"The Beta and his Witch" Chapter 8

                                    

                                          

Ethan pulled himself out of bed in the middle of the night, hours after Sybil had fallen asleep. He had been restless all this week, barely sleeping and not even his mate's scent could ease his anxiety. He tiptoed out to the kitchen and pulled a mug out of the cabinet, then walked over to Sybil's cauldron on the fire and used the ladle to fill his cup with her herbal mixture. 
Ethan had quickly learned to love his mate's special tea blends. They weren't just good for opening up her spiritual connection, but also for curbing Jesse's restlessness and Ethan's weary mind. He sipped on the warm liquid and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath of the aromatic steam that was pouring out of the cup. 
He looked at the clock above the fireplace mantle and sighed when he saw the time. It was official. It had been two years to the day since he had last stepped foot on Crescent Moon's territory. He hadn't spoken to August in nearly a year, not since he found Sybil had decided to avoid telling anybody. For the last few weeks he had felt on edge about being away for the first time. He wasn't sure why or what it meant, but he was doing his best to keep his worry away from Sybil. 
"Ethan?" Sybil's sleepy voice filled the dark room and he spun around, smiling at his mate. 
Her hair was a mess and her clothes ruffled from sleep. She drug herself, barefoot, across the living room and wrapped her arms around Ethan's waist.
"What's wrong?" She asked, blinking up at him. 
"I'm fine, my love." Ethan said, smoothing down her hair and kissing her gently. 
Sybil shook her head at Ethan, knowing damn well that he was lying. She peppered his bare chest with kisses and he growled in approval. Sybil pulled away and kissed his chin and jawline before pecking his lips. 
"Tell me, Ethan." She demanded in a soft voice. 
"I've just been feeling off for the last few weeks and I think it has to do with Crescent Moon. I just feel like I should be there." Ethan confessed, sighing loudly. He hated the idea of making Sybil feel guilty or pressured into returning to his pack when she wasn't ready. 
"You idiot, you're mated to a witch who has the gift of a seer. I can look into what you're feeling and discover the source, even if it's something in the future." Sybil smirked at him and Ethan rolled his eyes dramatically. 
"I didn't want to upset you, little witch." He said, 
"I think you're physically incapable of ever upsetting me, Ethan. You've been amazing over the last year while we've been restarting my coven. Of course I want to go back to your pack with you and see your family. I know we can't hide away here forever. We need to find the balance." She said, placing her hand against his cheek. 
Ethan relaxed against her, nuzzling his face into her warm palm. 
"You're so perfect." He gushed. Sybil giggled at his expression, 
"Will you let me read you?" She asked and Ethan nodded. 
Sybil put her hands on either side of his face and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath and then her eyes snapped open, glowing a bright golden orange. She arched her hands so only her vibrating fingertips were touching his skin. Ethan relaxed, completely trusting his mate to rattle around inside her mind. 
Suddenly, she gasped and went rigid in Ethan's arms. He tightened his grip on her waist and felt that he was practically holding her up at this point. She started to shake and tremble in his arms and he began to panic. His panic turned into full blown terror when her shakes turned into a seizure. She dropped her hands from his face and they went limp at her side, then her entire body went limp. 
"Sybil? Sybil!" Ethan was shaking her shoulders, yelling in her face. 
Both of her hands were full on glowing now, sparks and glimmering golden flames shooting from her palms. The stream of magic bounced off the walls, ping ponging around the small cottage. Ethan yelped and ducked, trying to avoid getting attacked by her wayward magic. 
"Sybil!" He yelled again. 
Ethan cupped her face and pressed his forehead against hers, begging her to focus on their connection. 
"Sybil, please, come back to me." He said in a terrified voice. 
This seemed to get through to her because her body stilled and her hands stopped glowing. She started rapidly blinking and, slowly, her eyes returned to their normal dazzling blue. Ethan let out a sigh of relief. 
"What the hell was that?" Ethan asked, crushing Sybil to his chest and running his hands over every inch of her as if checking her body for injuries. 
When Sybil's breathing had returned to normal, she wiggled out from Ethan's arms and looked up at him. Her face was white and her eyes were wide. 
"We have to go back to the Crescent Moon. Now." She replied in a deadly voice. 
"Why? What's wrong?" Ethan started to panic all over again.
"War is coming."