Hecate's Key to the Paths of Time- Part 1

- That man... Bastard, scoundrel, a damn opportunistic crook. It would do him a favour if he died or even disappeared!-Cassie shot murderous looks at the cook.-Nothing done. I'm not going to serve that pest's table, Jane. Keep another one...

The most furious protests reached the ears of a cook.

-Monsieur Philip...may he rot in hell! Which is? That bastard from hell decided he was going to ruin my life? How many words are needed for this unfortunate person to understand the message: Get out of my sight?

The rebellion was indeed a problem.

-Not even dead!

There was no way he would take that wolf's dinner into his room.

Patience if he was staying at the tavern. It was the unfortunate man's fault that he no longer had any contact with anyone in the Armada.

Cassie stomped out and gritted her teeth with the tray of beer and wine mugs, indifferent to the cook's gaze at the monsieur dinner she was cooling. Mentally, Cassie made a list of complaints she would make about this man to Jackie when the Unicorn arrived in Chabone.

Jackie... Oh, Jackie was going to make mincemeat of the damn arrogant, conceited man.A short silhouette had jumped out of the window and raced through the flowered gardens of the beautiful property before slinking between the walls and over the obstacle in a fantastic leap, dodging the jagged iron bars.

-That madman decides to leave Chabone all in a frenzy with a scandal. Just imagine! - Jackie complained in a bad mood.

The carriage stopped for a moment as the young woman let out a rising sigh. He turned the corner and advanced into the sorcerers' domains.

The calm with which he walked along the boundary was surprising after his escape. The carriage stopped and he was surprised to be called out aloud.

-You silly! - Faith complained hiding a sly smile. - You certainly lost all your senses this time. It's a full moon night. Anyone can see it... Come in soon, what are you waiting for? The viscount's guard?

Michael smiled again and smothered a curse as he lost his balance as the coachman started the carriage again.

-What are you going to do here, little girl? I bet our good captain doesn't know about your unexpected escape. - Michael laughed with evident good humour causing a moan of regret in the girl. - Always cautious for a pirate, Jackie? I bet you left the ship far from the dock? In the cove again?

-And why should Richard care? - Jackie asked uncomfortable with the comment.

- Mon Amie, this is a long conversation. Our Faith decided to sneak onto the deck of the Gaia to avoid an unpleasant marriage commitment. Monsieur Kaios, is it not? And there is a beautiful young lady...

-Mike! Faith averted her flaming face, imagining how much Michael suspected her involvement with her older brother.

God! Jackie's gaze was furious. Cassie couldn't even suspect a few flirtations.

-William doesn't know, Faith? There was reproach in Jackie's hard voice. - What doesn't Will know? He has said several times that I can resolve the issue. I can ask you to marry me.

Michael burst into laughter. It was another endless discussion.

- Mon frère ...., I already explained ... - Faith didn't know how to get back to the subject.

-Don't you dare tell me it would be incestuous and don't call me brother. I'm not your brother. - Jackie grumbled with angry expressions.

- Good soir to everyone. - Michael laughed once more. - The night is wonderful.

Faith sighed at her cousin's excellent cheer, knowing what it meant. Problems.

- Mon Dieu! Don't tell me you were with Christina. Again, Mike!

The rumbling laughter was crystal clear and Michael straightened up, shrugging his shoulders

.-It's the night of the full moon, little girl. I'm a wolf, damn it! I was just appreciating what belongs to me and keeping my guard up. - The explanation was very innocent.

Even annoyed Jackie glared at him maliciously.-Our viscount's security doesn't seem very reliable. His Grace doesn't seem to care too much about the security of his property.-Not even. Anyone who could enter your house and steal His Grace's treasures would still leave in complete tranquillity.

This time, Jackie also couldn't stop the risks despite Faith's serious face.-But of course. Virtue...your only daughter? What a pity.-You surprise me a lot, Mon Amie. It shouldn't be a subject to be discussed so casually here with a lady present among us. Also, the girl will very soon be with us and as my wife.

And as for the gossip... Rick found...God! Faith shivered at the words. This time Michael would create trouble.

-You have simply become a libertine. Just imagine! Can you forget the story?

Michael smiled even wider.- I believe Christina agrees with the comment after verifying that my skills as a wolf remain intact.

Even the same strength. I didn't hear complaints, only sighs. For a wonderful hour. I'll bite it next time.

Faith sighed indignantly, blushing to the roots of her hair. She loved those two as if they were her brothers. Only Philip Morgan was missing, and the memory was choked by a groan of guilt and worry. Michael was a charming young man who would capture the interest of any woman in the world.

The tanned skin made an admirable contrast to the almond-shaped eyes. The black hair escaped under the hat. Heavens, what did Phil envision doing? And Mike? The young man showed no diplomacy in the matter of the estrangement with the viscount. It was necessary at least to maintain an appearance compatible with the court in front of the Successrium, although the rivalry between the species was known to all.

- Be sensible, boy. What do you think would happen if you were caught in the viscount's daughter's quarters? If you don't have any responsibility for it, at least think about Christina. Her reputation...

- Maybe I would have taken a beating. - Michael replied annoyed. Naturally, the viscount would not attack his daughter. - Or maybe he would have run me through with a sword. That is...if the several pounds on the prominent belly would let it.

Faith despaired.

-Why then take the risk?

Michael flashed a new dreamy smile.

- The beautiful lady makes this poor wolf burn with passion and desire. God, Jackie! What a body! She has passion behind that innocent, angelic little face. Back to the point, Rick has fallen in love with a girl who...

Faith punched him hard in the chest. Men!- Well, forget about the damn flames. Richard sent for him. He wants us all together.

God help. Faith was pretty sure Rick's fury and bad temper meant only one thing... Cassie... Oh, God!

Michael raised an eyebrow, forgetting the dreamy smiles and sat still. Something serious must have happened for Richard to call everyone at the family mansion.

- What happened, Faith? Did Rick find the runaway little wife?-Wife?- Jackie was surprised

.-It's a long story, Jackie! Please...She frowned grimly.

She'd probably overheard Jackie and Phil's conversation more than she liked. The foster-brother had found cursed and lost pieces. That was bad after the appearance of Duke's Revenge.

For nearly a decade, no one else had heard from Ichichos. She with intense concern thought of her sister. She fervently prayed for fate to intervene and for Morgan to find the girl.

The Pieces of 4... Faith winces. They were cursed pieces of an ancient artefact of the great Goddess. The four elements of creation united conjured the Staff by the Harvest ritual. And the dreaded staff... The Cross of the Paths of Hecate... It was the precious key of the divinity under the guard of the moiras to decide the destiny of mortals and to alter the time. Only Hecate had the power to alter a mortal's time. To change your life or the destiny laid out by the Goddesses of Fate.

Philp intended to alter history and assume leadership of the pack as if he were the only heir to the succession. The Goddess was never merciful or accepted offerings when outraged.

Changing the reality that they knew... Changing the facts decided by the goddesses of fate... Doom hovered over them with the threat of everything they knew. He couldn't just cast the staff with betrayals and spells to use the holy key.

Hecate's Wrath would destroy everyone else. Phil couldn't just take his older brother's place. The right of succession did not belong to him. Cassie had never encountered witch hunters before. A chill made her sigh.-I think we better hear what Richard has to say. I don't think it's good news, unfortunately.

And may Hecate have mercy. If the key to fate fell into the wrong hands... Or he defied the goddess and used...Faith shivered. The punishments of the goddess...

She would destroy them all in punishment in her rage. Her first herald was already walking among them.

The lich...