Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future

Chapter 81

As I calm down, I feel the women back away, still staying close by.I turn slightly in Cora's arms to see what is happening.

The beautiful blonde hair woman is standing the closest, beaming at me.

On the surface, the gesture seems genuine but everything else about her screams of false presences.

"Hello Iokaste, I'm Katherine, your oldest sister, and Luna of the Manae.It's a pleasure to meet you again," she says to me.

All I can think of is how odd of a way to introduce yourself to someone.I look at her carefully.She smiles slightly and reaches out to brush my bangs out of my face.

It is meant to be a caring movement, but instinctively I feel myself flinch.She seems to ignore my tiny movement, but I can see a minute change in her eyes as she notices.I don’t know what to make of it.

It almost feels like she was pleased to see me react that way, but she doesn’t want to let it show.

"Please, call me Kas and it's nice to meet you too,"

I pull myself from Cora's arms and collect myself before shaking Katherine’s hand, trying to be cordial.

There is an uncomfortable energy coming from her as our hands connect.

"Katherine fears you, Kas.Can't you feel it? Don't let her intimate you.Be confident.Pretend you're me.Maybe we can earn her trust, " Lex says quickly.Her words come out so fast, I almost can’t catch them.

"Yeah, something is definitely off about her, but she wouldn't try to hurt me here in front of all these people, would she? We're in the human world.Even if we weren’t, we have 2 guards and a witch with us."

"No, I don't think she would try anything here.Let's get to know everyone else.That will help us figure out who we can or can't trust," there is the slightest of snarls in Lex's voice as she becomes more protective of me.

I feel myself pushing her back, trying my best not to let her influence my feelings toward my newly found siblings.

Katherine steps back and the rest of the women start to introduce themselves.

They are all so warm and inviting and happy to meet me.I notice Cora stands close to me the whole time.

if she is just as protective of me as Lex

all chit chatting

but Cora

hanging that

seems like she wants to protect me,

it, Luna.I’ll let Tyree know.Just give the word if you want us to step in,"

I see

us know there are refreshments

gives it a gentle squeeze before she leads me down the path where the staff has set up

a carefully orchestrated hierarchy unfolds amongst my sisters, with the leaders sitting closer to me and the younger

who doesn’t seem to notice.I internally wrestle with the fact

side

are you alright?" I ask, leaning forward

at our joined hands, then

already

me take some of this pain away.You

could have easily helped Tessa with whatever the

manipulation, Kas.There’s only one way for you to fix

down the path, away from us.She is crying so hard that she

women with black hair and green eyes stand up and

the difference between her and

would never cry

too fresh.She’s having a really tough time dealing with it this

as she

didn’t have to see what happened to him,"I confide. Amari and

didn’t your mate

much more stoic than Tessa when she has

because of the Agrios.Our emotions hide to protect us.You are the same," she

Cora means to say is, her group is