Page 166 of Fractured Fate

If they started dying without their magic, wouldn’t they want to reproduce to restore their population? That’s what humans did with animals on the verge of extinction. Her nose wrinkled when she considered the comparison to humans, but it was the best parallel she could draw. Humans had entire breeding programs to restore animal populations on the verge of disappearing because of disease or human interference.

“Blood, child. Blood.”

“Huh?”

“While we will be similar to humans in most every way, our existence still relies on the consumption of blood. No matter how our magic dwindles, this need will never extinguish. Without magic, blood will become like a poison to our bodies until we can no longer consume it. At that time, we will succumb to sanguis manie and—”

“You’ll go mad and die,” Charlotte finished for her, her voice flat.

“Precisely.”

“Where do I fit into this? Why am I here? They said Blaire was supposed to be the only descendant.”

The Oracle smiled and her gaze moved over Charlotte’s head, staring up at the stars in the clear night sky as she spoke.

“The stars have revealed new truths. A danger to both your kind and mine. The balance and restoration are at risk, saved only by a friend’s sacrifice. An untapped, lost power is the conduit for a bond deeper than that of lovers to overcome even death itself. But the heart must be open.”

“What does that mean?”

“It is one of the prophecies that has come to fruition in Blaire’s path to restore our rightful bloodline.”

Charlotte tried to remember the words, picking them apart and fitting them to any information already shared with her, but she hadn’t known the words were related to some prophecy or she would have paid better attention.

Sensing her struggle, the Oracle stepped closer. “Aiden sacrificed his life to save Blaire. Only he would be strong enough to do that. With his death, and her unfailing devotion to him—her open heart—unwilling to give him up in the face of everyone resigned to the loss, a door unlocked on Blaire’s magic, and she was able to bring him back to us.” With a soft smile, she said, “Your awakening was made possible by that door unlocking.”

“I don’t understand. You said others with dormant magic like me… does that mean I have magical blood? Am I a witch?”

The gears in her head worked overtime as she tried to make sense of all the information dumped on her tonight when all she wanted was fresh air to get her head on straight. She never imagined her entire perception of everything would turn upside down.

The Oracle moved to stand beside her, turned opposite to the direction Charlotte faced. She lowered her voice. “Even if you were to remove yourself from the path you are on now, it will not thwart what is to come. The wheels are set in motion. But know this: the others are stronger with your presence. Never doubt your place with them. Your soul was meant to be alongside theirs. You may not see your own strength yet, but it exists.”

Charlotte started, head snapping to the side as she met the Oracle’s knowing gaze. Somehow this mysterious being knew of her insecurity.

“You belong here, Charlotte. They need you.”

With those final words, the Oracle stepped away along the path that followed the back of the academy toward the staff buildings.

The enigmatic woman hadn’t answered the questions about Charlotte’s blood or if she were a witch, or even how her presence tied to the prophecy, but one thing the Oracle did for her was give her reassurance. If she had the power to receive and give prophecies that shaped the future, then maybe her words held merit.

Squeezing her eyes shut, she took a long, steady breath and nodded to herself. She had to try. If she made the others stronger, then she had to try. The Vasirian needed Blaire. Blaire needed her. She didn’t think she could let go of Aiden, anyway.

She only hoped the strength she gave them overrode the danger she brought by bringing a stalker and other rogues to their doorstep.

34

OUTSIDER

With the new day came a new resolve. If the Oracle believed Charlotte belonged in their world, then something had to give. It wasn’t only by her own hand that she felt like an outsider. Her friends had kept her in the dark about everything; and while that might have been for her protection, it still stung. They could have given her something.

Trusted her.

It did more than make her feel bad that they didn’t trust her to not say something. It made her feel excluded and alone.

Aiden was in the shower when she woke up, so she got dressed and took the note from his bedside table. She needed to confront him about it.

Another item on the take-no-prisoners agenda of the morning.

Now, standing in the cafeteria watching her friends talk amongst themselves with smiles and laughter, she questioned if she should say anything at all and risk bringing down the mood.