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“You okay?” He asks.

Is that concern on his face? I must still be out of it. Looking past him, I spot Liz with tears in her eyes. Phaedra, Rue and a few of the other she-wolves are here. Even Zyion and Nadia are here staring down at me.

I quickly go to sit up, but my head swims. I shut my eyes and try to catch my breath.

“Come to me, wife,”Markis’s deep voice calls out to me.

He’s never had the ability to pull me out of my consciousness and into his. This is bad. Not only has he regained his full power, but it seems he’s grown his ability. It’s time to admit I need help.

Enzo helps me stand.

“I’m alright,” I say to Liz. “If you all will excuse me.”

I quickly scurry out of the kitchen. Time to face the facts. I can’t do this by myself. Unfortunately, I need to call on someone with the knowledge to help. Stepping outside, I let out a deep breath.

“Alright, Moira,” I say out loud, knowing she will hear. “I need your assistance.”

chapter Twenty-one

Wanderlust Emporium

Michaela

Parking my car in the parking lot of the shopping center, I climb out of the vehicle. Right after leaving that kitchen with Elizabeth, I made my way to Jonesville. I didn’t have to worry if Moira would be here or not.

The moment you mention the ancient beings' name, she was going to show up somewhere. Some people thought Moira was a part of the fey. That somehow, when the fey queen sealed the entire fey race behind the veil, Moira somehow got locked out. Some people say she’s even older than the fey. They say she is a goddess that was punished for her sin and locked out of the heavens. I don’t know what she is or why she does what she does. All I know is I’ve tried to avoid the woman as best I can.

I walk along the sidewalk looking for the store. It could be anywhere. Turning the corner near the shoe store, I spot the shop.

The Wanderlust Emporium. The moving store. There are many tales of the store appearing in one location one day and then another location clear across the world the next. Everysingle object in the Emporium is magical. Some objects hold the curses of ancient beings; some can transport you through time, and others can even transform you into a different species. You never know what you’ll get when you walk into this shop.

I make my way over to the emporium. It looks like any other glass front store. Over the door are the words "Wanderlust Emporium" written in an old English font. Objects pile so high in the two front windows you can't see inside. Old lantern style light fixtures adorn the entrance way.

The front door is the most unique. It has a vintage style to it, making it look as if it belongs on the front door of a 16thcentury castle and not a modern store. The faded red paint looks as if it has seen centuries of customers. Along the top and bottom are crafted black iron work made to look like branches from a tree. The arched stained-glass window above the door shows a woman with large white wings sobbing over a man with broken black wings.

I stop in front of the building, trying to determine if I’m really ready to do this. Getting aid from Moira could bring just as much trouble as the shit I’m already in. But I guess, any help is better than no help. And with Markis’ powers growing stronger every day, I need assistance.

Letting out a deep breath, I grab the iron handle of the door and open it. As I step into the store, the bell over my head chimes. The moment I’m in the building, my head spins. I knew this would be an issue. There are way too many powerful objects inside this building.

“Hello, Huntress.”

The swimming feeling in my head cut off as if a light switch flicked the pain away. I open my eyes and come face to face with a little girl. Her skin is coppery brown. Even though her face is round and youthful, her eyes tell a different story. Her doe shaped eyes are so dark they look black. And it’s not eventhe color that catches you off guard, it’s the depths of those dark eyes. In her gaze, I see centuries of knowledge, loss, sadness, and pain. She has the eyes of someone who has lived entirely too long. I should know. The same eyes look back at me in the mirror every day.

Placing my hands on my hips, I glare down at the enchantress. “A child? Really, Moira?”

The enchantress changes her looks depending on the person who is seeking help. Moira shrugs.

“I thought this would appeal to you more, considering I’m a chaotic, insane, meddlesome enchantress.”

I’m not even shocked she knows what I said.

“I may have spoken out of turn,” I say, my arms down at my sides. “Sorry.”

Moira doesn’t respond. Instead, we both turn to face the door when the bell chimes letting us know someone walked in. An older, light brown skin woman with a young teenage girl stands at the entrance. The young girl looks down at the ground, her long braids hanging like curtains over her face.

Moira smiles at them. “Welcome to the Emporium. Look around, see if anything speaks to you.”

The older woman nods, before she and the girl move through the aisles.