Page 71 of Fated to Wolves
My dad’s gasp was the one that filled the room.“He didn’t.”
“He did.”I turned to the confused wolves in the room and explained that turning oneself into a genie was forbidden, and also one of the hardest spells a warlock could ever conquer.
Mom wiped at the tears that ran down her face.“The spell killed him, didn’t it?”
I nodded, not feeling my mother’s emotions like I normally would.The magic she’d used to loosen my tongue seemed to have made me a little numb to her feelings.Almost like I was drunk.Kind of.
“Yes, it did.”I turned to my wolves and explained that the man I considered my brother was gay and had never been accepted by his parents, or our community.
“You said he kind of failed,” Mason said, never missing a beat.“What does that mean?”
I smiled at him, then stumbled forward to kiss him.I was enjoying the texture of his lips when Mason gently pushed me back with a pained look on his face.
“Everyone’s still here,” he whispered.
I staggered back with a chuckle.“What did you put in that mug, Mom?”
She grinned at me.“Whiskey, among other things.”
I laughed louder this time, my legs feeling wobbly.“I knew I felt a little drunk.”
“So, tell us what you’ve been afraid of,” Leo said.“What you’ve said so far is sad, truly.But not what I expected.”
I gulped this time.“It’s… when I said he failed, sort of, I meant, he didn’t fail.He had one wish to grant, and because he was dying, he gave it to me.”
Dad surged to his feet.“Tania!Why didn’t you tell us?”
I gaped at him.I hadn’t been worried about my parents knowing, more my men.“Because… I don’t know.I was a little ashamed, I think.”
“What was your wish?”Leo asked gently, a stark contrast to my father’s tone.
“I didn’t wish anything,” I declared, feeling the need to justify myself.“But Harry was my best friend growing up.He knew that all I ever wanted was more magic.Specifically… I wanted my magic and my strength to match.”
My cheeks were hot with embarrassment.
My dad sat back down but his face was hard.“What does that mean?”
Mom’s magic was still buzzing through me and I leaned into it, wanting to feel that relaxation once more.“It means that with his dying breath, Harry gave me my wish.That all witches, not just me, but all big girls who are strong and healthy, have magic that match their size.”
“That’s why you can make jewelry now,” Mom said, her voice quiet and a little shocked.
I nodded.“I didn’t believe it was true, to start with.But the more spells I do, the more I realize that Harry did something truly special.”
I turned to my men, facing my fear head on.“I think this is part of the reason why I didn’t think you should love me.I’m not the powerful witch you think I am, not naturally anyway.I would never have been able to save your parents in the past.That spell was way above my power level.”
Leo grinned at me, obviously unfazed by my words.“Not anymore, beautiful.And like we’ve told you in the past, the fact that you were the one to lift the curse makes us admire you and your generosity of spirit, but it isn’t the reason we love you.Far from it.”
It was time to kiss Leo and unlike Mason, he didn’t pull away or seem fussed by the fact that everyone was watching us.
When I finally pulled away, I felt more drunk than I ever had in my life.“Whoa… my head is spinning.”
Leo stood up and put an arm around me.“How about we take Tania home, and catch up tomorrow.I think she’s had a big enough day as it is.”
Mom and Dad came over and hugged me, but I could feel their need to talk.
“Would you like me to spell you back to the apartment?”Mom asked me.
I grabbed Leo and Mason’s hands, even though it wasn’t necessary, and nodded.“Yes please.”