"And there's never been an alliance between the shapeshifters and the witches," Keller said. She looked directly at Diana. "That's why the promise ceremony is so important. If the shapeshifters don't side with the witches, they're going to go with the vampires-"
She stopped abruptly and looked at Galen.
He nodded. "I was thinking the same thing."
"Those animal attacks," Keller said slowly. 'It sounds as if the shapeshifters are already making their decision. They're helping to bring about the time of chaos at the end of the millennium. They're letting the whole world know that they're siding with the vampires."
There was a shocked silence.
"But how can they decide?" Winnie began.
"That's just it," Nissa said. "The question is, is it just the ordinary shapeshifters who're doing it, or is it official? In other words, has the First House already decided?"
Everyone looked at Galen.
"I don't think so," he said. "I don't think they'll make any decision yet, at least not in public. As for what they're doing in private, I don't know." His voice was still flat; it made no excuses.
He looked around the table, facing all of them. "My parents are warriors. They don't belong to Circle Daybreak, and they don't like the witches. But they don't like the vampires, either. More than anything, they'll want to be on whichever side is going to win. And that depends on which side gets the Wild Powers."
"I think they want something else," Keller said. "like?"
They want to know that the witches are treating them fairly and not just trying to use them. I mean, if they thought that Circle Daybreak had found the Witch Child but wasn't going to promise her to their heir, well, they wouldn't be happy. It's not just a matter of having a kinship bond with the witches. It's a matter of feeling they're being treated as equals."
Nissa's light brown eyes narrowed, and she seemed almost to smile. "I think you've summed it up very well."
"So what it all comes down to," Keller said pointedly, "is what happens on Saturday night. If there's a promise ceremony, it means the witches have found the Wild Power and that they're willing to tie her to the shapeshifters. If not..."
She let the sentence trail off and looked at Hiana.
There, she thought. I've put it so plainly and simply, you can't deny it now. And you can't help but see what's at stake.
Diana's eyes were like faraway violet storm clouds. Keller couldn't tell what she was thinking. Maybe that the situation couldn't be denied but that she herself wasn't involved.
Winnie took a deep breath. "Galen."
Her face was still drawn and unhappy, but the burning anger in her eyes was gone. She met Galen's gaze directly.
Tm sorry," she said. "I shouldn't have said those things before. I know you're on our side. And I'm not like those people who don't trust the shapeshifters."
Galen smiled at her faintly, but his eyes were serious. "I don't know. Maybe you shouldn't trust us. There are things in our blood-you can't get rid of the dragon completely."
It was strange. At that moment, his eyes looked not only dark but almost red to Keller. Exactly the opposite of their usual golden-green. It was as if a light were smoldering somewhere deep inside them. Then Winnie abruptly extended her hand across the table. "I know you," she said. "And there's nothing bad in your blood. I won't mistrust you again."
Galen hesitated one instant, then reached out with something like gratitude and took her hand.
"Thanks," he whispered.
"Hey, if I were the Witch Child, I'd promise to you in a minute," Winnie said. Then she sniffled, but her smile was much more like the old Winnie's smile.
Keller glanced at Iliana almost casually and was riveted by what she saw.
The girl had changed again. Now she didn't look like a princess or an ice maiden but like a very young soldier about to go into battle. Or maybe a human sacrifice who could save her tribe by jumping into a volcano.
Her hair seemed to shine, silvery and pale, and her eyes were deep, deep violet in her small face. Her slight shoulders were back, and her chin was determined.
Slowly, staring at something invisible in the center of the table, Iliana stood up.
As soon as the motion drew their attention, the others fell quiet. It was obvious to everyone that something important was happening.
Iliana stood there, her hands clenched by her sides, her chest rising and falling with her breathing. Then she looked at Galen. Finally, she looked at Keller.
Tm not the Witch Child any more than Winnie is. And I think you know that by now. But..." She took a breath, steadied herself.
Keller held her own breath.
"But if you want me to pretend to be, I'll do it. I'll go to the promise ceremony with Galen-I mean, if hell do it with me." She gave a half-embarrassed glance at Galen, looking shy and almost apologetic.
"Will he ever!" Winnie said enthusiastically. Keller could have kissed her. Galen himself didn't rise to the occasion properly at all; instead, he opened his mouth, looking uncertain.
Fortunately, Iliana was going on. "Then I'll go through with it. And maybe that will be enough for the shapeshifters to join with the witches, as long as they don't find out I'm a fake." She looked unhappy. She was so adamant that for a moment Keller was shaken. Could it be she wasn't the Wild Power? But no. Keller knew she was. She just hasn't awakened her power yet. And if she continued to deny it, she never would.
She said, "Thank you, Iliana. You don't know how much, how many lives you're going to save. Thank you."
Then the excitement got the better of her, and she took Iliana by the arm and gave her a sort of shaking squeeze of affection.
"You're a trooper!" Winnie said, and hugged her hard. "I knew you'd come through all the time, I really did."
Nissa smiled at her with genuine approval. Galen was smiling, too, although there was something in his eyes...
"There's just one thing," Iliana said a little bit breathlessly, rubbing her arm where Keller had gripped it.
"Ill do this. I said I would. But I have two conditions."
Keller's excitement deflated. "Conditions?"
"You can have anything you want," Winnie said, blinking away happy tears. "Cars, clothes, books..."