I watched a reflection of myself for a second before I turned back to the scene before us. The redheaded woman begged the Three–Faced Goddess to save her son.
“How is this possible?” My words were a soft whisper as the woman called on the Maiden, Mother and Crone.
“Because time is relative.” The Moon Goddess stepped up next to us. “And two things can be true at once.” Selene looked at Hecate. “Your child?”
Hecate looked away. “Will be born this night. Does our deal stand?”
The Moon Goddess turned to watch the man bleeding out. “It does.” She turned back to us, and the mourning mother painted herself with blood. “You helped me when I created the Lycans, and when I had my own child. I will help you now.”
Hecate grabbed her arm. “Will it hurt?” Her voice trembled.
Selene turned back and cupped her face. “It will for a moment, and then he will be fine.” She kissed her. “I promise your beloved will be fine.” She rubbed her cheek. “But you have to be prepared.”
“For what?” I asked.
Both turned to me with sad smiles, and both answered. “Because everything comes with a cost.”
The Moon Goddess stepped to the side and then nodded towards the pair on the ground. “It just depends on who will pay the price.”
Both women stepped forward, leaving me behind to witness the scene unfold again. I spent half the time watching the four discuss saving the man, and the other half watching my grandmother and myself. It was a surreal feeling.
After the back and forth, the Moon Goddess changed Kane to the first werewolf, and Hecate thanked her. Then I watched as she crouched and blessed the mother’s line.
Selene joined me first. “Do you understand yet?”
I shook my head. “I’ve seen this all before. You created the first werewolf, and Hecate blessed the mother’s line to become witches. But I don’t understand why she is showing me all this again.”
Selene kissed my brow. “Why do you think she blessed the line?”
“Because she couldn’t save the son. Her lover.” I felt like my brain was molasses.
Selene shook her head. “Watch…and understand.” She waved her hand, and we were back in the cabin. Kane was missing. But Henny, the Maiden was back on the bed giving birth. “Breathe, sister.”
The Moon Goddess joined Hecate on the bed. Hecate grabbed her hand. “Where is Kane?” She sounded small and terrified.
Selene leaned over her. “Hunting. It is his first shift, and he is starving.”
Hecate shook her head. “I can’t do this alone.” Black–tinged tears trailed down her face.
1/3
Chapter 623
425 Bonus
“And you won’t.” Selene leaned over and kissed her face. “You helped me bring my child into this world. I will do the same.” I moved over to her side.
“I’ll help any way I can.” I walked over next to the bed and held out my hand. “I know you don’t know me, but…”
Both goddesses looked at me with small smiles. “We know your daughter. Come sit by her side.” Selene pulled me down next to Hecate.
I held out my hand, and she slid her hand into mine. We stayed there for hours until the wail of a baby echoed off the barren cabin. Hecate cried in relief, and she collapsed into my arms. I held her close as Selene wrapped the baby in cloth she pulled from the air. “Are you okay?” My focus was on the girl trembling in my arms, and I felt a kinship with her.
Her eyes were only for her child, though. “Yes.” She held out her arms as Selene came over.
“She is beautiful.” The Moon Goddess preened as she slid the bundled baby into her sister’s arms. “What is her name?”
Hecate pulled the baby into her arms as her body shifted from Maiden to Mother. Her features grew older, and a new sadness enveloped her. “Ciran. I’ll call her Ciran.” She rubbed her fingers down the baby’s face. “He found his mate, hasn’t he…that’s why he hasn’t returned?”
The Moon Goddess closed her eyes and blew out a breath. “I’m sorry, sister.” She opened her eyes, which were filled with bright tears. “If I could change it, I would.”
Hecate nodded once. “I know.” She kissed the baby in her arms. “But this was the price.” She took a shuddering breath before she turned to me now. “Help me up.”
I swallowed past the lump as I helped her to her feet. “You just gave birth; shouldn’t you wait?”
Her chuckle was sad. “If I linger any longer, I fear my heart will shatter.” She brushed her daughter’s dark red damp hair. “Let us go.” She moved towards the door, and the two of us followed behind her. She traveled through the trees until we came to another cabin, and Hecate shifted again into her Crone form.
Her hunched back walked slowly up the stairs to the door. With a swift knock, she put the baby in a basket on the porch that waved into existence.
The Moon Goddess pulled me to her side. “Do you understand now?”
I thought for a second, as Hecate vanished, leaving the babe alone on the porch. The door opened, and I realized she had left the baby with its grandmother. “She blessed the line with the spark because she knew she was going to leave her daughter here. And she needed magic herself to train the baby.”
Hecate stepped next to me. “Exactly.” She turned to me with a sad smile. “You are a daughter of Selene, but also of me. You were born of my flesh, and my power.”
