Second Chance for the Barren Luna (Talia and Jason) novel Chapter 451

Talia’s POV

The next night Camilla led us to a clearing in the woods.

The walk was long, at least two miles. Nolan carried me for the last mile because I was too tired to continue.

There was barely any moonlight. The witches set candles around the clearing, lighting it up while the woods beyond stayed pitch black.

'Are you sure about this?' Nolan asked me through our mate bond.

'I would be lying if I said I wasn't scared, but I am more afraid of facing a future where I would have to choose my life over our pups,' I replied.

'I'll be with you every step of the way. You can squeeze my hand until it breaks. I don't care,' Nolan responded.

Crickets chirped in the distance until the witches’ footsteps in the grass cut them off. Sometimes a breeze made the candles flicker and shadows move across the trees. Hattie and Dalila stood with the others in a circle.

Camilla stopped Nolan at the edge. “You’ll stand here,” she told him. “Don’t take a step closer, and don’t interrupt, no matter what you see or hear.”

“What will I hear?” Nolan asked as he put me down.

“That is not important.”

Nolan’s hands shook slightly as he let go of me, and for a second, I thought he might change his mind. He didn’t. I wished I could reassure him, but I barely trusted my own voice. “It is. If you tell me what to expect, I will know not to overreact,” Nolan argued.

“You’ll hear her scream in pain,” Camilla said. “But you have to stand here and let it happen. If you break the circle while her spirit is halfway out of her body, you’ll lose her tonight. There’ll be no ritual, no rebirth, and nothing we can do. Do you understand?”

Nolan clenched his jaw. “I understand.”

For a second, I thought he might refuse and grab me, even if it meant risking everything. But he just clenched his fists and made himself stay, breathing hard.

The air buzzed with magic, making the hairs on my arms stand up. I was breathing fast and shallow. Everyone in the circle watched me, waiting to see if I would back out.

“I won’t interrupt,” Nolan repeated. He kissed my forehead. “I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”

Hattie took my hand and led me to the center. My legs shook, and I only moved because she helped, one slow step at a time. Everything went quiet, like even the night was holding its breath.

“Lie down on your back,” Hattie instructed. “Keep your arms at your sides.”

I lowered myself to the ground and felt exposed and small under their gaze. "Will it help if I stay still?" I asked.

“It’ll help, but it won’t matter because you won’t stay still,” Hattie answered.

“You’ll be the strongest woman we’ve ever met if you manage to do that,” Dalila added.

“Dalila, you’re not helping,” I muttered as Hattie placed a small pillow under my head.

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