SPELLBOUND

After Vera explained to Evie about the offer Gideon had made to her, Evie's eyes widened, utterly shocked. She did not know that such things were possible.

"Tell me, Evie. That's the best decision I could do right now, right? If I take his power, I will be able to control him. Then he won't be able to leave me again." Desperation was brimming in Vera's eyes as she said those words. "I think that disaster happened because I didn't accept his offer! This time I'm really going to accept his offer."

Evie stared deeply into her friend's eyes, then she reached out and held her face.

"Vera… I understand your desperation right now. But I want you to calm down. We must think hard about this first before making a decision."

"But Evie, this is definitely the best decision I can think of. I didn't accept his offer and that was why all of that happened."

"You might be right, Vera. But what if something worse happens if you decide to accept his offer?" Evie prompted Vera.

"What… what do you mean?" Vera jerked before going still in shock. Things could get worse?

"We don't know for sure what will happen if you accept that offer Vera. You might be able to control him and become powerful but… have you ever thought that what if the darkness is able to take over you next? Since you are the one controlling Gideon. By then, do you think you are able to resist the influences of the darkness?"

What Evie said silenced Vera. Her lips trembled as she tried to say something, but nothing came out, so she eventually gave up and bit on her lip.

"The offer seems really beneficial, but… I think Gideon had intended to give you his power with the sole purpose of protecting you from himself. I think he might not have even considered that there is a larger risk that the darkness might change its target and try to take over you instead."

The fierceness and determination that was brimming in Vera's eyes just a while ago were completely gone now. She looked like the hope she was clinging onto was taken away from her. Vera looked deflated, like a balloon that had lost all its air.

"Vera… listen… don't lose hope yet. Did you forget what we were discussing with everyone else before this?" Evie smiled at her, and Vera blinked at her, trying to recall what it was that Evie was referring to. Then her eyes widened as she sat up straighter.

"That I'm an ice-dragon… keeper?" Vera stammered.

"That mountain you saw in those memories. And that the ice melted when you touched it… I think you will be able to melt that ice again, Vera, and take control of all those ice dragons." Evie told her with much enthusiasm. She was so glad that she could reveal these matters to Vera. It seems that she could say it out if she worded it in a way that it was just an opinion? "You can be powerful without taking someone's power. I also think that this method is much better. Gideon's offer is just filled with too many unknown risks, and we really can't afford to make matters worse right now."

"But… are you really sure that I'm the…" Vera looked down at her hands. She suddenly felt the inferiority crashing onto her again – the same feeling she got when she was still being abused by her mother.

"You saw it. The ice melted when you touched the ice. Perhaps, something interrupted you that time and you had left immediately before the ice could completely melt and the dragons were freed. And that's why you didn't find out that you were the one who freed them." Evie was even looking more excited now as she held Vera's hands. Her words encouraged Vera and snapped her out of that self-pity and self-mockery mode she was in. "Alright. There is only one more thing to do to prove that this is true. We will go to that mountain so you can try it out for yourself." Evie smiled confidently at Vera, more than certain about what she had said.

"But if that's true… then how? How did I even ended up being someone like that?"

"Vera… I think it's time for you and Gideon to tell each other what you both saw during your mating bond. I'm sure you will find out the answer to your questions once you do that. However, I am not forcing you to dig into it, okay? It will still be totally up to you if you wanted to know. What I am insisting right now is that since you are free to speak of the future that you saw… I believe that it is best that you tell Gideon about it. Everything…"

"Is it really okay for me to tell him?"

"I know it would be hard for him to hear it all, but I believe this is for the better. I also think that if you tell him, he might be able to understand some things that we couldn't. There's a big possibility that he can come up with a better conclusion and discover more detailed information from it than us. So you go ahead and tell him Vera. I wish I could tell everything that I had seen in my vision, but I am not allowed to. So you say it, okay? King Belial and my husband are very good in analysing things from the bare information that is provided to them. So I believe if they hear this, they'd be able to solve something. Even if not a lot of things, whatever little is better than nothing and that will help us with this disaster coming to us."

Vera nodded and Evie sighed in relief. She was so glad Vera was putting her trust in her as well.

"Alright, we'll go back to them now." Evie stood and as she waved her hand to disperse the barrier, Vera lunged towards her and hugged her.

"Thank you for being here, Evie." She whispered gratefully. "I really wouldn't know what to do without you."

"Thank you for putting your trust in me as well, Vera. Don't worry, we will change the future! You won't be powerless as well. Trust me, you will become someone very formidable very soon. In fact, I want us to go and search for that mountain together, right now if possible.." Evie told her with an unwavering confidence that sparkled in her beautiful amber eyes, as she pulled Vera towards the exit to meet up with their loved ones who were still wating patiently outside the tent.