Page 20 of Little Mate
“Only you can make him end it all.”
“We don’t know that—”
“I do.” Her expression is resolute. Leaves no room to argue. “Please trust.”
“We’ll send word in a week.” I give my aunt and uncle pointed looks a few hours after my afternoon nap, my mind doing all it can to push away the memory. The meaning. “Keep him safe. Let me down, and—”
I know my distrust is hurting our aunt—both of them—but they’ve done a good job of avoiding the conversation my sister and I are owed. Always staying within hearing distance of Leo.
“He’ll be safe, my niece. I swear it.” Aunt Silla takes one of Isa’s hands and one of mine in hers, giving each a squeeze. Her eyes hold the truth. Her scent remains calm, yet I continue to sense the distress in her husband. “No one will come near him, and please trust that we love you three as if you were our own. It’s why he brought the horses back; your uncle knew how special they are to—”
“Why do you have them?” Isa asks, her tone a bit accusatory yet low enough to not draw attention.
“Vampires have been lurking for a few weeks, just watching, but weren’t quick enough this time. A guard saw two in the shadows within the city limits and rushed over, helping us retrieve them—we left behind imposters before they could be taken by King Astor.” She looks away from us and toward her husband and our brother. “Please be careful, my nieces. Darkness looms close, and I fear for your safety. You need to head home and bring back peace.”
“Peace?”
“You three are the key to our survival.”
As the royal family, we are connected to all the witches under our rule, but our senses become heightened with family. I can’t hear their thoughts, but their emotions can be felt—smelled as if it were a perfume.
The happier and calmer they are, the sweeter the scent.
If scared or hurt, it becomes a bit bitter or acrid.
“Thank you. Your word is binding.” Isa knows my true mood, though, her eyes shifting between me and who I’m staring at. The horses have been wrangled, with two of our guards staying behind. My sister and I will each ride one while the third goes to the man who used to protect our queen. Augusto had been away visiting his mother when our home was ambushed, helping her after a nasty fall, something that eats away at him although he’s not at fault. We don’t blame him. His loyalty is unwavering, though, and since locating us in England, he’s been our shadow. The one guard that never switches to take rest. “Please don’t disappoint us.”
“We won’t.” If she’s offended by my mistrust, she doesn’t say a word. Our pain is still raw—for every member of the Moore family—but at the moment, it’s us who’ve been dealt the harshest of blows.
Our parents. Our home. The feeling of safety.
All gone.
“Thank you.” Isa stays with her as I walk off after responding, heading toward my uncle and brother who are speaking with Augusto. The latter of which is showing my brother a small spell all kids learn early on, but for some unknown reason, my brother cannot heal the earth. Not yet, at least. All Wiccans can manipulate nature up to a certain extent, grow plants, and cleanse decay, but his control is as volatile as a baby’s.
“One day, I’m going to raise an oak a thousand feet high and strand you at the top,” my brother grumbles, his eyes glaring at the two older males who are chuckling. “This is a vow.”
“You will, young prince.” Augusto nods, head slightly bowed toward Leo.
“Your father was just as stubborn, and look where that got him, nephew. You’ll make a fine king one day.”
For some reason, those words rub me wrong and my eyes narrow. Look where that got him?
However, before I can ask, all three heads turn in my direction. I put a smile on my face and decided to talk to Isa about this later. She’s given me her word that Leo will be safest here, and I trust her blindly. “It’s time to go.”
“Already?” Leo asks, his face falling a bit. I know he’s worried, scared we could be hurt, but I ignore the guilt gnawing at my insides. He’s just a kid. He shouldn’t be dealing with any of this. “Can’t you stay until tomorrow?”
“We have people to help, little brother. They need us.” His expression turns somber at my words but gives me a small smile in understanding. No matter what, those under the ruling of the Wiccan throne come first. “We’ll be together soon enough, I promise, but right now I need you to be brave and give me a hug.”
Before I’m done talking, he’s already crashing into me, almost knocking us both to the ground. “Blood and pact,” he whispers low so only I can hear, and I kiss the top of his head.
“We are one. Always.”
Leo lets me go then and heads toward Isa, stunning her from the impact while our aunt walks away to give them privacy. And while my siblings talk, I turn to look at my uncle.
“Never find yourself at the end of my wrath.”
“Gabby, I loved him.”