Chapter 20: The witch's price

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*Chapter 20: The Witch’s Price*

The witch lived at the edge of the territory.

Where the trees were twisted and the moon looked wrong.

“Are you sure about this?” I asked as Kieran parked.

“No,” he said. “But we’re out of options.”

The cabin was made of bone and branches. Smoke came from the chimney even though it was summer.

A woman sat outside. Old. Eyes completely white.

“You’re late,” she said without looking up. “The moon sent me a dream about you two weeks ago.”

Kieran went stiff. “You know why we’re here.”

“Black bond,” the witch said. “One year. Death. Silver starting to show.” She finally looked at me. “You’re pretty. For a curse.”

I flinched.

“Sit,” she said, gesturing to two stumps. “This will cost you.”

“Name your price,” Kieran said.

“Not money.” The witch smiled, no teeth. “Truth. And a memory.”

We sat.

The witch grabbed my hand. Her fingers were freezing. She turned it over and traced the silver lines with one nail.

“Hm. Interesting.”

“What?” I asked.

“You’re not just bonded,” she said. “You’re reversing it.”

“Reversing how?”

“Black bonds punish. Silver bonds heal. Gold bonds...” She paused. “Gold bonds choose.”

Kieran leaned forward. “Choose what?”

“Each other. Freely. Three times.” The witch cackled. “Sound familiar? Sacrifice. Truth. Love.”

“That’s what the journal said,” I whispered.

“The journal was right.” She let go of my hand. “Black to Silver to Gold. If you complete it, the curse breaks. The bond becomes real. No death. No timer.”

Hope hit me so hard I almost cried.

“But,” the witch said.

Of course there was a but.

“But,” she continued, “if one of you chooses wrong. If one lie is told. If one sacrifice isn’t real. The bond snaps back to black. And he dies in 3 days instead of 365.”

The air left my lungs.

“Three days,” Kieran repeated. Quiet.

“Correct.” The witch looked at him. “So you better be sure, Alpha.”

“How do we do it?” I asked. “The three choices?”

“You already did one. Sacrifice.” She pointed at me. “You took a hit for him. With Rafe.”

“Second is Truth. You started that tonight.” She looked between us. “The last is Love. And it has to be said. Out loud. With no fear.”

Kieran and I looked at each other.

“That’s it?” I asked. “Just say I love you?”

The witch laughed. “If it was that easy, every cursed pair would be golden by now.” She stood up. “Love under a death sentence is the hardest thing in the world, child. Because you have to mean it even knowing you might lose them.”

Silence.

“Price,” the witch said, holding out her hand.

Kieran gave her a memory. I watched his eyes go distant for a second.

Then he blinked and looked at me.

“What did you give her?” I whispered.

“The day I rejected Mae,” he said. “So I’d never do it again.”

My chest hurt.

My turn. The witch took my hand. 

Pain shot through my head.

When I came back, I was crying.

“What did you take?” Kieran asked, panicked.

“The day my parents died,” I whispered. “And called me a burden.”

Kieran pulled me into his arms instantly. “Hey. No. I’m sorry.”

The witch watched us. “You’re halfway there. Two choices done. One to go.”

“Will it work?” Kieran asked. “The gold bond?”

The witch shrugged. “The moon is cruel. But she’s fair. If you both choose love, knowing he could die... then yes.”

She turned to go inside.

“Wait,” I said. “What happens if we tell someone else about this? About the gold?”

The witch stopped. “Then the moon hears. And she gets jealous. And she sends a test.”

“What kind of test?”

The witch looked at the sky. “The kind that bleeds.”

She went inside and shut the door.

We sat there for a long time.

Finally Kieran spoke. “We can do this.”

“Can we?” I asked. “Say it. Love. Knowing you might die?”

Kieran took my face in his hands. His thumbs wiped my tears.

“I’ve been dying since the day I met you, Rejoice. Because I was too scared to love you.” He smiled, sad. “I’m not scared anymore.”

My heart.

The silver on my neck glowed. Up to my ear now.

We stood up to leave.

That’s when we heard it.

Howling. 

Surrounding the cabin.

Not wolves.

Voices.

“Alpha Kieran Blackwood!” A voice boomed. “By order of the Council, you are hereby declared rogue for harboring a cursed omega. Surrender her, or be executed.”

Voss.

And 20 council warriors.

The witch’s voice came from inside: “Told you. The moon gets jealous.”

Kieran looked at me. Drew his claws.

“Run,” he said.

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*END OF CHAPTER 20*