Cora sat on the back deck of the cabin, drinking coffee she made a short time before. Morrigan hadn’t come down yet. She wanted to call her friends, find out what was going on with the coven. She couldn’t trust anyone with her whereabouts. She needed a way to convince them what was really going on.
Hopefully the people working on a solution came up with one before the coven died. Actually died. Would Kindra still be willing to go along with Gerard if she knew everyone was going to fade away and die? Of course, Kindra was selfish enough that she would if she thought that was the only way to live.
And she had to wonder why Anthony hadn’t managed to change her thoughts, or why Gerard couldn’t change Mark’s. Why was Kindra susceptible and they weren’t?
“You okay?” Druciela asked as she sat down next to her with a cup of coffee.
Cora shook her head. “I wish I’d had Mark’s courage. As witches, most of us are taught not to trust Others. Only ourselves. I should have reached out to someone else, like he did. In fact, when he told me what he planned, I told him not to. I warned him the Silver Council would sweep in and destroy all of us for being so stupid to let someone infiltrate us.”
Druciela let out a laugh. “Honestly, some of them would have back then. He’s lucky Robert, Preston, Liz, and Tremaine were out there. Tremaine got him to safety, and Robert and the rest of them did what they could to find the doppelgangers, but I would imagine they simply didn’t have the means to find them at that time.”
“Why would they now?”
Druciela looked away. “They’ve all learned or accepted new things. But as long as I’ve known all of them, they have been good, and willing to fight for all Others.”
“Wish less of us were so isolated.”
“Maybe you should spend some time in Edenton. See if it’s your kind of place. Maybe you need a fresh start.”
“I don’t know where to begin.”
“I could help,” Druciela offered. “I left my coven early, but I found my place in Edenton. Doesn’t mean you will, but you could try something new. Besides, by the sounds of it, Brightwater Bay isn’t going to survive. The people can, but the land will need time to bounce back, if it’s not too late.”
“I hope it’s not. We’ve been there for generations.”
“Sure, but when did it stop feeling like home? Was it when a creature came in and took your husband’s place?”
She nodded. “I haven’t felt at home there since the beginning of this mess. Mark tried to get me to go to the Council with him, but I wouldn’t. God, this is as much my fault as it is Kindra’s.”
“No, you didn’t trust an organization you were trained not to. Mark said his parents weren’t the same as everyone else in the coven. They didn’t teach him to fear the mages or anyone else. He came here and took to the werewolves without any trouble. He makes friends with everyone.”
“He always did. But then the coven turned against him when he tried to warn us what was happening. He didn’t know exactly what was going on, only that it was bad. And now we’re falling apart over something we should have stopped fifty years ago.”
“May I?” Morrigan asked, pointing to an empty seat.
Cora nodded.
Morrigan took a seat. “It’s not your fault. Even if you talked to everyone, most wouldn’t have believed. It’s hard to believe in creatures coming in to take another person’s place in their lives.”
“His parents would have believed him. They should have been our high priest and priestess, but neither of them wanted power. They just wanted to help us.” Cora rubbed at her face.
“What happened to them?” Druciela asked.
“There was an accident. No one understands what happened. The car malfunctioned, but there was nothing wrong with the engine, brakes, or anything else.” Cora took another drink. “Someone had them killed, but I don’t know why.”
Morrigan sat forward. “Probably whoever let the doppelgangers into your coven.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“Who would stand to gain from the doppelgangers taking power?”
She shook her head.
“There you go, trying to come up with an argument instead of realizing that someone could have gained from a change in leadership. This is why the doppelgangers succeed,” Morrigan explained. “They find someone desperate to rise in ranks and move up from there. Usually an individual or couple who expect to go up the hierarchy who don’t have the means on their own.”
“Kindra or her parents. But her parents died.”
“How?” Morrigan asked.
Cora shook her head. “No one can figure that out. One day, they were just dead. There were no apparent injuries, or health issues. They were just dead one day, out in their garden. They weren’t drained, they weren’t hurt. It was weird.”
“Perhaps they asked too much or pushed the wrong doppelganger. Maybe all of them,” Morrigan answered.
“True. I know they pushed Kindra into pursuing Anders. I mean Mark.” She rubbed at her neck. “It’s so weird how much different he is, but at the same time, I see so many similarities.
“Only a handful of us knew where he came from. He adapted immediately,” Druciela admitted. “At first, I didn’t think he understood what he’d been, but I’ve realized since then, that he’s not confined to the role he was born into. He became a wolf, embraced it, and has made a good life.”
“I hope he can forgive me,” Cora admitted.
“If he hasn’t, he will. He’s not one to hold a grudge. Well, probably against Kindra and Gerard, but if there is a way to save Kindra, he will. But he will never choose her over Gina.”
“They’re mated. Even I can see that, and I had never met a werewolf before,” Cora said.
“Do Others bother you? Besides mages?” Druciela asked.
She shook her head. “Well, not in theory, but I’ve never been around any,” Cora admitted.
Morrigan laughed softly. “Well, I’m Fae, and probably nothing you would have imagined.”
She shook her head. “I don’t know much about the Fae.”
One corner of Morrigan’s mouth tipped up. “There are many different kinds.”
Druciela nodded. “We have several Fae in Edenton, all different. We have witches, vampires, werewolves, a couple werecats, druids, shaman, mages, and a leprechaun.”
“Leprechaun?” Cora asked.
“Yes, my son’s mate. He’s a werewolf. He never had magic. And his mate is half leprechaun.”
“Why?”
“His father was human. My daughter is half Fae.”
“Wow,” Cora answered.
“And she’s having Preston’s baby,” Druciela answered.
Morrigan smiled. “And Preston happens to be my grandson.”
Druciela tipped her head. “That makes us family, huh?”
Morrigan nodded.
“Oh, and we have a couple Deathcallers of different varieties. And an enchanter. There is a little of everyone. Though the second biggest group are the witches. We just don’t need a coven,” Druciela explained.
“Hopefully I can explore soon. Maybe the other witches can find their place here. I hope so. Our coven has been falling apart since I was a child. And no one has done anything about it.”
“Once the doppelgangers are exposed and killed, do you think they can accept a new start?”
“They may insist on finding a coven. I’ve learned, but I’ve been isolated since Anthony stepped into Daniel’s role. And I kept the secret because I saw what they did to Mark when he tried to tell them.” Cora finished off her coffee. “I want to help my coven, but I don’t think I belong there anymore.”
“That’s pretty much how Mark feels. He’ll help, but he doesn’t belong there.”
Morrigan dropped her head. When she looked back up, she looked at Druciela. “It’s possible that if Gerard gets his hands on Mark again, he can pull the wolf out of Mark, making him witch once more. Or rather, removing what makes him a werewolf, letting his magic free.”
“That can’t be done.” Druciela said.
“I’ve seen something like it happen. Someone who let someone change them into a wereanimal and was attacked by a doppelganger. The beast was removed, and their magic came roaring back. But because it was blocked and building up, they were far more dangerous, unable to control their magic.”
“We aren’t going to let Gerard touch him,” Cora said. “I can’t let him go through that again. Especially if he wants to help us all, when we let him down.” Cora stood and moved inside for more coffee. She came back and looked around the forest. “Where are we?”
“Nowhere, sort of.” Morrigan lifted a shoulder. “We’re in a rift. It doesn’t exist in a single plane. Don’t worry, the magic here is more stable than any I’ve encountered. And that’s saying something.”
Cora only blinked. She didn’t understand, and honestly, she wasn’t sure she wanted to. No one seemed phased by any of the differences between any of them.
* * * *
Gina slipped from the bed and tiptoed to the bathroom. Before she could slide the door shut, Mark was there, concern on his face.
She touched her rounder belly and turned as she collapsed in front of the toilet, releasing bile.
Mark pulled her hair back. “Morning sickness?” he asked, his voice soft.
She nodded.
“I know someone who could maybe give you something to settle your stomach, but with the changes coming so fast, I don’t know if it will help.”
“Morrigan?” she asked.
His hand drew comforting circles on her back. “Hadn’t considered her, but we could call Druciela, see if they’re all still together. But Dakota has old recipes that help with all sorts of things.”
She nodded. Everyone went to him for the hangover treatment. Not that werewolves usually suffered from that. Still, he helped everyone who felt ill with old potions.
“You okay, Gina?” he asked.
“Yeah. Going to take a quick shower. You make the calls.”
He dipped his head. “I’ll join you soon.”
She kissed his chest and turned for the shower. Gina turned the water on and caressed her belly. “Are you going to make me sick this whole time?”
Badb murmured, It’s your body’s response to having a life forming inside you. I cannot predict how you will go through this or any other pregnancy. However, things are moving fast. Faster than I expected.
“Tell me I’ll be okay after.”
I promise you that you will not only be whole, but what you were, and still have your beast. And I will stay nearby to ensure you have your first child.
She closed her eyes and let the water cascade over her. Her stomach calmed.
* * * *
Mark grabbed his phone and headed downstairs to make tea. There were a dozen types on his shelf, now he had to pick one.
His first call was to Dakota, who answered on the first ring. “Morning, Mark. What’s going on?”
“Have a cure for morning sickness? One for a werewolf?” He squeezed his eyes shut.
“Uh, werewolves don’t have babies, with very few exceptions.”
“Yeah, well, Gina is an exception. And it’s happening fast.”
“Fast?”
Mark rubbed his face. “Yes, the way she’s growing, it’s going to happen in a few days.”
“What the—wait, how did this happen?”
Mark snorted. He wasn’t about to get into details with Dakota.
Dakota groaned. “I don’t mean the sex. I mean, something different had to have happened. I can only think of one werewolf with special circumstances to give birth.”
Mark briefly explained what he understood.
“Okay, there are stories about this sort of thing. I think I know how to help. Are you going to be home?”
“If you can give her some kind of relief, I’ll be happy.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“Thank you.” He hung up and dialed Druciela. As an enforcer for the Alpha, he had most of the town’s numbers programmed into his phone.
She answered after a few rings. “Hello, Mark.”
“Hello, Dru. Think I could talk to Morrigan?”
“Of course.” She was silent a moment. “Mark would like to talk to you.”
Morrigan came on the phone. “Is Gina all right?”
“Yeah, just morning sickness. I was wondering if you might have suggestions, or a solution for her?”
“Hmm, perhaps Robert can bring me out. I’m willing to try, but I’ve never been good with children or pregnancy.” She laughed softly. “Probably why I only ever had one child.”
“This is your sister, so please, help, if you can.”
“I’ll contact Robert. Either he can bring you both out, or me to her. Either way.”
“Thanks. I need to get back to her.”
“Unfortunately, morning sickness is unpredictable. Take care of her.”
“I will. Let me know what you find out.”
The kettle went off and he poured water over the tea he prepared, then hurried upstairs.
He slipped into the shower and kissed Gina’s shoulder. “Anything I can do?”
“Tell me I’m not horrid now?”
He turned her and smiled as he caressed down her body. “Not in the slightest. And now I’m going to be thinking about you round with my baby until we have ours.” He smirked. “No offense, Badb.”
Gina laughed. “She says none taken.”
“You’re still my gorgeous mate, and nothing is going to change that.”
She leaned up to kiss him.