Chapter 41 A Fatal Ritual

Chapter 41 A Fatal Ritual
His bite mark was a sealed promise that he would always be hers and Raina would wear it proudly — a badge of honor, respect, and love. It was the piece of jewelry that Mia had desired to adorn, but Kian had gifted only her.
Every time she worried now, all she had to do was feel the realness of his bite on her shoulder. It would scar crimson, but with fated mates, the scar adopt a shimmery sheen of rainbow moonstone instead of the crimson tone. She couldn’t wait to see it take form.
“I’m still angry with you,” Mack growled at her. Raina glanced over at her brother with an arched eyebrow. “You’ve known Kian was your fated mate since the beginning?”
Raina flushed at being called out. Meri’s silverware clattered as it dropped on her plate. She watched the poor shewolf glance over at her in shock before she tried to act normally. Raina sighed, looking back and forth from Mack and Jacqueline.
“I did what I thought was for the best--”
Her brother shook his head. “It was a dangerous move that could’ve cost you your life.”
“I know,” she whispered. Her eyes surveyed the table, taking in the expressions of her brother, Jacqueline, both of their Betas, and Meri. Everyone knew how dangerous a fated mate bond was if nothing was done about it whether it was to be claimed or face rejection. “It almost did. I’m not going pretend it didn’t.” She hadn’t being the center of attention, but she supposed after what happened earlier that it was inevitable. “He was Mia’s and everyone knew he was going to chose her.”
Mack was about to argue when Jacqueline placed a hand over his and he immediately calmed down. Her brother’s eyes swept over to his fated mate and he sighed letting his shoulders sag.
“I’ve tracked down the identity of your witch runner,” Jacqueline told her to her surprise.
It shouldn’t surprise her. Jacqueline was once a part of that circle. She used to be a witch runner — a hired witch — a part of the powerful mercenary Gilded Lily Guild. She was biologically a dangerously powerful witch so even when she left the circle her power and magic remained intact. She was still feared and her magic had kept the rogue kingdom hidden from prying eyes.
When she had left the circle, the Gilded Lily Guild suffered a monumental loss of power and they had been recruiting ever since. It had been a long time since a witch runner set foot in this region. Raina knew Jacqueline would’ve felt the tilt in power. She also knew she wouldn’t like that they were intruding on her territory either.
“Normally, I wouldn’t intervene on Guild affairs,” her sister-in-law told her honestly. “But they made the mistake of involving my family.” 
There was a flash of reined in rage that flared in Jacqueline’s eyes and her power buzzed. Raina could feel the threat of it wrapping around her like a shield. It was times like these she was glad that Jacqueline was indeed family and a powerful alley, because she wouldn’t want to cross such a witch like her and that was only speaking of her gifts, it didn’t cover her savageness as a wolf.
Jacqueline only smiled when she toyed with a random lock of hair. “Irene never liked me,” she told her. She rolled her eyes before sighing. “But I thought she was smart enough to know not to cross me. She thought she could outsmart me by tossing it in my face about how we aren’t supposed to ask one another about each other’s contracts. Clearly she forgot I’m no longer a part of the Guild and I no longer answer to their rules.”
She glanced down at the piece of hair, twirling it around as she inspected the ginger hair between her fingers. Raina watched her as the powerful Luna looked up at her, pinning her place. There was an intensity about them that made her uneasy, but at least, they were always honest and direct.
“You’re in grave danger,” Jacqueline told her. She was not one to beat around the bush. Raina didn’t expect her to. “Irene was hired by the World Council specifically to assist in intervening between a certain stubborn Alpha and his chosen Luna. She used the power of the moon to enchant a moonstone necklace to help the wearer force past memories into the victim’s psyche so they’d have to—”
Raina’s eyes widened in fear and realization. “So they’d have to relive them again.”
“As if they were happening right now.” Jacqueline nodded her head. “The memories have already happened, but your body, heart, and soul stores the emotional information. The spell makes the wearer be able to put both thoughts and memories into the victim’s mind and thoughts.”
Shock morphed into sickness at the reality of the situation. Raina was being fed memories to cause doubts, but since these memories involved Kian, it weakened her in mind, body, and soul. There were only two people in that memory and Raina doubted it was Kian judging by how he reacted.
There was only one person left.
Mia.
The grim reality of it settled around her. Raina wasn’t surprised by it. She remembered the version of Mia in Kian’s office before she ultimately set Kian and herself on this course. She remembered Poppy’s words and her dislike. Even Kian’s words slipped into her mind like puzzle pieces to a puzzle she already solved but denied.
Raina felt the ache of Kian’s bite on her shoulder. She wore his reminder that he had claimed her and not Mia. He hadn’t fallen for her scheming. He didn’t have to seal the claim, but he had. The choice had always been his.
“It’s going to get worse.” Jacqueline’s warning came out soft as if she was afraid to spook her. Raina’s eyes lifted to Jacqueline’s shimmery pale green eyes. “I can help you, but the less painful ways are only temporary.” She paused, hesitating for a moment before an inquisitive expression took over her beautiful features. “There is a permanent solution, but it’ll be extremely painful though even a little traumatic.”
Mack’s eyes widened at that. He turned to his mate. “I thought you said that could kill her if it didn’t--”
“I know what I said,” she snapped at him.
He growled at her. “You said it would be impossible and you agreed that it would be impossible.”
“I know what I said, Mack,” she argued back. Raina watched the exchange between them. Mack shook his head, obviously not happy about what she was revealing. “But do you not feel the power the radiating off of her? Kian isn’t just from a watered down Alpha bloodline. His bloodline is from the ancient ones blessed by the Moon Goddess. His bloodline won’t diminish over generations. You may not feel it as strong as I do, but I know you feel it.”
Raina knew exactly what Jacqueline was referring to. The moment that Kian claimed her — she had felt a shift within her. She felt different. For awhile, she had felt so unsure and unsettled by everything. She had constantly wondered if she was making the right decisions. She had worried that Kian would regret his decision and would resent her in the end.
Ever since he had claimed her, the voices of doubt reduced to a hum. Her doubts had dampened, no longer hindering her. She had noticed the strange differences. Before her soul felt like it was on the brink of destruction until Kian pulled her back from the edge. In most cases, it would take months even years to rebuild herself. She remembered how long it took to feel somewhat decent after Mia left for those years.
When he claimed her, it felt like something snapped in place. His love felt like armor shielding her from the world that tried to tell her she wasn’t worthy to be his mate and Luna.
“You feel it, don’t you?” Jacqueline asked, drawing Raina out of her thoughts. “His presence never left you, did it?”
Her eyes widened in realization. His presence and warmth never left her. It felt like he had never truly left. He had become her shield. Was that how it felt when a wolf was mated to an Alpha?
“It only happens when an Alpha claims his actual fated mate,” Jacqueline told her as if she heard her thoughts. Raina wouldn’t be surprised if her sister-in-law could. “It’s a gift from the Moon Goddess. Kian accepted the Moon Goddess’s path not the ways of the world. He was rewarded.”
Mack glanced over at Raina, studying her expression on her face. “Kian won’t allow this ritual from happening.”
“Why not?”
Mack chuckled until a full blown bitter laugh echoed the walls as his eyes shifted to Jacqueline. He shook his head as he pushed his plate away from him. The sound distracted her for a moment until he got to his feet.
“He wouldn’t risk your life again,” he told her. His eyes cut to Jacqueline. “And if she does die, my love, I’ll never forgive you for this. You’re creating quite a list of enemies of late. The wars are at our feet. Do you truly wish to burn the only bridge that we have?”
With that, he stormed off, leaving Raina to stare at his back. She swallowed, wondering what he meant and what exactly would this ritual take from everyone. Her eyes shifted to Meri, who looked torn. Meri was the only one that could alert Kian or the pack of this.
“I wouldn’t worry,” Jacqueline sang out. “The only one who can contact Kian now is you.” Her eyes went to Samson, sitting beside Meri eating his meal, and both Raina and Meri mirrored her actions. “Did you put it in her drink?”
Samson glanced over at Meri before he sighed and grimly nodded his head in confirmation. The hurt from betrayal was clear on Meri’s face as she realized her fated mate orchestrated this deception. It broke Raina’s heart as Meri tried to put on a brave face. She watched Meri blink back her tears as Samson continued to watch her, unable to comfort her like Raina knew he desperately wanted. It was in the tension of his body and the pain in his eyes. He had chosen loyalty to his pack over his fated mate and Meri knew her place now.
“Fine,” she growled out, shoving her seat back. Samson followed suit as if on reflex. “I’ll just have to return then.”
Jacqueline raised an eyebrow at that. “Are you sure that is wise? You won’t be able to return here. You’ll be leaving Raina here by herself. You’ll no longer be her body guard if you leave. Don’t you think Kian would’ve wanted you to be here instead of there?”
That was when Meri’s anger snapped, flaring to life. Samson tried to stop her, but Raina knew he underestimated her body guard. She was trained by her and she trained her to be lethal. In a flurry of movements, Samson was flung backwards and Meri had confiscated his dagger.
Meri was a blur as she came for Jacqueline. Her dagger was right up against Jacqueline’s throat. A sick sense of pride overcame Raina for a moment. Who wouldn’t be? Kian wasn’t wrong for tasking Meri as her body guard, but she also knew Jacqueline was just as vicious and savage.
“I don’t give a damn if you’re a Luna or not,” she hissed as she pressed the blade in more.
Samson growled, coming to Jacqueline’s aid. He had grabbed Meri’s arm, but Raina watched as Meri once again showed her training and watched Samson once again was bested by her as he was shoved backwards.
Meri’s blade once again was at Jacqueline’s throat. “I could’ve killed you multiple times,” she threatened in a low growl. “I’m not stupid. I know you could’ve killed me just as many times, but just know, I can get to you and your own Beta can’t handle me.”
That was when Samson tried to intervene one last time, but it was Jacqueline put up a hand to stop him. Samson stopped, his chest heaving at the exertion. His frustration was visible on his face with a complicated mix of pride and bitterness. Raina bit her lip, trying not to chuckle at this. Samson was a highly trained warrior. He could outclass many, but he should’ve known his own mate would be able to keep up with him. 
Jacqueline smirked as she reached up and gently pushed the dagger away. “Noted,” she said with a nod. Meri’s eyes narrowed before she gave a single nod as well. “I can’t make promises I can’t keep, but this is the only way to ensure that she can provide a future heir to Crimson Moon while the magic is in place.”
“What do you mean?” Raina finally interrupted at that statement.
Her sister-in-law sighed before she turned her attention back to her. “Every time a memory that pushes through, it’ll weaken you,” she told her honestly. Raina paled at that. “You will never be able to carry a child to term without miscarrying until the culprit is taken care of.”