Page 147 of The Unbound Witch

Raven, eyes red from tears, her body still clearly weakened, limped forward. “Everybody lost and everybody gained. That’s how it worked. The shifters lost the ability to shift but gained the magic of the witches. The witches lost their power but gained the knowledge to change forms. Willow gained her forgiveness but lost her life.”

“And you?” Bastian asked.

She lifted a shoulder, casting her eyes to the ground. “I gained my life but lost my power.”

64

KIRSI

“If you think I’m doing that fucking mountain summit climbing bullshit after we’re done with this, you can kiss my ass, Pup.”

“Aren’t you the least bit curious?” Atlas answered, standing between Nym and me, with Torryn halfway across the open field.

Weeks had gone by and the fact that neither Nym nor I had shown any inkling of interest in what our animal forms might be was killing Atlas. I’d spent so much of my ghostly existence curious about the world, a trait common to the wraiths, I just wanted to feel content. We’d been far more entertained wrapped up with each other. Loving each other in a way neither of us thought we’d be able to. Turning into an animal to satisfy the wolf’s pleading was only happening because he kept sending spiders under our bedroom door.

“I’m doing this for you, Atty,” Nym said with a smile. “But if I turn into a rat or something, it’s never happening again.”

They’d gotten closer over the past weeks. Knowing how much each of them meant to me, they’d created a bond of friendship and teasing that mirrored what I had with Atlas. Even Raven, for all her hurt and healing, had gone out of her way to make sure everyone was comfortable, and we all had joy in our lives. Though, she also had been hard to find some days. Hadn’t left the king’s bed. Her bed. Though I couldn’t say I blamed her, given the way his eyes always burned for her when they were in a room together.

“I’ll count to three,” Torryn yelled. “The first to get to me wins a prize.”

“Oh, nice. Your ass is mine, Moondance.” Nym bounced back and forth on her toes, leaning in to begin the race.

“Is that a promise, witch?”

“Shifter,” Atlas coughed into his hand.

“Are you guys going to do this today, or what?” Bastian yelled from the top of the small hill behind us. “Some of us have kingdoms to run.”

Raven shoved him with a laugh, saying something I shouldn’t have been able to hear from this far away. “Try being helpful instead of taunting.”

“Taunting is Kirsi’s second language, Miss Moonstone. It is helpful.”

“It’s really not,” I shouted, bending low, ready to run beside Nym.

Atlas cleared his throat, lifting his hands. “Now, I personally had my first shift at three. Impressive, I know. But since you’re a bit behind, don’t be surprised if you can’t make it work the first time, or can’t hold your other form. It takes mental focus and strength. It’s like a muscle you have to stretch.”

“Ready, set, go!” I shouted, bounding off through the clearing.

“Fuck you, Kirsi,” Atty yelled.

I tossed my head back and laughed as I ran beside Nym. Life lessons from a newbie witch wasn’t on my to-do list for the day.

Nym wasn’t holding back as she flashed me a smile. Her legs became a blur as she ran towards Tor. Turning my mind to focus on the actual task, I dug into myself, letting the core of who I was now come forward, similar to drawing power as a witch, but willing it to cover my body. I blinked once and then twice and suddenly I skidded to a halt, staring at the hindquarters of a giant white tiger, tearing through the windswept field. Talon. Only not.Nym. They’d been united in a different way.

Understanding melted over me as I reached for that connection with Scoop and willed it. It was different from before. Not exactly like calling him had been. Shiny black fur grew down my arms, as I dropped to the ground, still running, but with a joy and an ease I’d never known. The wild heart of the beast beat within me as I shifted to a beautiful black panther and ran. I could feel his heart. Could wrap my mind around his essence and finally embrace my familiar once more. My Scoop.

When Nym reached Tor and slowed, a renewed fervor settled within me, a playful innocence of a feline as I lowered myself into the grass and waited. She turned and I launched myself from the ground, pouncing on her until she roared and whipped around swatting at me. We rolled and played like kittens in the grass until our family begged us to go back. Even then, we didn’t shift back. Neither of us wanting to leave our beast forms, the caressing of our familiars, behind.

65

RAVEN

I’d never seen so many witches in one place before. I stared out of our bedroom window, over the snowy field beyond the castle, my eyes resting on the tourmaline pedestal sealed behind a domed glass barrier, surrounded by thousands of witches. Every coven, every witch. Our entire world. I imagined if I still had magic, I’d feel the pulse of it even from this distance. But as it stood, the only time I could feel a tiny sliver of power was when I entered that dome and laid my hand upon the book that had tried to take my life.

A white rose petal fell from the ceiling, brushing my cheek before falling to the floor. Looking up with a smile, I closed my eyes as hundreds more rained down upon me. I spun, expecting to find a king clad in black leaning casually against the doorframe. He wasn't there. Instead, an ember rimmed note drifted down. I snatched it from the air, letting the cinders sting my palm.

Miss Moonstone,