Chapter 16

The moon hung heavy in the night sky. It cast an eerie glow over Salem as the repercussions of Stella"s husband"s supernatural transformation echoed through the house. The tension in the room could be cut with a knife.

Stella squeezed my hands as she watched Todd try to regain composure. I wrapped my arm around her shoulders. "It's going to be okay."

Stella lifted tear-filled eyes to me. "How can you say that? This isn't good magic coursing through him, Phoebe. It's from her." She spat that with disgust on her face.

"I can try and change it," I told her.

Aidon shook his head. "No, you can't. A goddess fueled this change. But just because he has chaos magic in him doesn't mean he is now Dark. He needs to learn control. That's going to be key to keeping your life as close to it used to be as possible."

Todd shot Aidon a hopeful look. "You think that is possible? I thought I would have to step down as Sherrif."

Aidon shook his head. "Not unless you want to. And your wife can make you an amulet that can help your control. The most important thing to keep in mind is that you are still you. I managed to stop Eris from infecting you fully so she can't exert any power over you."

A volatile mix of light and dark powers flared out of Todd's control then. He shot Aidon a sheepish look as radiant beams clashed with tendrils of shadow. They created an ethereal display that threatened to spiral into chaos.

When a bolt of power headed right for Stella and me, Aidon stepped in the way and took the blast in the chest. I immediately conjured a protective shield around Todd. Aidon shook his head. "Keep me in there with him. He can't hurt me."

Trusting my mate, I did as he asked and enclosed them both. Erratic energy bounced off the walls. The shield shimmered and rippled every time it was hit. I sat there struggling to wrap my mind around what had happened, and I couldn't decide if I was good for my friends or not. Stella and Todd's lives were upended entirely after I returned home to Camden.

"Easy, Todd. Breathe. Feel the energies, but don"t let them overwhelm you," Aidon coached, his voice a calming anchor amid the magical maelstrom. He'd managed to bring me back from the edge of the rabbit hole. I couldn't afford to get lost in a sea of self-pity. It did no one any good.

As Todd struggled to find equilibrium, Aidon began a careful dance of guidance. His powers intermingled with the unpredictable energies emanating from Todd. They created a harmonious convergence that gradually brought the chaotic display under control.

"It"s like a symphony of light and shadow. Stunning to watch but deadly if not contained," I muttered to Stella, marveling at the interplay of forces.

Stella nodded, her eyes fixed on the duo. "We owe Aidon everything. Todd wouldn't be handling this very well if he didn't see a chance he could control it."

"You don't blame us?" I asked my bestie. For one nerve-wracking second, my vulnerability was clear for her to see.

Stella squeezed my fingers and shook her head. "Not at all. Todd insisted on staying. He knows the dangers of the supernatural life. And honestly, I think he's relieved. He didn't like being the odd one out in the family."

My heart went out to Todd. I couldn't imagine what it had been like for him. I understood being submerged into the deep end of a magical life and how difficult it was to adjust to, though.

"How should I make his talisman? A cross is widely accepted in the mundie world, and no one would think twice about it," Stella said as we watched our men.

Silver glinted off the light as Tod windmilled his arms to keep from landing on his ass. "Don't do a cross unless he's religious. I have a better idea. Use his wedding ring. It never leaves his finger and carries the power of your love for him already. That will make a strong charm to help him."

Stella's eyes widened, and she bounced on the couch. "Brilliant idea. That's so much better than anything I was considering."

Stella got up and gathered the ingredients for her spell while I watched as Aidon"s concentration deepened. With a deliberate touch, he infused Todd with a stabilizing essence. A serene glow enveloped Todd, the conflicting energies now harmonized into a delicate equilibrium.

"Feel the balance, Todd. Embrace both the light and the shadows within you. They are not enemies but facets of your power," Aidon instructed.

Gradually, the energies melded into a cohesive force in a testament to Aidon"s expertise. The shimmering shield dissipated, revealing Todd now in control of his powers. Having heard our conversation, he handed Stella his wedding ring.

Stella immediately went to work. I stuck close so I could lend my power to the spell. I wanted this as powerful as possible. Still clad in his sheriff uniform, Todd proceeded to pace restlessly while we worked. Todd"s brow furrowed in contemplation, and the lines on his face etched a narrative of internal conflict.

I watched him from the couch with a sardonic smile playing on my lips. The irony wasn"t lost on me. A mundie sheriff caught in the crossfire of supernatural politics. It was like a scene ripped from a fantasy novel. If only the stakes weren't so real.

Stella covered the ring in the herbs we'd used for my charms and began her chant. I joined her. Together we enchanted the jewelry to help Todd.

Sensing her husband"s turmoil, Stella approached with a measured concern, and the ring extended on her open palm. "This is ready," she said as he took it from her. "What's got you pacing like that?"

He sighed, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "Everything"s changed, Stella. I"m not just a Sheriff anymore. These powers... they come with a price." Finally, seeing the ring, he took it and slipped it on his finger.

The air crackled with tension as he spoke, the room feeling smaller with the weight of unspoken words. "I can see you know you will now face the classic superhero dilemma," I pointed out. "To save the day or to uphold the law? Eventually, it will be a tough choice, Sheriff."

His frustration flared, and for a moment, I thought he might take out the far wall with a lightning bolt. Instead, he took a deep breath, attempting to maintain composure. "I know. And that is going to haunt me. I've always put my oath to the citizens of Camden first. It makes me ill to think about a time when I will need to set that aside to help deal with the BS that comes your way."

I winced at the twinge in my chest. "I cannot apologize enough for what has happened. I know it's my fault."

The room fell into a weighted silence, the truth of my words lingering in the air. Aidon crouched in front of me and cupped my cheek. "If anyone is to blame here, it's me. Eris is doing this because I rejected her."

"Neither of you are responsible," Todd said, weariness evident in his voice. "I need to learn how to deal with both worlds. I can"t turn my back on either. But how do I navigate these murky waters without drowning in the consequences?"

It was a question that resonated with the complexity of our situation. The boundaries between mundane and magical had blurred. And Stella"s husband, once the embodiment of law and order, now grappled with a reality that defied conventional rules.

The buzzing of Todd"s phone interrupted my thoughts. He pulled the device out of his pocket and checked the text message he'd just received. His eyes flicked over the screen, tension etching deep lines on his face. His gaze shot up and zeroed in on me.

"I heard you"re setting me up for something awful," Todd accused. His words pierced through the charged air.

His words felt like a stab through the heart. I couldn't imagine ever doing anything like that to Todd. "I would never hurt you, Todd," I protested, my voice earnest. "Why would I do such a thing? You"re my friend."

Stella looked at me, searching for the truth. "I can't imagine...but who would spread such rumors?" The hurt look in her eyes pained me as much as the accusation.

The claim hung in the air like a toxic cloud. And made me doubt everything. I hadn't even known Todd was coming here. Who would have set me up like that? Nana, Mom, and Nina would never do such a thing. The only others would have been my friends. Was it one of those here with me now? They knew the most. No one back home was even aware of the changes Todd just experienced.

Betrayal was a bitter pill to swallow. I had let these people into my life, and trusted them with my secrets, and now it seemed as if they were turning against me. Suspicion wrapped its tendrils around my faith, squeezing the warmth from it.

"There"s a snake in the grass," I declared, my voice tinged with bitterness. The couch frame creaked as I shifted my weight, emphasizing my point.

Tseki looked around at our group. "Who would do such a thing? None of us would ever do such a thing. Right?"

Murtagh snorted. "You're far too trusting, love. Anyone is capable of anything."

Aidon narrowed his eyes on us and scanned the room. "Something isn't right. This is not like us."

Disembodied, feminine laughter trilled through the room. The six of us sat there silently, looking around for who it belonged to. My breath caught when a woman possessing an ethereal beauty intertwined with an unsettling allure walked out of the shadows.

"Eris," Aidon muttered under his breath.

The goddess's appearance was a masterful blend of captivating and disconcerting features. With flowing locks that seemed to dance in chaotic patterns, Eris"s hair shimmered with hues that shifted between dark, enigmatic purples and fiery, passionate reds. Strands of unruly tresses framed her face, teasingly obscuring features that hinted at both mischief and mystery.

A sinister smile played on her lips, and her eyes glowed with a twisted excitement that sent shivers down my spine. "Well, well, if it isn"t Aidon," she said in a voice as smooth as silk. "It's been too long, love."

Aidon snarled. "Fuck you, Eris. Leave me and my mate alone. Your plans will never work. Give up and move on. We never have been and never will be anything."

Ignoring that, Eris narrowed her eyes on me. "Let"s get straight to the point, shall we?"

My protective instincts went on high alert, and my hands pressed against my abdomen. "Straight to the point? You'll have to excuse me if I don't trust you. You"re not known for your honesty, Eris."

How the hell had she found us and gotten into the house? I'd rented under Lilith's name and set wards around the outside. Had someone betrayed me? I had to force my mind to dismiss that line of thinking. That was all Eris, not me.

The goddess circled us like a vulture, closing in on its prey. "I have a proposition for you, darling. A deal, if you will."

I scoffed, my tone laced with skepticism. "A deal with the devil herself? How tempting. Not!"

Eris grinned, her teeth gleaming in the dim light. "Oh, it"s quite simple. Hand over your unborn children, and I"ll spare your life. A fair trade, don"t you think?"

The room crackled with anger at hearing her proposal. Stella and Aidon tensed at the audacity of her demand. I rolled my eyes, a bitter chuckle escaping my lips. "Ah, the classic "give me your babies" negotiation tactic. How could I resist such a generous offer?"

Eris"s eyes glinted with impatience. "Don"t play games, Phoebe. I want them. And I"ll take them by force if necessary."

Stella clenched her fists, a protective stance forming around me. "Over our dead bodies."

Eris tilted her head, mockingly contemplative. "That can be arranged."

Aidon stepped forward, his voice dripping with disdain. "You won"t succeed, Eris. We"ll stop you." The menace rolling off of him would have terrified a sane person.

Her laughter echoed, chilling me to the bone. "Stop me? Oh, my dear Aidon, you"ve always been so delightfully naive. Your precious powers won"t save you this time. You should look me and the kids up in a century or two. We could try again."

I glared at her, my defiance fueled by a maternal instinct that burned brighter than any cosmic force. "You won"t touch my children, Eris. Not now. Not ever!"

Eris"s smile widened, and with a snap of her fingers, the room plunged into darkness. I doubled over and cried out when a tugging sensation nearly made me black out. Aidon's familiar arms wound around me I felt my friends all surrounding me. When the lights flickered back, she was gone, leaving behind a lingering sense of foreboding.

Stella"s grip on my arm tightened. "What do we do now?"

Aidon"s gaze remained fixed on the empty space where Eris had stood. "We prepare for war. This just got personal." The stage was set for a confrontation of epic proportions, and the impending battle against Eris had escalated to a fight for the very essence of our existence.