verb ~ to describe the individual features, facts or items

CHARLIE

Nova telling me she knew the wolf should not have come as a surprise. Yet it did.

I had a feeling using Nova to sniff the strange wolf out would benefit us, yet the fact it worked shocked me. The extra icing was that it was someone that tied into this whole shithole of a coup.

Now we lay silently staring up at the ceiling. I could hear the soft breathing of the twins in the next room, and the gentle tinkle of a spoon as Phoenix stirred the tea. Then came his footsteps, and I turned to Nova with an expectant look.

What... You have to tell Phoenix. I muttered.

She sighed. 'I will.'

When?

'After my tea.'

You may need a coffee, or a triple shot of vodka. I quirked an eyebrow.

She laughed softly. 'I can't have vodka!'

Why not? I frowned.

'Babies!'

My eyes widened, surprised. You're pregnant again?

"What? No!" she shrieked aloud.

A knock sounded on the door as Phoenix entered the room. "Everything okay?"

His eyes scanned us on the bed, a frown marring his features. Nova had shot up at her refusal of giving us all more spawns, and with a roll of my eyes, I pushed myself up to sit as well.

"We're fine." She huffed. "Charlie thinks I am pregnant."

"You are?" Phoenix frowned, nostrils flaring. "You are not."

"Exactly." Nova rolled her eyes. "Stop jumping to conclusions!"

Phoenix handed Nova her tea before placing another mug on the bedside table. Realising it was for me, I grinned up at him with thanks. He made me one; how cute.

"What did you say that made him think such a thing?" Phoenix chuckled.

"He wanted to know why I couldn't drink alcohol."

"Because of the babies." Phoenix frowned at me.

"That's exactly what she said!" I scoffed. "Tell me it doesn't sound like you're expecting again and I shall drop it."

His frown deepened, humming as he sipped from his own mug. "No, he's right. It does sound like that."

Nova huffed, staring at me. "Breastfeeding. You can have a little without it affecting them, but I think a few shots of vodka would not be good."

"Damn, so after an entire pregnancy of no alcohol or sushi, you have to not have alcohol again? How are you meant to get through the stress?" I tutted. "Backwards shit."

Nova's soft laughter seemed to melt the stressed ice around her heart, and the tea did the rest of it. Within ten minutes of idle chitchat, her shoulders slowly relaxed.

"You going to tell him now?" I probed.

She scowled at me for ratting her out. I couldn't help it; she was taking too long.

"Tell me what?" Phoenix scowled. "Did something happen?"

"Shush, lower your voice." She tutted, and Phoenix rolled his eyes with a lazy smirk.

I couldn't help but snort with soft laughter. Phoenix rolling his eyes or showing any complex emotion was always hilarious. I could never forget the first time he produced a sarcastic comment in front of me. He was such a reserved grouch; I loved it when he slipped up or relaxed more.

"I need to tell you what I saw." She murmured.

"Your vision?" He wondered. "Are you going to show or tell?"

"I... I will do both." She shrugged. "But, basically, I know the scent."

"You do?" He growled. "Who is it?"

"I don't know who he is." Nova shook her head, staring down into her mug. "He was part of Donovan's game."

Phoenix growled but otherwise remained silent, both watching and listening to her thoughts. I watched his expressions eagerly, wondering what she was showing him.

"At first, I wasn't sure, but then the vision happened." She swallowed a mouthful of liquid courage. "It was in the meeting room, where he declared I was a trophy in his game. But it was different. I wasn't actually there."

"You saw something that wasn't a part of your life?" Phoenix wondered, quirking an eyebrow.

He, too, was hiding something, and I wondered when he was going to tell Nova about the witch in their house. I doubt she smelt it; stuck in the bedroom since she came back.

Nova nodded. "It was Donovan and three others. One was a vampire, another other was a wolf. I'm not sure what the third was... He tried to bite me in the first place, which is what pissed off Donovan. They were ganging up on him, and the wolf was the only one who stood up for me."

"Do you know what pack?"

She shook her head, and Phoenix's shoulders fell at her words. "He didn't smell of any. But he didn't smell rogue, and definitely looked too clean to be one."

"Could be a hidden faux-pack of rogues." I suggested. "They exist in the deep mountains or woods."

"What's that?"

"It's where a group of wolves join to live in solitude, but do not form a pack or have an alpha." Phoenix explained. "Everyone wolf for himself kind of thing. A lot of fights about pissing up the wrong tree."

Nova laughed. "I don't think he was that either. He seemed to know everyone."

"Maybe he just hid his status or his pack. It was a vision, after all." Phoenix shrugged. "What happened during it?"

"The three of them belittled Donovan, but the wolf told him he would kill me if he didn't stop harming me."

"Sounds like a good wolf to me." I chirped.

Her eyebrows furrowed, barely glancing at me. The two of them were silent, and I itched with agitation.

I wanted to know, too.

"His name is Kasper."

"Like the ghost?" I wondered.

Nova glared at me. "Yes, like the ghost."

"Is he a ghost?"

"Charlie... I... I don't even want to go there." She whined, annoyed.

I grinned, happy to wind her up. "What else did he do?"

"He declared me his ruler, and basically threatened him without directly doing so."

"He definitely seems like a good guy." I murmured.

"I think he is."

"Think?" Phoenix wondered.

"He seemed good, wholesome almost when I first met him. There was just something about him..."

"Is he a lycan?"

Her eyes widened, not realising that was a possibility. "I don't know. He had brown eyes and brown hair."

Phoenix grimaced. "Could be a Hala?"

Hala had dark eyes, Terra had green, and Cyrus had blue.

"No, they were too light. They were like... chocolate."

"As handsome as mine?" I mused.

Nova's eyes shifted to mine with an eye roll. "Oh yes, just as beautiful."

I grinned. "Thanks, babe."

Phoenix grunted. "What happened after that? Where did you go after?"

Nova's body language changed instantly, and her head bowed. "I'm not sure what it was."

"Explain it?" I suggested. "What did you see?"

"Trees. Lots of them. A small boy, no older than three, running through them."

"A boy? Freddy?" Phoenix wondered.

She shook her head. "Dark hair."

"Freddy's hair could change." I stated.

"It wasn't Freddy. I'd know my own child's face, surely?"

"True." I muttered. "Who could it have been?"

"I do not know. His face was blurred, but it was not Freddy." She shook her head. "He was running for fear, not for fun. And he ran and ran and ran, and then he became a man. I didn't see his face. Just the back of his dark hair as someone shouted his name, and then I was gone again."

"Creepy." I frowned. "Maybe it was him from the meeting?"

"It would make sense." She nodded. "His scent took me to those places."

"There was no inclination of where he came from?" I probed. "No pack scent, no words about location..."

Nova shook her head, frowning as she stared at me. For a moment, neither of us spoke, but she didn't look away from me. I noticed her eyes scan my face; eyebrows marred as she looked over all of me. It was strange, but she eventually dropped her gaze and sighed.

"My nose is not the best." She admitted.

"Nonsense." I shook my head. "You just need to think about it more. Maybe smell it again."

"No, not happening." Phoenix snapped.

I rolled my eyes, looking away from Nova to Phoenix. "One of us can be with her to make sure she doesn't touch anything."

Phoenix grumbled. "What if the scent triggers it?"

"Then at least you have a hold of her." I shrugged. "Nova?"

She glanced between us, her shoulders slumping. "I think Charlie has a point. If I can smell it again, I will be able to regulate it more. Maybe I can look for any sense of pack."

"You can do that just by looking at him." Phoenix muttered. "He had dark hair and brown eyes. Was he tan? European? Was he tall? What did his clothes look like?"

Her eyebrows furrowed. "No, no. He was... he was not as pale as me, but not as tan as you. His hair had a slight wave to it, and his nose was sharper at the tip than yours."

"His clothes?" Phoenix asked.

"What would his clothes show?" She wondered.

"Some fabrics are suited to certain environments." I told her. "Knowing the full details of what someone looked like is very helpful."

"But... we were in the mountains. Wouldn't his clothes be appropriate for that? They were guests, surely he'd pack clothes for the elements." She explained.

"True." I muttered. "Okay, his shoes. What about his shoes?"

Her eyes narrowed as she wracked her brain, mumbling something to herself as she fought through her memories. "Boots."

"Thick soles?"

"Uh... Like... Doc Marten boots." She nodded. "He wore jeans and a sweatshirt."

"So, he was prepared, but not entirely." I quirked an eyebrow at Phoenix.

"That could mean south more than north." Phoenix cocked his head. "Those types of shoes are not very thick and waterproof."

"If he had proper hiking boots, he would be more inclined to be northern." I agreed. "Was his sweatshirt cotton or wool?"

"Cotton. Like a thick t-shirt." Nova muttered.

I smirked. "Definitely middle or southern."

"I'm leaning toward middle." Phoenix hummed. "He isn't tan, so doesn't spend a lot of time in the heat."

"It was winter when I met him." Nova shook her head.

"If he was a guest for only a few days, it wouldn't matter." Phoenix told her. "At least we have a description."

"Was there nothing else? Jewellery, tattoos... Anything?"

She pursed her lips. "He wore a necklace. But no tattoos."

"Anything stand out?"

"I only saw the chain." She frowned. "But I think I know what we need."

"What's that?" Phoenix asked.

"A witch."

His gaze hardened as much as mine did, and he shook his head with a frown.

"I don't think that's wise."

Nova shook her head. "I think a witch can help us."

"How?" I wondered, wanting to see her reason.

"They can sense magic. They may even recognise who's it is." She explained. "If I can figure out the scent of the wolf, perhaps a witch can help us recognise the magic. It's hidden from us, but I can feel its warmth. A witch can too."

"Gaia may not come."

Nova shrugged. "There are other witches who I am sure will help for a price."

This had my lips quirking, looking away from Nova. My eyes locked onto Phoenix, who was already staring at me. His own eyes narrowed, a silent warning. But guess what? It was the perfect opportunity to drop him in it.

"Speaking of witches..." I drawled.

"Charlie..."

"Someone came to your house whilst you were teleporting."

Phoenix cursed, and Nova's eyes darted to him. "What?"

"I was going to tell you after we sorted this out." Phoenix sighed. "I wanted to know you were okay."

"I'm fine. Who came?"

"Theia."

"Theia?" Nova's eyes widened. "Why?"

"She was the one who stopped me chasing after a false lead." Phoenix frowned. "She told me what happened to you."

Even I was listening intently to the alpha male as he spoke. This was the first I had heard the whole story, so I was going to take in every piece.

"Theia explained it in riddles, but in simpler words; you moved into a different realm." Phoenix explained.

"Ooh, ghosts." I whispered.

He shot me a look, exasperated. "She said that they were not a dangerous witch, but gave me nothing else about them."

"That's a wonderful fact to give," Nova murmured. "What did she say about me?"

"Your gift is powerful, Nova. Three generations of passed down raw magic into one tiny person. It is so strong that when it is locked away, it can break out of its confines when it grows too much."

"Like a monster." I stated.

Nova glared at me. "Charlie, I am not a monster."

I smirked. "You cage up your gift and it breaks out and makes you disappear. That is either a magician or a monster."

"Theia said that you could even appear in other people's dreams." Phoenix interrupted.

"Aw, what? That's even cooler." I muttered.

"Your gift of sight is limitless. If you harness the magic, the power, then you can go anywhere." He sighed. "That is why you need to be safe. Inviting witches onto our land could be catastrophic once they recognise your power."

"Theia is the queen." Nova shook her head. "What would she do?"

"You would invite Theia?" I frowned.

"Yeah, why not? She has visited me before, and she knew to come to your aid. She can't be that bad." Nova nodded. "I've seen her past. It has hardened her, but she is kind."

"Where? Deep down?" I rolled my eyes. "Her mother was the meanest witch in the world."

"Phoenix's dad was the meanest dad in the world, so is he a bad guy?" She snapped.

Phoenix remained silent, but I flinched. She had a point, and I muttered an apology, dropping my gaze.

"It's either Theia or Gaia."

"What's saying Theia will even give you answers?" Phoenix wondered. "She gave me nothing but riddles."

"What riddles?" Nova asked.

"She told me the same thing the witch who gave me the ring told me," He muttered. "Then she said I don't have to go far to connect the burnt ash trails."

"She said to have hope?" She whispered.

"Yes." Phoenix nodded.

My eyebrows furrowed, looking between the two of them and the ring on Phoenix's finger. He had that many that I never really paid attention.

"Do you know what that means?"

"That Theia is an expert at confusing me?" Phoenix snorted a laugh.

"No. Look between the lines, Phoenix. Witches enjoy games, but they don't like to mess with fate." Nova smiled softly, shaking her head. "The witch trying to contact us is the one who gave you that ring!"

Ooh, even more juicy.