Page 26 of Bewitched By the Voodoo King (The Bewitching Hour #7)

I felt lost in the hustle and bustle that came with coven politics, preparing for the full moon, and wondering where I belonged in all of the chaos. We were a week away from the masquerade ball and a little over a week away from the full moon.

No one asked me about my magic, but I could practically hear it in their thoughts when we spoke about preparing. Rune was wrapped up tightly in the search and rescue that would happen during the full moon, and I could do nothing but offer him emotional support— which didn’t feel like enough as is.

I tried to stay busy by learning and helping Maggie in the kitchen. This week she’d taught me how to make a dry roux and a wet roux—who knew there was a difference—, and crawfish bisque. We’d started working on a gumbo when Adelle interrupted and said I was needed elsewhere.

Elsewhere was going over the guest list, checking RSVPs from the spelled invites, and checking the decorations arriving.

It was boring, but at least Adelle tried to make it interesting.

I hadn’t seen Calisto or Seraphine again, but Adelle reassured me they were helping her mother with all of the other finishing touches.

Rune was elusive at best. He was always busy, and just when I thought we’d get a moment alone, he was whisked away with coven business. I tried to remind myself that it wouldn’t be like this forever, but it was hard to hype myself up.

When I was done for the day, I spent the evenings in the library looking for something that would point me in the right direction of why I was a null, or anything that would help me understand why I was the first born without magic to two parents that had powerful stuff running through their veins.

It was no use, but at least it was something. Nothing was worse than letting my mind run wild when I was restless like this.

The library was a sanctuary for the coven’s most precious knowledge—but none of it had anything to say to someone like me. But I still hoped because what else was there for me to do? I needed to unlock something within myself to help with the wolf problem, and I didn’t have much time left.

Every night, I dragged my exhausted ass back to bed, feeling defeated, but not allowing myself to be hopeless.

I tucked my feet underneath myself as I dug my phone free from my pocket. My family hadn’t tried to reach out to me, and as much as it stung, I knew it was probably best this way.

I scrubbed my hands down my face, but what if I needed them? What if I couldn’t do this on my own like everyone assumed I could? Didn’t the marriage contract say that my family would be in alliance with them? We weren’t married yet, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t ask for help, right?

I couldn’t call them in case someone overheard, so instead, I sent out a quick text.

Do you know anything about curses?

With trembling hands, I hit send and closed my eyes.

It was the only thing that made sense. It’s what my mind kept coming back to.

I knew absolutely nothing about divination magic and death magic, but something wasn’t right about these mist wolves.

It was like they were stuck between the living and the dead.

That explained how they made it through the barriers.

Was that the reason they were hunting witches?

Were they looking for a remedy, or were they angry?

Maybe a bit of both?

My phone vibrated with an incoming message from my mom.

Mom

I thought you would never reach out and that you loved your life in New Orleans more than here. I’m so happy to hear from you! I don’t know anything about curses, but I’ll ask your papa. He might know a thing or two. He dabbled in more death magic than I did growing up, thanks to his parents.

Death magic? So it was related. I sank back into my chair and guilt swirled in my gut. She’d missed me, but was waiting on me, and I’d been waiting on them.

I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you were waiting on me.

Mom

Yes, the marriage contract said no communication unless you wanted it.

What? I thought our coven would be allies with this one.

Mom

No, all they wanted was you. They didn’t want the rest of us or we would have sent one of your sisters to help you get settled.

I blinked down at my phone. What did this mean?

I don’t understand.

Mom

Hold on, I might need to dig, but I’ll send you a picture of the contract when I find it. At first, they’d said they wanted to be allies, but then the contract came through, and it mentioned only you. But if we were to ever need them, they would be here immediately.

I stared at the last message until the screen went dark.

Only you.

I wasn’t part of a grand treaty. I wasn’t a peace offering. I was the point.

But why? I ran my fingers through my hair and then yanked on the ends.

I closed my eyes, pressing the heels of my hands into them until stars sparked behind my lids. The library felt too quiet now, the silence ringing in my ears.

Whatever this was… whatever it meant…

I had to find out. Because this was so much bigger than I’d ever imagined.

They’d said I was the missing piece, they’d said I was the savior.

They’d mentioned that I was going to fix this, but in all honesty, I thought that meant me and my coven.

I thought that meant they just needed back-up and reinforcement.

But now I knew the truth, and all it did was leave me with more questions.

I slammed the book closed on the table in front of me and marched to the shelves again.

Curses were related to death magic. That meant I would probably find it here.

The candlelight flickered as I dragged my hand along the worn spines, each title older than the last—grimoire after grimoire of rituals I couldn’t perform and languages I couldn’t read.

I pressed my forehead to one of the cold shelves and let out a breath.

I pulled my phone back out of my pocket and opened the text thread to my mom.

Me

Was I cursed?

I didn’t know where the thought came from, but I needed to know.

It was the only thing I hadn’t thought of.

It was the only thing that seemed to make a little bit of sense.

Three little dots appeared to signal she was messaging back, but then they disappeared and didn’t start again. I was left alone to figure it out.