After Carlos and Mona finished breakfast, a heavy silence settled between them. Carlos set his coffee aside, finally deciding it was ti to address her presence.
"Mona, you shouldn’t have co," Carlos said with concern. "The palace is on edge as it is. You should have waited for a safer ti to visit."
"Maybe I can help you guys," Mona countered softly.
Carlos looked at her, his expression skeptical. "You can’t. What do you even know about fighting the dark witch? It isn’t a ga, Mona. It’s more dangerous than you can imagine."
"I know I’m not as powerful as the others, but I can help you bind her," Mona said confidently. "Even if I can only hold the spell for a few seconds, it could be the window you need. Honestly, I was just worried about you. You left without a second thought for your own safety."
She took a brief pause as her own eyes reflected the pain Carlos carried in silence. "Grandma passed away so recently, and I was afraid you were pushing yourself too hard. The other witches refused to get involved with the werewolves, but you agreed because of your loyalty to Alie. I know how heavy the world has felt since you lost your parents. People always co to you for their own selfish reasons, Carlos. If you really want to go, I’ll go. But I only want to share the weight so you don’t have to carry the entire burden of the moon event alone."
"Alie isn’t selfish," Carlos corrected, his voice hardening with a protective edge.
"She only contacted you after all these years," Mona pointed out with a skeptical tone. "Grandma told a little about your history."
"Then you must also rember that Alie saved my life a long ti ago," Carlos stated flatly.
Mona lowered her gaze, biting her bottom lip nervously. "I know that. I just ant... She never reached out before until a few months back. Not until she felt no one could give her the answers she needed."
"She never wanted to drag a sorcerer into the politics of her country," Carlos said, letting out a dry, short laugh at Mona’s sudden labeling of his friend. "I thought you were a well-wisher of hers."
"You’re taking wrong, Carlos. Alie is sweet, but she called you—"
"At a ti when only I could help," Carlos interrupted, his expression softening as he spoke of Alie’s past. "She isn’t selfish, Mona. She could have called when her own life was falling apart. She was abused by her pack; her own mate tried to take her life. She went through hell and never asked for a single thing until it beca a matter of life and death. That is the opposite of selfish."
Mona’s brow furrowed as the weight of his words sank in. "I’m sorry," she murmured. "I didn’t realize it was that bad."
"Fine," Carlos said, exhaling slowly. "Stay here until the moon event is over. Just promise you won’t overexert yourself."
"I won’t. I promise."
Mona stood up, ready to head back to her quarters, but Carlos stopped her with one final statent.
"I’ve found peace here, Mona," he clarified with steady eyes. "I won’t be returning to the coven when this is finished."
Mona gave a small hum of acknowledgnt and quietly walked away, leaving him alone with his thoughts.
~~~~~
"Noah seems too happy today!" Zilia remarked with a smile, finishing up the fruit plate for Katelyn.
"Yes, I noticed that too," Katelyn agreed, pulling Noah a little closer into her lap. She looked down at his bright eyes. "Are you this happy just because I’m feeling better, Noah?"
"Ha! La!"
Noah let out a burst of bubbles and cheerful sounds that seed to fill the entire room with warmth. Katelyn laughed, leaning in close. "Call Aunty Kate. Co on, try it for , Noah," she said, pouting her lips playfully to show him the movent.
Instead of speaking, Noah scrunched up his face and perfectly imitated her pout, his tiny lips puckered in a mirror of hers.
"Kate, you should finish these fruits. I’ll take care of Noah until then," Zilia said, scooping the boy into her arms.
Katelyn began to eat, her expression turning thoughtful. "When will Alie be back? Did she say what ti?"
"No," Zilia replied, shaking her head. "But she’s with the Queen and Casaio at the Moon Temple, so there’s nothing to worry about. She’s in good hands."
"And Brother Gabriel? Did he say where he was heading?" Katelyn inquired.
"Yes. To Aurevalis to search for the weapon. Nick went along to accompany him," Zilia answered. As she spoke, she felt a little tug on her shirt. She looked down and saw Noah trying to bring his mouth to the round button on her top.
"No, Noah. That’s not for you," she scolded gently, pressing her fingers against his tiny lips to stop him. He locked his dreamy blue eyes onto hers for a second, looking caught, before quickly snapping his head the other way to pretend he was looking at sothing else. Zilia looked at him with an intent gaze, her own yearning building.
’I want to have a baby too,’ she thought.
~~~~~
"When Gabriel was only a month old, I brought him here to the Moon Temple to seek the blessings of the Moon Goddess," Mabel began, her voice echoing softly against the ancient stone walls. Both Alie and Casaio remained quiet, drawn in by the sudden weight in her tone. "I wish every day that I hadn’t t Ophelia that morning. And even if I had... I wish I hadn’t been so quick to trust her."
"Mom, that’s all in the past now," Casaio said gently, reaching out to settle her. "There’s no use dwelling on it today. Why put yourself through that?"
"I feel overwheld that’s why," Mabel stated.
"It’s strange the dark witch could roam into a temple that freely. It questions it’s very ability," Casaio murmured.
"I didn’t find Ophelia exactly inside the temple, but outside," Mabel stated to which he imdiately apologized for his comnt.
"Alie, have you t the priest? What did he say?" asked Casaio.
"Umm... I can’t tell you. It’s a secret," Alie stated with a smile. "Mother, don’t be too upset over the past. You and Gabriel are going well together now. And that’s what matters."
Ophelia, who was watching them from the corner, outside the temple had her hands clenched to her sides.
’She looks happy. I wish Alex had succeeded in killing her. That bastard couldn’t do one thing right,’ she thought with a frown. Suddenly, a thought occured in her head and a smirk appeared on her lips.
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