Shifted Fate (Amy)

Rick and Shelly both froze. I slid myself into a chair, knowing that the night was far from over, but I needed a minute. My throat was burning from Rick's hands, but I couldn't spare a drop of magic to heal myself. Everything I had was going to be needed.

Shelly and Rick launched themselves at Abby. Tears streaming down their faces. "Baby?" Shelly's hands trembled on her face. "Is this real?" She leaned in and pressed her lips against Abby's forehead. "Are you real?"

Abby giggled. "Yes, momma. I'm real." She looked over at me. "Thank you for saving me."

I smiled. "Of course." I winked. "I told you I would."

Shelly and Rick looked at each other, then over at me. I watched their faces go through a ton of emotions, but both settled on embarrassment. Rick pushed up from the table and turned to face me fully. "Amy..." He dropped to his knees beside me, and I watched the man crumple. "I don't think I'm sorry would even touch what I just did to you."

I watched him for a second before I reached out to pat his shoulder. "It's okay."

He shook his head, and Shelly dropped to her knees next to him. "No." Her voice was full of tears. "No, it's not. We attacked you. We screamed at you. We did so much except trust you." She looked up and met my gaze. Tears streamed down her face. "We should have trusted you."

I nodded. "You should have." I grabbed both of their hands. "But I understood why you didn't. I couldn't tell you because your tears are the catalyst of the spell. I would have down a lot worse because of my pup. I am doing a lot worse. I don't hold it against you."

Shelly broke down into sobs then. "Why not? We deserve it and worse."

Rick nodded. "This is all my fault. The curse, the kids, your friend... Oh goddess, your friend."

I shifted to Megan. "Is completely fine."

He reeled back. "She was you..."

I shifted back and sighed. “Yeah. It was me." I waved him off. "But I got more information than I had in the few months in the office." I smirked as I turned to Abby. "Down you come." She held up her arms, and I grabbed her. "You did so good, sweetheart."

"Am I really healed?" Her voice was full of hope.

I smiled. "How do you feel?"

"Tired, but..." She scrunched her face up. "Better."

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I smiled. "That's expected." I spun her around and looked at the brand, but it was gone. "Your curse gone, and I don't feel anything around you anymore." I spun her back around to face me. "You are officially healed."

Shelly stood and held out her arms. But I shook my head. "What's wrong?" Shelly's hands dropped. I turned and handed Abby to Wendy.

"Can you bring the girls up to bed?" Wendy nodded.

"Of course I can." She put Abby on her hip before she turned to a slightly pale Carly. "You ready for bed time girls?"

Carly bounced on her toes, then yawned. "Yeah Aunty Wendy, I am." She slipped her hand into Wendy's and then all walked upstairs. Shelly and Rick turned to follow, but I called them back.noveldrama

"Don't leave." They turned, and I raised my hands. "Tomorrow you guys will have all day to play and have the first healthy day with your girl for the first time since all of this started, but sadly, we aren't done with everything tonight."

Rick looked down and sighed. He looked at Shelly. "I haven't been one hundred

percent honest..." He turned to look at me. "How much longer do I have?"

I opened my mouth but Shelly smacked him on his shoulder. "What are you

talking about?” She looked at me. "What is he talking about?"

I had to stifle a laugh. “Rick, you aren't the only one with something they have been hiding..." I turned to look at everyone here. "Are you?" I looked at Alannah, Ternen and then settled on Shelly.

All three looked away from my eyes. Alannah and Ternen caught each other look, but it was Alannah that smacked a hand over her mouth and sank to the ground. "No."

I turned to Rick. "Show them." He stared at me for a minute before turning around

and lifting the hair he had let grow over the infected rune carved there.

Shelly broke down. Her sobs were soft, but everyone could feel the pain. "That's why you stopped letting me cut your hair?"

He let the hair drop back down. "I couldn't let you see." Shelly wiped her eyes before she lifted her arm Tucked inside her armpit was a brand What the fuck is that?" Rick rushed to her side and stared at the brand. "It doesn't look like mine....or Abby's."