— What are you doing here? — I asked excitedly and she raised her hands.
— Take it easy, please. I already told you that I have no intention of hurting anyone, I just came to warn you.
— Do you really think we'll trust you?— It was my turn to ask. — Have you perhaps forgotten all the harm your daughter has done to our mother?—
— Kisa was solely responsible for her actions. Neither I nor Joseph are responsible for her actions.
— Joseph was a good man, he helped my mother and saved her — I conclude calming down and the glow in my hands disappeared, but my sister was still alert. — Meg?
— I don't trust her,— he replied without taking his flaming eyes off Marie.
— You are without a doubt wild Megan.— My sister raised an eyebrow. — And you sweet Zoe.
— Don't call me that,— I muttered under my breath, chafing at the nickname. The witch called me that way.
— We need to talk,— she stated. — Megan, please calm down, I won't hurt anyone.
— Until you prove me wrong, I won't calm down,— my sister replied firmly.
— So be it,— he replied and walked over to one of the armchairs in the room, sitting down in it.
— What do you want to talk to us about?— I got right to the point.
She crossed her legs, resting her hands on her knees.
— About your companions.
— How?— Megan snarled, nearly jumping on Marie's neck.
— I know who your destiny is,— she stated. — And I came to advise and help you.
— How do you plan this? — I asked sitting on the edge of the bed, in front of Marie.
— I wish to help you control your powers,— she stated and I looked at Megan, who returned the same confused look. — I've been watching you guys for a while now and I've noticed the lack of control.
— We can't control it.
— Zoe!— Megan chided me, I ignored her.
— Could you help us?
— I have experience helping powerful young witches find control, but you two wield power I've never seen before.
— Our mother already helps us,— Megan replied bluntly.
— I know Hayley is trying, but even she doesn't know how powerful you two are,— she replied. — I don't think she'll have more time with Aaron's arrival.
— She's right.— I glared at Megan.
— I'm offering my help to you both.
— Why?
She sighed wearily.
— She's trying to make up for what her daughter did to us,— Megan stated and Marie glared at her.
— I hold your mother in great esteem,— Marie said. — But you're right, Megan, in parts. I was sent by the ancestors to help destroy Kisa and protect you and Hayley.
— Why would the ancestors care so much about us?—
— Because you are extremely important for the future. Each of you has an extraordinary destiny ahead of you, do you think you were born by simple work of destiny? No, you were predestined.
— I don't like where this conversation is going,— Megan muttered sourly.
— But that will only happen through your union with your destined ones.
— I knew it!— Megan mumbled and I saw the lamp light explode. I faced my scared sister and saw in her eyes something I had never seen before, an unusual hatred. — That's why you came here, you cursed witch.
— You don't understand, Megan—— Marie stood up. — Jason isn't what you think, he...
— Don't touch his name,— my sister roared, out of control. — I don't want to know anything about this killer.
— Meg, please calm down,— I begged, but my sister had her glare directed at Marie.
— Together, you will be responsible for the greatest revolution the supernatural world has ever known.
— That's stupid! — scolded my sister, she really was furious.
— Listen to me carefully.— He approached. — Your destiny has already been written and no matter how much you fight against it, you will always return to the same place. There's no escaping what's to come.
— Get out of my room!— Megan said, she was about to explode and I could feel it.
— I'll leave so you can calm down, but my proposal still stands. I can help you, but it depends on you accepting it.
— We do not...
— We'll think about it, okay?— I cut Megan, who glared at me.
Marie nodded and turned, walking toward the balcony.
— You need to calm down,— I scolded Megan, who completely ignored me, keeping her eyes fixed on Marie.
— Zoe?— she called to me.
— What?
— You must accept his proposal.
I shuddered at his speech.
— What are you talking about?— My body froze and my heart raced.
— You are predestined.
ZOE LABONAIR
You are predestined.
Even after two Marie's words were still hammering in my mind, what was she trying to say?
Predestined... Could it be the bond of companionship?
The only person I was destined for was my mate, and she knew about the witcher's proposal. Would... would he be able to be my mate? It wouldn't make sense!
— It can't be him, I didn't recognize him.
Mom always says that we don't always recognize our mate at first. He's a witch, he might have done some spell to camouflage himself.
— It's a possibility and would explain all that unhealthy obsession with us. Does he really think we'll agree to marry a stranger who wants to use us to hurt our family? He makes me laugh!
— Cheater!— I heard Dad's scream and I looked up to see him lying on the floor with Megan on top of him, hands on his chest and a smug smile on his lips.
— It's the second time she's knocked you down, my love, Megan can replace you now,— I heard Mom scream as she approached me. — How are you my sweetheart?
— I'm still confused about Marie's visit,— I replied and she sat down next to me.
— It was kind of confusing for me too when I first met her,— he replied. — After all, she was Kisa and Joseph's mother. But she is a good person.
— She suggested training us.— My mom looked at me in surprise. — She said she saw our lack of control.
— Marie wants to help you and Megan?— I nodded. — Did she say why?
— She said that we are of great importance for the future and for that we need to learn to control ourselves.
— She already told me that.
— Serious?
— It was after the war.— He frowned. — She paid me a visit.
— What she said?
Mom sighed, rubbing her arms.
— She said trouble is coming.— I shuddered at her words and her head turned in my direction. — I don't want to worry you, honey.
— Please, continue. I want to know the truth.
— She mentioned her mate, but didn't say who he was. She just referred to him as the Heir.
My heart skipped a beat. I squeezed my eyes shut. The warlock was my mate.
— Zoe? All good?
I opened my eyes, gulped in a good breath of air, and forced a smile.
— Yes, go ahead.
— She said an alliance was being formed, an alliance against us.— My skin crawled. — A decision would have to be made, a sacrifice to have peace between species. She said that you will have to make a sacrifice to stop another war.
— Another war?— My body shuddered just imagining another war, I don't think we'd survive another attack like Kisa's. — Mother?
— Marie said a new creature will be born, a mixture between the species that will bring about a war that must be stopped.
— I am not liking this.
— You'll need to believe in the power of love and the best in people.
I frowned.
— Why would she say that?
— She said that you will be the light in the lives of people taken by darkness.
A chill ran through my body and I hugged myself because of the icy sensation that hit me, it was strange.
— I'm feeling so confused,— I muttered in annoyance. — I feel as if a responsibility has been placed on my shoulders that is greater than I can carry.
— Honey—— Mom touched my shoulder. — There's nothing to worry about, you know that your father and I will always protect you?
— I know,— I confirmed. — But I don't want to be a helpless girl who needs help defending herself.
She laughed.
— You're not just any girl, Zoe, and you're not helpless, believe me — she declared tenderly. — You are a Labonair of inestimable worth and power that has never been seen before.
— I fear that power, mother — I murmured looking at my hands and touched the necklace around my neck. — What will happen when that necklace is no longer in my hands?— He is not eternal!
— We'll figure it out, hmm?— He grabbed my hands and I noticed how sweaty his were. — Nothing bad will happen to you or Megan.
— I'll help you with that, Hayley.— Marie materialized beside us and I stifled a gasp at her sudden appearance.
— Do you think you can help them?— my mom asked Marie and for the first time I saw the fear in her eyes and it made my chest feel bad, a tight squeeze.
— As I told them, I've never seen power like it,— he replied. — But I can try.
— Come with me.— Mom struggled to her feet on account of her huge belly and called Marie to a more secluded corner.
— They're so young,— Mum murmured, and as much as I wanted to ignore it, I couldn't help but overhear their entire conversation. — They don't deserve what's to come.
Wait, what was my mother talking about? What was coming?
— I promised to protect them, remember?— Marie asked and Mom nodded. — This is their future!
— This is pissing me off, Marie,— Mom scolded. — How do you expect me to take this so easily? We're talking about my daughters!
— Calm down, Hayley,— Marie said in a soft tone. — You and Jackson need to stay alert, come after the twins and Aaron, they must be protected. Lua is safe in Canada, they want the hybrids.
— I will rip anyone who comes after my children to pieces with my teeth,— Ma snarled through gritted teeth, her eyes gleaming dark violet. — No one will take them from me and no one will hurt my children.
— I promised to protect you and I will keep my promise,— Marie assured. — But be careful, there are many people watching your children.
I shook my head, focusing on ignoring Marie's conversation with my mother and my attention was drawn back to my cell phone beeping.
Hey Zoe, how about we get a milkshake with the people in town? We are planning to go to the orphanage. You do not want to go?
— Chloe
It was Chloe, my witch friend who invited me to go to town with two more friends, Jony and Holly, a werewolf and another a kistune, like Aunt Clary.