‘It turns out Janie is more powerful than we all thought. When we arrived here in Felderia on the outskirts of Gravehaven, Janie was able to wield a spell that she had in her book to bind wraiths in the graves permanently. The spell hit Gravehaven like a tsunami as it flashed across the entire village. Xander freaked out, and we had to leave immediately, but as we ventured, the story spread quickly of a very powerful unknown witch who holds the spell that has been lost for centuries in Felderia. Xander doesn’t want the mystic council to know about Janie’s unprecedented powers. He wants to keep her from them.
Xander came to our world because a blue bird told him his mate was there. That mate turned out to be Janie. So, he joined our academy, and they became inseparable. But then, Janie discovered her true heritage as a witch, and her grandmother passed down the family spellbook to her before she passed away.
I didn’t know magic was real. I never believed anything like this world of Felderia even existed. So, Janie would teach herself how to cast spells and make magic herbal teas and potions. I wanted to convince her none of it was real, so I grabbed a potion and drank it in front of her. She happened to stuff the potion up when she accidentally knocked a bottle of mercurial mist into it. It was a lycanthrope potion, but instead of making me shift into a wolf, it gave me the ears and tail of a wolf and the tendencies of a werewolf.
I pause, my fingers absently twirling a lock of my dark purple hair. My hair has always been dyed this colour. I guess the magic from the potion decided to make my fur the same colour, too,’ I sigh before continuing.
'No matter what we tried back in our world, we couldn't reverse the changes. I tried to force the transformation, hoping it would revert me to my human form, but it only brought unbearable pain. That's when Janie discovered a reversal spell. The catch was that we needed a flower from the blossom fox, a creature that exists only here in Felderia,' I explain.
‘Xander knew I was struggling to hide my wolf features and tendencies and how it caused me… many problems,’ I think of Brad momentarily, and Warrick notices the pain flash through my eyes before I continue.
'Xander offered to sneak us into Felderia during our holiday break at the academy. Our families believe we're out camping together in the wilderness. But the longer we stay here, the greater the risk of the mystic council discovering our presence,' I reveal, a sense of urgency imbuing my words.
‘Orelious tracked Imogen's scent from Whimsywick tavern to Starry Hearth tavern, where he discovered she was his bloodflame and marked her, only to find out by Xander that she’s human. Imogen can’t live here in Felderia as a human. The mystic council could sentence her to death if they ever found out, so Orelious has chosen to come back with us to our world to be with her. He has been travelling with us since,’ I pause for a moment.
‘Xander said since I’m a werewolf, he thought it would be best to track down the blossom fox myself, take the flower and then return to the human world, where Janie will make the reversal potion I need. Then I would return to my human form and live my human life. But we’ve already searched all of Moonshade forest and almost all of the witching woods, where instead of finding the blossom fox-,’
‘You found me,’ Warrick finishes.
I nod.
I give Warrick a moment to absorb all the information. 'You haven't told me why you're fighting the mate bond,' Warrick's voice breaks the silence, and I can sense the pain in his tone.
I flinch and look down at my fingers, ‘I’m not a werewolf, Warrick,’ I whisper, ‘at least I won’t be for much longer, so it wouldn’t work between us. I never asked for a mate. I never wanted this. Besides, I couldn’t stay here in Felderia like this or as a human, and you belong here in this world. I don’t want a relationship. I’m only interested in getting my old life back by getting rid of this stupid hex,’ I say, frustrated.
'It's not a hex,' he asserts firmly, his voice tinged with anger.
My frustration mounts, and I begin to pace back and forth, unable to contain my emotions. 'It is a hex, Warrick! I'm hexed in my own world with these,' I say, pointing to my ears and tail, 'and now the moon goddess has me hexed in Felderia because she decided to make you my mate!' My voice raises as I throw my hands up in exasperation.
Warrick seethes with anger, and I realise my words have struck a nerve. 'That's what you truly think of me, Rose? A hex?' His voice is filled with grit.
I step back, realising the pain I have inflicted upon him. I can't bring myself to meet his gaze. 'I'm sorry,' I murmur softly, my voice filled with remorse.
‘So, this is it? I’m to remain here for eternity in these blasted chains, alone, while the mate bond drives me mad? I wish you never laid your hand on me, breaking my curse. I would have preferred the fate of a feral wolf, oblivious and unburdened, over this eternal longing for you,' he confesses, his words piercing my heart.
I’m struggling to breathe and feel a terrible pain in my heart that I’m certain he is feeling too. I turn swiftly, unable to face him any longer. Mounting my stag, I flick the reins and ride south without looking back, and the others silently follow. There are no words they could offer to ease the turmoil within me.
We continue in the south, trailing the last remnants of daylight, but no new scents are picked up. Xander curses behind me as he realises our predicament. However, our situation takes a turn for the worse when Imogen speaks up, her voice filled with confusion, 'Why are we back where Warrick is bound? I thought we were not coming back here.'
His scent hits me like a crashing wave, overwhelming my senses. I involuntarily breathe him in, despite my resistance. My heart flutters, and I close my eyes momentarily, only to open them with a sense of dread enveloping me. 'The bond made me walk in a circle, didn't it?' I ask, seeking confirmation from Orelious and Xander.
'Stars, spells, and hexes,' Xander curses, dismounting and sitting down in defeat. Mister Kal brushes against his knee. 'I'm sorry, Rose. We tried, but we'll have to return to your world for now and figure out another solution,' he explains, his words heavy with disappointment.