I spent several days back home with my nose buried in the Book of Shadows, unable to put it down. It felt like being a child who had finally received the toy they'd wanted all year—I was completely absorbed and couldn't tear myself away.

I discovered that we could create our own spells and came across an entry by one of my ancestors, Annabell. She provided detailed instructions on how to craft a spell from scratch. I was amazed by the level of detail she provided; it was as if she had written a step-by-step guide. I also discovered that my bloodline was famous for crafting and casting spells using English words—something no other witch outside our lineage could replicate. The spells in our Book of Shadows were entirely unique. Although we could still practice the common witchcraft known to all witches, we were a bit of double trouble, with our unique magic adding an extra layer of power.

It was a bit overwhelming to take all of this in, seeing each entry in the book penned by one of my ancestors. Some spell entries were beautifully handwritten in English, accompanied by symbols and diagrams. Others were written in the language I had been taught, and I even found a few spells that matched those in the Grimoire my mother had left for me. Knowing I was the last witch, besides my Grams, made it something I would cherish for the rest of my life.

Snow had fallen over Forks, blanketing everything in a layer of white. It was breathtaking. We stood in a wide, open field, the cold air crisp against my skin. Jacob, in his massive wolf form, stood nearby, his fur dusted with snowflakes. Bella and I stood side by side, my breath visible in the chill, watching as Renesmee giggled with delight, her small hands reaching out to catch the falling snowflakes. Each flake melted almost instantly in her warm palms. It was nice of them to invite me, and I could do with a change of scenery.

Renesmee ran over with a bright smile, her small hand outstretched. Bella quickly crouched down to her daughter's level; her eyes full of warmth.

"Look, a snowflake," Renesmee said excitedly, holding out her hand to show the delicate flake resting in her palm, still intact despite the warmth of her skin.

"It's beautiful," Bella replied, her own smile matching her daughters as their eyes met in a moment of shared wonder. "Why don't you go catch another one?" Bella suggested with a smile. Renesmee nodded eagerly and dashed off, her laughter trailing behind her as she chased more snowflakes. Bella straightened up, watching her daughter with a look of contentment.

"Edward thinks that we'll find answers in Brazil," Bella said as she approached Jacob and me. "There are tribes there that might know something," she explained. They were still no closer to understanding why she was growing so rapidly. I had even consulted the Book of Shadows, hoping it might offer some insight, but when it didn't turn a single page, I took that as a sign of no.

"There must be some kind of record somewhere," I said, meeting Bella's gaze. Though her golden eyes still held faint traces of red, it would fade completely in a few weeks.

"Auntie Charlotte!" Renesmee's voice rang out, making me turn toward her. She waved me over with a giggle, and I couldn't help but smile. I quickly made my way to her and crouched down to her level, just as Bella had moments before. "Do the thing!" she said excitedly, causing me to chuckle.

"How can I say no?" I replied with a wide grin, as I began to think of words to rhyme. "Snowflakes fall, winter's grace, blanket the earth, touch every place," I spoke, reciting the spell with newfound ease after studying Annabell's guide. Rhyming and coming up with words, seemed to come naturally now. "From sky to ground, let snow descend, by this spell, let winter's chill extend." My tone was confident, and the intent behind the spell was clear. As I finished, the snow began to fall more heavily—not a blizzard, but enough to produce larger flakes.

Renesmee marvelled at the magic, chasing the snowflakes with delight. As I stood up, I watched her run and leap into the air, rising effortlessly as if lifted by an unseen force. But it was simply her own abilities at work.

Renesmee's gaze suddenly shifted past the trees to a rock formation that resembled a cliff. She quickly descended and ran to me, gripping my leg. I placed a reassuring hand on her back and guided her over to Jacob, where she stood beside him, holding onto his wolf leg. I turned my attention back to the cliff, but with my human vision, I couldn't make out who was there as clearly as a vampire might.

"Who was that?" Renesmee asked, her voice tinged with concern, while Jacob growled softly, poised to act if necessary.

"I think that's our cousin from Denali," Bella responded, her eyes fixed on the distant figure. They watched the figure intently, Jacob growled again, as he focused on the rock. "Irina!" Bella called out, trying to get her attention.

In an instant, Bella was a blur, racing toward Irina. Moments later, she stood on the rock before disappearing to pursue her. I turned to Jake and Renesmee, placing a comforting arm around her.

"It's ok, sweetie. She's family. Nothing to worry about," I said, as Renesmee wrapped her arms around my leg. I offered a warm smile.

................

We returned to the Cullen house once Bella was back with us. As I shrugged off my winter coat, I felt strong arms wrap around my waist and gentle kisses on my cheek—I knew it was Emmett. I couldn't help but chuckle at him before turning in his embrace and pressing my lips to his.

It was a fleeting kiss, but it felt like an explosion of fireworks and electricity, its intensity lingering as if time itself had stretched into eternity. We both made our way upstairs and arrived in the living area. Edward and Renesmee were on the piano stool, Carlisle and Esme were on the couch with Carlisle on the phone, and Bella was leaning against the piano.

"Tanya convinced Irina to reconcile with us," Carlisle announced, as Emmett sat in an armchair, and pulled me onto his lap.

"Well, it looks like she changed her mind," Edward commented from his seat.

"Seeing Jacob must have been too much for her," Esme added gently, glancing at Carlisle.

"I wish I could have spoken with her," Bella said, a hint of regret in her voice.

"She's family. She'll come around," Carlisle reassured us, relaxing back on the couch before putting his arm around Esme lovingly.

At that moment, Edward began to play the piano. I smiled as Renesmee pressed a few keys that her father had shown her. Edward's pale fingers danced gracefully over the keys, producing a sweet melody. Bella leaned closer to the piano, her gaze fixed lovingly on Edward as he played beautifully.

"So, what's it like knowing all the family secrets?" Emmett asked, his voice a low murmur but still audible.

"There are actual words for you to understand," I replied playfully, letting out a chuckle at my own humour. "But it's good. There's so much I didn't know about my witch heritage," I explained, wrapping my arms around his strong neck and gazing into his golden eyes. "I even found a spell my Gram created," I said with a laugh, still unable to fully believe it.

I noticed his smile fade, his eyes fixed on mine, but it felt like he was staring right through me, lost in thought. Concern washed over me as my own smile disappeared, and my brow furrowed in confusion.

"I have something to tell you," he said, his tone serious, which only deepened my worry.

"Emmett," Carlisle suddenly called his tone calm without any hint of reprimand. "A word." He exchanged a glance with Emmett, and I turned my head back to him, curious about what was going on. I glanced around the room, noticing that everyone wore a shared expression. I got the feeling that they knew what he was going to say.

"I'll be back," Emmett said quickly, giving me a quick kiss on the cheek. I rose to my feet to let him rise from the armchair, watching as he walked into another room with Carlisle following close behind.

I sensed an unsettling vibe in the room, and it was enough to make me uneasy. Quietly, I sank into the chair where Emmett had been, crossing one leg over the other as my mind raced, wondering what their intentions could possibly be.

"Is it alright if I stay tonight?" I asked, raising my gaze to meet Esme's as she leaned forward with a warm, motherly smile.

"Of course," she replied, as if permission was never needed. "There's still some of your birthday presents," she added with a fond smile. I had completely forgotten about them, too caught up in the Book of Shadows and learning its knowledge.

The way Carlisle glanced at Emmett made me question if they were hiding something from me. Was it about me? Or was it something else entirely? I had no idea what it could be. But I was going to find out...

Not long after they both walked back in, and Emmett was acting like his usual self. I didn't dare ask what he had wanted to say. Whatever Carlisle had told him must have stopped him from telling me. Emmett and I spent time together—watching a movie, talking, and just enjoying each other's company. I had settled into Edward's old room, which had basically become mine now that he and Bella had their own home. It was beautiful, no doubt about that.

I was reading the book Alice and Jasper had given me—part of a series they'd picked out together. And the genre was right up my alley. I looked up just in time to see Emmett renter the room, now dressed in loose grey pants and a white vest. Everything was on show for me, and it made me warm.

"Are you the male dancer I ordered?" I joked with a playful laugh, brushing my hair out of my face and tucking it behind my ear.

Emmett chuckled and replied, "Sorry, they were all booked, so you're stuck with me instead." But that boyish grin of his melted me in an instant as he got onto the bed.

"Even better," I whispered, biting my bottom lip seductively. He was far better than any of them could ever be. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips before he leaned in and pressed his lips to mine. Of course, my heart was racing, and he knew it all too well.

"I can hear your heart," he said, his voice deepening in a way that nearly made my knees give out, even though I was sitting down. The way he said it was pure bliss to my ears.

I let out a moan against his lips as I brushed mine over his. "I hate you," I replied playfully, knowing full well he was teasing me.

"You love me," he said, his voice low and teasing. I did love him deeply, but his concerned expression and the fact that he seemed to have something important to tell me made me uneasy.

"Emmett," he said softly, noticing the worry in my tone rather than the usual humour or flirtation. He leaned back, his brows furrowing in confusion. "I need you to be honest with me," I said, gazing deeply into his eyes. He knew exactly where this was going. "What did you need to tell me?" I asked, our eyes locked.

I could see the gears turning in his head and the conflict written all over his face. It was clearly painful for him to keep whatever it was concealed.

"Nothing," he replied softly, his expression neutral and unreadable. But I gave him a look that clearly said I knew it wasn't nothing. "I... I can't tell you," he admitted with a sense of defeat, clearly struggling with the fact that he had to lie to me.

"What do you mean?" I asked, shaking my head in confusion. "Why can't you tell me?" I laughed at the end, finding it all a bit absurd and hard to believe.

"I just can't, ok?" Emmett snapped, which was uncharacteristic for him. Despite his conflict and uncertainty, he wasn't going to give in. He was fiercely loyal, and that's one of the things I love most about him.

I stared at him for a moment, my eyes tracing the lines of his face, searching for any hint of what he might be hiding. I realized there was nothing I could say or do to extract the truth from him.

"Okay," I said, my voice carrying a note of resignation. If he didn't want to share, I had to accept that. I wasn't about to betray his trust by using a spell to pry into his thoughts. Such an intrusion would only damage our relationship, and I loved him too much to jeopardize what we had.

But I wasn't going to forget this so easily...

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