"Congrats," Larkin said, giving me a hug. "I knew you could do it."
"Mostly thanks to you," I said, squeezing her back. "You're a great teacher."
She bit her lip and tugged on her nearly white hair, which made her look young again. "Is the invitation to return to Earth with you still open?"
My heart raced faster. Was she really considering it? "Of course it is."
"Then I'm coming with you," she said, her eyes shining with resolve. "You've convinced me I can't stay here any longer, wishing things would change without doing anything to actually change them. If I want to have a real life, I have to fight for it." She nudged me in the side. "Besides, you'll need my help. I think I might be able to break your mate bond with Jordan too."
I pressed a hand to my chest as it filled with hope. "Really?"
"I can try at least," she said with a shrug. "Celeste and I have been discussing it and we think we've worked out a spell that could break it. We'll need Jordan to do it though."
"We'll get him, somehow." A huge wave of relief settled over me, along with a dash of newfound hope. "Thank you. I'm so happy you're coming with me, and I'll try to keep you safe. I can't promise anything, but I will do everything in my power to make sure we get out of this alive."
"I had a feeling you would go," Celeste said to Larkin with a sad smile, before turning it back on me. "Take care of each other. You both mean the world to me, and I'll miss you so much, but I've kept Larkin here too long as it is."
As I glanced at my newfound family, I felt a rush of unexpected sadness knowing I would be leaving this place already. As much as I wanted to get back to Kaden and my pack, I would miss Celeste too, and all the other people I'd met in Lunatera. But at least Larkin would be by my side when I returned.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Anticipation made my blood race as I walked onto the beach the next night. I could hardly believe this moment had finally arrived. After all my training, grieving, praying, hoping, and fearing, it was time for me to return to Earth. To my pack. To Kaden.
Many of the Moon Witches I'd come to know were gathered on the beach in a circle, talking in hushed tones as they waited. Tonight they wore the dark purple robes they'd had on when they'd brought me here. As I approached, they turned and looked at me, falling silent.
The moon was full and bright, shining down on the beach and illuminating the serene faces of the Moon Witches. I gazed at Larkin, Mariel, Elsa, Kena, Patricia, Erik, and even Rowena, before finally settling on my mother. Celeste's robe was black and silver, distinguishing her as the High Priestess, and her moon crown glowed atop her long white hair, making her look like a goddess. She stood in the center of the circle and opened her arms, embracing me quickly before directing me to the spot where I should stand.
As I stepped into the center I drew in a deep breath and let the moonlight fill me, stealing some of its power to give me strength. Larkin gave me a quick thumbs-up, which made me smile, and then I faced my mother.
“Under the watchful eye of Selene, tonight you will become one of us,” Celeste said. "A true Moon Witch. Do you accept this as your destiny, Ayla Beros?"
"I do."
She gave me a smile so full of pride it took my breath away. "Then with the blessing of the moon goddess, I invite you to join our coven."
Around me, the other Moon Witches began chanting softly in ancient Greek. It wasn't a spell, but more of an intonation—a prayer to Selene to bring me happiness and power, and to let the moon always shine on my face. Celeste raised her arms and began chanting too, and the moon illuminated her like a spotlight. She let it surround her, making the air sparkle almost like snowflakes, and then pushed the magic toward me. As the moonlight hit me, it washed over me like a cool wave, dancing across my skin, before swirling around one of my fingers. When I raised my hand, a new tattoo had appeared along my middle finger of a crescent moon and a tiny star. Marking me as a Moon Witch, like my Ophiuchus symbol marked me as one of their pack.
"This mark will tie you to Lunatera, so you may return any time you desire," Celeste said. "You are one of us now, and you will always be welcome here."
The other Moon Witches looked on as she unfolded some cloth in the same purple shade as their robes. As the heavy fabric settled around my shoulders, my throat tightened with emotion. I'd been reaching for this goal the whole time I'd been in Lunatera, and this was the final hill to crest.
"Thank you," I said, as she pulled the hood up over my hair.
Celeste patted my cheek, her love shining from her eyes. "I'm so very proud of you, Ayla. I'm going to miss you so much, but I will pray to Selene every night for your safe return."
“I promise I'll be back." We hadn't had nearly enough time together, and I still had so much I wanted to learn about my mother. Only the knowledge that Celeste would always be here in Lunatera waiting for me allowed me to leave this place. Still, a tiny part of me wanted to stay by her side for the rest of my life, to be a child again with a mother who actually cared, but her path had diverged from mine long ago. We led different destinies now, and it was time for me to return to my other family.
Just as my eyes began to fill with tears, she released me. The other Moon Witches each came up to grasp my hands in theirs, to welcome me to their coven, and to say small prayers for my safety and strength. One by one, until only Larkin remained, her eyes wide with the same mix of fear and excitement twisting in my gut now.
"The robes look good on you," she said.
"I wouldn't be wearing them if not for you," I said, my throat tightening with emotion. "You stuck with me, making sure I learned everything I needed in record time."
"Of course I did. You're family." She threw her arms around me and squeezed me tight, and I hugged back her small frame. As I did, I noticed she was trembling a little.
"You ready for this?" I asked her as we pulled apart.
She swallowed hard. "As ready as I'll ever be."
When the other witches stepped back, I realized this was it. I'd been waiting for this moment ever since Celeste had told me I could travel back and save Kaden, and my stomach was a swirling mess of sadness, excitement, and fear. Would I be able to save him? Or would I have to face my grief all over again?
"It's time." Celeste gazed between the two of us with a sad smile. "Take care of each other. You both mean the world to me, and I want to see you again soon. With Kaden, I hope."
I laced Larkin's fingers through mine as I faced my mother. "We'll all come see you soon, I promise."
"I'll hold her to that," Larkin said.
Celeste nodded and blinked back tears, before stepping back, closing the circle of witches around us. She began muttering something different in ancient Greek, something I didn't quite understand, and moonlight filled the circle around me and Larkin. The other witches joined in, voicing a steady, solemn chant, one that was very different from the initiation spell.
"Picture the moment when we took you," Celeste said, while the others kept chanting around us. "Form it in your mind."