burning.

I do. I can want your happiness and be increasingly reminded that you have the ability to put it over the pack, the coven, and responsibility any time you choose to at the same time. I can both want you to be happy, and worry you made a fast decision. I can want your happiness and wish that you didn’t see coming to me with something as some sort of hindrance to it. Those things aren’t separate. 

Right. Of course you weren’t. Clearly I misjudged some things. I’m glad you’re happy with your decision, Claudia. 

She’s not much for conversation. Every one we’ve had and the ones I’ve seen her have with Victoria have been in that tone. Also, I don’t care who you are. I don’t care if you’re a fucking Devereaux, I don’t care if you’re a witch, I don’t give a singular fuck if you could kill me where I stand but don’t you ever fucking talk to me about Elias. Ever. I just watched a group of hunters brutally torture my girlfriend in every fucking way imaginable for three full days and blind me with wolfsbane afterwards because Elias told them to. Because he wanted to punish me and he didn’t believe I would protect magic if it meant Presley’s life was on the line. So forgive me if I don’t have any fucking sympathy for you having your feathers ruffled because you didn’t follow protocol and I have no clear idea as to what Ana thinks about fucking anything. No one thought Elias or Kyle were the threats they were until after they murdered someone and burned down two buildings. I think I’ve earned the right to be a little fucking cautious and confused.

Aurora and I have been engaged to spend our lives together since before our arrival here. We will be married. The bond is coming in addition to that because we have already promised our lives to one another. Because we’ve already had our trust tested, faced down our families, death, and a lifetime of agreements and disagreements, trials and breaks in the time since we’ve been here. The bond is — it’s a lifetime promise. One that is sacred, one that is about protecting magic and everything it stands for. Aemilia chose Presley because she knows that that is the most important thing to Presley. And she spoke to me about it first, as Presley’s Alpha and Wolfkeeper. And I agreed. Because that’s a position of esteem that Presley’s earned. And because frankly.. they aren’t dating. Bonding for love is incredible. But you have no way to know if your love will last. Not so soon. You have no way to know if Ana – who by the way I do not think is ready to dedicate her life to protecting magic – will still want this in year. It’s not the same decision across the board. It’s different for every person and it is the most sacred, important decision a wolf or a witch can make. I’m not insulting your intelligence, Claudia I’m – worried. About you, about her. Worried that you did in fact rush into something because of the fight and not because it was needed, worried that Ana who doesn’t value our traditions at all is not part of one that’s meaning is lost on her. And …. quite honestly I’m hurt. That you didn’t talk to me at all. Not once. They may have been girl problems when we were in the middle of a major crisis and you were not yet in love. But they obviously didn’t stay that. I’m sorry for being completely blindsided by something you completely blindsided all of us with. 

I’ve literally only ever heard her talk shit about witches and she was very solidly in Elias’ ‘fuck all the witches’ camp, but sure. A misconception. I’m standing today which is progress. And at least I can see again.

That’s good to hear. I’m glad you’re doing better. I hope Presley is, too.

Wait – I’m sorry – you bonded because Eden and Presley were missing? Ana isn’t ready. She’s far from ready. Like so far. And you’re – nevermind. You’d apparently already discussed it. Last I heard anything regarding either of you, you kissed Ana and she hated it so I’m a .. little thrown I guess about how we’re suddenly what – two, three? Months later and you’ve made a lifelong commitment to one another that I’ve heard nothing about. 

….that is some truly confusing news. Ana… hates witches.

Does that make now a good time to ask if you had any plans to tell me about any of this before we wound up needing her help in the mission?

She had been still getting used to being tied to someone else’s feelings – hers had definitely been enough for the two and a half decades that she’d been around – when a chill ran up her spine. Claudia. The amount of discomfort rolling through from the witch in waves had been enough to get Ana to her feet and then back down on all four.

She followed her nose, her paws padding quietly along the manor’s floor and then down the stairs as she moved after the familiar scent. She hadn’t been hiding their bond, it’d come out amongst the chaos at some point, but she didn’t want to be stopped. She had somewhere to be, she had a witch to find.

Descending slowly, eyes focusing in the darkness at two figures too many near one of the cells and moved towards them - her tail swishing slightly as she laid her eyes on her prize. Ana trotted over toward them, dark eyes quickly having settled on the former wolf keeper in the cell. It had been a wonder that Claudia hadn’t felt worse. With a quick glance at Aija she moved over to seat herself beside them both, knowing that her the mystery surrounding her identity had been revealed by just making herself known.

With her focus on Brigid and the ritual, it took Claudia longer than it should have to recognize Ana’s approach. When the concern and determination began to take over her own concentration, Claudia noticed the patter of paws, the approach of footsteps down the basement stairs. She felt her posture soften as Ana’s wolf form approached, assessing the situation before decidedly seating herself right in the middle of their ritual.

A small smile rested on her face. Ana sensed her discomfort and came to protect her. No ounce of regret or moment of second guessing had crossed her mind since the previous evening, but even if it had, this would have erased it.

She reached over to cup the soft fur of Ana’s head. “I’m okay,” she murmured softly. “Thank you.”

At the same time, her aunt was pushing herself up from the wall, from her seated position to standing. With her forehead marred with deep furrowed lines and her mouth moving over harsh words, Claudia could see the woman’s fury, but didn’t have to listen to it.

She almost chuckled.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “Did we forget to tell you? Ana and I took the bond last night. Maybe you and I do have something in common after all, Aunt Brigid. We both fell for a wolf. I guess the difference is, if Ana and I ever have children, I can promise you they will uphold their wolf heritage with honor and pride.”

Her lip curled as she stared at her aunt, the woman giving up her silenced ranting in favor of glaring. Claudia’s hands shook as she debated going on, unleashing the anger that had pent up at this woman’s treatment of her, of the wolves, of Victoria.

[Private / f2f] 

Yes, ma’am. 

I think…it’s going to take some time for me to figure out how I feel. This is the first time I’ve ever really been in a fight. I’ve been hit before, but I never tried to hit back. It’s harder than it seems in training. 

[ PRIVATE F2F ]

You’re literally asking me questions you already know the answers to because you’re asking them. Yes and yes. It happened 6 months ago and we’ve been on the run ever since.

[Private / f2f] 

It’s alright. Not throwing any left hooks but, I’m right-handed so that’s probably okay. I did sleep, thank you for the potion, Miss Claudia. Way better than benedryl

[ PRIVATE F2F ]

Okay… I’m Peyton Avery and my friend in the cell is Alex. We’ve been on the run for six months, I think. She’s the one who brought me here. She said it’d be safe and that it would help me understand a little more of what I’ve become since that awful house party…

How’s your arm doing today? Did you end up getting any sleep?

“Oh, I’m sorry. I wasn’t clear. We aren’t asking. We’re taking. Draining your magic in fact. For the wards.” Aija perhaps was getting a little too much satisfaction from getting to strip the magic from an original witch who saw her as nothing. It didn’t matter that the drain was temporary or that Aija was very much at the mercy of the cuffs Brigid wore and the cell she was in. For once Aija had the power over woman who in all likelihood didn’t even know her name. 

She was good at mentally tuning out what Brigid said as she prepped the ritual and a side precaution for Claudia and herself. It wouldn’t do to have her concentration disrupted by whatever protest Brigid was bound to put on. She meticulously lit the candles in order and made a line of chalk mixed with different minerals to ensure the salt that surrounded Brigid’s cell didn’t interfere with anything, as small adaptation to the magic they were about to perform. 

“You should go first,” Aija smirked at Claudia, allowing the other witch to do her part before Aija went ahead with siphoning away Brigid’s magic. 

Claudia watched Aija work out of the corner of her eye, most of her focus glued to the woman who sat against the stone wall behind the bars. Her aunt, Victoria’s mother, the woman of too many nightmares and scars -- locked in a cell with her magic contained, and about to be drained until empty.

A part of her -- the part she usually kept pushed down, shoved away -- knew it wasn’t enough. It wouldn’t be enough until Brigid was dead and rotting; if she had any say, no magical rites would ever bless this woman’s body into the next life. Her magic agreed. It felt too readily accessed and she watched as one of Aija’s flames jumped too high to be just the candle, just natural.

“Your entire coven wouldn’t have enough magic to drain me, you stupid girl,” Brigid snarled at Aija, and Claudia’s focus snapped back to attention, her hand waving quickly as she hissed out a silencing spell.