EVERYTHING BECAME A blur. Gillian kept talking to her, telling her to stay awake and that all would be okay. She wasn't dying—even though it felt like she was—Davinia just knew she wasn't. The magic had drained her. It was too much power for her body.

But it worked.

She could draw power from everywhere.

"I can defeat Azura." The words left her lips in a mumble. Gillian's worried gaze stared down at her as she bobbled in his arms with his long strides.

Where were they even going?

"Sure, but not now," he said sternly.

Of course, not now. Davinia had trouble keeping her head up straight or form a proper sentence. She barely managed to roll her eyes at Gillian's words.

Voices she wasn't able to place blended together as people talked with each other. With all her might, she fought to stay conscious. To at least hear part of the conversation. Questions she had were being asked. Who they were, where they were, and whether they were safe now. The last one was Dalia. Something about the reaping. Not all the answers. Betrayal.

It hurt to breathe, to remain awake. Panic persisted in trying to take control of her, so she let the words become background noises and focused on Gillian's heartbeat.

Time blurred. Every time she closed her eyes, Gillian would nudge her. Some words of his followed, and she kept her eyes open again for a bit. The green roof of leaves disappeared, and a wooden ceiling came into sight. Voices talked over each other, making it hard for her to follow over her already pounding headache. She had never felt this much physical pain before, and she didn't like it. Her eyes fell shut. Gillian nudged her once more, asking for her to open her eyes, but she pursed her lips.

"Why would you bring them here?"

"It's our duty to help."

"Those damned vile witches will find us."

Strange voices in a strange place. And Davinia couldn't even move her head to look around.

Davinia parted her lips, but only a groan came out. To her annoyance, Gillian didn't stop moving to listen. He might have walked faster, perhaps. She opened her eyes again, and even blinking against the light took effort. They followed someone through a door, a hallway, and a room too bright for her.

Who were these people, and why was Gillian trusting them?

A kind woman's voice spoke. "I'll bring our healer in a moment."

"Thank you...for everything," Gillian said. He put Davinia on her own two feet. His muscles flexed as he held her up. Her legs wobbled, and she clutched Gillian's arms. "Careful."

Her stomach twisted. She blinked again at the harsh light. "I don't feel so good."

The back of Gillian's warm hand stroked her cheek. "What did you do, Davinia?" His fingers reached for hers, and she pulled her hand away. The blackness still covered her fingertips.

"It's nothing." A relaxing scent filled her nose. She stared at the steaming water of the tub with leaves floating around. It sang to her in a siren song.

"Don't lie to me." Gillian helped her in. She gasped at the temperature difference on her skin. "Is it too hot? They said this could help."

"Who are they?" she hissed through her teeth as Gillian lowered her further.

Gillian's lips formed a thin line, and his Adam's apple bobbled. His hand cupped water and cascaded it over her shoulders, but he didn't answer. "What was that black stuff coming out of you?" He washed the dark stains from her face.

"I asked first," she said, as she hoped the warm blush didn't show too much on her pale skin.

"No, I did when I asked you what you did."

A sigh escaped past her lips. Davinia closed her eyes for a moment. His finger stroked her nose as if to check without words if she was still conscious, and she wiggled it in response.

They both stayed stubbornly silent. Davinia tried to wash the blackness of her fingers, but it didn't come off. Crap. She pushed her hands underwater like they'd disappear if she didn't see them.

This time, Gillian sighed. He leaned his forehead against her head. "I love you."

She held her breath, unsure how to respond. Emotions tangled together in a whirlwind she couldn't get a grip on. Fear was the prominent one. Fear that he'd leave her one day. That she wasn't good enough. That she'd lose him if she let him into every part of her heart.

"You don't have to say it back. I just needed you to know. Whatever happens. I love you."

Davinia pulled her knees to her chest. The night's events flashed through her mind in a muddle of memories. "Your father..."

Gillian pulled away and threw water over her head, his fingers raking through her hair to wash out any dirt. "He saved Dalia and Mira and died a warrior's death." His lips pressed together into a thin line as his jaw clenched. "They've brought his body here, and he'll have a proper burial."

Gillian's father must have tried to fight the witch, even with the curse. "He died a hero," she said softly. Whatever she thought of him, he proved who he was in his last moment—it didn't take Gillian's pain or loss away, though. Her fingers brushed his cheek, and she pressed her lips to his.

The door opened. Davinia quickly pulled away, covering her naked body as much as she could. A woman who looked awfully familiar held a cup and some clean clothes for Davinia and Gillian.

"You need to drink this, Baríane. It will strengthen and heal you." The woman stepped forward.

Davinia curled in on herself. Baríane? What did that mean?

"Your fingers?" The woman pointed at her hands.

Davinia frowned and dipped further underwater as Gillian took the cup. "Thank you. We will come in a minute."

The woman bowed her head to Davinia and left them alone.

"Drink this," Gillian ordered, holding the cup to her lips.

Davinia narrowed her eyes at him. "Are we going to accept strangers' food with no questions asked?" Why was he suddenly so accepting of outsiders?

"Davinia, these are not strangers."

She blinked at him as he poured the thick liquid into her mouth. The gross taste lingered on her tongue, and she coughed. Why did everything healing taste so bad?

Gillian pulled the cup away. A symbol carved into the stone caught her eye. Davinia grabbed his wrist. "They're not strangers," she whispered as the blood drained from her face. Standing up, her legs staggered. The water splashed over the side of the tub.

"Davinia, please—" Gillian started, but his words trailed off.

The rough fabric of the borrowed dress itched her skin, but there was nothing else to wear. She swung the door open, walked down the hallway, and into the kitchen. There were more people than she expected, and everyone turned to her.

"You—" Davinia yelled. Her finger trembled as she pointed at the outsiders in the room. Or was she the outsider?

"Davinia, please calm down," a friend of Gillian inched forward.

"Don't talk to me like that." How dared he tell her to calm down! Why did he pick their side after everything she'd done for them? And they...the wolves that weren't cursed, the woman who looked familiar, and Gillian who recognised them. Anger rushed through her veins, and she desperately searched for control. "You cowards," she screamed.

Gillian leaned against the doorpost, watching closely how Davinia rampaged to the not-so-strangers.

"Why don't we talk?" a man said, his hands raised in defence.

"Yes, I would love to hear your explanation for abandoning us."

"We didn't—"

Davinia's hands shook at her side as she clenched her fists. "You didn't do what? Let Atropa take us? Let them bind us, abuse us, torture us—people died while you hid! WE WERE CHILDREN!" Hot tears ran down her cheeks. How could they do nothing while they suffered? Exhaustion washed over her body, and she swung on her feet. "You were in the council. You were supposed to protect us."

"We saved your life tonight," a woman spoke up.

Davinia's mouth dropped. She lunged forward, but an arm wrapped around her waist, holding her against a soft chest. "Don't kill them. We might need them," Gillian whispered in her ear.

"Sist—Davinia saved us, together with our wolves," Dalia said from the corner.

"And Dalia and I helped," Mira chimed in. Bandages cover her hand.

Davinia pulled Gillian's hand from her waist and made her way to Mira. Gillian followed her as a shadow. Her rage washed away as concern took its place. Carefully, Davinia held Mira's hand. A bit of blood bled through the white fabric wrapped around Mira's finger.

"What happened to your fingers?" Mira said, her eyes wide at the blackness covering Davinia's fingertips.

Davinia shook her head. "What happened to yours?"

"I lost a finger," Mira gave her a weak smile. "But we won, right? We're safe now."

"We aren't." Dalia's eyes filled with resentment. "Heda and Azura are still alive and coming for us, aren't they?" Dalia met Davinia's gaze.

Before Davinia had the chance to react, the old council member spoke up, "That's why we need to talk. Sooner rather than later."

Davinia ground her teeth. They had eight years to save them and talk, but the council chose to hide over doing something.

"How did you know we needed help?" Gillian asked, leading Davinia to a chair. He stood behind her, his hands resting on her shoulders.

The council member sat opposite the table. Glancing around, Davinia recognised a few of the other wolves and even two witches. "We heard someone was standing up to the Atropa witches."

"So you had time to gossip but no spare minute to help?" Davinia tried to control her burning anger. Tried was the keyword.

"We did help," the wolf said.

"Eight years too late."

"It's not like your bloodline is so innocent in everything," he spat back.

Davinia narrowed her eyes at the wolf. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"You were the ones who set fire to the village?" Gillian interrupted Davinia.

"We never looked away, but there was nothing we could do," the woman—was her name Lucina?—answered, and Davinia scoffed. "It's the truth, Davinia. The people who didn't die the day of the reaping were taken."

"But not you." Davinia's nails dug into her skin.

"We are not strong enough to fight our brothers and sisters," the wolf said.

"We understand." Gillian squeezed her shoulder, and she bit her tongue. Davinia most definitely did not understand, and neither should Gillian. She attempted to stand up, but Gillian kept her in place. "You should hear Lucina and Rollin out, Davinia."

"We did what we had to do to save our children, but that doesn't mean we've forgotten any of you." Rollin looked around the room, meeting the eyes of some wolves who escaped with Davinia.

"We never stopped looking for a way to get you back to safety." Lucina leaned forward and met Davinia's gaze. "When our seer saw you, we knew we had to do anything in our power to help you."

"The Baríane that was promised by the Goddess of the moon," Rollin said.

She was what now? Davinia looked up at Gillian. Something twinkled in his eyes. The news didn't seem new to him. "How do you know this?"

"They talked about it on our way here." Gillian's brows pulled together. "I assumed you heard some of it, too, but you must have been more out of it than I thought."

Davinia turned back to Lucina and Rollin. "So you'll help me defeat the last witches of Atropa?"

They both averted their gaze.

"No!" Dalia yelled through the room, shocked at her own objection. "I don't want to fight anymore," she softly added. "My aunt is here."

Davinia's heart skipped a beat. Her eyes snapped at Lucina, but she shook her head. "I'm sorry, Davinia. We don't have any of your relatives here. Your uncle may have escaped somewhere, but we do not know where."

"We tried to identify and bury the dead after...the destruction Atropa left behind will never be forgotten," Rollin said.

Davinia crossed her arms. "I don't need your sympathies."

"You'll have them, anyway." Rollin smiled at her kindly before his brows pulled together. "There's a lot you don't understand about that awful night."

She didn't feel like talking about everything she lost while they've been living a happy life away from Atropa and their wickedness. "I know you've been hiding away, and now that you've revealed yourself, the Atropa witches will come for you. So why risk it at a vision someone may have seen?" Davinia should believe in visions as she had them herself, which led to her escape. Yet, she couldn't seem to trust strangers.

"Did you not flee? Break free—sever the bond of your ancestors." Lucina said, and Davinia refused to answer. "Where do you get your power from?"

People leaned in.

"She's a weaver," Gillian announced proudly. "I told you, you're special."

Her stomach twisted. She was nothing of that kind.

"So we are safe if we stay here?" Dalia chimed in.

Davinia shook her head, and Lucina's face fell. "Sadly, no. Davinia is right. We exposed ourselves. It won't take long before the news reaches Azura." Lucina exchanged a glance with Rollin.

"But we've been in contact with the lycanthrope king in the north. We could go to them," Rollin said, and Gillian tensed behind her.

Davinia laughed. "And why should they accept us?" No one will. We're the cursed children taken by the nefarious coven.

Lucina folded her hands before her on the table as a true diplomat. "Their pack has witches, too. They've been part of their community for a long time."

"They've also been on neutral terms with Atropa," Gillian said with restraint in his voice.

"Atropa is a thorn in their eyes, especially with what they did to your pack. We had contact with some of their scouts. The king is tired of the witches' game and would accept us and the Baríane."

"And how will that fix their Atropa problem?" Davinia was getting frustrated with this conversation.

"To have Atropa prisoners would be a win for them," Lucina said.

Great, they were reduced to prisoners now.

Lucina glanced at the people surrounding them. Davinia almost forgot their audience. "Atropa won't be able to fight the king's army. Especially not after you've weakened them as much as you did. We will be safe there."

Davinia chewed on the inside of her cheek. Sighing, she stood up, and this time, Gillian didn't stop her. "You should all go." She glanced from Dalia to Mira and stopped at Gillian. "But I'm not leaving until Azura is dead, so we can live our lives in peace. Be more than someone's trophy."

"Davinia—" Lucina started.

Davinia faced Lucina. "I'll not live a life where I constantly have to wonder if Azura will come for us again."

"The king—" Rollin began.

"The king is gracious to accept us, but our old coven also thought Atropa was done for until they came back and—" Davinia paused to calm the storm waking up inside her. "Atropa was once let go—banished from our coven and village—and they returned and took everything. This time, they will pay for their crimes." Some people nodded, but Rollin, Lucina, and Gillian didn't seem convinced yet. Davinia seized Gillian's hand. "I can do this. All I need to do is get some rest, prepare, and find a way to take Azura down once and for all."

"And if you can't do it?" Lucina asked.

"I'll be dead, and you still live in the wolf king's lands as you planned to, anyway."

"I don't want you to die," Mira said before Gillian had the chance to speak up. "What if we all help? We are with enough people. Their wolves can actually fight."

People shook their heads and looked at their feet. Funny how a twelve-year-old girl had more courage than a room full of adults.

"It's okay, little witch. They don't know how it was. You go with them and live a happy life far away from Atropa."

"We know what you went through," Lucina said. "But we have children we have to think of."

"There are children there too." Davinia balled her fist. "And don't pretend you understand what we had to endure." The doors of the cabinets rattled. A wind blew open the door. Even drained, she had some magic left.

Gillian grabbed her arm, and Davinia closed her eyes. "We would love to take some rest first. It's been a long couple of days. Atropa will be busy. There's enough protection here against their spells. After some sleep, we can make a better decision."

Davinia bit back her words as some girl led them to a bedroom. As soon as the door shut, Gillian held her in his arms. Her fingers grabbed the shirt's fabric, holding on to it as if it was the last thing that kept her on this earth. The familiar comfort brought tears to her eyes.

"I'm tired," she admitted.

"We'll catch some sleep and figure out everything tomorrow, okay?"

Tears blurred her vision. For the first time, she couldn't fight her feelings. "I'm scared, Gillian. I don't know what to do."

"Whatever you decide, I'll be there. I'll go anywhere where you will go."

"But the curse."

"I'll stay away from the fight. And perhaps we can find a way to break the curse, but I'm not abandoning you. You don't deserve to be alone." 

✩ ⋆ ✩ ⋆ ✩

Do you think Davinia's anger was justified?