As she shoved the person off her, Isaldora froze when she came face-to-face with someone she wasn't expecting—Lira. Kaelith's sister.
The girl was grinning so wide Isaldora swore her mouth might split open. She gave her a look, What the hell is wrong with this girl?
"I'm so happy you're my brother's mate!" Lira gushed, practically glowing. Honestly, the way she was bouncing, it looked like she was the one who'd found a mate.
"You know, we could be sisters! I always wanted a sister!" she went on, nearly bouncing on her toes.
Isaldora blinked at her, utterly lost for words at the girl's enthusiasm. For a second, she actually didn't know how to shut her up. Then she yanked her hand free from Lira's grip—because apparently she was clinging like a damn leech—and said flatly, "I don't know what your brother told you, but let me make one thing crystal clear—I don't accept this stupid… whatever bond."
That wiped the smile right off Lira's face. Good, Isaldora thought dryly. Her smile was hurting her eyes anyway, giving her a migraine.
"Please don't say that," Lira pleaded, eyes already going glassy, her voice cracking. "Please… just—please give Kael a chance. Please."
Isaldora's jaw tightened. Seriously? Was she about to cry?
"I don't think this is any of your business to stick your nose in," she said flatly, crossing her arms over her chest. "Stay out of it."
"I know it's not my place…" Lira sniffled. "But don't say you'd leave him."
Fantastic. Now she was crying. Isaldora pinched the bridge of her nose, already exhausted. Perfect.Just what Isaldora needed after the kind of day she'd had—more waterworks.
"He won't survive that kind of pain again. He's already been through this pain once," Lira whispered, voice breaking. "Now that he's found even a sliver of happiness, don't rip it away from him."
That made Isaldora pause. Once? Again? Her curiosity flared before she could smother it.
"What do you mean by again?" she asked, her voice clipped, sharp.
Lira fumbled, wiping her face. "He… he's faced his share of dark times. Times that almost ate him alive."
Isaldora's jaw tightened. The vague answer irritated her. She didn't care whatever dark times she was talking about but, What the hell does she even mean by 'again'?
"Please. Just give him a chance. Please." Lira's voice cracked, and before Isaldora could shoot back, she turned and bolted out the door, tears streaming down her face.
Isaldora stood there, dumbfounded, irritation buzzing under her skin. She didn't get what the hell was up with Lira or why she was so damn emotional over this. But one thing was clear—she'd left Isaldora with more questions than answers.
———
Isaldora sat back in the chair, legs crossed, looking calm as hell—but inside? She felt anything but. Across from her sat a woman, still looking like she hadn't aged a damn day. To her left, Hyden lounged with that solemn, I-know-everything face that made her want to roll her eyes.
"Long time no see," The woman said, eyes warm and steady on her. "I honestly lost hope in past three years that you'd ever come back to visit, dear."
"Sorry I couldn't, Edina." Isaldora replied, and for once, her voice was genuinely soft. "You know I've been… occupied."
Before she could say more, Hyden snorted, leaning back in his chair like the ass he was. "But you didn't just come here to say hello, did you, Izzy?"
Isaldora almost scowled. Seriously? Couldn't the jerk see I was easing her in? Subtlety clearly wasn't Hyden's thing.
After Lira's emotional meltdown earlier in the room, she hadn't wasted a second before showing up here. She needed answers, and if they were to be found, Edina was her best bet. The elf knew far too much about witches, especially about her coven than anyone else alive. She'd been the one to train her, after all.
Isaldora shot Hyden a death glare for running his mouth. Of course, the bastard only smirked back wider, enjoying himself. Jackass. She turned her attention back to Edina, who still sat with that gentle, patient expression.
"Edina," she began, ignoring Hyden's presence altogether. "I need to know something."
Hyden let out this low, scoff-laced laugh that had her rolling her eyes so hard she thought they might get stuck.
"What is it, sweetheart?" Edina asked kindly.
"About mates." Isaldora said, her voice clipped. then spat it out. "Any rare cases… where two opposite factions end up tied together."
The second the words left her mouth, silence slammed into the room. Edina's warm expression melted into something unreadable, cautious even. Beside her, she caught Hyden shifting in his seat, interested.
"Why are you asking that out of nowhere? Did something happen?" Edina asked carefully.
For a split second, Isaldora thought about keeping her mouth shut. But no. If she wanted answers, she had to throw the cards on the table.
"I found my mate," she said flatly.
She could see shock plastering on both of their faces, looking like they'd just been slapped.
"You did what?" Hyden blurted, smirk tugging at his lips again like he couldn't help himself. — again.
Isaldora ignored him, jaw tight with irritation. "He's the Alpha Prince of Duskhowl."
That wiped the smirk clean off Hyden's face. His face went from smug to gobsmacked in a blink.
"How the hell is that possible?" he muttered voice sharper now.
"How the hell should I know?" she snapped. "That's why I'm here. Maybe if you shut your damn mouth for five seconds, I might actually get some answers."
Her irritation flared hotter. Why the hell did everyone feel the need to poke their nose in my business today?
Turning back to Edina, she pressed, "I want answers. As far as I know, not once has something like this ever happened. And Aetherwyns? We've never been mated to anyone outside the coven."
Edina's gaze didn't waver, but her voice carried weight. "Just because it hasn't happened before doesn't mean it can't, princess."
Isaldora rolled her eyes at the stupid endearment. "Still doesn't explain why the hell it happened." Her tone sharpened, spiking her irritation— no one was giving her straight answers, and it was driving her nuts. "And for the record, I'm not accepting him. I can't have my enemy as a mate."
"I'm afraid you don't get that choice now, dear," Edina said calmly, sipping her tea like they were chatting about the weather. The ease in her voice only made Isaldora want to flip the table.
"I'll make that choice," Isaldora bit back.
"If you try, it will only weaken you," Edina said, setting her cup down and finally pinning Isaldora with those calm, knowing eyes.
"Even if you're stronger than most, once you've found your mate, denying or rejecting the bond will drain you," Edina said gently.
The words hit her like ice water.
"Why would it weaken me?" Isaldora demanded.
Edina's voice was steady. "Isaldora, when someone finds their mate, it doesn't just grow feelings or strengthen them. Their energy gets entangled. If one weakens, so does the other."
Isaldora narrowed her eyes. "And how exactly are you so sure? There are plenty who have survived rejecting their bond."
Edina didn't answer right away. She pushed up from her seat, crossed the room without a word, and came back holding a book.
She dropped it into Isaldora's hands. She shot Edina a questioning look.
The book in her hands… it was about Aetherwyn. She knew this one. It detailed their history, their strength, their training methods—pretty much a walkthrough of her coven. She'd read it before. So why was Edina giving it to her again?
"There's one section you never bothered to look at," Edina mentioned, watching her closely.
Isaldora glanced down, flipping the edges with her thumb. Oh. Right. The mate section. She had skipped it before—never actually felt the need to care about that part.
"I think you'll need to read it now," Edina went on.
"Yes, some mates reject each other. But have you ever heard a witch doing that?"
Her question made Isaldora to think, Edina was right, she never heard of a witch denying the bond.
"Exactly… that's because witches don't work like anyone else. Wolves have their beasts to carry the weight of rejection. Witches only have their power. If you tear the bond, you tear your power or I should say yourself."
Isaldora snapped the book shut, her words cutting through the room. "So what—you're telling me to accept my enemy as my mate?"
Her chest burned with defiance. She hated every word of this. It wasn't a solution.
Edina didn't flinch. Instead, her voice when came was calm, almost too calm. "Are you sure he's your enemy, Isaldora? Or is that just what you've decided?"
Isaldora's jaw tightened, but Edina pressed on. "I told you before—you can't take the whole world as your enemy because of the few who wronged you. Not every hand reaching for you means harm."
The silence between them stretched, thick and heavy. Isaldora didn't like what she came to know. She clearly wanted to get rid of the bond but now..
Edina's expression softened, looking at her. "In the end, the choice is yours—like it always has been. I can only remind and guide you. What you do with it… that's on you."