The hospice room smelled faintly of antiseptic and lavender, an odd mix that made Chloe’s chest ache. She stood at the side of her mother’s bed, staring down at her fragile form. The stroke had stolen so much, mobility, speech, the light in her eyes. It didn't feel kind that she was alive, but not truly living. Tonight, that would change. Valerius had already cleared the path, bending the nurses' and doctors’ wills so they wouldn’t interrupt. It was just Chloe, her mother, and the three women who had become her unlikely allies: Melinda, Zoe, and Diana. Diana set the ritual tools on the bedside table, candles, herbs, and a small obsidian bowl filled with water. Her movements were precise, almost reverent. “This spell will restore her body,” she said evenly, lighting the first candle. “Her blood will flow clean, her nerves will wake, and the stroke will be gone. But…” She paused, glancing at Chloe. “She will remain asleep. For now.” Chloe’s heart clenched. “Why? If she’s healed, why
Last Updated : 2025-09-11 Read more