Chapter Sixteen

My heart hammered in exhilaration as I rolled off the mattress to search through the box of sex toys we kept under the bed. I'd been nervous about them at first, but now I was excited to give them a try.

I withdrew the box and set it on the bed.

Lucas laid down, placing his hands behind his head as he beamed at me. "What did you have in mind?"

"I don't want to be scared of taking things further together. I want to try it all."

"Perhaps we should start slow." Lucas rolled over to peer into the box. He picked through it for a moment, then pulled out a vibrator and a few different types of lube. "Let's start with these."

As I was putting the box away, I spotted nipple clamps, and I pulled those out as well. "And these," I added, before sliding the box back under the bed.

He gazed up at me with a wanting look in his eyes. "Anything else?"

"I want to do a ritual with you." I turned to the bottom drawer of the nightstand and withdrew our wedding gifts—the candle Chloe had given me at my bridal shower; the Alchemy crystals, herbs, and spell book Onyx had gifted me; and our Wedding Wand.

"Will you brew a potion with me?" I asked as I set the items on the nightstand. "We're going to be a family. We have a lot to celebrate."

"Absolutely." Lucas sat up and came to the edge of the bed to sit beside me.

Onyx had said this potion was safe, even for pregnant women. I found a lighter in the drawer, and Lucas took my hand so we could light the candle together. I gave him the Wedding Wand, while I took the Alchemy crystals and began to crush the herbs in a small bowl they came with. I poured in a small amount of water and mixed it all together. It smelled really good, like roses and cinnamon.

"It came with an incantation," I told him. "Together?"

He nodded. "Together."

Lucas pointed the Wedding Wand into the bowl, and I placed my hand over his. The magic in the Alchemy crystals intensified as I withdrew it to perform the spell.

We speak this prayer tonight

To celebrate our union

May our hearts be opened wide

And our souls come together as one

Magic filled the bowl, leaving it glowing with a pretty pink light. I handed the potion to Lucas. He took a sip, before lifting the bowl to my lips and helping me drink the rest.

Almost immediately, my body began to buzz with a frequency that magnetized me to Lucas. His whole form seemed to have an ethereal glow to it that I wanted to be a part of, to literally melt into and become one with. His eyes shone brighter than ever before, and I noticed the deep crevices of his muscles in a way that I hadn't in the past. Heat pooled between my thighs at his mere proximity.

Lucas's infatuated gaze roamed over me, like he was desperate to touch my curves and feel my body on his. He reached out to place his hand on the side of my face. That simple touch did something to me. A spark ignited between us that made us both go wild.

His lips connected with mine, and passion ignited hotter as his hands roamed over me. I suddenly became very hot and couldn't handle these clothes between us anymore. I yanked his shirt up over his head, and he nearly tore mine getting it off of me. The rest of our clothes disappeared in moments, until the warmth of his skin was on mine.

I reached for his rock-hard cock the same time he dipped his fingers between my thighs. We both let out a blissful moan. I gave his dick a few good pumps. He must've liked it a lot, because he tossed me onto my back on the bed and kissed me harder. Heart hammering, I tangled my fingers in his hair and yanked on the strands, as if that might ground me back into my body. He moaned in response, and all it did was send a thrill of exhilaration between my legs. I was so ready for him.

"I guess we won't be needing that lube," Lucas joked.

"No, but there are other things we can try." I reached for the toys on the other side of the bed and grabbed a small tube of lip gloss. "This says it's activated by saliva. I'm supposed to put it on my lips and then kiss you with it. It's supposed to tingle wherever I touch you."

Lucas got a thrill in his eyes. I unscrewed the cap and rubbed the felt tip applicator over her lips. I licked the gloss, and my lips began to tingle. I kissed Lucas, and he shivered beneath my touch.

Lucas rolled over, and I climbed on top of him. I began trailing kisses down his body. Every time my lips touched his skin, he gave a shudder. I kissed him until I ran out, then rubbed more gloss on my lips to kiss him more.

"What do you think?" I asked as my lips dipped dangerously close to his erection. I didn't reach it just yet. I was teasing him, and I could tell it was driving him wild. He practically squirmed on the bed, begging for more.

"Very good," he said breathlessly. "It tingles everywhere."

Lucas closed his eyes to take in the sensations. My lips dipped downward, and I sucked him into my mouth. He filled me up completely, and he gasped as I rolled my tongue over him. Lucas plunged his fingers into my hair, unable to control himself. He seemed to be holding himself back, like all he wanted was to thrust his hips upward. I could tell he was really enjoying himself, and so was I. I moved over him until he was close to his peak, but Lucas pulled away too soon.

"I want it to last," he whispered. "It's your turn."

My heart lifted in my chest as Lucas flipped me onto my back. He knelt between my legs.

"What do you have in mind?" I asked.

"Close your eyes, and I'll show you," I whispered.

I did as I was told. I heard him grab something from the nightstand. Then he slid two fingers inside of me, and I gasped as a new, sensitive feeling tingled across my body. Lucas massaged me inside and out, and I gripped the sheets as I let out tiny involuntary moans. I was completely lost in the moment, and my mind went entirely blank. All that existed right now were the two of us, our bodies moving together with the most pleasurable sensations.

"Does that feel good?" Lucas asked.

"Dear Goddess, it's so sensitive. What is that?"

"G-spot cream," he said.

I smiled. "I like it. Keep going."

Lucas continued massaging me until my moans grew louder and my breaths became shallower. I began to climb my peak, but before Lucas worked me to my release, he paused.

"Keep your eyes closed," he instructed. "It pleases me to see you so lost in the moment."

I sank deeper into the mattress. Slowly, he ran his hands over my breasts, then something cold pinched my nipples. The nerves in my body ignited, sending a wonderful sensation straight between my thighs. I opened my eyes to see he had placed the nipple clamps on.

"How does it feel?" he asked.

"I love them. Make them tighter."

Lucas twisted the screws on the sides of the clamps, and they tightened around my nipples. My back arched, and I let out a desperate moan.

Lucas smiled from above me. "I think we found your kink."

I snickered. "I can't imagine either of us are surprised. I've always enjoyed nipple play."

"Let's see what else you like to play with," he teased.

He grabbed the vibrator, which was several inches long, with a spherical shape on the end meant to stimulate my clit. Lucas turned it on and smiled when he saw it had a charge.

"What are you going to do with that—?" I started to tease, but my word halted on my tongue when he pressed it to my clit. Holy fuck, I could've sworn my spirit left my body in that moment.

I tensed for a beat, but as he held the vibrator to my clit, the most glorious sensations filled me. Every muscle in my body relaxed. Lucas slipped two fingers inside of me again, and he gently stimulated my g-spot while the vibrator worked my clit. My limbs seemed to turn to water, even as my face became hot and my heart rate increased. I'd never felt so in my body and present with Lucas than I did when he worked my pleasure centers like that.

Passion rose within me. Just as I thought I was going to reach my peak, the pleasure kept on building, until I hit a high I'd never felt before. My hands fisted in the sheets, and my back arched off the bed. My jaw dropped open, and my moans became louder. Lucas pressed the vibrator to my clit harder, and the orgasm just kept going.

"Lucas!" I cried. I grabbed him and yanked him on top of me. "I need you inside of me now."

We didn't bother with a condom, because we didn't need them anymore. Lucas turned off the vibrator and set it aside, then positioned myself above me. He gasped when he filled me up, like he'd never felt anything so incredible.

I felt everything as his cock moved in and out of me. There were ridges to his dick I'd never felt before, but it was smoother, too. His skin on mine was unlike anything we'd experienced together. The friction was better, and he glided into me easier. I'd never felt closer to him than at this moment.

My fingers tangled in his hair as I dragged him closer. He let out wavered breaths that drove me insane as he slammed into me harder. He had to grab the headboard to steady himself. I wrapped my arms and legs around him and tugged on his hair. He went as deep as he could, and I moaned with every thrust.

Color burst behind my lids, and wave after wave of pleasure swept through me. Lucas buried his cock deep inside of me as he reached his peak, and we spiraled into an incredible orgasm together.

We fell onto the bed side by side, both of us sweaty and breathing hard.

"Holy fuck," I breathed blissfully. The whole thing had happened so fast, but it was definitely the best sex we'd ever had.

He wrapped his arms around me and kissed the top of my head. "What do you think of your toy?"

I smiled as I cuddled close to him, my legs twisting around his. "I know it was a gag gift, but the joke's on them, because I like it."

I melted into him, letting the beat of his heart command my own pulse, slowing to match his. We lay there for a long time, taking in the blissful moment.

Talia had been right. Using toys had helped ground me to the moment with Lucas, and they'd brought us closer together. I felt something within me heal as I curled up next to my husband. The Reaper's Shadow curse had kept us apart for so long, but I refused to let it dictate our future. Lucas and I belonged together, and no curse could change that. I would surrender to my husband—mind, body, and soul.

That meant that no matter our fate, I was going to break this curse—and nothing could stop me.

* * *

Lucasand I woke the next morning curled in each other's arms. I could hear voices in a distant part of the house, and dread filled my gut at the thought of leaving this room. I sat up, but I didn't move to get out of bed. My hand instinctively went to settle on my belly.

"What is it?" Lucas asked. He sat up and wrapped his arms around me. He placed his hand over mine, and I felt so much more secure with him beside me.

I hesitated, unsure how to put my worry into words. "It's easy to celebrate becoming parents here in the privacy of our room, but once we step outside that door, there's a million things that need our attention—researching reapers so you can pass the Warlock's Trial, finding the Curse Breaker Wand, and now breaking the Reaper's Shadow curse all over again."

"I understand your worries, but we're going to get through this together, okay?" he promised.

When he said it, I had no choice but to believe him. I nodded. "Okay."

Lucas drew me into his arms. "We should talk to Talia and see if she can use the Seer Wand to learn more about the Reaper's Shadow."

"I think that might help," I agreed.

Lucas and I showered and dressed. We went downstairs and heard Talia's voice coming from the den. We didn't use it much, but it was a nice quiet spot to relax. It was a small cozy room with a couch and two chairs facing an electric fireplace. We entered the room to see Talia seated in a chair opposite Verla. Talia had bags under her eyes, and it looked like she'd been up all night.

"It doesn't make any sense," Talia was saying. She had her eyes closed and held the Seer Wand in her hand.

"I know it's difficult," Verla replied sympathetically. "That's why I'm here—to help you focus."

Both of them turned to look at us when they heard us enter.

"Are we interrupting?" I asked.

"No," Talia said, lowering the Wand. "We're just trying to make sense of my visions."

I took a seat on the couch, and Lucas sat beside me.

"Are you making any headway?" Lucas asked.

"I'm trying, but the Seer Wand is not all-knowing," Talia said. "It's still limited by my Cast's abilities—and my own. The Seer Wand increases my power, but I still have to learn how to utilize it. There's so many visions coming in at once that it's hard to make sense of any of it. Sometimes, I can hone in on one thing, but I'm still getting all these visions and feelings coming at me in all directions. It's difficult to decipher unless I know exactly what I'm looking for."

"Can you look into the Reaper's Shadow curse?" I wondered. "You might be able to see what we missed. We might still have a chance to break this curse for good before the babies arrive."

"I've tried," Talia assured us. "I've been looking for clues since last night, but the visions are hard to understand. From what I see, there are many paths that could potentially lead you toward answers, but I can't tell you which one is going to be the one. There are still things that have to happen yet, and even a Seer can't know everything about the future."

"There must be more powers that you can tap into aside from visions," I suggested.

"The empathic abilities I get from the Seer Wand are overwhelming," Talia said. "It's like I can feel all the emotions of the entire coven all at once, but I don't know who is feeling what. With my natural gift of psychometry, it's like I had one tab open on my browser. With the Seer Wand, it's as if the entirety of the Internet is hitting me all at once. The information is there, but I can't sort it out."

"You aren't able to focus on one problem at a time?" I asked.

"That's what we're working on," Verla said.

Talia twisted the Wand around in her hands. "There's areas I feel blocked in, too. I know I have all Seer magic at my fingertips, but there are things even I can't break through."

Lucas furrowed his brow. "Things like what? Counter magic of some sort?"

Talia shook her head. "I can't tell. It could be me. I tried to have Miles use the Seer Wand, and he found it too overwhelming. He didn't want anything to do with these visions. Maybe subconsciously I'm just trying to shield myself from that."

"Don't push yourself too hard," I told her. "Your visions won't help us if you aren't in a space to properly interpret them."

"I'm trying to use it sparingly. Every time I use the Seer Wand, I'm taking power from another Seer," Talia added. "I don't want to take more than is necessary."

"Is there anything else you've found that's useful?" Lucas wondered.

"I've tried to locate the Curse Breaker Wand, but it makes no sense," Talia said. "All I see is blackness. There's an emptiness to my visions that makes it feel so out of reach. I haven't figured out how to interpret that yet. I'm still watching the priestesses, and I can see them discussing the Wands, but that's about all I can get from them that makes any sense. Every future I look into seems to change."

"Thank you for trying," Lucas said, but I wasn't ready to give up yet.

"If we can't look into the future, maybe we could look into the past for answers," I theorized.

"I'll try," Talia promised. "But it's a lot of information to sift through. There's hundreds of years of history, and I don't know who or what I'm looking for."

Verla stood. "Perhaps you should take a break, Talia. Go back to your room, and when you're feeling well-rested, we can try some exercises to hone your focus."

"Thanks, Verla—I mean, Clarice." Talia placed the Seer Wand in the pocket of her sweatshirt and left the room.

Verla turned back to us. "I'm sorry we don't have the answers you're looking for, but maybe Nadine is on to something. We may not be able to decipher all the clues from the Wand just yet, but maybe we can still dig into the past."

"How?" Lucas furrowed his brow.

"A past-life regression," Verla suggested.

"Like getting visions of our past incarnations?" I asked. "How does that help us now?"

Verla sat down to explain. "Reincarnation is more than just about bringing your soul back to Earth one life after the next. It serves a purpose, and oftentimes as a fulfillment of that purpose, our destinies can be entwined, either with each other… or with future lifetimes."

"So I could have been a reaper in a past lifetime?" Lucas wondered. "In that lifetime, I might've known more about my powers than I do now."

"It's possible," Verla said. "But we won't know until we try. Even if we don't get clear answers about the issues that pertain to us today, past-life regressions can be very eye-opening regarding the journey that you're on. Through each incarnation, a piece of your soul returns to Earth to learn new lessons. Some of these lessons can be carried from one life to the next. Or in some cases—such as with identical twins in the Miriamic Coven—a soul may split to experience lessons alongside each other in the same lifetime."

"Twins must be really close, then," I said sadly, thinking of the sister she'd lost.

Verla nodded. "Yes. It's an unfortunate tragedy when one is lost. Within the Miriamic Coven, identical twins are a form of twin flame."

"Our babies will be twin flames, then," I realized, rubbing my belly. "Are they here with us already—their souls? Have they incarnated in these bodies already, even though they haven't been born?"

"It depends on the soul," Verla explained. "You can choose when to incarnate into your body. Some souls choose to do so in utero, and others wait until birth."

"I feel like they're here with us already," I said. "It's kind of nice to think our babies are each other's soulmates."

"Soulmates are those we are destined to be with due to soul contracts we made before this incarnation," Verla explained. "You and Lucas, for example, are likely soulmates. Twin flames, on the other hand, are much deeper, more intense bonds, and they aren't necessarily romantic—though in some cultures they can be. Not all twin flames are genetically related as they are in the coven."

"What makes a twin flame connection more intense?" I wondered.

"A twin flame refers to two halves of a soul who are meeting in the same lifetime. Soulmates, on the other hand, are separate souls," Verla said. "Twin flames are meant to live their lives together, in different bodies, but still supporting one another in their life's journey. Each half of the twin flame bond makes the other whole. This bond is meant to last a lifetime, although some twin flames find the bond so intense that they are not able to coexist with each other and are forced to go their separate ways. On the other hand, soulmate bonds may come and go when the lessons have been learned."

Lucas squeezed my hand, and I understood what he meant without having to say a word. I don't want to lose you.

Verla must've noticed, because she quickly added, "Of course, soulmates can stay together to support each other, even when the lessons they've agreed to teach one another have been learned."

"Why do we forget these lessons?" I questioned. "Each time we incarnate, we become these blank slates all over again."

"Consciously, you forget," Verla agreed. "But deep in your core, your soul remembers. The past versions of yourself still exist, but you become a new piece of the whole. Some lessons are only learned by viewing them through certain lenses. We must forget our past lives so that we can experience new things without old worldviews and beliefs holding us back. This is why sometimes souls choose to reincarnate in other religions, so they can see the world from a different point of view."

"So we could have been fae or Elementai in another life?" Lucas asked.

Verla nodded. "It's entirely possible. You could even be lovers with someone in one life, and parent and child in the next. You could even be your own grandchild."

I leaned forward, intrigued by the lesson. "How many lives have we lived?"

"That depends on the soul," Verla explained. "Gods have the power to create new souls, so some of us have been around longer than others. Would you like to return to your first life?"

Lucas and I nodded in unison.

Verla conjured a bowl and several vials of herbs. She set them on the coffee table in front of her. "I'm going to create an herb mixture and light it. The fumes will put you into a relaxed state that will assist with deep meditation. I will lead you through a guided meditation, and we'll see what answers we can find."

My hand instinctively went to my belly. "Is it safe?"

"Of course it's safe, Nadine," Verla said seriously. "I promise you that I will never do anything to harm your babies. And if anyone so dares to try, I will personally end them myself."

Her passion for the safety of my child soothed me. I couldn't think of anyone better to lead this ritual.

Verla spoke as she began mixing the herbs. "Lucas, take a seat on this empty chair. Nadine, you may lie down on the couch. I want you both to be able to completely relax."

Lucas settled into the chair across from Verla, and I lay flat on my back across the couch cushions. Verla infused her magic into the herbs, then lit the mixture with a match.

Smoke billowed out of the bowl, and the sweet scent filled my nostrils. My muscles began to relax.

"Close your eyes, and focus on the sound of my voice," Verla said softly. "Alone in this room, it is safe to let your guard down and explore memories outside this lifetime. Inhale a deep breath, and notice how your eyelids are beginning to get very heavy."

I sank deeper into the couch, feeling as if I could melt into it.

"Now imagine a white light above your head. This is a warm, welcoming light—the light of Mother Miriam herself," Verla continued. "Imagine that light entering the top of your head, then traveling down your body. With each cell it moves through, feel it filling you up with love, relaxing each muscle. Feel the tightness in your jaw release, and your shoulders fall away from your ears. Feel the light travel down your arms and into your fingertips, and swirling in your hips, relieving any worry and tension you may be holding on to."

I pictured the light permeating my body all the way down to my toes, until I felt more relaxed than ever before.

"Now I want you to picture yourself in this moment, as if you are floating above your body, looking down on the room," Verla instructed. "As you float higher above the room, you will find yourself looking down on this moment as if peering through a portal. You are now outside of time and space. Look around you. What colors do you see?"

In my imagination, I saw an endless navy-blue sky in all directions.

"As you gaze into the moment once more, you notice that a golden string extends from this moment in both directions," Verla said. "In one direction is the future, which has not yet been written. In the other is your past. Turn now to your past, and begin walking down the timeline. You may see moments of your past through portals, as if viewing them from above."

Memories flooded my mind—recent memories, like telling Lucas we were pregnant, then images from our wedding.

"See each memory as a snapshot as you pass by them," Verla continued. "Take yourself back to the moment you walked through the doors to Miriam College… now even further back, to your first day of high school. Keep going, further into your childhood. Find a memory that sticks out, view it for a moment, and continue on."

Memories of my time in the hospital before my lupus diagnosis passed through my mind. I wanted to stop at them, but I didn't. I let the memories pass by, then kept going.

"See yourself on the playground in elementary school," Verla said. "Now see yourself learning to take your first steps. See yourself as a baby, in the arms of your mother."

I'd never had memories that went this far back, but I could see my mother clear as day, sitting in a rocking chair in our old living room. She held a baby in her arms and sang her a lullaby.

"Turn your attention back to the golden thread," Verla instructed. "Notice that it goes far back in time, further even than your birth. Continue on down this timeline, stepping far back into the past, through as many lifetimes as you must to reach your first."

Images flickered across my vision, but I couldn't make sense of any of them.

Verla's calming voice continued to fill my ears. "Now take yourself back to your first incarnation, however far back that may be. In this life, there will be a pivotal moment, a moment so profound that you have carried it with you from one life to the next. Allow yourself to be drawn to this moment."

In my imagination, I found myself floating along the timeline, until I came to a portal that showed a small timber-framed cottage. The cottage was nestled between rolling hills beside a beautiful meadow.

"Now that you have found the memory, step into it," Verla said.

Verla's voice faded, until I found myself strolling through the meadow. The hem of my wool skirt danced around my ankles. I gave no thought to the couch I was lying on, because that seemed lifetimes removed from where I was now.

"Mother isn't going to be pleased when she learns how you killed that chicken," I said in an accent that wasn't mine, but felt entirely familiar.

I turned to my brother, who was carrying the dead chicken by its feet. His features were different—darker hair and more stubble—but my soul recognized him as Lucas. I was nineteen now, and my brother was only two years older. We were the youngest of five children and had been very close our whole lives, though we didn't always get along. Now was one of those times I didn't particularly approve of his actions.

"Mother will be proud," he insisted. "I didn't even have to touch it. It will make a wonderful stew."

"If you can kill a chicken without touching it, what else can you do?" I demanded. "Your powers are dangerous, Mortimer. You must be careful with how you use them, or the wrong person is going to end up dead."

"It's dinner, Alora," he shot back. "I'm not killing people."

"But you could," I insisted.

He kept his chin forward as he answered, "Then perhaps they deserve to die."

I frowned. "I'm not saying you can't use your powers. Only that you must be cautious."

"Sorry that I'm not a Curse Breaker like you," Mortimer shot back. "I can't make medicine potions like Maud, or control people's minds like Percival. I can't see the future like Cecilia. Gods know not a single one of us are as powerful as Mother and Father. Sorry that my magic scares you, but if I've got this power, then I'm going to use it for good, and that starts with bringing home dinner. Unless you're not hungry…"

Mortimer dangled the dead chicken in front of my face, and I turned up my nose.

"Get that thing away from me!" I shouted.

"Or what? You'll run to Father?" he teased.

"I don't need Father to save me," I sneered. "I've got magic of my own."

I formed a battle orb and aimed it at him.

He only laughed. "What are you going to do with that? I'm not the only one who can kill. Watch your magic, Alora. You might kill someone."

He was mocking me.

"Ugh!" I complained. "You're insufferable."

He dangled the chicken out in front of me again. I'd had enough, and I shoved his arm aside as I took off running across the meadow toward our cottage. Our cottage was bigger than most, as Mother and Father had built it themselves. We lived a quiet life here in the countryside, where our magic was concealed from those who wished to take it.

I burst through the door to the cottage. "Mother, you'll never believe what Mortimer did?—"

I came to an abrupt halt when I spotted my mother and three of my siblings gathered around the table. Cecilia sat in the center chair, her skin ashen as if she's just received the worst news. My sister's name was Cecilia, but my soul knew her as Talia. My sister Maud—whom my soul recognized as a man named Grant—and my brother Percival—who I knew as Chloe—sat on either side of Cecilia, looking to be comforting her. They all shared a look of terror.

"Alora," my mother said hastily. "We must fortify the protection spell now. The fae have discovered our power, and they will kill us to keep another magical race from even the chance of opposing them."

"It's too late," Cecilia stated in a whisper. "They're already here."

"MOTHER!" Mortimer's scream came from outside.

We rushed out the door together. My mother stopped in her tracks when she looked to the sky to see hundreds of flying creatures descending upon us. There were all kinds of magical beings—wolves with wings, griffins carrying riders, alicorns with shimmering horns that were more threatening than beautiful, and dragons with razor-sharp teeth. Fae sorceresses had insect-like wings growing out of their backs, but even their graceful nature appeared deadly as they aimed their spells at our cottage.

"Gods dammit!" Mother yelled. "The Seelie fae have found us!"

Mother blasted a deadly spell at the sky. The magic crackled like lightning, knocking dozens of riders off their shifters all at once. Fae sorceresses fell out of the sky, and dragons and griffins dropped dead into the meadow. As impressive as Mother's spell was, it barely killed a fraction of them.

"How can we know what's real?" I demanded. "The fae have illusion magic that we do not!"

Percival waved his hand, and the scene above us changed. Percival used his magic to force the fae to drop their illusions. The amount of fae above us doubled, only they were coming at us from both directions. They'd intended to keep us focused on one army so the other could sneak up behind us.

Spells spun in our direction, and one hit Mother in the shoulder. She fell to the ground, screaming in pain.

Instinctually, I grabbed Maud's hand. "Together!"

She reached for the others, and we all grabbed hands. Their power surged through me, and a shield formed around my family, so powerful that the fae's spells couldn't break through.

A primal scream broke out of Mortimer's lungs. He aimed his hands at the air, and one by one, fae began to drop out of the sky. A darkness swirled in the clouds as his power of death stole the lives of the fae.

Spells continued to rain down on us, and my shield wavered.

"I do not know how long I can hold it!" I screamed.

Mother winced as she righted herself. "Believe that you will win this fight, and you will!"

"We can't!" I yelled. "There are too many."

She ran over to me and grabbed me by the shoulders. "Seelie fae cannot use magic that is not their own, but you can, Alora. Take their magic, and use it against them!"

I gritted my teeth and searched the sky for their magic. Their powers were different from mine, for I had demon blood running through my veins. But I was also the daughter of a god, and I had power even the oldest of the fae could not fathom.

I ordered their magic to become mine, and my protection spell grew larger. Dragons landed around us, shaking the earth. As much magic as I'd stolen, it was still a small amount compared to the hundreds of fae surrounding us.

My family continued to aim deadly spells at the fae shifters. Mortimer stole their lives straight from their bodies, but soon he fell to his knees. Fae continued to fall, while others clawed at my shield, trying their damndest to get through and kill us.

All for being different. All because they were afraid of what we could do.

"Mother!" I screamed. "There are too many."

Mother hit another dragon with her deadly spells, but I saw the horror on her face. She knew that we were strong, but there were only six of us and hundreds of them.

"We need your father!" Mother yelled.

"Where is he?" Cecilia screamed.

"Call to him, and he will hear you," Mother promised.

"Father!" the five of us screamed together.

Like a beacon of light, a figure appeared in the sky—a tall being who stood like a man but had the face of a ram. A beastly roar erupted from his lungs, and my father flew through the sky as if he could control the air itself.

My father aimed himself at fae women. He grabbed them by the head before tearing their wings clean off their backs. The women fell to the ground one by one. Shifters noticed what was happening and turned their attention away from us, their sights set on my father.

A massive black dragon shifter went in for the kill, but my father smashed his foot into the dragon's face, and the power sent the creature reeling through the sky. The dragon landed hard on the ground, and I heard the snap of his neck.

My father lifted his hands, and dark smoke billowed from his palms. It swept through the fae army, killing each one the moment it touched them. A dragon roared, and shifters turned to flee. Any who stayed were immediately slaughtered by my father's wrath.

The meadow quieted. I fell to my knees, my breath ragged. My father landed softly in the grass, and his form shrank, revealing his human features once again.

"Father!" I cried, stumbling to my feet and throwing myself into his arms.

Mortimer did the same, and soon, we were all embracing Father.

"You came just in time," I cried.

My father stroked my hair. "Of course. I would never leave you alone. I have work in the other realms. Your mother and I are building an afterlife, a place for our souls to go that is away from the fae. But you are my children, and I will be here whenever you call."

"This was too close," Mother said. "We have already done so much to hide our magic from the fae. We have had protection spells in place for ages, and we've ensured they cannot translate our grimoires. Now that they have found us, they will most certainly attack again. We must move north, find a new place to settle."

"The fae will not find us," my father promised. "Miriam, take the children inside and begin packing our belongings."

My heart broke to think about abandoning the place we grew up in. It was the only home I'd ever known.

I turned to follow my mother, until my father called, "Mortimer, Alora, may I have a word?"

The others disappeared into the cottage. My father approached and took each of our hands in his.

"All of my children have inherited incredible power," he said. "You all have your roles, but the power you two have inherited is exceptional. Mortimer, you have the power to protect this family from threats, to kill those who wish to kill you first. And Alora, you bring this family together. With your magic we can unite all our power as one. You two have the most important jobs when it comes to protecting our family. I do not make this request lightly, but it is up to both of you to protect us in times of conflict. Are you willing to take on that monumental task?"

Mortimer nodded firmly. "Yes, Father."

"In this life and the next," I agreed.

Father gave us a kind smile. "So shall it be."

The vision faded, and the golden string that had been my timeline seemed to act as a rubber band, snapping me back to the present.

My eyes shot open, and my heart hammered. I pushed myself upright to see Lucas taking in ragged breaths.

"You were there," I whispered. "Talia, Grant, and Chloe were there, too. And Mother Miriam and Santos. I recognized them like I recognize my own parents."

"I was Mortimer," Lucas said breathlessly.

Verla's eyebrows shot up. "Mortimer? As in, Mother Miriam's son?"

"We were all their kids." Lucas sat up straighter, then dove into an explanation about what we'd seen in our vision.

Verla appeared shocked as she took this all in. "This makes sense. The five of you have become leaders in this rebellion, because you were meant to fight alongside each other from one life to the next. You must've chosen to come here at this time to heal the coven from this conflict. That's why Everly's prophecy is about you, because you made the choice to save us before you ever incarnated in this life."

"What about the others?" I asked. "Talia, Grant, and Chloe were there, too, but Everly's prophecy is just about Lucas and me."

"It's as Santos said," Verla reminded me. "In the midst of conflict, you two have the most important job—Lucas to defend, and Nadine to bring everyone together."

"The prophecy says our souls are bound, because we've already lived lives together," Lucas realized.

"Isn't it weird that we were brother and sister in one life, and now we're married?" I wondered.

"It is not strange to the soul, because we differentiate one life from the next," Verla explained.

"That was our first life," Lucas said. "We might've lived other lives between then and now, but it's clear to me that Mother Miriam and Santos created us."

A beat passed as I took this all in. "I never quite understood why I cared so much about the coven, because I didn't grow up here, and most of the coven doesn't want me around, anyway. But now I get it. It's because I've been here before. This will always be my home—my family."

"It also makes sense why you are both so talented with your magic," Verla added. "You were demigods in a past life. Your souls are very powerful."

"A demigod, as in, children of the gods?" I asked.

"That is one definition," Verla said. "But it is also a classification of supernatural power. There are average supernaturals, as most of the coven is. Then there are talented supernaturals—those who can handle magic beyond the average supernatural, such as the two of you. Beyond them are demigods, who are either born from the gods, or in rare cases, born from two talented supernatural parents. It's more about their power than their origin. Demigods have power beyond anything that we can imagine. They have the ability to create and destroy worlds. They need no energy source, because they themselves can create power. They have their own limits, but there are always exceptions to these rules when the circumstances are right."

"We can't do anything like that," Lucas remarked.

"No, because you aren't demigods in this lifetime, but you are still very powerful," Verla stated. "With enough practice, you may be capable of far more than you realize. With the two of your powers combined, there's no telling what you might be able to do."

We may not be demigods in this lifetime, but our souls had experienced it before. Demigod power could show up in our reality again, even if we weren't demigods in this current incarnation.

This past-life regression had given me hope. It felt like no matter what lay ahead of us, we were destined to win—whether in this life or the next. The only question was, what were we willing to lose along the way?

* * *

Weeks passed,and the Winter Solstice arrived on December twenty-first. Yuletide cheer filled the house that morning. I'd slept in, because the pregnancy made me tired all the time, but otherwise I was handling it really well. I'd only had morning sickness twice, which was nice because I thought I'd be throwing up on the daily. So far, I was really enjoying my pregnancy, and I couldn't wait to feel the babies kick for the first time. I hadn't started showing yet, so I had a few more weeks until I started feeling them.

I tried not to think about what might happen if we didn't make it that far. Lucas and I hadgiven ourselves until Christmas to break the Reaper's Shadow curse, or we'd be forced to face the alternative. We were running out of time and hadn't found any leads, but we still had a few more days. I wasn't giving up yet.

Today, I chose not to worry; instead, I held on to the hope that through our ceremonies and rituals, we might call in a holiday miracle.

I'd never experienced a proper Yule celebration within the coven. My first semester at Miriam College, I'd left Octavia Falls over winter break. Last year, Yule had followed the Burning, and nobody had been in the spirit to celebrate. I was excited to finally partake in the traditions. Yule was a time of rebirth, to celebrate the longest night of the year and welcome the return of the sun. Today was supposed to mark the end of our descent into darkness, and new beginnings into the light.

The scent of spruce needles and baking apple pie filled the house. The hallways had been decorated with twinkling lights, and wreaths hung on each of our bedroom doors. We'd made them last night by twisting evergreen branches together and decorating them with pinecones and winterberries we'd found in the woods.

Meanwhile, Grant, Lucas, and Miles had chopped down a small spruce tree and dragged it inside, since evergreens were said to bring prosperity and protection. We'd decorated the tree with popcorn garlands and acorns we'd enchanted to sparkle like glitter. We didn't have a lot of decorations on hand, but we worked with what I had. I thought our decorations turned out better using natural accents, anyway.

Verla and Onyx were already in the kitchen preparing the feast, and I still had to make a present for the gift exchange. Since we couldn't leave the safe house to go shopping as often as we'd like, we'd agreed that instead of getting everyone presents, we would pick names and exchange gifts that way, with the caveat that our gifts would all be hand-made.

I'd picked Talia's name, and I had this great idea to make a pendulum out of a crystal and an old necklace chain, but I couldn't figure out how to secure the two together. I needed to find a quick solution or come up with another idea before this evening.

I approached Mandy's room and knocked.

"Don't come in!" Mandy called. "I'm wrapping a present."

"When you're done, can I get your help?" I asked.

Her door swung open a second later. "Everything all right?"

"I'm all right. It's just this." I opened my hand to reveal the crystal and the chain. "I'm trying to make a pendulum for the gift exchange. Any chance you can fix it?"

"I can give it a shot," she offered, gesturing me into her room.

My shoulders fell with relief. "Thank you so much. I was hoping you'd still have your jewelry-making supplies, because that would make this so much easier. I tried wrapping the chain around the crystal and securing the end into one of the chain links, but it won't hold. I think I need wire, so I can twist it to hold the crystal inside—like your necklace, but not as fancy."

I gestured to the necklace she was wearing. A pretty red stone hung off the end of a chain, with an intricate metal design encasing it.

Mandy touched the necklace. "This is all my jewelry I managed to escape Octavia Falls with. I'm sorry to say I don't have any extra supplies."

I frowned. "Bummer. I'm going to have to think of something else before tonight. It wouldn't be fair to leave Talia without a present."

Mandy tapped her chin. "There is one thing we can brew up quickly, but I'll have to sneak some supplies from the kitchen. We can make Talia some loose-leaf tea that will make her see colors when she hears music. You can cast Alchemy magic with the right crystals, can't you?"

"Yes. Should I go get them?"

"Go get your crystals, and I'll meet you back here in five minutes," Mandy said.

I followed her instructions, and she returned to her room with a small draw-string bag and several bottles of herbs, which she spread out on the bed. I read the labels to see that she'd grabbed peppermint, ginger, cinnamon, and black pepper.

"All you have to do is mix a bit of each herb in the bag, and we'll infuse it with your Alchemy magic and it'll be good to go!" Mandy held the baggie open for me.

I popped off the top of the peppermint container and gave a few good shakes into the baggie. I sprinkled in ginger, then cinnamon. "Where'd you learn to make this?"

Mandy dropped her gaze, and her tone shifted like she was trying to hide her sadness. "Amy made it for me once."

Silence settled over the room, and I could tell Mandy didn't want to talk about her.

I tried to lighten the mood as I picked up the pepper shaker. "We're really putting black pepper in the tea?"

"It's a requirement. It doesn't taste the best, but it's effective."

I finished adding the ingredients, and Mandy sealed up the bag and shook it. She handed it over to me, and I funneled Alchemy magic into it from the crystals I'd brought.

"That's it!" Mandy said brightly. "What'd I tell you? Easy peasy!"

I smiled, because it was really nice to be getting along with her again. I'd never asked her about what the priestesses had done to her, and I thought she'd never forgive me for the torture they put her through. But that didn't seem to be the case. Mandy could've gone to Hok'evale with Tate, and she'd chosen to stay. I really appreciated her friendship, because it seemed no matter what had happened between us, we'd eventually find our way back home.

I clutched the baggie in my hands. "Thanks again, Mandy."

"You're welcome. Now go," she teased, pushing me toward the door. "You're not allowed to see me wrap your present!"

"Hey, you aren't supposed to tell me you have my name!" I protested playfully.

"Whoops!" Mandy placed her hand over her mouth. "I guess you're still going to have to wait for the surprise."

I left her room, then returned to mine so I could wrap Talia's gift. When I finished, I went downstairs to place the present under the tree.

All the others were gathered downstairs. Lucas and Professor Warren were in the hall, and I followed the sound of their voices to see what they were doing. Lucas held a box full of bells, flowers, and twigs, and Professor Warren was hanging them from above the front door.

"What are you doing?" I wondered. "Can I help?"

Lucas's eyes lit up when he saw me. "Sure! We're hanging bells, yarrow, and mistletoe in the doorway to keep the fae away."

"I think we have enough wards for that," I teased as he handed me a set of bells and tacks to hold them up.

"It's tradition," Warren explained. He was taller than Lucas, but he still stood on his toes to hang a sprig of mistletoe as high as he could reach. "Centuries ago, when the witches lived in Europe, we did all we could to stave off the fae. The Winter Solstice is their day for a celebration they call the Winter Hunt. Each year, the fae put on a grand festival, and their most accomplished hunters go into the forest in hunt of their dark god Droga. According to fae lore, the dark god Droga chased away the sun at the Fall Equinox. Today marks the day Tomir, king of the fae gods and lord of the Winter Hunt, brings it back. Witches don't want to be caught in the middle of a fae hunt, and therefore, it is tradition to stay inside. That is why we sing, drink, and feast in our homes until morning, once the sun returns and it is safe to venture outside once more."

"So what's with the bells?" I asked as I hung one up.

"The fae don't like bells," Lucas said. "If they were to come through the door into our home, the noise would annoy them, and make them go away. As extra protection, we hang yarrow, which the fae are allergic to, and mistletoe, which helps ward off evil of all kinds."

"The fae aren't getting past this," I said proudly. I lay yarrow in front of the doorway. It seemed silly that such a simple thing was so powerful, but that's how it was in the supernatural world. Some magic required effort and exceptional power, and others were as simple as a tiny flower that you didn't realize could kill you until it'd already done its damage.

We finished hanging all the bells, yarrow, and mistletoe and returned to the great room. Onyx and Verla were brewing something that smelled of cinnamon and nutmeg in the kitchen. Mandy was downstairs now, and she'd joined them to bake cookies. In the living room, Chloe and Miles were curled up under a blanket, sipping steaming cups of hot cocoa. Grant and Talia sat in front of the fireplace, dangling pine branches above the cats' heads.

The cats batted at the needles with their paws. Talia laughed as she tossed her pine branch across the room, and seven of the eight cats chased it all at once. Isa caught it first, but Oliver tackled her to the ground, and they went tumbling under the Christmas tree together. Talia's cat Gus snatched the end of the branch in his mouth and started running across the room. Grant's cat Bella and Miles's cat Kiki both chased after him. Onyx's cat gave up and started licking his paws. Marley, Chloe's cat, sprinted from out of nowhere and snatched the branch out of Gus's mouth. It was really funny to watch.

Odin didn't look amused. The black cat lazed on the back of the couch and merely blinked at the others, like he didn't understand what was so interesting about a pine branch.

"Lighten up, Scrooge," I teased Odin, scratching him behind the ears as I passed. He started purring but got a disgruntled look on his face when I stopped.

Chloe got up and went over to the fire, where she shifted around the coals with an iron poker. "The fire's ready to burn our Yule logs."

"What exactly is a Yule log?" I asked. I'd heard of it, but I hadn't burned one before. My parents and I had always celebrated Christmas, but the Yule log wasn't a tradition my mother brought with her when she left the coven.

"As you know, Yule is a time in which we reflect on the previous year and make oaths, promises, or goals for the year to come," Chloe explained. "Traditionally, the Yule log was a whole tree brought into the home and burned over twelve days, to beckon in the return of the sun. The traditions have evolved over time, and now we each take our own log and write or carve our wishes on it for the new year. You don't have to make it complicated; it can be a single word that holds your intention for the year. Then you'll burn the log to surrender those intentions to Mother Miriam."

"Are there any incantations or spells to cast?" I wondered.

Chloe shook her head. "The act of burning the log itself is a spell. You will start here at the Yule altar, to pray to Mother Miriam and leave your burdens of this year behind."

Chloe gestured to a small table set up near the tree. Beside it was a box of pinecones, acorns, and spruce branches left over from our wreaths and ornaments. "You will choose your offering from the box and place it upon the altar. Traditionally, our ancestors offered plants and food, because that's all they had to give centuries ago. This offering symbolizes what you are willing to let go of. Light a candle as you say a prayer to express your gratitude to Mother Miriam, and hand over what is no longer serving you. In return, she will shoulder your burdens and bless you with prosperity for the new year once the sun returns. Shall your intentions be pure, she will guide you to accomplishing the goals you carve into the Yule log."

She turned to a pile of small logs stacked beside the fireplace. "Once you have done that, you can choose a log and carve your intention into it, then place it in the fireplace to be burned. Who wants to go first?"

"I'll go!" Talia offered chipperly. She practically danced across the room and knelt in front of the altar. Nobody bothered her as she silently said a prayer to Mother Miriam and lit a tealight candle. She used her wand to carve the word Abundance into her Yule log, then placed it into the fire.

Once she finished, Grant went next. Lucas brought me a mug of apple cider from the kitchen, and we snuggled up on one of the couches. I could feel the warmth of the fire from here, and it was really cozy. We nibbled on gingerbread cookies, and Talia led us in Yuletide carols as each person took a turn at the altar.

As the others went, I tried to think of all the things I needed to let go of, and a horrible thought came to mind. I'd already lost so much this year when Grammy died, and I didn't want to lose anyone else. I could hear a voice in my head saying I had to let go of her. I wanted to kick that voice in the mouth, because it certainly wasn't my own.

I knew Grammy had moved on to Alora, but she couldn't truly enjoy where she was at if I was holding her back. Grammy was worrying about me; I was certain. I knew I needed to accept that she was gone, but I was never going to let her go. I couldn't.

I didn't consider letting go of the twins, because I wasn't going to let that happen. I wouldn't even entertain the idea unless absolutely necessary.

Hours passed as we sang carols and waited for the Yule logs in the fire to burn down so others could add their own. I'd had plenty of time to think about what I would let go of in this ceremony, but nothing felt right. All I could think about was Grammy. It was a joyous day, laced in melancholy that she wasn't here.

I knew my sadness wasn't serving me, nor anyone else. I could focus on the good and all the great Christmases we'd had in the past. Grammy had always come to visit, and she'd bring along her famous brisket and always gift handmade presents. She'd once given me the sweetest pine-scented candle she'd made herself, and I'd never burned it because I didn't want the scent to go away.

Then I thought about how I'd lost the candle in the move. It seemed I'd lost so much of her now. Focusing on the good didn't seem to help when it reminded me of what I'd lost.

Consciously, I understood that letting go of Grammy didn't mean forgetting her, but my heart wasn't convinced. I worried that if I let go of all this pain, I'd lose my connection to her. It'd be like I never cared at all. I couldn't do that.

I was the last to kneel beside the altar. Nine tealight candles burned, leaving only one that hadn't been lit. I hesitantly withdrew a pinecone from the box beside me. I caught sight of a cinnamon stick at the bottom, and I placed that on the altar as well. The others let me be while I silently reflected on my own. It was like they weren't even here.

My mind raced, because I knew what I had to do, but couldn't. My friends had made this look so easy. They'd each spent mere moments at the altar to whisper a prayer, but I'd completely frozen up.

I had to choose something else, because I certainly wasn't ready to let go of my grandmother. I tried to think about what she would say to me. I recalled a conversation we had months ago, where she encouraged me to let go of control. She said I feared letting go, because I wasn't sure I could handle the outcome. I wondered where in my life I was still holding on to control.

My hand instinctively went to my belly. I thought about how I hadn't been in control of this conception. Lucas and I hadn't planned it, but it was one of the best things that had ever happened. I hadn't even given birth yet, and I already knew I loved these babies so much. I couldn't tell what the future held, but I knew by this time next year, everything would be different.

Mother Miriam, I prayed silently. I thank you for the children you have blessed me with, for I know this is my destiny. I let go of control over this pregnancy, and over the birth of my children. Whatever future may come, I trust that you will protect us. So shall it be.

I struck a match and lit the final candle. I felt a little lighter as I went over to the fireplace to pick up a log. I conjured my wand and cast a spell to carve my intention into the log. The word Family scrawled across the bark, and I smiled as I placed the Yule log into the fire.

I felt much better when I stepped away from the fire, like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Verla, Onyx, and Mandy had joined us in the living room while the food finished cooking. It was at least an hour until dinnertime, and Grant suggested we do the gift exchange now.

He handed out our presents, until we were each holding one with our names on them. "To determine the order we open gifts in, we'll be playing Spin the Candy Cane," Grant announced, holding up a red and white striped candy cane. "Chloe, if you will."

Chloe waved her hand, and her telekinesis levitated the candy cane into the air. Grant gave it a tap, and it began spinning. It slowed, until it came to a stop, pointing at Talia.

She tore open the paper and opened the box to reveal the bag of tea Mandy and I had made earlier today. Talia opened it and inhaled the scent. "It smells wonderful. Who made this?"

I raised my hand. "I infused it with Alchemy magic. It's a tea blend that will make you see colors when you hear music."

"I love it!" Talia exclaimed.

Grant spun the candy cane again, and it landed on Lucas. He opened his gift to find an assortment of chocolates Grant had made himself. They looked really fancy, with colored chocolate drizzled over the top of each one. Lucas popped one in his mouth, and the end of his nose started to glow red.

"You look like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer!" I laughed.

Lucas crossed his eyes and wiggled the end of his nose to try to get a good look at it. "This better go away by Christmas Eve, or some guy in a red suit is going to be knocking on our door asking me to guide his sleigh."

"And you'd do it in a heartbeat," I teased. I grabbed his face in my hands and kissed the end of his nose. "You look adorable."

"For a reindeer," he joked with a laugh.

Onyx and Chloe had gotten each other. Onyx had gifted Chloe a collection of bath bombs she'd made herself, while Chloe gave Onyx a pair of origami doves she'd enchanted with Mentalist powers. The doves fluttered around the room and landed in Onyx's hair.

She snickered as they tickled the top of her head. "I love them!"

The candy cane continued to spin, and wrapping paper littered the floor. Everyone had been really creative with their gifts, and it was tons of fun seeing what everyone had made. Grant had received a hair gel potion Verla had brewed herself.

"It's temporary, so it holds during the day and disappears at night so you don't have to wash it out," Verla explained.

Talia had crafted a wreath made from clothespins for Miles, and she'd put a condom in each of the clothespins. He let out a deep belly laugh when he saw it.

"It's perfect!" Miles cried.

"Tal, I see you're living up to your promise to keep us all supplied," I laughed.

Professor Warren had gifted Verla wooden salt and pepper shakers he'd carved himself. They even had images of cats etched along the sides.

Miles had obviously struggled with coming up with an idea, because he'd gifted Warren an origami apple. He shot a nervous glance at Chloe, and it was clear she'd taught him how to make it.

Mandy and I were the only ones left, and the spinning candy cane landed on her first. She opened her present to find several sheets of paper. She flipped through the pages and furrowed her brow. "What are these?"

"They're incantations I wrote to aid with sleep," Lucas told her. "They should help you focus your powers to walk through others' dreams."

"Oh!" Mandy said brightly. "That's so thoughtful of you."

Everyone else had gone, which meant my present was from Mandy. I opened my present to find a jar filled with a gritty brown substance.

"It's a cinnamon sugar hand scrub," Mandy said before I could ask what it was. "It's made with brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and coconut oil. It's a natural way to exfoliate and hydrate your hands!"

I opened the jar and inhaled the sweet scent. "That's so creative. I love it, Mandy."

We all exchanged hugs as we thanked each other for the gifts. While we were cleaning up the wrapping paper, the timer on the stove went off. Everyone worked together to finish up dinner and set the table.

We gathered in the dining room and feasted on ham, mashed potatoes, and stuffing. Canned green beans we'd preserved from Grammy's garden over the summer were passed around the table, along with pear slices and apple cider we'd made from the trees outside. Grant had made enchiladas, because that's what his mom always made at Christmas time, and Miles said it wouldn't be the holidays without it.

Grant started telling stories about his Christmases as a kid, and soon, everyone was chiming in and laughing about their holiday memories.

As our plates cleared, Lucas stood. "I'll get dessert."

"I'll help," Miles offered.

The two left the room, while the rest of us continued laughing and telling stories.

"My family caroled every year at Yule," Talia said. "The neighbors next door got sick of how often we came over, so they put a No Caroling sign on their door. My siblings and I would stand at the end of their lawn and sing at the top of our lungs."

"Rawr!" Miles called as he jumped into the room. He was wearing a terrifying goblin-like mask with curved horns coming out of the top. He'd draped a fuzzy white blanket around his shoulders like a cape—or was it meant to be fur?

Chloe shot out of her chair and screamed playfully. "It's Krampus! Everybody run!"

I'd heard of this tradition before, but I hadn't yet experienced it. Krampus was a monster of lore, known to emerge from the depths of hell in early December each year. Krampus would beat naughty children with sticks or toss them in his sack and take them back to hell. The monster hadn't appeared in our world since ancient times, but members of the coven still dressed up as him and chased people around in a tradition known as the Krampus Run. It was another way to ward off the fae and disperse the ghosts of winter.

We all leapt from our chairs and raced for the entrance to the room. Miles growled and hissed to block our exit, but then he caught sight of Chloe and went straight for her. She ran around the table, and he chased after her, until he'd cornered her on the other side of the room. He caught her, then nuzzled his face in her neck like he was going to eat her. We all slipped around him and ran out of the room.

Lucas was there in the hallway waiting for us in a second Krampus mask. "Run, little children!" he cried in a mystical voice.

"Don't eat me, Krampus! I've been a good boy!" Grant shouted as he took off down the hall. Talia followed him, and they ran into the library. Verla and Warren ducked into the den, their laughter echoing behind them.

Lucas grabbed Onyx and Mandy, but they both struggled away from him and made a break for the stairs. I was the last one out of the dining room, and Lucas jumped in front of me to block my path to the living room.

"You have nowhere to go, you naughty girl!" Lucas teased.

I got a thrill in my stomach. "Then I guess you're going to have to catch me."

I whirled down the hall, and Lucas gave chase. He caught me around the middle, and my heart lifted. I lifted my feet off the ground, putting all my weight on him. He wasn't expecting that, so I fell out of his grasp, then ducked under his arm to run to the other side of the house. He pursued me, and I skidded to a halt in the living room when he jumped over the couch and landed right in front of me.

"No, Krampus, no!" I teased playfully.

Lucas grabbed me, and we fell onto the couch together. He pulled me on top of him and pretended to eat my neck. I laughed as the mask tickled me. I tore the mask off and tossed it aside, taking a deep breath like it was hard to breathe under the mask. Then his lips touched my neck, and he started kissing me. My lips met his, and we began making out.

I snickered. "I've been a very naughty girl this year."

He kissed me again. "Very naughty. I'll have to take you to my lair."

Something lightweight landed on my head, and I grabbed it to find it was one of the condoms from the wreathe Talia had gifted Miles. I turned to see Grant and Talia had returned to the living room, and they'd witnessed our make-out session.

Grant was holding the wreathe and had tossed the condom at us. "Get a room!"

Lucas took the condom from my hand. "We have one, and we won't be needing this."

He tossed it back.

Everyone was still laughing as we cleaned up from dinner. We gathered around the fire, where the last of our Yule logs were burning down. Everyone took a seat, except for Chloe and Talia.

"Talia and I have one more gift to give," Chloe announced.

Everyone quieted down and focused on the girls.

"As you all know, we've been working on advancing our powers using the Oaken Wands," Chloe continued. "However, we're still limited by our own Casts' abilities and our skill levels. Utilizing the Wands isn't just about having power, but knowing how to use it. We've been looking for ways to read the priestesses' minds, so that we can get a step ahead of them. While some Mentalists and Seers can perceive others' thoughts, Talia and I have been struggling to do this on our own. Instead, we came up with the idea to combine our powers in a process we call teleinsight."

Verla sat up straighter, looking intrigued. "Mind-reading is advanced magic, even for those who possess such a skill naturally. Those who do are still limited in many ways, either by requiring consent or needing to be in close proximity to the person whose mind they are reading. How does this work between the two of you?"

"We can still only perform teleinsight if we're in the same room as someone," Talia said. "But the more we hone this power, the more useful we think it will be. The thing about mind reading is that most witches who have this gift can only interpret certain things. We don't know of anyone who can truly infiltrate another's mind and hear their thoughts clearly."

"Such a power would be difficult even for a demigod," Verla pointed out.

"Yes," Chloe agreed. "But we think we've found a way to focus our power to get much clearer with our readings. Most often, Mentalists either project their own mind to manipulate the world, which is how I perform telekinesis. Or they infiltrate the minds of others to place thoughts and ideas there. That's why Mandy can go into other people's dreams, and it's why some Mentalists can control others like puppets. Extracting information is another power entirely, because not only do you have to find those thoughts, but you have to know how to read them. Thoughts can be communicated in words, images, or concepts, and interpreting those ideas is very difficult without consent of the other party. That's where the Seer part comes in."

"Seers hold power of perception," Talia explained. "Members of my Cast can perceive future outcomes or witness past events through visions, but many Seers can also feel other people's emotions or perceive their trauma, even when the subject isn't aware of it themselves."

"Therefore, we discovered that if I use the Mentalist Wand to infiltrate the mind, and Talia uses the Seer Wand to perceive what's inside, together we can see what someone's thinking. Although like Talia said, we're still limited by distance, and we have to use the Wands together," Chloe explained.

"We even came up with an incantation!" Talia exclaimed.

"Are you girls sure about this?" Verla asked. "Power like this will be very draining."

"We're sure," Chloe stated confidently. "We've already tested it on Miles."

Talia scrunched up her nose. "His head is full of dick jokes and nothing else."

"Hey, that's not true!" Miles protested. "I also think about food."

"Does anyone else want to give it a shot?" Chloe asked. "The more practice we get, the better."

Grant raised his hand. "I'll try it."

Chloe and Talia locked hands and lifted the Oaken Wands. They spoke in unison. "By the goddess' light and candle fire, illuminate the information I desire."

The girls closed their eyes and swayed on their feet, like they were in some sort of a trance. I could feel their magic swelling over the room, and it was certainly one of the strongest spells they'd cast.

"We're in your head…" Chloe mused. "You're thinking—Grant!"

Chloe's eyes sprung open, and Talia blushed.

Chloe scowled. "Your thoughts are as dirty as your brother's."

Grant held his hands up in surrender. "Hey, you're the one who wanted to go poking around in there."

Chloe crossed her arms. "I didn't want to see a mental picture of Talia's ass, but thanks for that one."

"Hey, I have a great ass," Talia said with a laugh.

"True," Chloe agreed. "Let's try someone whose mind is not in the gutter."

Onyx volunteered, and the girls read her mind to find she was thinking of holiday candies and hot cocoa. She must've set a precedent for holiday cheer, because other people started thinking about the holidays, too. Professor Warren volunteered next, and the girls read images of him playing in the snow at Yuletide as a kid. They read Lucas, and found he was thinking about the times he went sledding with his brother down the hill behind their house.

They tried to read Mandy next, and Chloe's features fell. "I'm sorry, Mandy. I'm not announcing that. It's too personal."

"It's fine," Mandy said. "I want everyone to know your spell works, and it's not like nobody knows how I feel."

Chloe sighed. "I hear the same words over and over. I wish Amy was here."

The room went silent. We were all really sad about the people who weren't here this holiday season, and talking about them put a somber tone over the room.

"How about you, Nadine?" Talia piped up. "Do you want to go next?"

"Sure," I said, but I already knew what they were going to read.

The ends of their Wands glowed. I couldn't feel them poking around in my head, but I knew what they must've seen. I was thinking about Grammy, and how much I missed her.

Chloe dropped her gaze. "Sorry, Nadine."

I gave her a reassuring smile, though it was forced.

Talia turned to Verla. "How about you, Clarice? Want to give it a go?"

Verla crossed her hands over her lap. "Yes, but I'd like to try something, too. I won't tell you what it is until you let me know what you see."

Talia and Chloe spoke their incantation, and the ends of their Wands glowed. They swayed from side to side in that trance-like state the spell put them in. Seconds turned into minutes as they poked and prodded inside Verla's mind, but Chloe's brow only continued to furrow. Talia looked like she was struggling to see anything.

Finally, the girls dropped their Wands. "I don't get it. We didn't see anything," Talia said.

"That is because I have placed mental wards up," Verla replied. "This power you call teleinsight is strong and may prove useful against our enemies, but if we can learn how to use it, the priestesses have the potential to learn teleinsight as well."

I didn't think Verla meant to spark a panic, but we all sat up a little straighter then.

"Within the coven, only something as powerful as the Wands can get into your head without consent, but there is magic in this world that is not confined by witch rules," Verla continued. "Vampires, for example, do not need consent to compel you, because their abilities are different from ours. What's to stop the priestesses from obtaining a vampire object that could read our minds? Alongside learning how to use this power, we must all learn how to defend against such a spell. If our enemies can get into our minds like this, they could easily find us and the Wands at any time."

"But how did you do that?" Chloe asked. "You aren't as powerful as two Oaken Wands combined."

Verla shook her head. "No. But I only have to be more skilled at warding my mind than you are at extracting information, and at utilizing the potential of the Wands. It's about skill, not power. I'm an experienced and powerful witch who has been practicing mind warding for quite some time now. I spent my summer with vampires, and I had to learn how to protect my mind from potential threats. Mind reading is difficult, even for a demigod to do, so if you're talented enough, you should be able to hold anyone off, even if they're using teleinsight."

"Can you teach us?" I asked.

"Certainly," Verla offered. "Let's begin with a meditation."

We all got in a comfortable position. Verla began breathing deeply so we could all follow along.

"To protect yourself, you will visualize two layers of magic," Verla instructed. "The first will encompass your body, to protect from physical threat. Imagine the second layer as an impenetrable shield around your mind. That way if the first protection spell is penetrated, you have a second that's even stronger."

I drew a deep breath and imagined protection magic wrapping around me. In my mind's eye, the protection spell glittered with gold.

"Project your aura outward, and expand beyond your physical body to create the first layer of protection," Verla said. "Lucas, you're already getting it!"

I opened my eyes to see Lucas's aura glowing beside me. His whole body was outlined in a purple glow. He looked down at himself and flipped his hands over several times, like he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"It feels easy," he remarked.

"And yet we can still hear your thoughts clear as day," Chloe said as the end of the Oaken Wands glowed. "We're still connected to you, and you're wondering why you're glowing purple."

"Purple's the color of spirituality," Onyx offered. "People with a purple aura often go through deep spiritual journeys."

Lucas nodded. "Then I've got to utilize that somehow to force the girls out of my head. It's strange… I can't even feel you trying to read me."

"That's one of the things that makes teleinsight so powerful," Talia said. "You don't know it's there."

Verla drew another deep, calming breath. "You're doing great, Lucas. Now imagine another layer of protection expanding from your third eye. Visualize a wall being built between you and the girls, to force them to retreat."

Lucas closed his eyes again and got a deep look of concentration on his face. Minutes passed. I meditated alongside him, following Verla's instruction. I expanded my aura outward and created a second shield around my mind, but I couldn't tell if it worked.

"You're all doing great," Verla encouraged. "As you practice, you'll be able to extend this spell outward without exposing your aura, so no one will be able to tell you're doing it. Chloe, Talia, why don't you try reading Nadine?"

My focus faltered, and though I couldn't feel the girls in my mind, I was certain my spell wasn't strong enough to rival the Oaken Wands.

"She doesn't think she's strong enough," Talia said, reading my mind.

"You will be," Verla told me. "This is hard magic, so your skill to block out mind reading has to be better than the person casting the magic, even with the Wands. You're stronger than me, Nadine. If I can do it, so can you. It will just require practice."

We continued to meditate and learn from Verla, but over an hour passed, and no one had managed to protect their minds.

"You must practice this every day," Verla pressed. "We can't afford for the priestesses to get into your head."

"Even if we can't shield ourselves from power like this yet, this power is in our hands," I pointed out. "Teleinsight gives us hope, because we can use it against the priestesses."

"How can we utilize it?" Grant wondered. "We'd have to get close enough to them."

"We don't need to use it on them directly," Lucas suggested. "They've built a movement and a following, which means that when we go up against the priestesses, we're going to have to face all of Miriam's Chosen."

Chloe understood what he was saying. "We'll have to destabilize the cult before we can move in on the priestesses. We can't go in guns blazing and kill off these people's cult leaders, because they'll never listen to our side. Just because we kill the priestesses doesn't mean other people won't rise up. We need to understand the priestesses' motives and plans, as well as how these cult members think. Otherwise, it doesn't matter what kind of power we have, because they already have their hold on the coven."

Talia tapped her chin. "We'll have to figure out who the cult's major supporters are and get rid of them before we take out the priestesses. Which means Chloe and I will have to sneak around the outskirts of Octavia Falls and learn as much as we can using teleinsight."

"It's dangerous," Verla protested. "You could be caught."

"You're right, but it's a chance we have to take," Chloe insisted.

"If we're going to destabilize the cult, it's our only choice," Talia agreed.

This was powerful magic that the priestesses didn't know we could use against them.

We just had to get close enough to them to put it work.