Page 9 of Bewitched By the Voodoo King (The Bewitching Hour #7)

Cooking rice and gravy wasn’t as bad—or as terrifying—as I’d expected.

Maggie, it turned out, was far more agreeable when I was in her kitchen by invitation rather than trespass.

Under her watchful eye and occasional gruff instructions, I managed to help stir, season, and simmer without any explosions.

It wasn’t exactly baking, but it was oddly satisfying to see the dish come together.

Eating it, though—that was the real revelation. The rice and gravy were rich and savory, unlike anything I’d ever tasted. It wasn’t quite a stew, but it wasn’t just a gravy either. It was its own magical creation, and I couldn’t stop myself from asking Maggie for the recipe.

She raised one eyebrow, her lips twitching like she was amused, and simply shook her head. “Recipes aren’t a thing in these parts,” she said.

I wasn’t sure if she was joking or if she meant it literally, but I had a feeling I’d be waiting a long time for Maggie to share her culinary secrets.

I ate in the kitchen, away from the rest of the coven.

It wasn’t like Maggie had kicked me out; she’d even muttered something that might have been an invitation to join the others.

But the thought of sitting in the dining hall, surrounded by people who barely knew me—or worse, who might not want me there—felt like too much.

At home, we ate with our families in small groups, tucked into our own homes or little community spaces.

Here, they ate as one huge family, the kind of unity that should’ve been comforting but only reminded me how out of place I was.

Everything was so different, and hiding out in the kitchen while the others laughed and talked in the dining hall didn’t help.

After finishing the masterpiece of a meal, I washed my bowl in the sink, careful to leave everything spotless—Maggie would probably appear out of nowhere if I didn’t—and tiptoed back to my room.

The quiet halls were both eerie and peaceful, a stark contrast to the bustling kitchen.

I considered sneaking into the library again, the pull of its shelves full of forbidden knowledge almost irresistible.

But I knew that somehow, I’d manage to get myself into trouble, and I didn’t want to give Rune any more reasons to hate me, especially after the almost good conversation we had earlier in the day.

Back in my room, I shut the door and leaned against it, letting out a slow breath. My chest still hadn’t arrived, and the bare space felt less like home and more like a temporary holding cell.

I paced for a moment, restless, then sat on the edge of the bed, my mind drifting back to Rune’s words earlier. “ You’re part of this now, whether either of us likes it or not. ”

The truth was, I didn’t feel like I was part of anything. Not this coven, not the alliance, not even my own story. I was just… here. Out of place and uncertain, the girl with no magic, trying to navigate a world that seemed determined to remind her of what she lacked.

A small tap on the door had me jerking forward. I ran both of my hands down either side of my unruly hair and tried to calm my breathing. Who would want to come see me now?

I opened the door slowly even more aware of Rune’s warnings about getting kidnapped by wolves and peeked out. Adelle stood in the hallway with a big grin on her face.

“Hey! I didn’t see you at dinner.”

This had to be a joke, right?

“I ate in the kitchen.”

Adelle’s brows pulled together. “Why on earth would you do a thing like that?”

I frowned. “Isn’t it obvious?”

Her brows jumped. “Oh, I’m sorry. I guess I should have thought about that. No one wants to enter a new space all on their own.”

She was right and wrong. “Rune doesn’t want to introduce me to the coven just yet so I figured it would be better if I remained out of sight.”

She rolled her light eyes. “Rune is a stick in the mud. He’s never let spontaneous moments take over. He’s always been so responsible. He needs to let loose.”

I leaned against the doorway. “And?” There was always an and or a but with a conversation like this.

“And I think you’re going to be good for him.”

I laughed this time. “Me?”

She leaned forward as if she was sharing a secret with me. “I heard about the stolen library book.”

I groaned. Here we go. Maybe if I had my trunk of belongings, I wouldn’t have felt the need to take a book from their library. Also, since when is it stealing to borrow a book from a library ?

Adelle’s grin widened at my groan, clearly enjoying my discomfort. She leaned casually against the doorframe, her light eyes practically sparkling with amusement. “You know, people are still talking about it.”

“Talking about what?” I asked, though I already knew.

“ The library incident, ” she said dramatically, emphasizing the words like it was some grand scandal. “It’s not every day someone storms in, borrows a book without asking, and sets off half the wards.”

“I didn’t storm in ,” I said defensively, crossing my arms. “And I didn’t know there were wards. No one told me the rules.”

Her laugh was bright and unrestrained. “That’s the best part! You had no idea what you were doing, but you did it anyway. Honestly, it’s kind of inspiring.”

I snorted. “Inspiring? More like embarrassing.”

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “It’s exactly what this place needs—someone who doesn’t tiptoe around all the unspoken rules. You’ve got guts, Maple. And trust me, that’s more valuable here than you realize.”

“Guts?” I muttered, raising a skeptical brow. “Tell that to Maggie. I think she’d argue I’m more of a nuisance.”

Adelle waved a dismissive hand. “Maggie secretly loves you. She just doesn’t know it yet.”

“Uh-huh.” I wasn’t buying it. “And what about Rune? Does he secretly love me too?”

Adelle tilted her head, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. “Now, that’s an interesting question.”

My cheeks burned, and I straightened, suddenly wishing I hadn’t said anything. “I didn’t mean?—”

“Oh, don’t worry,” she interrupted, clearly enjoying herself. “Rune’s a mystery, even to me as his older and wiser sister, but I can tell you this much: you’ve got his attention. And for Rune, that’s saying something.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but she pressed on before I could.

“Look,” she said, her tone softening slightly. “This place can be overwhelming. Everyone’s still on edge after everything that’s happened, and Rune’s trying to hold it all together. But you’re not alone here, okay? If you ever feel lost—or if Rune’s being, well, Rune—you can come to me.”

Her sincerity caught me off guard, and for a moment, I didn’t know how to respond. “Thanks,” I said finally, my voice quieter than I intended. “I appreciate that.”

“Anytime,” she said with a wink. “Now, I’m going to let you get some rest. But don’t think you can hide out forever, Maple. This coven needs a little shaking up, and I think you’re just the person to do it.”

The next few days were spent reading about death witches and diviners.

The library books I’d pilfered from here were absolutely no help.

It seemed they kept their magical information under lock and key, which explained why I didn’t have any information in my own books locking in my chest. However, I was beginning to grow frustrated with my lack of clothes.

I only had a few outfits in a suitcase that boarded the flight to come here and the rest of my clothes, especially comfort items, were locked away.

I hated that I couldn’t unpack and get cozy here.

All it did was tell me that I was temporary, as well as my space.

I pressed my palms into my eyes. This couldn’t be all that my life was here in this coven. There had to be more.

Not only did I miss baking up treats and serving my coven, but I also missed having some type of independence.

There were so many rules to abide by within these walls.

There was also no nature or property to explore.

I never thought I would miss the woods back at home but when I stepped out into the courtyard, all I wanted was some kind of nature.

I was stuck in a concrete jungle and all it did was further depress me.

I thought New Orleans would have been full of magic and fun but here I was, stuck in my room wondering when my life would begin.

A soft tap on my door made me dread whatever human interaction I was about to be forced into.

I knew it was Adelle before I pulled the door open.

She was the only one who visited me and made sure I was still alive.

She brought the delicious meals to me or forced me to the kitchen where I ate with her and Maggie.

Neither one of them understood why I didn’t want to eat with the rest of the coven and I couldn’t exactly explain it.

I was too worried that Rune would get upset. I was walking on eggshells.

Adelle wrinkled her nose. “You could use a shower and maybe some sunlight.”

“Don’t remind me.” I let out a breath. “I don’t know what to do with myself.”

Adelle pushed her way into my bedroom and sat on the corner of the bed. Today her silver box braids were wrapped up in a headscarf and big earrings dangled beside her face. “I think I have an idea.”

I picked up my cup of coffee off of the counter and blew at the steam swirling around on the top. “Yeah?”

“Why don’t we go out tonight?”

I raised a brow. “Go out where?”

Adelle’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “The Quarter, where else?”

I blinked at her, unsure if I’d heard correctly. “You mean the French Quarter? The one outside these walls?”

She nodded, a grin spreading across her face. “Exactly. You’ve been cooped up here for days, and it’s doing you no favors. A little adventure might be just what you need.”

“Adventure?” I echoed, raising a skeptical brow. “I thought Rune would have a heart attack if I so much as left the courtyard without his approval.”

Adelle waved a hand dismissively. “Rune’s too busy brooding over whatever responsibility he’s juggling today. Besides, he doesn’t need to know.”

I stared at her, my coffee cup frozen halfway to my lips. “You’re suggesting I sneak out of the coven compound? Isn’t that against, like, a hundred rules?”

She tilted her head, feigning innocence. “Probably. But rules are more like guidelines anyway.”

I snorted, shaking my head. “I’m sure that’s not how Rune sees them.”

“Rune needs to loosen up,” she said with a grin. “And you need to have some fun. The Quarter is full of magic, life, and possibilities. If you’ve never been, you’re missing out.”

Her words sparked something in me, a faint flicker of excitement that I hadn’t felt since arriving here. The thought of escaping the suffocating walls of the coven—even just for a few hours—was tempting.

“But what if something happens?” I asked hesitantly. “What if Rune finds out?”

Adelle leaned forward, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “That’s the thing, Maple. Nothing will happen. We’ll go, have a drink, listen to some music, and be back before anyone notices. And if Rune does find out?” She shrugged. “Let me handle him.”

I hesitated, the responsible part of me screaming that this was a terrible idea. But another part—the part desperate for something new, something alive—was already leaning toward yes.

“Okay but what am I going to wear? All of my belongings are trapped in the Voodoo King’s room and I have no idea where anything is in this labyrinth of a community.”

Adelle’s lips curled. “Oh girl, come with me!”