Sasha’s POV
Nothing is working, or has gone to n. Now Joyce is trying to pin this all on me. She’s trying to wiggle out by gaining sympathy because he husband left her. Well, that’s not going to happen. I knew exactly how to set her off, and it was far too easy. I wouldn’t actually have gone through with it. He’s okay looking, but he’s old, and it wouldn’t be worth it. I just wanted to remind the jury of who she was. A reminder of what they saw in the videos this morning, and it was worth it. Right up until this b***h of a judge got involved.
It’s obvious that the judge can’t stand me. Because I took a shot. What? Do they think that I’m just going to sit here and ept my fate? I’m going to fight like hell to get out of whatever charges I can. Silence stretched like a rubber band bound to snap at any moment.
Then Celeste spun on her heels, hair swinging behind her as she stalked back toward her waiting teammates.
Only when she was gone did ra exhale, rolling her shoulders as though shaking off the weight of Celeste’s tantrum.
She turned back to me and smirked. “On a scale of one to ten, how likely am I to be gifted a knife in my back?”
Iughed, a little breathless. “Eleven. But she’s so braggadocios, she’d probably announce her attack to the world before she actually tried it.”
She took a step forward till her scruffy boots touched Celeste’s pristine ones. Celeste had to crane her head back to meet ra’s eyes. “I am the leader of the Frostbane team,” ra continued, “and therefore, I am your superior. Put your stupid fucking ego aside and try not to drag us down any further. Got it?”
The courtyard went still. Even the murmuring spectators hushed, straining to catch every word.
For once, Celeste didn’t have a ready retort. Her mouth opened, closed, opened again–but no sound came out. Her cheeks burned crimson, eyes glittering with humiliation.
ra arched a brow. “Now, would you like to continue embarrassing your pack or do you want to focus on the final challenge?”
Celeste bared her teeth. I wonder if she knew how truly ugly she looked when she got like this. “You’ve forgotten that I’m your Alpha’s sister,” she spat. “And the future Luna of Nightfang pack.”
I refused to acknowledge the tiny jolt thest part of her sentence sent through me.
ra wasn’t fazed in the slightest. “I’m only going to say this once, Celeste, so listen well. Here, your princess status means absolutely nothing.”
I hit thending, and Rowan walked over to me. “Everything okay?”
I shook my head. “No…but it will have to be. We have to go.” I looked around the room and frowned. “Toya?”
He pointed behind me. “Wendy ran down here asking about a tripod for something. Toya ran upstairs to help her find it.”
Toya ran down the stairs. “Sorry. I’m ready.” She had a bag with her that she tossed at me. “This is for you.” She held up a hand as my mouth opened. “I don’t know what for. But Carl told me you would need it today.”
Carl… “He never quits, does he?”
Toyaughed. “This was myst note. But I think Wendy has one more, and I know for a fact you have a full stack.” I watched her smile dim. “He spent thest year of us life preparing us for the years without him.” She took in a deep breath. “I can only hope I have as much courage as he did near the end.”
I puffed out my cheeks. “Me too.” I turned back toward the soft giggles from the dining room. I headed back there to kiss my pup goodbye for hopefully thest time. “Hey baby girl.” I leaned against the door frame as Abby and Carly turned to me. “I have to go.”
Carly’s smile faltered for a second. “I know.” She hopped up and ran to me. She wrapped her little arms around my middle. “ Please be safe.”
Her words broke my heart. We had forced this little girl to grow up far too fast. “Of course.” I dropped to my knees to pull her into a proper hug. “I need you to be strong for Grandma Ainsley, okay? Promise me.” I could hear her pull in a deep breath, scenting me, like she was trying to remember my smell. It hurt me a little that she felt like she had to.
She rubbed her cheek against my shoulder before her soft answer came. “I promise.” She pulled back and kissed my cheek. My stomach flipped, and I furrowed my brow. “And what should you do if someone gets in here?” She pulled back fully to stare at me. I shook off the weird feeling and focused on my pup.
She smiled up at me. “Run to the closet door, and make sure it closes behind us.”
I poked her nose. “Exactly.” I looked over at Abby, who was still at the table eating a snack. “Where is your dad, sweetheart?”
Abby’s eyes widened for a second, as her cheeks were stuffed with food. She mumbled something, and Carly giggled. She poked me, grabbing my attention back before she answered. “Abby’s mommy and daddy are in the kitchen. They wanted to talk about adult stuff, so they gave us a snack.”<fn4c7b> Checktest chapters at F?ndNovel</fn4c7b>
I rubbed her back and stood. “Okay.” I turned away and headed for the kitchen, but Abby’s muffled yell had me spinning around to see Carly’s eyes clouding over, and her tiny frame swaying. “Another one?” I dropped down as her knees buckled.
“A vision doesn’te when it’s expected, Three-spirit, only when it is needed.” Carly’s voice dropped several octaves. Her voice aged a hundred years as her tiny body fought to channel the vision she was seeing.
“She’s already weak.” I tossed back as I stood with my pup in my arms.
“Well then, this just proves she needs to get stronger.” Her white eyes danced for a second before her lips opened. “The crack is open, but the path is still sealed. When the path is fully opened, then you will know the Shaman’s time hase.” She took a breath. “But her time won’te if you do not fight thising battle. Your time here is now done. Run for the bridge to the pack. Your time is running out.”
“What do you mean my time is running out?” My stomach flipped again, and I felt a new feeling unfurl in my belly. A deep pool of dread opened up inside of me. The panic that was eating away at the edges of my sanity started to take bigger bites. And my mind spiraled as sweat broke out on the back of my neck, and I felt my fangs pushing at my gums.
My fear must have filled the room, causing Rick and Shelly toe out of the kitchen in a rush. They looked around the room, looking for the danger, but I watched confusion rece the alertness when they saw nothing. Rick took a step into the dining room. “What’s going on?”
Rowan stepped against my back, steadying me. “We have to go.”
Carly grabbed my face. “Don’t trust anyone.” She looked over my shoulder at Rowan, and I saw something like almost pity hit her face. “And trust in the Goddess’s path.” Her eyes closed, and her body bowed back.
Abby screamed. “Is she okay?”
I just nodded as I stood and hurried into the living room. “She just passed out from the vision.” I ced her on the couch and draped a nket over her. “She just needs a nap.” I stepped back as Abby climbed onto the couch and checked on her friend. ” Watch her for me?” She nodded.
“Amy?” I heard a voice call out, but I was already running out the front door.
Aspen slips right back into her game as if nothing ever happened. She’s so absorbed, you’d never guess that just a few minutes ago she was asking me for rainbow doors and butterflies.
Sometimes I wonder, do we all secretly wish our lives were as simple as that of children? Stress-free, carefree, their entire world wrapped up in pixels,ughter, and small wonders. I envy that ease. I miss it too. The days when my biggest concern was how long I could y before my parents called me in to finish my homework.
A sigh escapes me. I shake the thoughts away before they can drag me under. That time is gone. What matters now is making sure Aspen and every other child in this pack get to enjoy their childhood like I did. That won’t be possible with Xena and Kaden around.
“Nyx went MIA on me,” I admit, more to distract myself than anything else.
Raven pauses, her gaze flicks to mine in the mirror. “What do you mean, MIA?”
The ache in my chest sharpens and my throat tightens. “She said she had to go away for a while. Some sort of hibernation or something, but she didn’t exin much… She said I’d be fine without her, but I don’t feel fine. It feels like she abandoned me, Raven.” My voice wavers and fingers knot in myp. “Like she left right when I needed her most.”
It’s only been a couple of hours and I already miss her so much. The emptiness inside me is a cold ache that settles into bone in a way I can’t ignore. It feels as if someone has ripped a part of me away.
I want her back. I want her with me, but a part of me remembers that Nyx never asks for much. All she’s ever asked is that I trust her… So, no matter how hollow I feel, I have to trust her and believe she left for a reason and that it’ll all make sense when shees back.
Raven sets the eyeliner down and rests her hands on my shoulders, grounding me. “Maybe she’s cultivating.”
“Cultivating?” I echo, blinking at her.
She nods, giving me a small encouraging smile. “Witches do it all the time. We leave our covens for months, sometimes years, to master our magic in solitude. It’s in the solitude that they push their power until it blossoms into something greater, and then theye back stronger. Nyx might be doing the same.”
“But that doesn’t make sense,” I say quickly. “We are one and the same, so if she needs to cultivate, shouldn’t I be with her?”
Raven tilts her head, patient, like she’s used to exining things to people who panic first and thinkter. “Think of it this way, Sadie. Yes, you are one and the same, but you’re also individuals. You share a soul, yes, but you have different strengths. There are things only she can do and things only you can do. And remember, she’s older than you. Older in memory and in experience. That age gives her tools you don’t have yet.”
She steps closer, her hand warm on my shoulder. “When witches cultivate, when someone withdraws to grow, they don’t always needpany. Sometimes the process demands solitude. Nyx pulling away doesn’t mean she doesn’t trust you; it means she trusts you enough to stand without her while she goes to do what only she can do.”
Her wordsnd like a boulder. I want to argue, to beg her back, but the stubborn part of me that isn’t just grief listens instead.
Tears prick my eyes, but her words ease something tight in me. “I hope you’re right.”
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