Chapter 306: ANNA
POV Anna:
She bared her teeth.
“Why do you think we’re stealing magic? We have enough to reach even your kind. Now get dressed, or the wolves will help you.”
Since I wasn’t going to agree to any of that ridiculousness, in the end, the wolves actually had to help me get dressed. In doing so, they ripped one of the seams along the side. The witch looked horrified, but we both knew I wasn’t about to stand still and let her sew me back up, and I had already crumpled the white fabric when the wolves got a bit rough and smashed my nose.
Perfect. When they dragged me in front of everyone, they’d know I wasn’t sacrificing myself for them. They were killing me.
Since they had to recover the chains, it was clear they were surprised I was still fighting them. And honestly? Which part of their delusional plan made them think I’d be fine with this? Either way, I was bound. The shackles were etched with the same symbol meant to keep me from shifting, but since magic didn’t work on me, I shifted anyway, tearing the dress as the shackles fell off. If not for my impending death, I would’ve laughed at their reaction.
It took another hour before a second dress arrived. This time, they shocked me until I shifted back into human form. The pain electrified every cell in my body, and I worried about my baby, so I stopped fighting. By the time they dragged me into a small candlelit room, I was exhausted.
“Andrea,” a voice said softly. “It is an honor to meet you. I am Cleo, High Priestess of the Crescent Moon Coven.”
“Fuck you,” I muttered. “Are you the idiot who’s been kidnapping witches and stealing their magic? Why? What the hell do you gain if Maeve becomes queen of the wolves?”
It didn’t make sense. In my mind, Maeve had gathered clanless witches, wanderers, and put them to work. But a full coven? And one of the big ones, at that? They’d organized themselves to work with Maeve?
“The idea of a ternary means that the hybrid of wolf and witch can and should exist, at least through birth. Maeve will help us channel the mountain’s magic so that we may also share our bodies with noble creatures and embrace wolf magic.”
Was she serious? I fought against my weakened state and moved as close to her as the witches holding me would allow.
“Listen carefully,” I whispered. “First of all, the only way to have a wolf is if you’re born with one. It’s a natural state that cannot be recreated with magic. Wolf magic and witch magic are still two very different things. I know because I have both, and they don’t always get along. Second, even if it were possible, Maeve would never allow it, and if you pulled your head out of your ass, you’d realize that. Maeve, in her delusional mind, wants to bring order, not more chaos.”
Cleo only smiled serenely at me.
“You will be submerged in our healing water. Let go of everything that holds you back and prepare for the journey you are about to undertake.”
“You won’t survive the end of this day.” Hands grabbed me and carried me toward the copper tub. “Neither Jax nor Maeve will let you live.”
The water was freezing as they laid me horizontally in it. Their precious dress turned translucent and clung to my skin, and hands pushed me under the water. Above me, I heard the muffled sounds of a chant.
Then the real fun began.
The copper of the tub began to glow, and the water bubbled. The hands holding me turned red and released me as the witches screamed in pain. Breaking the surface to breathe, I grabbed the edge of the tub and smiled.
“Boiling me alive part of your ritual?” I asked as I checked my own skin.
Perfectly fine.
“Silence,” Cleo roared, and the bubbles calmed. “Hold her under again.”
A new set of faces leaned over the tub, staring down at me. I smiled.
“Going to boil me again, or do you have something else lined up?”
They shoved me under, and the chanting resumed. I had to give them credit. Their magic influx actually managed to breach the null space, but nothing they did touched my skin. In defense against what they were casting, my own magic answered. The water electrified, and everyone holding me stiffened and dropped dead, collapsing half into the water.
Breaking the surface again, I wiped the water from my face and shoved the bodies aside.
“Refreshing. Anyone else want to join me? A little girl-to-girl action before I die?”
With a wooden oar, they forced me out of the tub, and I fell to the floor. Hands grabbed me under the arms and dragged me away.
“There are other ways to purify you,” Cleo hissed. “Perhaps we should try fire.”
“I don’t think Maeve will be happy if she finds out you roasted her ternary alive. Honestly, Cleo, I think you’ll just have to accept me, flaws and all.”
I was only bluffing. My defensive magic had drained me.
I watched as they dragged the dead bodies away before new witches surrounded me on the floor and intertwined their hands. I had to admit, they were committed to their cause. Their fallen comrades hadn’t made them hesitate for even a minute.
When they began to chant, I watched the magic rise above us and trap us inside a funnel. Cautiously, I held my breath. What if I was wrong? What if there really was a limit to how much magic I could withstand?
The magic stopped—then struck me all at once. For a second, I thought my blood was boiling from the inside out as my body tried to defend itself. My mouth opened, and I screamed, before the world went quiet.
“Honestly, Anna, is this the best you can do? I raised you better than this.”
At the sound of my father’s voice, I groaned. I really didn’t need to spend my last moments with ghosts.
“Go away,” I said, exhausted. “I’m trying to focus on not dying here.”
“This magic is draining you. It was never meant to be yours. You should have been a wolf. My wolf. And now look at you. All these things inside you that you can’t control, and now you’re letting others manipulate you. Weak. Damn weak.”
“Great talk, Dad. Really. With all this motivation, I’m sure I’ll get right up, kill all these witches, and walk away.”
“A mother does what she can for her child.”
Oh, wonderful. Now Katherine was here. We could have a party.
“I gave you a gift, Andrea.”