Chapter 102: _What She Inherited
Celeste’s POV
*****
7:45 pm, female Dormitory building.
"Ah, it’s been too long," mom spread out her right arm when we walked into my suite, letting out a relieved breath.
I squinted, closing the door slowly behind me. "Too long since what?"
She paused for a second before spinning to face me. "Why, it’s been a long time since we got to talk outside a cellphone, Celeste. The Lupine mating ball—"
"Yes, yes... I messed up," I folded my arms in front of my chest, unable to meet her violet eyes. "I shouldn’t have barged out on you and Dad the way I did. I’m sorry."
Nothing was said for a few seconds too long.
The bedroom was lit up by my blue bedside lamp—the same one she got me herself.
I still remember seeking her help to pick a colour between red and blue. She’d told me the former was too unconventional and asked how I hoped to study under it.
"Celeste," she finally sighed, hands lowering in front of her. "My little miracle."
Her heels clicked with each step she took on the marble. When she got in front of me, her mouth curved in a wry smile. "Your father and I... Care about you. So much. We want only the best for you."
I tried keeping my expression neutral, fighting back a scowl. "Good to know, Mom. And also good to know I’ll always be reckless and a burden you have to bestow pity on."
A deep frown furrowed her brows. "That’s... Celeste, where’s that coming from? It’s not a fair thing to say at all."
Fair?
She was talking about what’s ’fair’?
"Mom, I literally just apologised to you." I turned to my left but she grabbed my shoulder, keeping me standing in front of her.
"I didn’t ask you to." My mother shook her head, confusion raw in her voice. "I was just trying to point out how I wish we had the chance to talk that night."
"We’re talking now, Mom." I closed my eyes, drawing in a deep breath. "You said you wanted to discuss something with me. In person."
Brushing past her, I added. "Here I am."
I advanced to my bed, not looking back for a second.
As I sat, I felt the need to watch her reaction keenly.
She didn’t say anything or move for several seconds. Her fingers shook, shoulders slacking.
Guilt tightened my chest. Perhaps I pushed too far.
Then—she finally let out a defeated huff, pivoting to me. "Your father always says you have my stubbornness. My ’fiesty spirit’ as he calls it."
Dear gods, don’t tell me she was about to preach about my father and her love story. Pretty sure I’ve gotten enough details growing up.
"Mom—" I started but she didn’t let me finish.
"When I look at you now, I realise you’ve inherited far more than that." She strutted to my side, sitting gracefully. Her fingers fiddled on her lap. "You inherited my magic. Although, weak—"
"Thanks for the reminder." I whipped my head away from her. "Are you heading to a point?"
I could feel her staring intensely.
For a while, I heard nothing but my own heartbeat. And her heavy breathing.
"You didn’t let me finish," she muttered, clasping a hand around my wrist. Calmly, she made me look into her eyes again. Those warm orbs. "My magic was weak too. Once upon a time. I was just two years older than you."
Yep. I was right.
Storytime.
"My own coven termed me the weakest witch on the continent," a humourless laugh left her lips. "That’s until I met your father—and our bond awakened."
I was going to tell her I didn’t feel like listening to her anymore when something made me pause.
She’s told me this story several times, that’s for sure. But tonight was the first time I found it... Relatable. Eerily so, in fact.
"You know most of the rest." My mother slid her other hand to mine, keeping my hands sandwiched between hers. "My wolf awakened, making me realise I’m a hybrid. I slowly became more respected amongst the wolves of the continent..."
"... But what the history books leave out was how my hybrid nature unlocked a forbidden connection. Linking me to the most powerful source of chaotic magic on the planet."
I frowned.
Twenty years later, rumours and campfire stories of the century-long war were still shared. I’ve heard some say my mother controlled this ’chaotic magic’ back then.
The one responsible for the emergence of the beasts that now plague the planet.
The Vein.
"I relinquished my ability to tap into the Vein’s magic," Her eyes grew distant. Almost regretful. "Lost my wolf in the process. Back then I thought that was it. That finally this chaos won’t plague me anymore."
She sounded like she was going to cry. She didn’t.
Mom never let herself cry. Not in front of Caelum and I.
Slowly, she withdrew her hands from me, leaving my palms empty. "Your magic is growing, Celeste. You might be trying to hide it but I can sense it."
She got on her feet, head tilting.
My lips parted—but I had nothing to say. No rebuttals. Just questions that I felt she knew the answers to. Or, at least clues that’ll lead me to them.
"Now I’m not certain of anything..." She raised her hands. "But the change I feel in you, mirrors what I had. Similar stages in life. Similar... Outbursts." A pause. "You just haven’t mentioned anything about a mate. Or, have you found your mate yet?"
Sweat dripped down my forehead.
Fuck.
Mom and Dad still thought my rambling about four mates that night at the mating ball was a spiral. That I had ’too much to drink’.
Notwithstanding, her words now felt like she was trying to get me to open up.
"I..." I hesitated. "I haven’t—"
"Are you certain?" She arched her brow. "From what I’ve heard, you had a boyfriend. And now you’re with a new wolf—Silas, I think."
My heart jumped into my throat while she smiled knowingly.
"Honey, you’ve forgotten I’m Luna Queen." She bragged. "Also, I have the Blood Eye app. I follow the gossip... Especially the ones involving you."
I was cornered.
How do I lie now?
I mean—I could just admit he’s my boyfriend but deny us being mates. But to what end? She obviously understands me more than most people, even if we don’t agree on a lot of things.
Why should I follow the Dean’s words and not tell her? Or anyone else? Willow already knows and—fuck this!
"M–Mom," my breath caught. "Actually, yes. Silas is my boyfriend. And... I’m also—"
A notification ding from my phone cut me off.
Convenient timing.
I smiled apologetically, pulling it out and swiping down on the notifications.
However, when I saw the message and WHO it came from—I froze, thoughts stalling as well.
Azrael.
