Second Chance for the Barren Luna (Talia and Jason) novel Chapter 337

Talia’s POV

Nolan and I shared a startled glance. I had not mentioned Morgana or even hinted at it, yet Della said it so casually as if that woman's name didn't cause children to have nightmares.

“I never told you the witch’s name,” I said.

“You did not need to. It was clear it had to be her,” Della replied, her tone relaxed, as if discussing the weather.

Nolan’s eyes narrowed. “How do you know that?” he asked.

Della smiled, a sly glimmer in her eyes, clearly enjoying our uncertainty. “Because I collect information that most would ignore: old names, old grudges, and half-remembered stories the elders no longer tell. Did you think I only cared about food?”

Nolan opened his mouth, and Della quickly said, “Don’t answer that. Anyway, when you described a witch who could create an illusion that complex and cruel, only one witch would be capable of that. I knew it had to be her,” Della explained, picking up her spoon and stirring her stew.

Nolan placed a reassuring hand on my knee. “How reliable is this information?”

She looked down, her teasing gone. “Extremely. I can prove it after dinner. I will bring you the ancient text about her.”

“Morgana is likely allied with the Rogue King,” I admitted. “She may even be watching us, right now.”

Della’s face lost all trace of amusement. “Then we’re in deeper trouble than I thought.”

After dinner, we regrouped in the office. Della arrived carrying a weathered, heavy book and a map. Marco came in behind her, looking troubled. The four of us gathered around the desk.

“This is it. I found it in your father’s private library,” Della said. She set the book down with care, as if presenting an artifact to a council. She turned the yellowed, brittle pages until she found the passage she wanted. Her finger paused near the middle; the ink was faded but still legible.

"There was one coven once. Six witches led it, the strongest of their kind, and they kept the whole craft in balance. Originally, the coven and the packs shared no bad blood. We coexisted harmoniously for years.”

She turned the page.

"One of the six began studying dark magic in secret. By the time the others understood what she had become, she had already killed two of them. The three who were left could not kill her. She was too strong by then, but they were able to drive her out. Then, she built her own coven based on the dark magic she mastered. The witch was named Morgana," Della said.

I grasped the gravity of the situation. Morgana was not just a powerful witch; she was cold, calculating, and dangerous. Facing Jason would be far easier than confronting Morgana.

‘And she will die just as he did. Stay confident, Talia,’ my wolf reassured me.

"After her expulsion, Morgana gathered followers. She looked for those who craved power more than peace," Della continued. "She spent decades launching attacks against the original coven, and more than once, she turned her sights on wolf packs. She’s a master of illusions and disguises. She pitted our kind against witches. A lot of blood was spilled because of misunderstandings."

I nodded, recalling the stories my father once told as warnings.

"Your father restrained our kind. He forbade open conflict and insisted we limit our dealings with witches. He believed peace was possible, but only if we kept our distance," Della added.

“And then Morgana disappeared,” Nolan added, voice edged with suspicion. “No one’s seen her in a generation.”

"I am no more eager than the rest of you to enter a witch coven. They could turn on us as soon as we cross into their woods," Della said quietly. "But Morgana must be stopped, and we cannot do it alone."

Nolan let out a slow breath. “I do not like this.” He crossed his arms, doubt shadowing his features. “Witches are unpredictable. The last thing we need is more uncertainty.”

Della closed the book, her fingers lingering on the cover. “But Talia is right, we can’t fight Morgana alone. She’s too strong. The coven knows her weaknesses.”

I met Nolan’s gaze. “As long as Morgana lives, we are all at risk. She will come for us regardless, and I would rather be prepared than defenseless when she does.”

There was a long silence.

I could see all of them wrestling with the risks, the unknowns, and the fear. Finally, Nolan nodded. “If we’re doing this, we will go together.”

Della unrolled the map and spread it across the table. She traced a path westward through valleys and dense forest. "The coven’s last stronghold is deep in the Lost Woods. There are no roads. You would need to travel on foot. Once we enter, the coven will know we’re there, and there’ll be no turning back.”

I studied the map, committing each twist and landmark to memory. “We leave at dawn. Marco and Della, you will come with us.”

Marco nodded. There was still a glimmer of fear in his eyes, but I knew Marco would stand with us. “Yes, Luna.”

Della rolled up the map, tucking it away. “I’ll gather what we need. There are some things that can protect us in case the witches are hostile.”

“We’ll rest tonight. Tomorrow, we head into the woods.”