The world looked different from above the cave the coven called home.

I hadn’t flown so far from our mountain in longer than I could remember, choosing instead to stay close to the clan and explore the loch, the woods which lined the west side of the mountains, and only part of the woods to the south. The woods which the coven had enchanted so long ago.

My dragon’s wings flapped harder, my tawny scales glistening in the sun once I rose above the thin, low-lying clouds and into the light. I did not care much for the beauty around me, however, not for the mist around the emerald peak which marked my home, cutting through the clouds, nor for the striking field of white which surrounded me. As though the rest of the world had been wiped clean.

I soared higher, then cut down through the mist and into the woods, barely skimming the treetops. Harder, faster, harder, faster. I pushed myself to my limit and beyond, hoping to exhaust my body and quiet my dragon’s voice.

It was better than waiting for her to wake up, feeling useless and hopeless.

Everything was sharper, clearer through my dragon’s eyes. I could make out the smallest squirrel, the swiftest finch. It brought to mind the early times, when we had once hunted for our sustenance. Long before the superstore was so much as a wild idea.

Those were simpler times. It was just us, the clan, cut off from the rest of the world. We could exist with a greater sense of security then.

There were days when I wished we might return to those times. When isolation seemed a safer course of action. Preferable to leaving ourselves open to outside threats.

And yet one of the largest threats had come from within our clan, years earlier. Before I had taken Gavin’s place.

He had never told me, though I’d asked time and again, who’d fathered Demeter’s child. If he had, would I have revealed their identity to the coven?

It was as though she heard me thinking about her parents. I spied Keira leaving the cave, tipping her head back once she was outside as though to fill her lungs with fresh air and enjoy the sensation of the breeze against her skin.

I landed not far from where she stood, catching her attention as my wings stirred up the leaves. She waited with her back turned, modesty compelling her to give me privacy while I pulled on the clothing I’d left near the cave mouth.

“How is she?” I asked, lacing my boots before joining her. As always, she held her head erect, her proud stance perhaps a hint at who she was underneath her skin.

One of us. How had we not felt it from the start?

“The same,” she announced with a resigned sigh. “Sleeping. I guess it’s for the best right now, like Selene said.”

“I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to retain my patience,” I muttered.

“Honestly, I agree with Selene.” When I turned to her with brows raised in silent question, she was quick to explain. “I’m not sure how much more I could have taken of her hating me. I need a minute to get a hold of myself without her shooting daggers with her eyes or trying to avoid me.”

“She was merely hurt because she did not understand,” I reminded her. My rather clunky way of trying to comfort her.

“I know. And I know it’ll take a while for her to understand—if she ever does.” Her chin quivered, or perhaps it was a trick of the light for she brought herself under control in a moment’s time. “I love her. I really do. She’s my sister, even if we’re not related by…”

By blood. That was what she wanted to say.

No, they were not related. Far from it. I shared more in common with Keira than Emelie did.

“She will remember that,” I promised. “Once the shock has worn off, she will.”

“You don’t know her.”

“I feel as though I do.”

She smiled, perhaps a bit wryly. “You called her yours. Do you remember? She is mine. You were just about frantic when you brought her back from out here. I mean, by rights, I should’ve been the one demanding somebody help her. But you did.”

“Aye. I suppose I did. It’s all a bit of a blur now—the heat of the moment, and all.”

She smirked, but was kind enough not to press the matter.

Instead, she drew a hitching breath as she looked out into the woods. “Emelie’s not the only one who had to face a lot of hard facts today.”

Of course. She was just as confused and off-balance as her friend. “It’s a great shame, to be sure, the way you found out about it all.”

“If I had my druthers, I would’ve chosen some other way,” she agreed in a soft voice.

“This makes you quite special. You realize that, I imagine.”

“I’ve never wanted to be special. I’ve only ever wanted to be me.”

“Aye, but we often do not have the luxury of choosing,” I pointed out. “I did not choose to take Gavin’s place at the head of the clan—and I certainly didn’t choose for him to be removed from us so suddenly,” I added, grimacing.

“No, I suppose you wouldn’t have.”

“Certain aspects of our lives are thrust upon us,” I observed. “It is up to us to do our level best with what we’re given. What more can we do?”

“You’re very wise.”

“I’ve had a very long life.”

She smiled, though there were tears in her eyes when she looked at me. “I need to ask. I hope you know that I need to ask.”

I sighed. “Aye. I’ve expected it.”

“You really don’t know? He never told you who my father was?”

“I’m sorry. He did not. I wish I could put your mind at ease.”

She nodded, as though she’d expected as much. “When you’re an orphan—or, at least, when you’re living without parents—you tend to imagine who your parents really were. Some kids would make up stories about their parents being undercover agents somewhere, like in the FBI or something, and that one day they’d reunite. Or the parents were famous, like royalty, and the kids were kidnapped and never returned. That sort of thing.”

“I’ll wager you would never have come up with the truth on your own, even in your wildest imaginings.”

She smiled again. “No. Not in a million years. I only wish I knew what it all meant. It was one thing to find out I was a Blood Moon Priestess, but this? No offense, but it’s sort of trippy.”

“None taken. I’m certain it is.”

Keira bit her lip, and this time there was no question whether or not her chin quivered. “I want so much for Em to accept me for who I am, because without her, who can I talk to about it? I love Tamhas, you know I do, but he wouldn’t understand what it’s like to be an outsider coming into this new world. Only she would.”

“And she will. When she comes back to us, she will.” I was more determined than ever to make it so.

Keira had already been part of the clan, truly a part, once Tamhas declared her his mate. That connection was stronger than ever now that I knew she shared the blood of the dragon.

We went back then, walking side-by-side, and I could honestly say I was glad to know she was one of us—not because lack of dragon blood would have made her unsuitable, but because we had an excuse to get to know each other a bit better.

Selene had moved Emelie to a room within the cave, one not currently inhabited by a witch. The coven had dwindled considerably in size, totaling eleven in all when I could remember there being many dozens. There was no shortage of empty space available.

The room was sparse, lit by dozens of candles burning their cold flames. The fire in the hearth, carved into the wall opposite the bed, crackled with real warmth.

“I thought she might react better if she woke up in a room such as this,” Callie explained. “With a fire burning and candles flickering. It might help soothe her.”

She seemed to genuinely care, which I found touching. “I’m sure it will. She will appreciate it.”

“I do hope so. She seems like a nice girl. Confused, overwhelmed, but a good soul. I can see why she and Keira became so close. And we are all pleased to know that Keira had such a good friend in the outside world.”

She smiled at Keira, who did her best to return it. She was clearly uncomfortable—there was no telling if and when she would ever be completely at-home with her fellow witches.

I sat beside Callie. “There might be something we can do. Something to help Emelie out of the state she’s in.”

“Have you spoken with Selene about it?”

I shook my head. “I wanted to bring the idea to you, first. I had the feeling you would be more receptive.”

“You thought I’d be more likely to agree, as she is likely to turn you down,” she translated, not unkindly.

“In a sense, yes.”

She sighed, glancing at Emelie before asking, “What is it you had in mind?”