Page 8 of Ancient Promises
“I need a favor,” Jewel said, leaning on the counter and smiling.
“Name it,” Diem said.
“I need a dress for a date tonight. It’s very special.”
“Oooh,” Diem said, setting down the trinket she’d been rubbing with a polishing cloth and rising to her feet. Along with books and gifts, she also kept a selection of boutique clothes in the back of the store for people in town who needed special outfits. “Special like romantic, or special like sexy?”
“Romantic-special, I guess,” Jewel said. She lowered her voice even though they were alone. “I’m pregnant.”
“Oh! Yay!” Diem hurried around the counter and hugged her friend. “I’m so happy for you!”
“Thanks!” Jewel laughed and hugged her back. “You and Shelley are the only ones who know, so mum’s the word until after my date with Trace tonight.”
“On my honor,” Diem said, twisting an invisible key over her lips and tossing it over her shoulder. “Now, what’s on the schedule for the date? Dinner? Dancing? Movie? Sexy romp in a field on a blanket?”
Jewel’s brows rose. “I like that blanket idea. But I think it’s too wet outside for a romp in the field after the rain we got last night. So just dinner out. I made a reservation at Trace’s favorite place.”
“Perfect. So you’re due when?”
“I’m two months’ along, so November.”
“Very cool.” She led her to the room with the clothing.
“I’m really curious what our baby will end up being, since Trace is a hybrid hyena-warlock and I’m a purebred bear.”
“A bear with hyena coloring, or a warlock with a bear roar?” Diem offered. She pulled a rack forward that contained a selection of dresses in Jewel’s size, ranging from classic tank dresses to Diem’s favorite fifties style pinup dresses with belted waists and flared skirts.
“Whatever combination our child is, I’m just thankful to live in a place where I don’t have to worry about them being branded as an exile and forced away.”
Diem glanced at the brand on Jewel’s wrist, which matched hers. “I feel the same way. It’s nice to know that we can be with our mates and our children without them facing that in the future.”
“I think this dark green dress is perfect, but do you have a wrap for it? It might get chilly tonight.” Jewel took a dress off the rack and held it up to herself, looking at a full-length mirror.
“You bet.”
A half-hour later, Jewel left with the dress, wrap, and a pearl headband in a garment bag and promised to send a text to Diem to let her know how the night went. She was sure it would be amazing no matter the setting, since Jewel and Trace were having a baby together and he’d be just as excited as her.
Someday, Diem would be sharing the news of a child with her truemate, but she had to find him first. As she pulled the door closed and waved at her friend once more, she rubbed the space over her heart where her wolf let out a curious and rather sad howl-growl.
Someday couldn’t come fast enough.
Chapter Four
The witch walked into the backyard of the king’s home where Eivross waited with his brother and a contingent of guards and the elder dragons. She had long auburn hair and tired eyes, but she smiled and gave a slight bow to Zihndyr, who was standing on the back porch, above everyone else.
“I’m Freida,” she said. “Who is the exile?”
“My brother,” Zihndyr said. “Or hewasmy brother, but now he will be a stranger forever.”
She made a small sound in the back of her throat and turned to face them. Pulling a short metal brand from a bag on her hip, she walked to Eivross and said, “Hello. Hold out your wrist, please.”
He rolled his sleeve up and held out his wrist.
She waved her fingers over the brand at the end of the short pole and spoke a spell, which turned the brand bright red like it had been sitting in a fire for a while. The magic in the spell would make the scar permanent. No matter how many times he shifted into his dragon, the scar would never go away, always a reminder that he was no longer welcome in the place of his ancestors.
“This cannot be undone,” she said, taking his wrist gently in her free hand. “What is done today is forever.”
“If you come into my territory,” Zihndyr called loudly, “I’ll see to your death myself.”