Chapter 93
Elowen POV
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The great stone gates opened slowly, carved with ancient runes that pulsed faintly under the moonlight. The mist rolled away as if commanded, revealing a wide courtyard flanked by twisted silver trees, bioluminescent moss, and sharp peaks of obsidian spires reaching skyward like claws.
Standing in the center of it all, surrounded by several robed figures of varying ages and energies, was a woman who could stop time with a glance.
She was tall, with braided white hair that shimmered like starlight and eyes like molten quartz. She exuded power. Raw, ancient, and commanding, but not cruel.
Beside her stood a man who shared Lachlan’s golden hair, though it was streaked with silver, and those same storm-bright eyes. His stance was wide, solid, and he wore no robe, just reinforced mage armor runed into his coat, as if he was always prepared for war.
“Ma,” Lachlan said, stepping forward with his head dipped low.
“Me son,” she answered, her voice deep and lilting. The brogue was thick, honeyed and sharp. “Ye’ve returned wi’ quite the entourage.”
He turned and motioned to me. “Aye. I’ve brought my fated mate. This is Elowen Skye Thorne.”
Their eyes snapped to me instantly. Every gaze around us did. The woman stepped closer, stopping just a breath away, and I felt the hum of her magic ripple across my skin like velvet dipped in fire. Lyssira growled low in my mind but didn’t lunge.
“A powerful name,” she said. “And ye carry heavy magic on yer soul, child.”
“I don’t feel like a child,” I said, keeping my chin up.
She smiled, barely. “Good. Ye’ll need backbone where we’re goin’.”
Her mate clapped Lachlan on the shoulder with one huge hand. “Proud o’ ye, lad. Yer bond shines like the bloody sun.”
He turned to me and held out a thick, calloused palm. I shook it without hesitation.
“Name’s Alaric MacCrae. This fierce beauty beside me is Isolde, Mother of the MacCrae Coven.” He winked. “Welcome tae our madness.”
Fuck, I thought. Lachlan’s parents are the coven leaders. No pressure. Lyssira gave a low purr. “They are strong and worthy of us. He comes from true power.”
They ushered us inside where the rest of their council stood waiting in a massive circular chamber draped in silver and green silks, the ceiling an open sprawl of glass enchanted to show the shifting stars above.
The MacCrae Ten, as Lachlan called them quietly to me, were already lined up:
- Isolde MacCrae – Coven Mother
- Alaric MacCrae – Coven Mate and Warden
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14:39 Thu, Oct 2 M
Chapter 93
- Caera – High Enchantress of Defense (the rude one, eyes too sharp, aura sour)
- Thane – Battle Mage Commander, silent, imposing, arms like tree trunks
- Bryony Seer of the Hollow Moon, young, eyes white with vision
- Cormac – Elemental Smith, forge burned hands and soot in his hair
- Eira – Healing Witch, gentle and warm, already eyeing my aura
- Maelis – Ward Specialist, half-fae, shy, barefoot, magic curling off her like mist
- Torren – Beast Channeler, had an actual fucking hawk on his shoulder
- Caera’s brother, Rourke – Illusion Master, charming but coiled like a snake
Caera stepped forward with a sneer barely hidden behind her sharp bone jewelry. “Another prophecy girl, is it? And a werewolf, no less.”
Lachlan bristled beside me, but I raised a hand. “You have questions. That’s fine. But I’m not here to prove anything to you, Caera. I’m here because the world is burning, and we need to fight the fire together.”
Alaric barked a short laugh. “She’s got steel, Isolde.”
Isolde nodded. “Aye. Let her speak.”
I took a deep breath, stepped forward, and told them everything.
The prophecy. The vision. The Moon Goddess. The hybrid mates. The fated bonds. The Aegis Protocol’s cruelty and reach. The attack in Scotland, how vampires poured through a portal to kill us near Inverness. How they will come for every magical species, and every fae blooded soul.
I told them of witches who had turned from their goddess, who now served darkness. And Lyssira growled inside me again, her gaze locked on Caera, whose soul stank of something tainted.
“Watch her,” Lyssira whispered. “That one’s got rot in her bones.”
Caera smiled at me then, too wide and too fake.
“We’ll deliberate,” Isolde finally said. “And ye’ll have our answer by moonrise tomorrow. Fer now, ye’ll be offered guest quarters and protection within the Hold.”
Lachlan squeezed my hand tightly and I nodded. As we turned to be escorted away, I cast one final glance at Caera. She was already watching me, and her eyes were wrong.
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50
14:39
Thu, Oct 2 M
4200
Hunted Hybrid – Aegis War Saga 1
