Zoe

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I was in disbelief as I whipped around and shot daggers at Pine with my eyes. They weren't there to take my side, but shouldn't that be what they did? Being sisters and all, as they put it.

"Pine is right," Ash said in a mild tone. "He is your mate. Your second half. And he is that for a reason."

I turned back to look at Felix, and he looked so damn smug. His smile was more of a taunt than anything else in my eyes.

"Fine! Whatever. Guess no one wants to make sense. Come on, let's go!" I exclaimed and started walking towards the car.

"Why would you go by car?" Pine asked when she saw the direction of my steps.

"Because he isn't coming with if he doesn't have that amulet on and I can't teleport him when he wears it," I snapped back.

I kept walking, but I had the feeling of that Felix didn't follow, so I turned to yell at him to hurry. But to my surprise, Ash and Pine were right by his side. Both looked intensely at the amulet.

"It's only against witchcraft?" Pine asked.

"Yes. Seems like it. So teleporting won't be a problem," Ash answered.

"Good! Cars are such unnatural machines."

"What are you two talking about?" I cut in and a little of my anger ebbed away because of the curiosity that started to build.

"Witches aren't the only ones that can teleport," Pine smiled.

"We can too. As long as there are trees, we can go there," Ash explained.

Abandoning my anger, I skipped over to them. "Really? How?"

"I... I don't know," said Pine and turned to Ash.

"I've never thought about it. It's just something we can do." Ash frowned slightly and looked to the side, towards the trees. "It's... The trees are sort of connected and by touching one, it's possible to feel another?"

She neither sounded nor looked convincing. She seemed to know it herself because she shook her head before scratching it and continue to look far off.

"I think... You'll probably understand better if we try. Pine can take Felix and I'll take you," she finally concluded.

"Works for me!" Felix smiled brightly.

"Alright, yes. Let's get going," I agreed readily that time. It was obvious he was coming no matter what, so better make it quick. Besides, I was really excited about trying the new travel method out.

Pine giggled and started skipping to the fence. "Trips are always so exciting!"

I smiled at her enthusiasm and felt it spread to me. I would be going home, I would see my father, I would introduce my mate to my father. Those thoughts suppressed the negative ones, and excitement filled me. I grabbed hold of Felix's hand.

"Come on then, let's hurry," I ushered him and started moving to the fence as well.

We were just a couple of steps from it when the next hindrance stepped out of the house.

"Where are you going?" Harry's voices travelled to us and made us all look back.

His eyes darted around between the four of us, his jaw clenched, but he moved his hands as if trying to crack his fingers over and over again.

"We'll be back soon," Felix said, and there was an edge to his voice.

"Where are you going?" Harry repeated his question, but he didn't direct it to his son. Instead, he looked straight at me.

"To my home," I answered. Just a few hours ago, the thought of Harry Jackson had me afraid and I could feel that still from Felix. He was scared of his father's anger. He would likely be scared of that for a while until he had seen the change enough times with his own eyes. Because all I could see while looking at Harry was fear and worry. In my head, the memory of when Harry had woken up in the basement to see me and Felix gone, in which what he had feared the most had happened, played. That intense fear of losing his son.

"To your coven?" Harry continued the questioning.

"Yes. I have to settle things with them. Break off all ties," I explained.

Harry's eyes darted to Felix before returning to me. "Felix will stay."

I smiled and felt a bit smug about that there was at least one other person who agreed with me.

"I'm not the one you have to convince of that. I want that to," I said and turned to look at Felix. Harry followed suit.

"I'm not letting her go to danger on her own," Felix said with a hard and firm tone, and his hand held mine in an iron grip.

"They are witches! They might..." Harry's voice trailed off, and he turned to me again. The way he looked reminded me of a kid waiting to be scolded by his parent. I laughed in my mind, but kept my face calm and composed.

"They might hurt him, yes. They will likely try. They won't be happy with me for having gone against them and not killed you. And they know Felix is my mate."

"Mate? Wait, you mean just boyfriend? Partner?"

I realized I had forgotten to explain. Or rather, I realized I had to stop assuming Harry understood all things magical. Yes, he was knowledgeable, but a lot of the knowledge was incomplete or just plain wrong.

I shook my head. "No. It's more than a boyfriend or partner. Soulmate is more accurate. Without each other, we'll never be whole. Humans can't recognize their soulmates the way magical creatures can, but Annabel was likely yours."

Understanding, pain and sadness flicker through his eyes. Without a doubt he thought about those last hours he had with Annabel. The extreme need he had felt to stop her suffering and the complete devastation when he lost her.

He nodded slowly.

"I'll never let anyone harm him," I continued. "I promise to take care of him. His happiness and safety are what's most important to me."

I watched as Harry nodded slowly again, and I could see the acceptance in his eyes.

I turned to look at Felix and he watched me with wonder written all over him.

"You know I feel the same, right?" he said.

"I know." I gave a weak smile and kissed his lips lightly. Then he turned to look at his father again.

"We'll be back soon," he promised.

"You better," Harry answered with an annoyance that was clearly put on. "I've always wanted grandkids."

Felix's mouth fell open, and I giggled.

"You'll have as many as you want," I answered and winked at the completely dumbfounded Felix.

"Can we go now?" Pine broke through the conversation.

"They're my sisters," I explained as I saw Harry paying attention to Pine and Ash for the first time. "They're nymphs."

Another light seemed to go off within Harry as he muttered: "Nymphs and witches... My grandkids are going to be a real handful."

"Alright, let's go now," I said before we got held up even longer.

Felix was in a slight daze as we took the last steps to the fence and started to climb it. He kept looking back to where his father stood, as if to make sure that the conversation had been real. When we jumped down on the other side, he finally spoke up.

"You made him into a completely new person," he mumbled and shook his head.

"I just help him deal with his grief," I corrected. "This is the person he always was. He loves you immensely, you know."

Felix continued shaking his head, but didn't retort. As I knew, it would take some time for Felix to get used to it and to be able to see his father in a new light, the real light.

"So, Pine will take Felix, and I'll take you," Ash said and held out her hand to me.

I was reminded again about how we would travel and felt myself go on high alert. I wanted to learn. It sounded convenient and actually like a more efficient way than how witches could transport themselves.

Felix and I let go of each other's hands and he took Pine's instead, while I took hold of Ash.

"Do I have to do anything?" Felix asked, sounding nervous.

"Just hold on to me and let it happen. It might feel weird, but don't resist," Pine said and then she stepped forward and touched a tree.

I instantly understood better what Ash had tried to explain. The tree didn't glow, but to my eyes it did, and it wasn't just the tree. Its roots glowed as well, and I could see them stretch out everywhere. But before I could register anything else, the glowing stopped and Pine and Felix were gone.

"Ready?" Ash asked, and I nodded.

She also stretched her hand out and touched the tree. That time, I could feel it and not only see it. It reminded me of the threads of memories, except that it was threads of life that spread through the whole earth. And just like how a memory from childhood might take you straight to a memory in adulthood, the life from the tree could take me to the life of another tree miles and miles away.

With Ash as my guide, I could immediately spot the thread of life we wanted to go to. It was an apple tree in my garden at home. As soon as I saw it, I felt my body being sucked forward and next thing I knew, I was looking at my home.