Georgina tucked a blonde wisp of hair, which had fallen out of her tight bun, behind her ear. She and the other apprentice worked diligently into the night to save the child, who was not yet ready to be birthed. Georgina thought she was the most beautiful baby she had ever seen, apart from Lavenia’s boy.
“That was close,” she said eventually, eyeing her close friend. “Had it not been for thy quick thinking, our secret would have been revealed, and all would have been lost.
“Aye, the Old Gods were watching over us this day,” her friend replied. “I believe they entrust us with these children and their futures.”
“And years from now, what will we tell them, that this was Lavenia’s doing?”
“Nay,” the other apprentice stated, “we shall never speak her name again. The future of the werewolves, the entire curse and the burden it offers, will be blamed on Alaric. He will forever be known as the original ruler, and many of his offspring will both fear and hate him. Only we shall know what came to pass, until the two star-crossed lovers unite their families once again.”
Squinting toward the ceiling, toward an imaginary future, Georgina pondered this. “And what shall happen when this future couple learns the truth?” She thought of the two souls, one boy, one girl, who would never know that the Old Gods had aligned their fates long before they were conceived.
“We shall embark upon that journey when the need arises, but ’twill be awhile. Many, many years from this day.”
Georgina smiled at her friend, who, in turn, returned the same kindhearted affection. They understood one another, and ’twould always remain so. In spite of everything, they would forever exist as friends. And every one of their secrets from the past would remain buried.
For now.
Georgina sorted all of the fresh herbs on the dining table and collected her basket. “I shall return later. I am going to trade some potions for milk, so these babies will have food.” Her words fell on deaf ears, though, as her best friend was too busy playing with the children. She smiled to herself and closed the front door behind her.
The other apprentice made fast work of fashioning cloth around the newborn’s underside and collecting toys they used for the young boy. He was already growing so quickly, and would soon be able to find his legs and run about the land. She could not keep herself from beaming as she pictured the black-haired child disappearing in fields of corn and wheat, of the sun shining atop his head like a golden crown, of him turning around and sending his love to her and Georgina through an infectious grin. Those would be the good times.
The two children, side by side in the cradle, smiled up at the apprentice. She made faces to soothe them, and it seemed to work. Both children cooed and laughed at her attempts, their faces finally filled with so much joy, even in the midst of dreadful circumstances. She and Georgina were their blood relatives now. Though this situation saddened her, she could see the future: the children living the happiest of lives, playing with other children their age, learning about love and forgiveness.
But there were dark forces ahead. Troubling powers that be. The Old Gods knew the fate of these tiny humans before the curse was ever enacted. Because of Lavenia’s selfish act, and because magic comes with a price, the children were cursed, as well. And when the time came, she knew the Old Gods wanted Georgina and her to tell the children.
“Do not fret, my little loves,” she said, tickling their bellies. “Ye are safe now. Maggie is going to take good care of ye.”
Alaric, Ulric, and Daciana’s journey continues through their ancestors in Silver Moon, Black Moon, and Blood Moon.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rebecca Rogers expressed her creative side at an early age and hasn’t stopped since. She won’t hesitate to tell you that she lives inside her imagination, and it’s better than reality.
To stay up to date with Rebecca’s latest books, check out her website at www.rebeccaarogers.com, sign up for her mailing list, or find her on social sites such as Goodreads, Facebook, and Twitter.
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