*Luca* The sound of a car engine hit my sense of hearing. I squint at Martin. The massive dork stands there with a crooked expression, which clearly shows that he knows the sound of the engine. I grind my teeth as Soleil's essence rips into my heart. She is in the car.  I do not know why, but I can feel she is nearby and I can see that Martin is feeling the same way about the red-haired witch.  A small Fiat filled to the brim with witches soon after rolls into the courtyard.  "Are you absolutely sure o

 *Soleil* I hold on to the armrest so as not to run away. I know that everyone's eyes are resting on me now, and I have to gather all my willpower not to show weakness through my body language. Now we have come to the part of the meeting which I had not been looking forward to at all. I would probably be able to live with being jealous of always having to fight for the things which Belinda seems to come sleeping  to, but that my cousin will now also have Luca, crushes me.  "Belinda has dreamed of Luca”. I mumble. My throat feels like sandpaper. “My kin has told me that we can change partners if one does not want the connection”. 

  *Gudrun* I see the young light brown hamram disappear into the trees with Soleil on his back. Things are not taking the course I had imagined. Behind me, the witches and wolves keep their distance and talk only among themselves. It does not sound like they are closer to a common solution than when we arrived. That Luca will not cooperateposes a challenge. Had I misinterpreted the signs anyway ? Her kin had been evasive when I had asked him, and the runes still will not do justice. By Loke's cunning, what have I gotten them all into ?  I watch in silence as first Belinda disappears out the front door under the pretext of

*Soleil* "Elder ?" I step carefully to the armchair, where Siri sits and looks out over the landscape. "There's one I would like you to meet”. I pull Luca up behind me. Siri studies him without answering. "It's Luca". I hurry to say. “He is the one who saved me from the dark one and who has protected me ever since”. I turn to him. "This is my mentor, the smartest and nicest person in the whole world, Siri". Siri holds out her hand to Luca. He takes it and smile at her. "It's nice to finally meet you. But I'm afraid I'm just an old woman now”. She smiles and meets my surprised gaze. "I've decided it's time for Marta to take over. Something tells me the last pieces are falling into place right now. We're having a ceremony tonight where I'll hand over the job to her". "Marta ?" I roll my eyes. "She doesn't like me. I can not do anything right at all". "Marta loves you like a sister, and siblings do not always agree. But she has proven that she loves you, otherwise she was not her

*Luca* 'Didn't you say they were right in front of us ?' Soleil takes a firm hold of my brown fur and follows my rocking movements. I stop and listen. Then I stick my snout in the ground and sniff. First thing is the smell of decay from the dying grass tickling my nose. I breathe the air and catch the smell of the small scent particles from dandruff and fur that have been sprinkled by an animal in a straight line across the valley. It no doubt belongs to a member of my pack. 'The trail comes over from the other side of that ridge. It's Martin, so Gudrun must be there too’. I nod towards the east, where the forest is more dense. 'Are they just standing there ? It's a trap, isn't it ?’ I observe the tree line and sniff the air again. There is a bird whistling and insects buzzing. Ergo no predators on the way. 'They are not moving. Of course it's a trap’. 'What are we going to do then ? Just run straight into it ?' 'We're well against the wind here, but I'm pretty sure he knows w