The Legend of the Eight: The Twisted (Book 3)

23: With This Ring, I Thee Wed

TWENTY-THREE: WITH THIS RING, I THEE WED
MAY 23
PHOEBE DOMINGO

NEVER IN HER LIFE HAD Phoebe been more anxious for someone to return back to her like she was while she waited for Drew. He was on a mission to recover the Watch of Iris with Levi and Nicole and Phoebe had no idea what they would find. They were headed to a cabin isolated in the woods up north and because every horror movie started like that, she was convinced the worst would happen.

The trio was gone for a little over four hours before returning shortly after midnight and Phoebe practically threw herself at Drew when he walked through the door, helping along Levi who moved with a bit of a limp.

While Damon helped Levi to a couch and began brewing a potion to accelerate his healing, Kate and Wil interrogated Nicole for details about the Watch and when they could begin the spell to use it. They were waiting on a celestial event to use as a power source (considering they were down a significant number of Eight members) and with a blue moon coming Sunday night, they planned to harvest the energy then. According to multiple sources (Damon, the scholar, Levi, an expert of most magical beings, and Drew, a werewolf), they were able to determine that while a blue moon would appear full, Drew would not shift into a wolf due to some mystical properties that did not awaken the curse.

Phoebe held him tighter, relieved he'd be free of a painful transition that month. She kissed him softly on his cheek and smiled while she held him.

"Did you miss me, darling?" he chuckled at her reaction.

"Shut up," she mumbled into his chest. "I was worried."

"I'M GOING TO TELL YOU something and you have to swear to me that you won't make fun of me for it," Phoebe said later that night, lying in Drew's arms as they were in her bed. Across the room, Wil's bed was empty as she spent the night poolside with Levi talking about God only knew what.

Drew's calloused hands rubbed Phoebe's hide as he laid with her. "No promises. But I'll try my best."

She rolled her violet eyes at him and then confessed,

"I was afraid. That's why I told you I didn't want to go."

Drew frowned with uncertainty. "Afraid? What were you afraid of? You know I'd never let anything happen to you, darling."

She shook her head against her pillow. "I wasn't afraid of something happening to me. I was afraid that whoever was waiting at the cabin would be the Shadow Thieves."

"I know they're a new threat to us and we don't know a lot about them but they seemed pretty afraid of us at the Armory. Even if they were at the cabin, they would've run off again."

But again, Drew was missing the point.

"I know things were pretty crazy that night," Phoebe said of their night at the Armory. "But I also know that you heard what the one said before he ran away. He said that he didn't know another Thief would be involved. That it was against the Code. He was talking about me."

"Fi, what are you talking about? You're not a— That's crazy."

"Is it? I mean, think about it Drew. Really think about it. My magic was acting insane when there were near—like it was shouting at me, open your eyes! These are your people! And they had purple eyes like me. Be honest. Other than me, how many other people have you seen with purple eyes? And I... I felt it in my bones, Drew. I'm one of them."

He adjusted his arms around her so that he was holding her closer to him. "Even if that's true, it doesn't matter. It doesn't change who you are. I love you as much today as I did yesterday and tomorrow, I'll love you even more than that."