Adelaide
I looked down at Violet, holding her in my arms while lying in bed. She was wide awake, releasing tiny breaths as her big blue eyes scanned the room full of curiosity.
She was just a baby, but so observant-something she must have at least gotten from me. That little girl was my world, but each time I looked at her, I just could not stop worrying.
Would she grow up safe?
Would she have the chance to live a normal life and not feel bear of the consequences of the choices I would have to make?
Usually, I had Alaric to break me out of these thoughts, but now it was just me. This was the first time in weeks that Alaric had left our side. He had been extremely attached to Violet since the second she was born, but as kindhearted as he could be, he was back to helping the villagers.
Violet made a small sound, shifting slightly, and I immediately held her closer. “It’s okay, princess,” I murmured against her head, rocking her gently. “Mommy’s here.”
“Indeed she is,” a voice spoke. “And you are lucky to have her as your mother.”
Gasping, I turned my head and saw Aelius standing in the room. It was not the first time he had done something like this.
“Grandpa, I’ve told you so many times,” I shook my head disapprovingly. “Don’t sneak up on me like that!”
He didn’t respond, just gave me one of his calm smiles, then moved his gaze to Violet in my arms. After all, that’s who he was truly here for-the baby.
“Do you want to hold her?”
Aelius took a sharp breath. “If you insist, then I suppose I must,” he grinned, walking over. He carefully took Violet from my hands, making sure to support her tiny head.
As he looked down at her, his expression was so tender. “A child of blood and a blessing from Alaric’s Moon Goddess…” he spoke. “This child will be very powerful and achieve things beyond imagination.”
My stomach twisted. “Is that a prophecy or…?”
“Just a grandfather uplifting his granddaughter,” Aelius said, winking. However, I wasn’t sure whether to believe him. Still, I watched with a warm smile as Violet grabbed his finger with her tiny hand and let out a squeal, making Aelius chuckle.
Seeing him with Violet brought out something I had never seen in him before. He wanted to connect with her, had visited her every day since she was born-and it was all so strange to me.
Aelius had always been kind, but never openly affectionate. Yet, here he was, holding my daughter like she was the most precious thing in the world.
Honestly, it was supposed to make me feel at ease-but it didn’t, and it was all because of that day at the temple.
I had not forgotten his words…
“Do you love her?” I asked, my voice just above a whisper.
Aelius didn’t hesitate. “She’s my blood. I love her more than anything.”
I took a small breath. “You once said we would all care about the same thing. Did you mean Violet?”
Aelius just hummed, looking the other way. It wasn’t really clear what he meant by that, but it was all it took for a lump to form in my throat. I lowered my gaze.
“If something were to happen to me…will you take care of her?”
Aelius laughed softly. “I would love to,” he said. “But that is not up to me. Each person has their own path…including baby Violet.”
I lifted my gaze, meeting his eyes. “One that will be without us sooner than we think, right?”
I had so hoped for Aelius to deny it, but when he didn’t answer-I already knew enough. A sad smile reached my lips as I looked back down at my hands.
The choice and the sacrifice…
It didn’t take a genius to know it had something to do with my Violet.
“She carries your eyes,” Aelius’ voice pulled me from my thoughts. “The eyes of Adelaide.”
My head shot up, eyes widened in shock.
No…
I stared at her tiny face, searching for any sign of that thing I had never asked for-but there was none. She couldn’t have my eyes, she didn’t deserve any of that. Violet was just a baby. Innocent, pure-harmless…
“She will learn once she’s ready,” Aelius reassured me. “So you don’t need to worry about that right now.”
But how could I not?
My poor baby-on top of being a witch, she would also have my eyes. A curse disguised as a gift.
“Is she…” I hesitated, scrunching my nose, almost afraid to ask. “Is she…”
Aelius chuckled. “She was born a child of blood, but she followed the cycle of her father’s kind. Her fate is sealed-and she will shift,” he said. “That’s what happens when you lay with an Alpha Prince, Adelaide.”
An obvious answer for a stupid question…
My cheeks flushed as I ignored his gaze. I knew he was right, but he didn’t have to say it like that.
“I want you and Alaric to spend all the time you can with Violet.”
Those words…they didn’t sit right with me. It could only mean one thing.
“Grandpa, what did you see?” I asked cautiously.
Aelius shook his head. “You know better than to ask, child.”
Yes, I knew better-but right now, I didn’t care. All I wanted was a sign so I could at least know what to expect or when to expect it.
“Please,” I whispered, begging.
Aelius sniffed for a second, a habit of his when he knew he was about to share something he shouldn’t.
“Old friends will return,” he spoke, still remaining cryptic as ever. “And they will betray you.”
My stomach dropped.
No…