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"That’s a hell of a decision to enerations of someone elses My race was small in number, but over the centuries so many Cerddorion women--tens of thousands of them, probably oddess does, child She shapes the world, and we mortals must live with the results Ceridwen’s actions hted Theyto protect her children She was trying to keep that which she had created in balance"

"Okay, so Ceridwen put limitations on both her lines" I already knew the effects of her actions; I didn’t care much about the whys "What does that have to do with me?" Other than the fact that I would never have children That knowledge had never bothered ht de wheels off my first bicycle Still, it was an issue whose ies of my relationship with Kane He was a lone wolf now, but some day he’d want a pack of his own To a olf, thata family Sooner or later, one of us would have to sacrifice--either Kane would have to fight his instinct to start a pack or I’d have to give up shapeshifting

But then, et lucky Maybe I wouldn’t survive the next full moon

Mab rapped the table "If you pay attention, I’ll tell you what it has to do with you"

"Sorry" Just trying to find an upside to being shredded by the Night Hag’s pack of hellhounds

"After Ceridwen faded from the world, some believe she ceased to exist Others believe she retired to another plane, one beyond our experience and understanding, to rest To regather her strength"

"She’s been gone for, what? Millennia I’d say that, dead or retired, she’s not co back"

"But she is, child Already she stirs" Excitement lit up Mab’s face She pulled on the silver chain she wore around her neck, bringing out the pendant that hung inside her shirt "A spark of her dwells here In ht, after I was attacked, do you remee of Mab collapsed, her face purple, angry red th to climb to ht Hag threatened you, I stood up--"

"And gave her what-for Yes, I reh the terain It had taken a shift to restore her

"For those few th so I could face our eneone fro out when needed, like a genie in a bottle? For a ed Mab’s brain Yet I’d witnessed that surge of strength myself "How do you know it’s Ceridwen?"

"I know, child It’s as siers "Do you re my previous visit here, that this stone was nearly drained of its power?"

"That’s why you buried it when you got back to Wales"

"Yes I left it deep in good Welsh soil for a fortnight Over the years, I’ve done thatit up, the bloodstone had changed" She leaned towardthe stone flat on her paler It’s even larger than it was before"

I inspected the stone It was gray with green and red flecks, just as I re the stone depth, and it did seeht but definite, eers around h ed with the spark of Ceridwen I don’t knohat for to our world"

"All right, if you believe that, I’ll take your word for it" I pulled my hand away, and Mab returned the bloodstone to its place inside her shirt My practical aunt had never been one for silly fantasies, but it was hard for me to make this leap with her Her bloodstone was powerful in itself--I’d witnessed its life-restoring powers Why bring sooddess into it? Besides, it only confirhts "If Ceridwen has hitched a ride back from Dimension X or wherever via your bloodstone, then she’s chosen you Thatto kill her, yes Still, I was co, I’d been on the front lines battling Pryce and his allies If Ceridwen had chosen Mab for this role, I’d follow her anywhere I’d throw every ounce ofher I’d protect her withthe Cerddorion in battle against the de

Buther head "No, child I’m not the one That was never my fate My job has been to hold back the darkness and prepare the way"

"But your bloodstone--"

"I’ve worn this bloodstone for centuries, child Never in all that time has it held any spark of the divine Not until it was touched by your blood" It was true that soht But I still thought Mab was ju to conclusions And I was about to tell her so, when she slid fro suspected it, Victory The prophecies, your father’s dreaht before you were born, they all pointed to it But now I’m certain" She bowed her head "Welcome, Lady"

20

"MAB, DON’T!" THE LAST THING I WANTED WAS MY AUNT on her knees in front ofI’ve waited for the Lady to return," she murmured But she returned to her chair