Chapter 76
Chapter 76
We hastily dressed while the woman turned her head away, giving us a hint of privacy. I coughed, indicating we were finished. She smiled, looking relieved, a rosy hue on her cheeks
Much better,” she said approvingly, motioning for all of us to sit down on the ground
I watched as she tucked her legs under her, sitting cross-legged and looking quite comfortable in that position. She looked at us with ease, with no fear in her eyes at all, as though she alreally knew who we were.. Then again, she was a descendent of the mom gordess so that wasn’t out of the realm of possibilities.
“Forgive my rudeness” I said, still in awr that I was seeing a descendent of the moon goddess up close, eyeing her closely and hoping it wasn’t coming across as being suspicious of her, “lot you said that you had a vision that we needed you?” Her gift must be the gift of foresight or clairvoyance..
“My visions aren’t always easy to deconstruct. They come in bits and pieces and jumbled all together. Nevertheless, I happened to be within the same area as you and was able to discern where exactly you were. From what I can understand. your father is under the influence of a very powerful drug that causes him to become” she paused, a frown on her face “susceptible to the influence, of the one who administers it to them. It’s highly effective and the longer they are under the influence the stronger it becomes.
I’m amazed by her knowledge and her grasp of our current situation. It’s impressive. “My father has been acting very strangely. In effect, he’s placed his new wife in control of the park and refuses to speak to us.”
“I’m Mala,” she told us serenely, “and you must be,” She looked at me with a thoughtful expression. “Xavier, and she looked at my mate intently, “Regan, correct?” she asked
Our mouths dropped open in astonishment, I recover quickly. It’s not surprising that a descendent of a moon goddess was. able to tell us our own names, although it came across as rather frightening as well as mystical. They are practically like witches in a way, except their magic has more to do with healing and knowledge of herbs and plants. They had different powers and abilities, but all had to do with helping people, rather than harming them. There were not many of them and were quite rare as a species. That was why I had been so shocked to see one now, not to mention rather taken aback.
“Yes, I confirmed hastily, suddenly realizing that she was waiting for an answer.
Regan nodded, apparently too intimidated to do much else. Mala smiled at the both of us.
“How do I counteract the drug” I said, determined to find out.
She debated. “It’s almost like a poison in retrospect,” she said thoughtfully. “Once it’s been administered it poisons the bloodstream, and an antidote is needed in order to detoxify the body of all of it. Unfortunately, the antidote requires that you are able to ensure the person drinks it, which means you would have to get close to your father she explained, “to make sure that he consumes it all. Every last drop” she warned.
“I would have to break the door down” Leoncluded grimly, knowing that would be difficult given how sturdy the door of the bedroom was and how reinforced Father had made it.
She raised a brow at me, “or arrange a suitable distraction if you know who has given him the herb” she suggested sweetly,
“What herb would it be?” Regan asked quietly. “What would give such a powerful reaction and make somebody susceptible to outside influence?”
Regan’s tone was brimming with curiosity
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“Devil’s Breath from the deadly nightshade plant,” Mala said quiely, “it only requires a small amount in order to work Too much” she looked concerned “and it would result in fatality. Evidently, your perpetrator knows a little about herbs or somebody has taken the time to show them. “But Heather doesn’t know anything to do with herbs” Regan sounded confused as she thought it over. “I’m sure of it. This is too clever even for her. She can be cunning and manipulative” the insisted, glancing at me “but this doesn’t sound like her”
“It’s not difficult to find in a book if you are looking specifically for such a thing Mala shrugs Or they might have done what you were intending” she looked at both of us in disapproval and went to the witches”
Regan deflates 1 guess that’s true” she mutters,
“So how do we counteract it?” I asked sheepishly.
Mala had sounded disapproving about our intentions to go to the witches and although I wondered why, I didn’t intend to ask her and further provoke her anger,
She pulled open a small bag that was around her waist. I had failed to notice it until now, for it blended with the dress she was wearing. She produced a small vial of liquid, handing it to me. “This contains the antidote, but be warned, there is only enough for one person. You will have to take steps to ensure you stop whoever is responsible before they drug someone
else
I was grateful as I accepted it and carefully put it in my bag Mall however was not finished. “The baby is his. The woman who is pregnant had help, using a moonflower to increase the likelihood of becoming pregnant and increasing her fertility. Done under a full moon, she was almost guaranteed to become pregnant so long as she had some viable” she blushed, her cheeks turning a bright red, “semen of your brother’s”
“You’re saying somebody is pregnant with my brother’s child?” said unable to believe it.
It had to be that bitch Isabelle. Who else would try something as horrendous as this! But how did she get swallowed hard, knowing that would be a question she would have to answer when we got back.
his semen? I
“I didn’t see her face. The visions are not always clear” she smiles ruefully. “I suggest you get back to your pack as soon as you can though. I sense that he needs you. It’s why I traveled to you, instead of waiting for you to arrive. Be cautious”
She glanced towards the doorway of the cave, a crease in her brow “There is a dark aura around you, signaling that something dangerous is about to happen, although I cannot tell what that might be.”
A dark aura? Mala rose gracefully to her feet and I stood up quickly, Regan doing the same. “Mala, I can’t thank you enough.” I told her, still slightly confused by the conversation and everything she had just divulged to us. “What can I do to show my gratitude? What can I do to thank you for the gift you have given me?”
She waved a dismissive hand. “We, the descendants of the moon goddess, do not require sacrifices for our gifts.”
She was silent for a moment and then shot me a sharp glance. Had you proceeded on your journey the witches would have demanded a high price from you, a big sacrifice indeed. They would have demanded the womb from your nate, forever ensuring that she would never be able to produce an heir or a child. The womb would have been transferred into an infertile witch to allow her the chance instead”
Silence. Regan looked nauseous. “If that is the price t would have had to pay” she whispered between trembling lips “then how can we be sure that the herb used on your father was not from the witch’s?”
“If the witches provided the herbs, then the person responsible has paid a high price for the provision of it” Mala agreed without compunction. “But they don’t always ask for the same sacrifice. Each price is unique to the individual and dependent on the amount of magic or knowledge the witches choose to impart.”
She took Regan’s hand in hers. “A compassionate Luna and a loving mate to the twins. Let them in” she urged as I listened intently “and allow those walls to fall What’s in the past should remain there, buried and the future should be embraced wholeheartedly. I see many things in your future, many wonderful things, if you can learn to accept the person you are
Chapter 76.
meant to be instead of trying to be the person you believe people want you to be”
Huh? I blinked but Regan just nodded timidly and then Mala reached for my hand. “Your protectiveness of your mate is understood, but there will come a time when you need to trust that she too, is capable and possesses the ability to aid in circumstances that require it.” She let go of my hand and brushed imaginary dirt off her dress with a whimsical look on her face. “Don’t delay” she murmured beginning to turn her back and walk towards the exit of the cave “You are needed, and something awaits you Something which could prevent you from reaching the park” she warned, glancing over her shoulder and then vanishing as we stared at her.
Nothing was going to stop me from going back to the park and saving my father. Nothing and nobody was going to get in
my way.