.
Lorelei continued. The priestess had done it under duress. “It’s starting to come back. I have a lot of it now and it’s filling in the holes. Did thesoul callwith Saul cause that? Or did her magick only last for so long?”
“It is likely that she made it so that were you ever to meet another soul match, the magick would be reversed.”
“So if I hadn’t met Saul I would’ve continued to forget everything every single day and lived in confusion my whole life?”
“Memory magick is tricky. It was either that or wipe everything so that you didn’t know who or what you were. That would’ve been dangerous for you in a new world.” Mira’s words were truthful, but Lorelei still hated what Novik’s mate had done to her.
“A few more minutes and you’ll be put back together without a single scratch.” Dyna moved her hands over the deep claw mark, still focusing most of her magick on Lorelei’s abdomen.
Lorelei breathed through the pain of her skin growing and knitting itself back together so quickly. The energy from the magick felt like a hot poker searing her flesh.
“Thank you for your sacrifice.”
Both the women nodded and spoke the traditionalyour welcome. “It is our honor to share Fate’s magick.”
Lorelei straightened, finally able to confidently stand on her own again. Her lungs no longer burned with every breath.
She couldn’t taste blood on her tongue anymore.
She felt good. Hungry. Tired. But good.
Even her lion was stretching and pushing out from the place where she’d retreated. Some good food and some rest and she would feel even better.
“We will leave you to get dressed, unless you require assistance?”
Lorelei shook her head. “No. And I want to say again how grateful I am. It would’ve taken two weeks or more for my magick to heal that stomach wound. I know you gave a lot to heal that.”
“There is no need. We are in debt to the Tribe here in Mystery. They saved us.” Dyna wrung her hands and then rubbed them over her thighs like her palms were wet. They weren’t, but Lorelei could smell her discomfort.
“They seem an honorable group. I wouldn’t worry.”
Dyna gave a shaky laugh. A laugh that meant you-don’t-know-the-half-of-it.
Lorelei heard genuine pain in Dyna’s voice. Sympathy grew in her chest like a blooming flower. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing. I’m sure I’ll see you again soon.”
Mira and Dyna exchanged a quick look. A meaningful look only sisters could understand. They left the bathroom before Lorelei could ask any more questions.
Lorelei pulled on the sweat pants and sweat shirt provided by Ava. The she-bear’s scent was faint, but decidedly present on the fabric.
Lorelei made a mental note that she owed the woman at least two sets of clothes now. Perhaps Saul would know how to procure some replacements that would please Ava.
Lorelei left the bathroom and made her way barefoot down the hallway to the front room—guided by not-so-quiet arguing voices.
“We’re fine, Liam.”
“I’ll be wait’n to see that with my own eyes. She was in a bad way.”
A rumble echoed from the room ahead.
“You can stop yer bellyach’in. I don’t give a shit that you can turn into a big cat. Just nice to know all the weird shit I’ve been noticing for the last year with all of you guys can be explained.”
A smile crept onto Lorelei’s face. She rounded the corner into the room with the two arguing males, hugging her arms over her chest. Her feet were bare and her hair was wet. It was reasonably cold outside of the steamed-up bathroom. She looked around the room, hoping to find a blanket.
