Lanie


    At first, | wasn’t sure what | could even say. The thought of it was horrible. Xander, Zane, and Mason were


    already a number of years older than | was. I’d always imagined us growing old together. To find out now that


    they''d get older and eventually die while | stayed the same...1 shuddered.


    “So, | won’t age beyond this point?” | asked her.From N?velDrama.Org.


    DarkLuna waved a hand as though she could read my mind. At this point, | wouldn’t have been shocked if | found out she could.


    “Maybe by a few years or so. But your hair won''t go gray. Your face won''t get lines. Not until you’re far older than | am, at any


    rate.”


    “It sounds awful,” | whispered.


    Her brows knit. “There’s an advantage to keeping your physical youth and beauty. The world is kinder to a pretty person than an


    old crone. There’s a reason why everyone thinks of witches as being ancient, withered,


    and ugly..or that ancient, withered, and ugly women are witches.”


    | thought of Rhiannon. “The only witch | know personally is not old and definitely not ugly,”


    | hated thinking of Zane being with the witch, of having had to go to bed with her. Did this woman know


    about that, too? | wasn’t going to say anything about it, if she didn’t bring it up.


    “Not a rtive, is she?” DarkLuna sounded concerned.


    “No.”


    Although if she had a child with my mate, wouldn''t that make her family, of a sort? | shoved the thoughts out of my mind.


    Rhiannon was not going to have a baby with Zane. We''d done everything we could to make


    sure that didn’t happen.


    “Don’t worry about keeping that pretty face, then. It’s not like you don’t grow and mature with experience


    Age is more than a number, either in years or in lines on your forehead,” DarkLuna said.


    Her words made sense to me. Didn''t | feel a lot older than eighteen? By the Moon, so much had happened.


    since my Mating Day that | realized I''d entirely forgotten about my birthday | was neen already. Closer


    even to twenty than eighteen. | shuddered at the realization and looked up to see the woman studying me with


    a small, secret smile.


    “You know exactly what I’m talking about, don’t you?” she asked


    “And this is because we are hybrids? | don’t understand. There are others who age normally. My mother, for example.” |


    hesitated, thinking of my precious Ste, who seemed to be growing and maturing extra fast.


    DarkLuna snorted softly and drank some more of my beer. She lifted the ss toward me. “You sure yo


    you don’t want one for yourself? You might need it


    “No. | want my mind to stay clear” | shook my head.


    you everything ikhismow My real name is Charlotte, first of all, so don’t feel like you have to Keamtthmpoofime by that old web


    usumaname if I’d known then how long it was going to follow me around, wouldn’t have picked something so..enten &


    Burwhatcan | say? The  was young. It’s what we did.


    Asmall smile proficit at at may ups Tm Lanie.”


    “| know that, shesaditouwave no exnation about how


    | stopped myself from as kin anul Charlotte was going to tell me in her own way and time, and no matter how


    desperate | felt. | needed to tot bener is it,


    “| was born in thete 7ONING: far from here, actually. I’ve been all around the world, but guess what


    hey say is true. There’s no ca dik eltonoma Her lips pressed together for a second. “My father was one of the


    Ancients. A vempire called Ezeki biheveve you might have some first-hand knowledge about the Ancients


    Again, | wondered how she knewesosaunlichnabout me


    | nodded. Yes. My mother’s fetishes cach. Did you do you know him?”


    Charlotte’s expression went carefully nkn know him: Sure.”


    “But you didn’t know he was my grandfathanerpiecessed her


    This was curious. Was it possible than Charlemortech fad actually know as much as she pretended to? Or


    was there something else about my grandfather thehambritenen troking that way?


    “My mother was a wolf shifter. Like youngrandnorth Charlotte said without answering me.


    “Which means that you and | really are alike.e


    She nodded slowly, then tilted her head to look at menstone of the reasons why agreed to meet


    with you.”


    “Have there been others looking for information?” Agartist opppoenvoyself from asking her how she knew


    so much about me. Everything was going toe out in tirtene


    “Over the years, yes. But, Lanie,” Charlotte said. “Nobody else is be on dn live you”


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