“I want to apologize,” Johnny said, catching her off guard.
“Apologize? What for?”
“For storming out the way I did. For letting my temper get the best of me. For whatever else you want to tack on.” He stuffed his hands into his pockets and kept his gaze trained on the ground.
“I don’t think you have anything to apologize for,” she replied.
“You don’t think I was a jerk back there?”
“I do,” she chuckled, “but I think, given the circumstances, you’re allowed to be one. If anyone should be apologizing, it’s me.”
Johnny looked at her as if she’d sprouted a second head. “What?”
“I shouldn’t have kept the truth about Trevor from you,” she said. “It was wrong of me.”
“Why did you keep it a secret?”
“I know I said it was to protect Trevor, but the truth is that I kept it a secret to protect myself.”
Johnny furrowed his brow. “I don’t understand.”
“I have no idea what I’m doing,” Holly admitted. “If I had told you about Trevor and Trevor wound up dead because of my words, that would’ve permanently fucked up this whole prophecy. I’m so scared that I’m going to say the wrong thing at the wrong time and accidentally screw all of us over.”
“That’s not going to happen.” The way Johnny spoke with such fierce determination almost made Holly believe him.
“But you don’t know that for sure, do you?” she asked. “None of us do. If you make a mistake, it’s all right. If I make a mistake, my actions could lead to the rise of the dark shifters. I’m paralyzed with fear, Johnny.”
“You don’t need to be afraid of anything.” Johnny closed the distance between them and wrapped her in his arms.
She sank into his embrace. “I’m sorry this is so difficult for you,” she murmured against his shirt. “You must be reliving a lot of pain.”
“Difficult is an understatement.” He laughed dryly. “The shifters who killed my parents might be in those silver mines right now. You have no idea how badly I want to charge in there and rip out their throats.”
“You’re right. I can’t imagine. My heart breaks, knowing what you’ve had to go through.”
“I thought the anger would fade with time, but it hasn’t,” he confessed in a whisper. “If anything, it’s getting worse.”
“How can I help you?”
A sharp laugh tore from Johnny’s throat as if he weren’t expecting to make a sound. “This is backward,” he said. “I’m supposed to be the one helping you.”
Holly shook her head. “You’re wrong. All of you are wrong. I’m your Maiden, but you all are my bear shifters. The Maiden chose me specifically to maintain peace. It’s my job to protect you just as much as it is your job to protect me.”
“I—” Johnny’s voice faltered. “I never thought of it that way.”
“I’m going to protect you by making sure you don’t get so lost in your anger that you do something reckless and get yourself killed in the process. If I lose you, I won’t survive it.”
“You won’t lose me,” Johnny whispered. “No matter how this ends, no matter whose child you bear, I swear to you that you will not lose me.”
Holly felt like an enormous weight had been lifted from her shoulders. “You won’t lose me, either,” she whispered back.
They held each other for a long while.
When Holly finally released him, she found she had a difficult time leaving his basement sanctuary.
Maiden? she called into her mind.
I am here.
I need advice. Holly dragged herself up the stairs to her bedroom. She felt the eyes of the other men on her as she moved through the house. Can we speak plainly? No cryptic warnings or half-formed riddles.
I do nothing half-formed, the Maiden sniffed, but yes. I will offer guidance.
Once in her room, Holly shut the door and flopped onto her bed.
How am I supposed to choose? I care for them all so much. How do I know which one is meant to be the King?
I cannot make that choice for you.
Holly furrowed her brow.
Then what’s the point? I don’t understand any of this.
I’ve chosen you to help me maintain the balance. You will need my power and wisdom to complete your task.
But if you have the power, why can’t you do it yourself?
I require your humanity. Your human heart and mind possess qualities I will never be capable of. Humans are not simple creatures I can manipulate without effort. Your minds are delicate and complex. Simultaneously easy to break yet capable of reaching heights beyond anything else in the natural world. They must be handled with great care.
Holly’s eyes went wide. It was impossible for her to wrap her head around the fact that there were things she could do that the Maiden could not.
Surely, you must have some sense of humanity if you care so much.
If every human in the world suddenly dropped dead, I would care only for the devastating effect it would have on this world.
Then why fight so hard to maintain peace between the shifter clans?
The power they contain within them must remain contained. If the shifters were to forsake their humanity, it is not only the humans that will suffer.
I better pick the right man, then. Holly frowned.
Indeed.
Then tell me which man to be with, Holly begged. She’d give anything not to have to make that choice. The thought of hurting even one of her shifters made her chest ache.
I cannot.
How did Phaedra Glint choose?
She used the knowledge I gifted to her. I will gift that knowledge to you when you’re ready. You will use
