"Maybe we can become your second family. Or you can find one here, since yours wished to remain in Ashmire."
The lie left Nia’s lips as if it were the truth, etching deeply at Rem’s heart. Nia was sharp enough to know the attack was abnormal, but how could she possibly piece it all together without Rem telling her?
Looking off and staring up at a tree, following the branches with her gaze, she listlessly said, "Who knows."
They were silent again until Nia became alert, looking off in the direction that they had entered from. A woman approached, and Rem saw that she was tan with red tattoos on her neck and forearms, the ink nearly blending into her skin. It was hard to miss the tattoo on the front of her neck as she neared the edge of the water— a full moon with a crescent moon on either side. It was an Elder’s tattoo.
Thin red fabric draped over this female’s shoulders, cinching at the waist, revealing white cotton clothes underneath. She jingled from all the gold jewelry she wore.
The Elder warmly smiled, showing the laugh lines around her face. "Lavinia and Remara, I have heard that our Silver has been injured."
Rem nodded, straightening her back at someone using her full name. "Yes, I was. You speak my language as well?"
The Elder said, "Not all of us Elders do, but some must. Just like most packs have someone that can translate… I am here as I needed to find you both. There has been a change in the process of Rem's transitioning.”
The Elder nodded at Rem, the rings on her ears rattling. "Word has been sent, and Scarlet Howl is requesting that all the new Silvers should meet the sovereign Alpha and Luna, and that their transformations begin with them."
"More Silvers?" Rem asked, that being the only thing she heard.
She hadn't considered meeting more while being here.
The Elder's wide smile faded, but her eyes remained kind. "Yes, with the other packs. And no, they are still human. Some have been with their host packs for about two months at this point, adjusting in their own ways. We all agreed to wait until you thirteen had been gathered before changing you in our own lands, but even that seems to have altered. You will walk the line of change with all of them on the next full moon."
Rem didn't know whether to smile or be appalled that more were being taken. What about the others? Were they alright? Were they struggling? Did they, too, have Elder Witches precariously close by?
I am not alone with these people. Not anymore.
Rem looked down at the water, the pressure to gain Ronan’s favor even heavier on her shoulders now.
R O N A N
Another beautiful day graced them,but disrespect marred it. What were the Callons thinking, damaging her like that? Was that why Ronan heard reports of the Callons hiding the Silver away?
Ronan felt even more protective at the way she seemed to guard her scar. He needed to correct whatever led her to believe she owed loyalty to the Callons to the point of injury. Whether or not he chose her, Ronan was responsible for Rem.
Hopefully, Nia has helped already. She was right to take her to the hot springs.
Ronan approached the home that nature partially reclaimed, later restored by the humans that served the Wardens. Ronan had never been to the Exiles, or otherwise known as the dying world that the paranormals had been banished to before The Great Purge.
He didn’t need to travel there to understand that living on Earth was a privilege. So why would Jackson mutilate someone like Rem so carelessly—a valuable piece to aid shifters in the coming wars? They’d need the Silvers based on the way the hunters behaved as of late.
Erik said, “I still can’t believe he did that.”
“Nor can I… but hewillregret it.”
“Careful as well, my liege… defending this Silver so soon may bind you to her.”
Ronan watched the door of the home, not responding to Erik. He wasn’t wrong… it’s how his kind worked. Unspoken acts created invisible bonds.
“She is a Silver… I need one as a mate. What else am I to do?”
“I only mention it because there are other Silvers. If she is as fearful as you say, she could become another Josephine.”
That struck a sense of reality into Ronan’s plans.
He had to avoid that at all costs.
The eldest brother, Owen, exited the Callon home, bowing as Ronan advanced. No matter what, Rem was here on Ronan’s behalf, and he wouldn’t fail the gift of their goddess.
