Edith’s POV
“I want you to hear this story before you go,” I said softly.
“Okay,” he answered and then relaxed in his seat.
“Do you know that I was first mated to another warrior, who I chose to be with and had children with?” I asked after a few seconds of hesitation.
“Yes, I know. At least I was told about it,” he answered as I sighed deeply.
So he knew about me being mated to another, yet he still wanted me. What exactly was his deal?
“The story of how I was kicked out of the coven and how I met my mate was all true. Believe me when I say, I loved that warrior more than my very own life,” I said then frowned when he glared at me.
“What, do you want me to lie?” I asked seriously.
“No,” he answered huskily in a low tone.
“Well, I adored him so much that it didn’t matter to me where we were going, as long as we were together. Our children were not only a blessing but also our happiness. For years, we were satisfied and felt complete until my mate went out on a hunt and came back wounded,” I said.
“As a caring partner, I rushed to tend to him and found it weird how he wasn’t healing in time. It turned out his attacker was an old vampire who was snooping around our area,” I said and then bit my lower lip.
I was beginning to feel angry and sad just by remembering the past.
“Since most werewolves believe vampires are their mortal enemies, my mate was no different. For days, he was angry over being injured by that vampire, and with time, he began to hate himself, telling me how useless and weak he thought he was to be taken down by him. What a loser he was,” I whispered at the end of my sentence.
“I tried to comfort him, but it made no difference. When he asked me for a favor, I wanted to refuse him but failed. What was I to do when I was slowly witnessing the one I loved fall into despair?” I said and then kept quiet for a moment.
“My mate wanted to be immortal and the most powerful supernatural being on earth. He no longer wanted to submit to anything or anyone,” I admitted.
“At first, I rejected his offer, thinking it would do him more harm than good, but he slowly began to manipulate me into doing it, and in no time, I was talked into using black magic more than I already did,” I said and then swallowed hard and continued to speak as I felt a lump form in my throat.
“I went in search of ancient scrolls and books, which I successfully found. As I began studying them, I spent many days and hours locked up in my ritual room trying out spells and incantations that would work. When I saw how black magic was taking over me and manipulating the way I thought or acted, I decided to give up,” I said as Talic smiled.
“You made the right choice,” he said as I forced a smile across my face.
“I told him I wouldn’t make him immortal because of what black magic was doing to me, and that seemed to trigger him into becoming abusive. The mate I adored and was willing to give up my life for was no longer the same. In his place was one that got what he wanted even if it meant laying his hands on me,” I said as tears filled my eyes.
“Whenever he hit me, I told myself that it was okay. I actually blamed myself for not giving him what he wanted. I accepted that side of him and looked forward to working it out with him, but things escalated,” I said coldly.
“He held our kids hostage in his room and demanded that I comply with his orders and wishes, or he would do something to them,” I whispered.
“By then, my magic wasn’t stable, and I felt drained. “If I angrily defend myself with my magic, I would kill him,” that’s what I told myself, and that very fear I felt was what kept me in check. I just couldn’t bring myself to hurt him, and he knew it,” I said in anger and then wiped away the tears that were rolling down my cheeks.
Talic stood up and moved, sitting next to me without a word. When he grabbed my hand in his, I felt much better.
“The more I delved into the dark book of spells and scrolls, the more my rage and anger grew. For once in my life, I wished that the man I loved would die. I began researching more on spells that took lives, and I found one which was missing some instructions and warnings,” I explained.
“The spell wasn’t to completely kill him, but to put him into a deep sleep for a few years. By the time he would wake up, he would be reborn into a new being, one who would adore and eternally care for the very first person he would lay his eyes on. How foolish was I to believe that!” I exclaimed.
“But I was so desperate that I cared less if it wasn’t a full spell as long as it would bring back the mate that loved and appreciated me, that’s why I used it. But the spell came at a very high cost,” I said.
“The spell required my own bloodline as a sacrifice, and anyone in close range was supposed to perish. If only I had taken the time to search for the spell warnings, things would have ended differently,” I screamed.
“The time that I cast that spell was the time I wished to take my very own life because it cost me not only my mate who was right at my door waiting, but it also targeted my own bloodline, and those were my children,” I forced out the words.
“I killed my own children without fully understanding what the spell required,” I cried loudly as Talic moved, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me closer.
“I killed them, and I couldn’t do a thing to bring them back to life. That spell was lethal; no matter what I tried, I couldn’t undo it. I couldn’t bring back the dead after making them perish with that spell. For hundreds of years, I researched and did everything in my power, but they were already gone,” I furiously yelled.
“I figured if I could do just one good deed and bring someone’s loved one to life, the guilt I felt would lessen,” I said in a cracked voice and then pulled back and looked at him angrily.
“It was so useless, Talic, very useless. That deed didn’t make me feel any better; all it did was create myths and news of my ability and power. The more I did good, the more I couldn’t get rid of my guilt. I had to leave everything behind that reminded me of my lost family; that’s how I came to this place to start a new life. Even now, thinking about my past hurts,” I cried bitterly.
The past was always hurtful to recall, no matter how many years had gone by.
He moved his hand to my cheek gently.
“You are a very strong woman, and I adore you for that. You not only endured such pain alone, you tried to lend help to those that needed it. I know it’s not the right time to say this, but I want you to take my hand and stand by my side,” he said seriously.
“I promise you with my very life, and I swear upon the moon goddess to love you and only you. I will never ever demand anything from you that you aren’t comfortable with, and I will never hurt you. I also promise on my pack and honor to treat you right,” he said as I laughed.
“You are a very bad leader to your own pack, what makes you think you would treat me differently?” I asked in a hurtful tone.
“Because we all make mistakes and have regrets, but that doesn’t define what we are in the present moment. I am a horrible being, but I swear to the moon goddess that I will make everything right again. All I need is for you to stay by my side and let me show you that I can keep my word,” he answered as I wiped away my tears.
“I don’t believe you, Talic. I know we all make mistakes, but that doesn’t mean we have to be together. I fear us being together would do us more harm than good,” I said sadly.
“That’s what you believe, Edith, but what I believe is different. Us being together is exactly what we need right now. It will actually do us more good than bad. I understand your fear and anger, but I am not him and I will never be,” he assured me softly.
“I can never ever raise my hand on the very person I have dreamt of meeting all my life. I would kill myself before ever doing that to you,” he said as I looked at the floor with tears threatening to fall.
I hated his words, but a part of me really wanted to witness what he was offering me.