Bloodbound to the Witch Heir: Claimed By Four

Celeste’s POV

*****

The roaring violet flames receded as my mother landed in front of us. The glow in her eyes dimmed, her gaze shifting from me to everyone else.

I swallowed as a bright smile stretched my mouth. "Mom. You’re... here..."

"Yes," she took elegant steps closer. "Came as soon as I could after Caroline and Regina told me you were asking... questions. Got to your room and sure enough you weren’t there."

Luther brought his mouth to my ear just then. "I thought Atlas said you should alert your parents?" He whispered much to my frustration.

"Not now, Luther," I shot back, a shaking exhale slipping past my lips. I broke the distance between my mother and me, grabbing her hands reluctantly. "I know I should’ve told you what was going on. But... this whole thing feels burdening enough already—"

"Exactly why you should involve your parents." Her fingers gripped mine, tender yet equally numbing. "And what’s this I’m hearing about Atlas?"

"He’s apparently been kidnapped, Luna Queen," the Dean answered behind me. "By an ex professor of ours. Amelia. Same one who’s been behind all the chaos piling up in the academy."

"And as if that isn’t enough," Rebecca added, cutting me a glance as she walked to my side. "We don’t know where he is. We think he’s somewhere... cut off. Like a space outside normal reality."

Odessa’s brows knitted. "A pocket dimension?"

"Hmm." Azrael took me by surprise when he gave an approving grunt. "And we’re certain Amelia has help of sorts. From a powerful witch. It’s the only explanation for why she’s been able to tap so well into the Vein."

My mother raised her hands. "Slow down," after a short pause, her eyes trailed back to me. "Are you sure you’ve used every tracking magic available?"

I was about to nod at first—then I realised my version of ’every magic available’ was vastly limited compared to hers.

So, I shook my head. "I’m not sure. I used this," I lifted my right hand, showing her the golden bracelet. "I was briefly able to connect with him but it was broken just as fast."

She sucked in a breath, glaring at Thorne. "And where were you while all this was happening? Why didn’t you alert me at least?"

"Corruption," I chimed hastily. "Amelia overrided the wards completely and used them as a tether to corrupt him and the Professors present with the Vein. Mom... focus for a sec."

She looked into my eyes and I looked into hers. Saw the flicker of something too close to guilt. "We’re running out of time," my voice cracked. "If... if you have any other way we could use to find him. Anyway at all. I’m willing to go through with it."

Her lips thinned into a grim line. She knew what I was asking for and I knew as well.

Magic beyond anything I’ve ever been taught. Whether by her. Or by the Professors.

Gradually, she pulled back her hands. Her nostrils flared, eyes fluttering shut for a beat. "There is one way that comes to mind," her gaze hardened. "But your mates might not like it."

At the mention of that, I looked over my shoulder. From Luther. To Silas. And then to Azrael. They all looked back, each bond humming with a different emotion.

I picked up something just then.

Mom used THE word.

Mates.

"Hold on," Lysandra’s eyes bulged as they flitted between my mother and me. "L–Luna Queen Odessa—did you just say ’mates’? As in... plural?"

’So much for team spirit.’ my wolf sniggered internally.

.

.

"... Well, damn." Lysandra huffed several minutes later after Caelum gave her an explanation. "I mean, I’ve always had suspicions. But seriously? Four?"

Yes... Caelum.

He walked in just before we left the old Bloodoak tree. Mom had dismissed the professors while the Dean insisted on staying back to help.

Now we were all gathered in a circle at the centre of a large, high-ceilinged hall with grey painted walls and intricate, seemingly ancient carvings on them.

"Yep." Caelum nodded. He stood at the opposite end of the circle, arms folded. Lysandra stayed beside him—the one person who seemed to tolerate her the most recently. "It’s... a lot to take in. I remember how left out I felt when... Willow gave me... a breakdown..."

His voice fell with every word the second he mentioned Willow.

A lump formed in my throat but neither of us said anything. We just looked away from each other while Lysandra stayed in the middle of the awkwardness.

I glanced back at Caelum enough to catch the Australian princess leaning closer to him. She kept her lips shut as she placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

Before I could even wrap my head around what the heck that interaction was, mom’s words echoed from the hall’s entrance.

"The old academy’s ritual practice hall," we all turned to her as one, watching as she waltzed toward us with a few items between her hands. Some white candles. And a dagger. "This place still teems with magic from the academy’s early days."

"Fascinating," Rebecca placed her hands on her waist. "But uhm... What exactly are we doing here? And what about the Vein beasts?"

"I conjured a force bubble around the academy." Mom flicked her wrist, making the candles between her hands levitate.

They all rooted to the ground until they formed a circle. Wide enough for someone to stand in. "As for why we’re here. That’s what I was trying to explain outside."

She made a swatting gesture, signalling us to back away from the candles. I was about to do just that when she pointed a finger at me.

"Stay," she got in front of me, gently grabbing my hand. Once we were within the circle of candles, she parted back strands of my hair. "You don’t realise it yet but you’re the key to finding Atlas."

"She already said she couldn’t." Luther’s suspicion was clear as day. "Unless... the other method you had in mind..."

Mom stepped away from the candles. She snapped her fingers, lighting them up. Then—she lifted the dagger she’s been holding, rolling it between her fingers.

"... Blood magic." She revealed solemnly. "And this time, Celeste... the mate bond will be your tether."

I could feel the stares of everyone else locked on me. My gaze settled on the dagger and then on my mother’s face. Decisiveness bubbled in my chest, but before I could speak—

"Absolutely not."