Begin

LAKE

I contemplate for a few moments. Derrick said Oliver cannot lie in this realm; she has control over it. She doesn’t seem like she’d have a reason to lie either.

Lynne is sending me her restless signals. She’s willing to give anything to have a happy life with our mate. That’s all she and I have ever wanted.

“What’s the cost?” I ask flatly. If I know anything from all the movies I saw growing up, there’s always a cost for these things.

“The cost will be nothing short of becoming my she-wolf,” Oliver shrugs. “Alignment is holding back your true power, my dear. You’re a dime a dozen, and I intend to keep it that way.”

I look at Derrick for clarification. He nods to reassure me that nothing will go wrong. I let out a deep breath.

“All right,” I reply with determination in my voice.

“Fantastic!” Oliver says gleefully. “Let us go back to the diner. I’ll have Benjamin brew you something up to eat. This procedure is nothing to laugh about on an empty stomach.”

“How does this work?” Derrick asks as we all stand in the kitchen while Benjamin prepares brunch.

“I’m not going to hurt the girl, Derrick.” Oliver takes a sip of tea she’s had brewing. “Lake won’t feel a thing.”

“But how does it work?” I repeat after Derrick. “I’d like to know since you’re going to be poking around my body.”

“Not your body,” Oliver corrects. “Your soul itself. I need to travel to your subconscious, where the Moon Goddess resides inside you. That’s the only way.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose as Benjamin hands me a bowl of fresh fruit. He smiles awkwardly before continuing to Derrick and then Oliver.

“Before you eat that, my dear,” Oliver grabs my bowl and mumbles strange words. The bowl glows for a moment before returning to normal.

“It’s a spell to help you relax enough to allow your subconscious to guide me.”

“What kind of Celestial are you?” I raise an eyebrow and sniff my fruit. Nothing seems different, so I reluctantly begin to eat.

“I am the Celestial of magic, my dear,” Oliver replies proudly. “Not to be confused with mortals and immortals of Wicca. A Celestial, I am. A goddess, I am not.”

“What’s the difference between Celestials and the gods and goddesses?” My interest is now piqued. This is like something out of a movie.

“Gods and goddesses have the ability to create and share.” Oliver pokes her fork into a piece of watermelon and waves it in my direction.

“We Celestials have the power to destroy and take away. This is why I’m able to destroy the link you have to Luna, the Moon Goddess.”

Oliver sets her empty bowl on the counter behind her and looks me up and down.

“You know with this link being severed, your mate link will become stronger.” Oliver has an amused smile on her face as mine heats up. “I have an extravagant room reserved just for the two of you.”

“Oliver, stop teasing her.” Derrick clears his throat. “We’re not here for that. We’re here to get Lake out of this Alignment mess and to locate that witch.”

“Whatever you say, Derrick.” Oliver shrugs and pushes off the counter. “Shall we begin?”

I nod as I finish my fruit. Derrick takes the bowl from my hands, and Oliver leads me into a dark room adjacent to her manager’s office.

“No boys allowed,” Oliver says over her shoulder to Derrick standing almost as my shadow behind me. I look back at him with worry in my eyes.

“Don’t worry, Firefly.” He kisses the top of my head. “I’ll be right out here if anything happens.”

I nod and take a breath before stepping into the dark room.