Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 142916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 715(@200wpm)___ 572(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 715(@200wpm)___ 572(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Fenja nodded. “Yes, I saw the sunset and his attack on them. Even as weak as he was, he managed to kill them all. And Evangelica. She tried to sneak up behind him with a shovel, and he brought down the lightning. Even though I wasn’t present and just had the vision, I felt satisfaction in knowing she died. She had killed two of my friends.”
“What of Sabine?” Silke asked.
“I ran across her years later,” Fenja said. “She didn’t live through our meeting.”
Benedek felt Silke’s shock.
Witte wieven do not kill. They are healers, Benedek, gentle souls who save lives, not take them.
“When you met Sabine again,” Benedek said, “did she try to kill you?”
Fenja sent a small smile. “How did you know? I knew before she made her try what she was doing. She must have forgotten that medicine women are often seers. I have a strong gift. I guess that she didn’t. She came at me with a knife. She waited until my back was turned, but I knew what she intended because I saw it in a vision.”
“It was still taking a chance with your life, Mama.”
Benedek couldn’t help looking at his woman. She sounded distressed, as if Fenja had just met the woman instead of the meeting taking place years before Silke was born. In another life. Silke couldn’t conceive of being centuries old. Fenja had transitioned several times, unlike him. He had simply lived his life, the centuries passing, time meaning little. Fenja had chosen to return as a witte wieven to serve others.
In their way, all three of them had chosen a life of duty to others. All lived by a code of honor. The one other person Silke was close to was Tora. She also had chosen a life of service and lived by a code of honor.
“Not so much of a chance,” Fenja said. “I knew I would transition. I wanted to come back. I foresaw my future and knew if I continued to return, my reward would happen in this life. You would come to me.” She sent Benedek a smile. “I knew you would arrive in time to help us defeat Lilith’s army. And that you would be perfect for my daughter.”
“You never said one word to me about Benedek,” Silke objected.
“You have to find your way, my little one. You always have. You needed to arrive at the truth, that you two were made for each other.” She sent Benedek a small smile. “She can be stubborn. Her best and worst trait.”
He could hear the love in her voice. It was stark and very real. She knew her fate and was doing her best to prepare her daughter.
“Do you plan to transition again?” If he could help Silke to accept what was happening with Fenja, he would do so.
“I would very much like to have grandchildren of my own,” Fenja said. “To do so, I must transition.”
Silke gasped and leaned toward her mother, pulling the shawl closer around her. “Are you certain?”
“I have repeated this cycle several times, Silke. I knew my body was wearing out, but I was determined to see you settled before I went. I want to know you’re safe and happy. I wanted to see it for myself.”
Benedek felt Silke’s sorrow. It weighed on him, a pressure in his chest. His every instinct was to go to her, gather her close and hold her in his arms to give her as much comfort as possible. Merged as he was in her mind, he could feel her silently weeping. That was worse to him than if she had sobbed aloud. She held herself rigid, putting on a brave face for her mother yet feeling as if she were breaking apart inside.
Sivamet. He whispered the endearment into her mind, calling her his heart because he realized she was fast becoming just that. He might not have known what love was, but he’d found it in a woman. I am with you. He surrounded her with his strength. Sent her waves of the emotion he felt for her. Love? Who knew? He didn’t. He only knew she would always be his first priority. He knew that with every fiber and cell of his being.
This is shattering me, she admitted, the little sob catching in the voice merging in his mind. I’m breaking into little pieces and I’ll never be whole again.
You will, Silke. I will find every single piece and put you back together. Hold you close to me. Keep you safe. She will return. Fenja has a will of iron, a trait she has given to you. Be happy knowing she will leave this world and shed the painful physical body she has and return to you and our children without that burden. She’ll be free to enjoy her grandchildren.