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Lahat ng Kabanata ng Moonlit Magic: Kabanata 11 - Kabanata 19

19 Kabanata

Chapter Eleven

Rita Rita’s head pounded as she trudged up the steps to her grandmother’s farmhouse. The weekend couldn’t have come soon enough—every bone in her body ached, her nose was raw from sneezing, and no amount of tea or human cold medicine had helped.Gogo took one look at her and tsked, her sharp eyes narrowing. "Sit," she commanded in Zulu, already moving toward her shelves of herbs.For the next hour, Rita watched in bleary fascination as her grandmother worked—crushing dried leaves with a mortar and pestle, boiling pungent roots, muttering under her breath. The kitchen smelled like earth and spice and something faintly electric.Finally, Gogo thrust a steaming cup into Rita’s hands. The liquid inside was murky and smelled like wet tree bark mixed with vinegar."Gogo, this is terrible," Rita groaned after the first sip, her face twisting.Her grandmother crossed her arms, one brow arched.Rita sighed and downed the rest, shuddering."Now," Gogo said, pointing to a bucket on the floor fi

Chapter Twelve

Rita Rita adjusted the strap of her bag as she headed toward her dorm, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the courtyard. She was still riding the high of Gogo’s healing—her body light, her mind clear—when Derek fell into step beside her."You’re glowing," he remarked, his voice casual, but his eyes sharp. "That wasn’t just herbal tea that fixed you up."Rita tensed, Freda’s warning echoing in her mind. Information is power."Gogo’s remedies are strong," she said vaguely, keeping her pace even.Derek hummed, studying her sidelong. "Must be some powerful herbs. What did she use? Moonroot? Silverthorn?""A little of everything," Rita deflected, forcing a smile. "Witchcraft and home remedies, you know?"Derek’s gaze lingered, but he didn’t push further. "Well, I’m glad you’re feeling better. Library tonight? I found something you might like."Rita hesitated, then nodded. "Sure. After dinner."As they parted ways, she couldn’t shake the unease curling in her stomach.Natha

Chapter Thirteen

NathanNathan stood stiffly in front of his father’s mahogany desk, the scent of aged leather and ink thick in the air. The Manhattan skyline glittered through the floor-to-ceiling windows, but his father’s gaze was far sharper than any city lights."I’m hearing talk," his father said, voice low. "About you. About a witch."Nathan kept his expression neutral. "She’s a friend. And I’m taking witchcraft electives. My GPA is still perfect. I’m on track for business school."His father leaned forward, fingers steepled. "You think this is about grades?" A growl laced his words. "This is about focus. About duty."Nathan clenched his jaw."Witches have an allure, Nathan," his father continued, disdain dripping from the word. "A trick of magic. They weave spells without speaking them, pull men—and wolves—to their whims. You think your feelings are real? They’re not."Nathan’s pulse spiked. "You don’t know what you’re talking about.""I know more than you!" His father slammed a fist on the des

Chapter Fourteen

Rita The clatter of cutlery and student chatter filled the dining hall as Rita shuffled through the breakfast line, her movements sluggish. She barely registered the plate being handed to her until a cold finger tapped her wrist."Someone looks positively undead this morning," Zach purred, materializing beside her with unnatural speed. "And here I thought I was the vampire."Rita blinked slowly at him. "Are you stalking me now?"Zach placed a dramatic hand over his heart. "Merely concerned. Those shadows under your eyes could rival mine." His usual smirk faltered when she swayed slightly. "I'm serious, gorgeous. You look—""Like I haven't slept? Groundbreaking." Rita grabbed a coffee with both hands, the steam doing little to clear the fog in her mind. "Go bother someone else, Zach.""We can’t have you sick," he murmurs. When she glares, he adds with a hollow laugh: "Who’d laugh at my jokes?"Deidre appeared, her cornflower blue eyes narrowed to slits. "Shoo, fledgling. The adults ar

Chapter Nineteen

NathanRita lay pale and still on the couch, her breathing shallow. Nathan paced like a caged animal, his wolf howling inside him.Then the door flew open.Freda and Pru rushed in first, Deidre hovering behind them—until she hit an invisible barrier at the threshold."Oh, for—invite me in, wolf!"Nathan barely had time to mutter "Come in" before Freda shoved past him, dropping to her knees beside Rita."Oh my god!" Her hands trembled as she grabbed Rita’s left wrist. Pru took the right, their fingers interlacing with Rita’s.Freda began chanting in Yoruba, her voice low and urgent. A golden glow pulsed between their joined hands, spreading up Rita’s arms like liquid sunlight.Nathan watched, breath caught in his throat, as Rita’s heartbeat steadied, her skin regaining some of its warmth."She’s not waking up," he said hoarsely."But she’s stable," Pru murmured, patting his arm. "The coven bond is holding."Then Freda turned—and Nathan saw rage in her eyes.She pointed at Zach, still l

Chapter Fifteen

NathanNathan sat on the edge of his bed, the stolen wolfskin book heavy in his lap. He hadn’t slept. Hadn’t even tried.The words burned behind his eyelids:Fated bonds transcend species. A wolf may recognize his mate in any form—witch, vampire, even human.The bond is not magic, but instinct. A pull deeper than blood, older than reason.To deny it is to fracture the soul. His fingers traced the jagged illustration of a wolf and witch standing beneath a full moon, their shadows entwined.Rita.His first thought was to go to her. To tell her everything. But how?

Chapter Sixteen

Rita Rita woke to sunlight streaming through the curtains, her body lighter than it had been in days. The deep, bone-weary exhaustion had receded, leaving only a dull ache—like the echo of an illness fading. She stretched, her fingers brushing the thick Sotho blanket that had cocooned her all weekend.Freda glanced up from her spellbook as Rita shuffled into the common area. "Look who’s alive.""Barely," Rita muttered, collapsing onto the couch beside Pru, who wordlessly handed her a bowl of oatmeal drizzled with honey."You look better," Pru observed."I feel better," Rita admitted, spooning a bite into her mouth. "But I still don’t know what’s wrong with me."Freda snapped her book shut. "Which is why we’re doing the ritual tonight."Rita blinked. "What ritual?""The coven ritual," Pru said, as if it were obvious. "We’ve been talking about it for weeks.""But—we haven’t known each other that long," Rita said slowly.Freda’s gaze was steady. "Doesn’t matter. You need protection. We

Chapter Seventeen

Rita Nathan stood at the edge of the courtyard, shoulders tense, hands shoved deep in his pockets. His gaze locked onto her the moment she stepped into view, like he’d been waiting. Like he’d known she’d come this way.Rita’s steps faltered.For days, he’d avoided her. For days, she’d wondered what she’d done wrong. Now here he was, looking at her like—Like he had something to say.She considered walking past him.After days of being ignored, she'd half-convinced herself she'd imagined their growing closeness. Now here he was, waiting for her with that intense focus that used to make her stomach flutter—and now just made her irritated.She considered walking right past him.But he moved first, cutting across the path to intercept her."Rita." His voice was rough, like he hadn't slept."Nathan." She kept her tone flat. "You're blocking the walkway."A muscle in his jaw twitched. "I know. I just—" He exhaled sharply, fingers flexing at his sides. "I need to talk to you. Later. Somewhe

Chapter Eighteen

Rita The library’s towering shelves cast long shadows as Rita and Derek walked side by side, their conversation a careful dance of half-truths."Mugwort enhances dream magic," Derek said, fingers trailing along a dusty spine. "But it’s the timing of the harvest that most witches overlook."Rita nodded absently. "Gogo always picks it under a waxing moon.""Smart woman." Derek shot her a sidelong glance. "You seem better today.""I am.""Were you ill again?" His brow furrowed with what might have been concern—if Rita didn’t know better.She shrugged. "Just tired. I thought maybe Zach was… feeding off me somehow."Derek went very still. "Why would you think that?""He kept showing up when I felt worst. Said weird things about my energy."A beat of silence. Then Derek exhaled, shaking his head. "Energy draining is rare. Some call it ‘witch sickness.’ There’s no real cure, just… prevention." He abruptly changed the subject, pulling a book from the shelf. "This spell sharpens memory. Tempo

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