— You're a fundamental piece of my game — he approached again. — A piece that must be eliminated to get to the king and queen.
I frowned at his speech. Fundamental piece?
My mother's speech came to my mind, she assured me that Megan and I would always be their most vulnerable link, the most dangerous way to hurt them. For some as yet unknown reason, her plans were to use me in this sick game of revenge against my own parents. Bastard!
— You who hit my family,— I accused and he kept his gaze fixed on mine and I let out a bitter laugh. — Don't even think about trying to harm them, you hear me?— You,— I pointed in his face, — don't know what I'm capable of doing to protect the one I love.
— Oh, I do know,— he declared, confusing me. — And that's why you'll agree to marry me, to protect your family.
— What is the reason for this obsession with marrying me?
— You are one of the last Labonair witches, sweet Zoe, a rare wielder of arcane magic. Do you have any idea how valuable you are to me? Believe me, I would burn the world down to have you with me.
I swallowed hard, apprehensive of his determination.
— You're not going to get what you want.
— We'll see, sweet Zoe.— He smiled grimly. — I'll be back soon and I hope I made the right choice.
As if by magic, it turned into black smoke and simply disappeared. I leaned on the stone and slid down it until I reached the ground and hid my face with my hands.
What was I going to do?
(....)
The days passed calmly, the Witcher hadn't given any sign and as much as I wanted to remain calm, his words didn't leave my mind. He said he would be back and that made me alert. Megan was locked in her room since we woke up, strange behavior from her.
— Honey, do you know what happened to Meg? — Mom asked and I looked away from my diary and faced her coming walking towards me, gloves on her hands, she was taking care of the flowers.
— I'm thinking of going to talk to her.— I closed my journal. — Could it be something with Jaime?
— I really don't know,— he said, sitting down on the couch next to me and letting out a long sigh, stroking his belly.
— How's Aaron?— I crossed my legs on the couch and placed the diary beside me. Mom smiled and her eyes sparkled as the sun hit our faces, illuminating it.
— Very agitated, as usual.— He gave a short laugh. — I can't wait for him to be born, I love my boy but I can't take it anymore,— she whimpered.
— Did you see something?— She shook her head.
— After that night, I never had a vision again.
— What was that, Mom?— I asked suspiciously. — It was so weird.— I rubbed my arms.
— I don't know, honey, but I confess that it scared me,— she murmured in a low voice. — I hope it's nothing serious, I don't want any problems right now, Aaron's arrival is close and I don't want anyone to be in danger.— She reached out and took my hand. — Are you okay, Zoe?— I'm feeling you weird.
I wanted to tell her what happened and I would if that man showed up again. But now, as she'd said, Aaron was coming and I didn't want her to be nervous.
— It's okay, Mom.— I grinned at her, hating myself for lying to my mom. — I'm just feeling overwhelmed.
— Want to train a little?
— Later,— I replied, getting up from the couch. — I'll try to talk to Meg.
— Keep me posted, okay?
I nodded, walking towards my sister's room, which was next to mine. I knocked on the door a few times, with only silence as an answer. I kept knocking on the door several times.
— Who is it?— Her tone was gruff and I smiled, knowing I had managed to get her attention.
— The best sister in the world and the most beautiful one too.— My voice sounded excited.
— What do you want?
— Can't I talk to my favorite sister?— There was a minute of silence and I just saw the door open.
The room was all dark, lit only by a few weak beams of light that escaped the curtains, I closed the door and looked around the room, finding Megan lying in bed, under the covers. The temperature in the room was freezing, Meg loved the cold and I preferred the heat, always the opposite of each other.
— Honey? — I imitated the way our mother called us and Megan murmured, I just saw a pillow flying in my face, hitting me full on.
— Hey!— I exclaimed and she let out a laugh, sitting up in bed and turning on her bedside lamp. I could see her downcast expression and I approached her, sitting down across from her. — Meg, what happened?
She shook her head.
— I do not want to talk about that.
— Don't you trust me?— I asked the same question she had asked me a few days ago. She rolled her eyes.
— Of course I do, but...
— But?
— It's complicated, Zoe,— he murmured, his gaze faraway. — I... I didn't even settle for that.
— Meg, you know I can trust me.— She nodded. — Let's do this, I'll tell you a secret and you tell me what happened, okay?
— Okay,— he sighed.
— Remember that club we went to?— That that unknown man appeared.
— Yes, I do remember that asshole.
I sighed deeply, bracing myself for his outburst.
— The next day, the night you left with Jaime, I went into the forest, to the stone circle, you know?— she waved, eager for my words. — He appeared again.
She opened her mouth in shock. And right after that, she slapped me on the arm, not very gently.
— There!
— Why didn't you tell me this, Zoe Labonair?— She crossed her arms irritably and I looked away.
— I didn't want to make anyone worried,— I replied, playing with my fingers. — Megan, his appearance was not in vain.
— What did he do?
— Basically said we were getting married.
Megan frowned, blinked a few times, and laughed in pure mockery.
— What? Where did he get that?
I shrugged, biting my bottom lip.
— I have no idea. I mean, he's crazy!
— Did he say anything else?
— He said that I would agree to marry him to prevent something terrible from happening to our family.
— And you just say that now, Zoe?— Didn't you tell our parents?— I shook my head. — Shit, Zoe, he could be dangerous.
— I know, but I didn't take his threats seriously.— She cocked her head to the side and wrinkled her nose. — What is it, Meg?— What's his chance against our family?
— You didn't think he might not be alone?— You said he is a black wizard. Do you know the last one we faced? Kisa!
I rubbed my face, cringing at the memory of the witch, I still had nightmares about her.
— I don't know what's going to happen, Meg. If he shows up again and threatens me, I'll talk to our parents.
— You're taking too many risks, Zoe.
— I know,— I muttered. — But I'm going to let that nutcase have control of my life, Meg. His obsession with me is not normal and I promise if he shows up again, I'll let you know.
— Immediately,— he snarled.
— Immediately,— I agreed and she sighed. — Now it's her turn.—
— You're going to want to kill me,— she confessed and I frowned. — I found my mate.— He closed his eyes.
I widened my eyes, choking on my own saliva and coughed a few times, trying to catch my breath. I glared at my sister, mouth wide open.
— Wh—what?— I screamed. — Megan!— I threw the pillow in her face and pulled away, feeling my blood boiling with irritation.
— I'm sorry ok? But I wasn't ready for what happened.
— I can't believe you kept this from me,— I accused indignantly. — You're a terrible sister.— I crossed my arms sullenly and she rolled her eyes. I felt my body being pulled and Megan was using her magic on me, she just threw me on the bed. — You... you idiot!—
— Will you stop freaking out and listen to me?— I covered my ears like a child and she slapped me—Zoe!
— I'm really mad at you, Megan.
— And that's because you don't know that it's been over a year since I met him.
— A year?— I yelled indignantly. — Oh my Moon, how I want to slap you for keeping this from me. How could you?
— When I tell you the whole truth, you'll understand why I didn't tell you the whole truth.
— And what would be?
— My mate is…the wolf who killed Mom's parents, our grandparents.
Oh shit. It took me a few seconds to realize the seriousness of the situation.
— How?— I asked in a whisper and seeing my sister's eyes full of tears, I pulled her into a hug. — I'm sorry, my sister. It must have been terrible for you.
— I still can't believe this.— She sniffed and I pulled back, drying her face. — Why him? My destiny is a murderer who destroyed our mother's life.
— Everything has a reason.
An unfamiliar voice sounded behind me and Megan and I turned toward the voice, finding a woman standing in the doorway to the balcony. She wore dark clothes, but she had a welcoming smile on her lips. Her hair was long and dark, the same color as her eyes. She reminded me a lot of Joseph.
— Who are you?— I asked confused.
— What are you doing in my room?— Megan spat, kneeling on the bed and lifting her hands, her pupils dilated to bright orange.
— Don't get excited, Megan. I didn't come to hurt anyone.
— You couldn't,— I commented and she smiled.
— You know, you guys look a lot like your mother.
— Do you know our mother?—
— Allow me to introduce myself,— she approached. — I'm Marie Labonair, mother of Joseph and Kisa.
— Holy shit!— Megan scolded and it was my turn to feel my magic expanding through my body, my hands warmed up and when I looked down at them, they were glowing.