“Most of these,” Maia blew out a sigh as she indicated to a long shelf. “The family has collected every book known on the subject of Greek Gods, Goddesses, the tales and stories…”

  Antonia glanced at the long shelf filled with tomes, many of them worn and ancient. It was unlikely they’d find an answer within, but was also something that could not be ignored.

  “There is nothing to lose,” Philip said looking at her.

  Antonia rose from her chair, crossed to the shelves, and took down some books. Each person followed until everyone had a few beside them and the shelves were empty.

  Philip had also summoned his brother and male cousins because this was something they could all help with as there was no danger of an ill-advised spell being cast.

  As the moon set and the sun began to rise on what would be the final day before the full moon, nobody was willing to leave to find their bed even though they’d already been awake through the night. Instead, they poured over book after book. Tea was delivered, as well as sustenance provided. Books with references to beasts were set aside to read again if necessary.

  Antonia rubbed her eyes, then rolled her stiff shoulders as she picked up the last book in her stack.

  She wasn’t reading any of the words, or at least not the stories, but skimming each page for a reference to wolves, beasts, Lycan or animals even. They did not have the time for everyone to read in depth unless it was something that could possibly assist them.

  If she did not find something within these pages, then all she could hope for was that another found a helpful reference.

  She stifled a yawn behind her hand and rose to pour herself a cup of tea.

  “It cannot be so easy, so simple, can it?” Petra murmured to herself, which drew Antonia’s attention as well as everyone else in the library.

  “What?” Philip asked, and Antonia experienced the excitement and hope that had suddenly grown in him.

  “I also cannot believe I’d forgotten this. I knew it once. A long time ago.”

  “What?” they all demanded.

  “In this story, after Lycaon had deceived him, Zeus struck down Lycaon’s sons, one after the other, with a lightning bolt.” She glanced up. “He had fifty. But when Zeus was ready to kill the last one…” she picked up the book to read. “The Goddess Gaia laid a hand on Zeus’ shoulder, which calmed his wrath and the youngest was spared.”

  “I do not understand how that can help us now.” Antonia had truly been hoping for an answer. They were running out of time.

  “The Goddess Gaia. She can intervene,” Petra said.

  They were exhausted, that was the only explanation for why anyone would think to ask a goddess for help. They did not interact with humans any longer.

  “How?” Philip asked as if he were entertaining the possibility. Of course, he didn’t want to endure changes for the rest of his life and would grasp on to anything that could save him.

  Instead of arguing, Antonia would let him have his optimism even though she believed it to be futile.

  “A sacrifice,” his mother answered from the entry.

  “Who and what?” Philip asked.

  “Something very precious, and it must come from the person who cast the first spell.”

  Antonia’s stomach sank. Did she have anything to even give that was worthy of a goddess?

  Chapter Twenty-One

  “Why not me?” Philip demanded. “I am the one that wants to be rid of the beast, and I am the one who brought this on myself, therefore I should make the sacrifice.”

  He couldn’t let Antonia take on any more. She had suffered enough. She also continued to hold on to the guilt. Philip could feel it.

  “I am the one who walked into the garden that night! I am the one who did not let anyone know that I was there and was sneaking around. I should be the one to make a sacrifice.”

  Antonia placed her hand on his. “It does not work that way, Lord Chedworth.”

  He also hated that she was formal when others were around. He was Philip, not a blasted title.

  “Your frustration also will not assist in what needs to be done,” Antonia added.

  “I am the one who wants something,” he said to his mother. “I made the error. I should sacrifice.”

  “What do you have to give or lose?” his mother asked. “What is so precious that you are willing to give it up to be rid of the beast.”

  Philip stood there and could think of nothing. Whatever he sacrificed would go to her, and a goddess would not want his horse, or title, or his useless possessions. He had no talents. The only thing that was truly important to him was his family and Antonia. Those could not be sacrificed and even if he were able to do so, he would not.

  “I have nothing of worth,” he finally murmured.

  Except, he had himself.

  Was his life really worth living if Antonia was not part of him? Was it worth living if he had to endure changing every midnight since it would drive him mad? So long as the beast lived within, he could not have Antonia. She deserved more.

  “Only myself,” he whispered.

  Antonia gasped. He had not meant to state what was necessary aloud.

  “You will not sacrifice yourself,” she insisted.

  “Is that not what you are going to do?” he countered.

  “No, I have sacrifices for the goddess that do not require my very life and soul. You do not.”

  “Why?” he demanded. “What do you have?”

  She shook her head and pulled away. “It matters not.” Antonia then turned to his mother. “Could you walk me through the ceremony. I want to be prepared.”

  Philip reached out to Antonia. “I forbid this.”

  She pulled away before he could touch her. “It is not for you to approve or forbid, Lord Chedworth. I will do what is necessary.”

  “I understand that you wish to begin now, but you should rest,” his mother said.

  “We do not have time,” Antonia reminded her. “The sun has already risen, and it will be dark again in eight hours. The sacrifice must be complete before the moon starts to rise.”

  His mother frowned. “Do you know this for certain?”

  “No, but I have noticed changes in Lord Chedworth’s moods, and they begin to shift and alter, even if it is unnoticeable to others, once the moon starts to rise, and it only increases until he disappears as it nears midnight. I can only assume that it is the moon affecting the beast within.”

  His mother looked at Philip. “Is this true?”

  He wanted to deny what Antonia had said, but he had noticed his changes too, and fought to keep his dark mood in check. He had assumed it was because of the situation and dreaded what was to come. But if it really was the moon, then they had less time than he realized.

  “Cook has prepared breakfast. Once you have eaten, we will see that you are prepared for the sacrifice to Gaia.”

  “Have you made such a sacrifice before?” Philip asked his mother.

  “I have not,” she answered “But, there is an ancient ceremony that I and your aunts will review so that we can prepare Lady Antonia.”

  “Is it dangerous to ask the goddess to intervene?”

  His mother looked down and closed her eyes and blew out her breath.

  This alone told Philip that what they had planned was not wise.

  His mother looked up again. “The goddess could choose to ignore our request, or she could grant it.”

  “There is more,” he prompted.

  “She could become angry to be summoned. This is vital, life-altering for you, but to her, it might not be worthy of her notice. She may be angry that we bothered her with something so insignificant.”

  “If angered, what might she do?”

  His mother shrugged. “She is a goddess. She could do anything she wished.”

  For the first time since she had uttered the words of the spell, Antonia was able to block Philip from her mind, thoughts, and emotions. Of course, he had stomped off when she refused to allow him to make the sacrifice. They had then argued all through breakfast because he insisted that she not bother the goddess. He truly feared for her, but Antonia would not change her mind. This was their last hope.

  The ache of emptiness remained, but she tried to ignore that as she concentrated on what she would need.

  “Besides what I am willing to sacrifice, of myself, or something that has personal meaning, I should also bring fruit and grains.”

  Lady St. Alban nodded, as did her sister and sister-in-law. They were giving the instructions on the sacrifice to Gaia while their daughters listened carefully. None of them had ever needed to make a sacrifice so they were learning as well.

  “I do not have either of those. It is not as if I am home and can gather them.” Antonia sighed. “It would not matter if I was at home, our garden would be barren this time of year.”

  “Lady Antonia, you are at Nightshade Manor, we have what you need.”

  “But it comes from your home, not mine, thus wouldn’t it be your sacrifice?”

  “It is the act of gathering and taking the gifts to her,” Lady Wharton said. “And, as mistress of Nightshade Manor, I give you permission to collect whatever you need.”

  She listened intently to everything else that was required of her and then went off on her own. Antonia needed to prepare her heart, mind and soul. She already knew what she must give of herself, but needed to prepare the words that would please a goddess and prayed that it was accepted, and Philip was freed.

  An hour before the sun was to set, her arms loaded with fruits from the orchard and wheat from the field, Antonia waited outside of the witches’ garden where she assumed the sacrifice would take place. Instead, Ladies St. Alban, Wharton and Chandos led Antonia to the sacred grove. Philip’s sisters and cousins followed; even the youngest three, who were just learning or would soon learn how to use their powers, joined them.

  She was then led to a temple and stepped into it. It was a lovely setting surrounded by trees, with a lake on one side.

  “This temple was built and dedicated to Gaia,” Lady St. Alban explained. “It is here that a sacrifice to her must be made as it comes from you and not a spell.”

  “I understand,” though Antonia wasn’t certain. “Should I have brought my candles and crystals?”

  “No. This is an offering of the heart and from your soul, not magic.”

  As Antonia stepped into the center, five women emerged from the trees. Young and beautiful and dressed as if they had stepped out of Ancient Greece.

  Lady St. Alban greeted them first and then made introductions to Antonia, who learned they were dryads and had lived here for at least a century.

  She’d heard of dryads of course, but as with Greek gods and goddesses, she had not thought them real.

  Nightshade Manor was turning out to be far more magical than she could have ever comprehended. What else was here that she did not know about?

  Not that it mattered now. She had a sacrifice to make, and it was likely the most important thing that she would ever do in her entire life so she must do it perfectly.

  Antonia slowly turned. “There is no altar.” She read that she must have an altar.

  “It is no need for the temple is for Gaia and far grander than a simple altar.”

  She supposed that was correct.

  “Simply step into the center.”

  Antonia took a deep breath and did as Lady St. Alban instructed.

  The witches then formed a circle around her and clasped hands.

  Antonia knelt and placed the fruits and grains in the center of the floor then sat before she closed her eyes.

  “Goddess Gaia, First Goddess amongst gods, Mother of the titans and Mother of the Giants, I call to you.”

  Wind swept through the temple and dried leaves danced across the marble. Antonia didn’t know if it was a coincidence because they were outside, or because Gaia had joined them.

  “I beg of you and respectfully request that you undo the spell I unintentionally cast on Viscount Chedworth. I take all responsibility on myself and ask that you free him from the beast so that it exists no more, and that he is forever fully human again.” She glanced up at the top of the temple, not certain if she expected to see a goddess or not. The only people there were the witches and dryads.

  “If you do this, I will sacrifice my gifts of empathy and seeing auras, as well as my gift of communicating with animals.”

  She paused and reconsidered.

  “I would miss conversation with animals, and it is the gift I enjoy the most and am willing to sacrifice to you so that Lord Chedworth can be freed. I also give you the gift of empathy, but I also understand if you wish that I retain it as punishment for what I have done. If you free him, and I continue to feel the emotions of others, I promise to never again try to mask it. But will live with it as a consequence for the earlier spell.”

  Antonia had thought she’d been prepared, but nothing was coming out as it should.

  “If you wish to take all magical gifts from me, I willingly relinquish them all to you. I am but your servant. All I wish for is that Lord Chedworth is freed from the beast that lies within, even if you decide that I must sacrifice my life.” She swallowed against the lump forming in her throat. She was asking much of the goddess, which meant she truly did need to be willing to sacrifice everything.

  “I thank you for granting me an audience and hearing my petition, and accepting my sacrifice, and thus with those who honor you, your holy goddess, bountiful spirit.”

  Antonia blew out a sigh and let her shoulders drop, then glanced out over the water just as the sun dropped beyond the horizon.

  There was not anything else she could do. Either Gaia granted her request and accepted her sacrifice, or she didn’t.

  Their answers would come at midnight.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  “You are coming with me. You are the only magical male in the house.”

  “Where are we going?” Amcaster asked.

  “To the garden and the magical circle,” Philip answered.

  When his brother stepped into the room, he insisted that he come too, as well as Orion, Pierce, Cassian and Damon. None of them were magical, but all but one of their mothers were and hopefully that was good enough.

  They shared confused looks but followed him.

  “What is needed for a sacrifice to Gaia?” he demanded.

  “I do not know,” Amcaster answered.

  “Grains and fruits as a gift, the sacrifice must be personal and important,” Damon answered. As he was raising witches, he probably knew more than the rest of them.

  “Wait for me here.” Philip then ran out of the garden and into the fields where he pulled wheat from the ground, then returned to the orchard where he gathered apples then hurried back to the circle.

  “What is this about, Philip?” Simon asked.

  “That foolish woman is about to sacrifice either her gifts or herself for me and I will not have it.”

  “Foolish woman?” Simon snorted. “I assume you mean Lady Antonia.”

  “Yes!” Philip barked.

  “I will endure this wolfish state for a few moments each night. It is my fault that I am in this predicament. However, I will not allow Lady Antonia to suffer on my behalf.”

  “I am not certain you have a choice,” Orion said.

  “We do not know that for certain,” Philip reminded him. “I need to undo what she has done.”

  He sat down before the stone where Antonia had always sat.

  “Amcaster, sit across from me since you do have magic. The rest of you, sit and fill in a circle, like our mothers and sisters do.

  His brother, cousins, and friend reluctantly took a seat.

  Philip glanced around and tried to remember everything he’d witnessed of the witches in his family whenever they had to perform a ritual.

  He held out his arms. “Hold hands. All of us.”

  “Really?” Pierce asked.

  “Yes. They do, so we will.”

  He knew one of them rolled their eyes, because he could feel it. Maybe some of Antonia’s empathic powers had stayed with him.

  Philip blew out a breath and stared up at the darkening sky. The moon was starting to rise, and the familiar panic began to grow.

  He pushed it aside and concentrated on what must be done.

  “Goddess Gaia. I am not a witch, but the son of one who worships you. I give you this gift of grains and fruits and thank you for the bounty that you provide to our land and home.”

  Now what?

  “A foolish woman, one who holds my heart, has offered a sacrifice on my behalf. I wish for you to reject her. I will not have Lady Antonia punished or suffer for my foolishness. Please return to her whatever you may have taken, and if necessary, I am willing to sacrifice my human life and become a wolf. It is all I can offer to you because the only thing that matters is that Lady Antonia does not suffer because of me.”

  He kept looking at the sky, but nothing happened though Philip wasn’t certain if anything would happen. He then glanced down to Amcaster and his family. They were staring at him.

  Philip let go of their hands. “What?”

  “You would give up everything for her?”

  “Yes. It is only right.”

  “You do realize that what you are feeling for her, this love and connection, is because of a spell. What if it isn’t even real. What if it ceases to exist at midnight? You may have sacrificed everything for nothing,” Damon said.

  “You would have given everything for a woman who may not have been your mate,” Orion added.

  Philip knew all this, and he had been cautioning himself since this all began that his love for Antonia might not be real, but that did not matter. “No woman should have to suffer because I went into a garden and did not alert her to my presence when I should have known better.”

  Simon stood and stretched. “Shall we return inside?”

  “No,” Philip said. “I would rather remain here, under the bright sky.”

  “Then we should have brought brandy,” Damon grumbled.

  “Nobody is stopping you from getting it,” Philip retorted.