“Hmm… we’re here.”
Will pulled his face away from Eva’s neck. They both took a step back from each other in the next second after realising who had interrupted them. Both of their faces instantly turned red, and Eva immediately moved her mouth as she cast a spell to bring the colour of her face into normal mode.
“Is everything okay, Will?” asked Chris, who had straightened himself up from the sofa.
“You feel it, don’t you? Seth is wounded, and I was asked to call Eva to the pack house by Seth,” said Will.
“By the Moon Goddess, Chris, we should go home immediately!” said Hope with a tense look on her face.
“Wait a minute, if Seth called me, then this has something to do with the magic curse?” guessed Eva.
“Yeah, you’re right, Ev,” Will replied weakly.
Eva swung her arms in the air in a vertical circle, and instantly a portal opened before her.
“You guys can go first; I’m going to prepare something to help Seth, and I need your help, Will!”
Hope grabbed Chris’ hand and grasped it tightly. Chris nodded and immediately pulled Hope to step into the portal. Eva immediately turned to Will after closing the portal.
“Tell me, what does it look like?” asked Eva, with a serious look on her face.
Will explained in detail what happened to Seth. He pointed to his own chest to show Seth’s hand that kept pressing on his chest during the pack house. He also told about Edith, who had healed Seth’s wounds.
Eva nodded in understanding. Afterwards, she rushed to the second floor to get some potion ingredients and magic media needed to make a counter-curse. Will moved as Eva ordered him to retrieve the mentioned items one by one from the large cupboard inside Eva’s meditation room.
“I hope this isn’t what I expected,” Eva said softly.
Even though Eva said it in a low tone that was almost a whisper, Will could still hear her. He was still looking at Eva, who always frowned when she was thinking while staring at the large cupboard filled with magic tools.
“Will, please get me a small silider-shaped bottle containing a silver-coloured liquid with unicorn blood.”
“Are there unicorns?” asked Will with a surprised tone and an innocent look on his face.
“Then what are you, a Siberian huskey? If werewolves exist, then of course they do exist; they’re common in the Middle East. You always make me so excited with that innocent face of yours! After I heal Seth, I’ll make the fur all over your body straighten upp.” Eva said it with a teasing grin.
Will just chuckled softly and replied with a wink from one eye. The next minute, they were already in front of the portal with a suitcase full of magic tools and some antidotes in bottles.
“We should always prepare for the worst, shouldn’t we?” said Eva sadly.
*
Eva and Will appeared suddenly from inside the portal, which brought a look of relief to everyone in Seth’s room. Their arrival had been anticipated by Hope and Chris. Edith, who turned her gaze to Eva and Will, only smiled slightly and took a step back to make room for Eva to check on Seth.
“Good evening, Luna Edith; this is our first meeting. I’m Eva Quince,” Eva greeted with a bow.
“Good evening, Eva. Sorry to trouble you. Chris and Hope said I could count on you; is that right?” asked Edith kindly.
“You’re right, Luna, but I need to check on Alpha Seth first, and I’m asking you to prepare for the worst,” said Eva as she kept her tone reassuring.
“Alright, I see. Is there anything I can do for you?” asked Edith again.
“Maybe a little of your magic power, Luna.”
Edith nodded in understanding. She advanced her steps to approach Eva, who was already at the edge of the bed. Edith took Eva’s hand and grasped it tightly. A tense atmosphere pervaded the entire room, making the lights in the room flicker.
“I’m asking you not to let go of contact with me, Luna,” pleaded Eva, followed by the casting of a spell from her mouth.
Edith closed her eyes. She felt something from within her, rippling through her every blood flow. Edith felt something pulling at the energy inside her body; she kept trying to tighten her hands as the floor around her shook and rumbled. Edith could still hear Eva muttering with her magic spell, and instantly the waves from both of their bodies swept through the atmosphere in the room.
“By the Moon Goddess, Seth, my son!” squealed Hope.
Edith opened her eyes as Eva released her grip. Edith’s face was strained as she saw Seth lying unconscious on the bed with a dagger in his chest, right through his heart.
“What does that mean?” asked Chris, who was also shocked to see Seth’s condition.
Chris was about to take a step towards the bed, and his hand was stopped in mid-air when Eva shouted to stop him: “Don’t pull it out, Chris! The dagger is already covered in monkshood.”
“I can’t leave Seth like this, Eva!” shouted Chris.
“If you pull it out, Seth will die!”
“What did you say?” asked Chris.
“Look, I knew this would happen. Monkshood weakens your werewolves a lot, but if you pull the dagger out, Seth will lose his life because the dagger is also enchanted with black magic. Whoever did this is a high-level witch, maybe even older than me. I can only slow down the effects of the poison and ease the pain. I’m sorry, I can’t pull the dagger out.” Eva said quietly.
“Then how can we get it out of Seth’s body? How can he live with a dagger in his chest?” Edith asked this time.
“Only his mate can. Seth is a werewolf, which means his mate is the one who has to do it. I would like to point out one thing: the matter of magic is not as simple as logical thinking. Any black magic power that involves death must be paid for with death. Are you willing to take that risk, Luna?”
“I…”
All eyes were on Edith, waiting for every word to come out of her mouth. Her heart was troubled by this matter. Edith was only thinking about Seth’s condition and Julian’s.
“How much time does Seth have, Eva?” Chris broke the silence in the room.
“Until dawn tomorrow,” Eva replied.
“I’ll take over from here. I’m Seth’s father, and I’m asking that every high-ranking wolf of the Red Crescent Moon pack gather in the workroom and that you lead the meeting, Jadden. I’ll guide you. Edith, you’re coming too,” Chris said in a stern tone.
“I will.” Edith cut in.
Edith’s words caught the attention of everyone in the room. Edith was certain of her decision. She was prepared for the worst if it meant giving up her own life.