Page 6 of Cursed by the Love Witch (A Monstrous Holiday #2)

6

DARCEE

G ently, I stroke Prue’s soft hair as she lays atop the infirmary bed.

I hold my breath, waiting for her eyes to flutter open. Zander is resting deeply on the cot beside her. The healer said it shouldn’t be long now. Mistress Nya flits around to a few other patients in her care.

Finding Prue and Zander had been surprisingly easy. The two of them had taken the potion in Prue’s room, intent on spending the equinox party more intimately. However, they never got the chance, and I discovered the two draped over each other in Prue’s bed.

I had spun a little tale to Mistress Nya about the two of them unknowingly taking a sleeping dram, and she drafted an antidote to give them. Then she told me there was nothing else to do but wait for them to wake up.

The silence of the infirmary stretches. I stare at Prue’s sleeping form, her breathing deep and even. Shame makes my skin itch. I was so careless yesterday with Bael and my best friend. That potion could’ve hurt her and Zander. I should’ve personally delivered the love potion to them. Maybe if we had spoken before and I told her of my plan to deal with Bael, she could’ve talked me out of it.

I grab her hand and adjust my position on the stiff wooden chair. Already, my back is aching.

“It will be alright, dear,” Mistress Nya’s soothing voice says from beside me. “They’ll wake up soon.”

I nod, giving her a small smile.

“That antidote you made was marvelous. Have you ever made one for a love spell?”

There are subtler ways I could’ve approached it, but at this point, I’m desperate for this to all be over. If she can make one, I’ll slip it back into Bael’s drink next time we meet and be done with this whole mess.

The healer raises a brow, and I shrug.

“Antidotes were never my forte, and I’m nosey enough to wonder if any of my matches have to come to you seeking to undo what I’ve done for them.”

Mistress Nya chuckles before shaking her head. Dark curls coil around her delicate ears.

“A sleeping potion is easy enough to undo. No matter their potency, they all contain primarily the same ingredients. Love potions are a different beast. Due to them being highly personalized, it’s hard to create an antidote unless you know every element used to make it. In my experience, trying to undo one often makes the situation worse. It's best just to let those run their course. A love spell’s potency dies rather quickly. As I’m sure you’re well aware.”

Mistress Nya’s eyes narrow slightly.

“And I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that any love potion administered to an unknowing recipient is something that must be reported to the Head Mistress.”

I keep my smile sincere even as I feel my inside contract.

“An innocent question, I assure you. I only deal with happy couples who give me written and verbal consent.”

“Good. Now quit fretting.”

Mistress Nya disappears, and I take a deep breath. Great. With the option of antidoting off the table, for now, the only thing I can do is put up with Bael’s love until the potion wears off. It shouldn't take too long with a male of his size, but I hoped all of this could be wrapped up today.

With my future apothecary flashing before my eyes, going to Mistress Saege is also off the table. My beloved teacher would be honor bound to tell the Head Mistress, who happens to be her wife. I’m out of options.

The only bright side is that Bael’s true feelings for me will also quickly burn through the potion. Nya is correct when she says a love potion dies quickly. Deep down, Bael cannot stand me despite what he thinks he feels. When he realizes that as the potion’s strength begins to wane, he’ll hopefully be willing to allow me to fix my grade.

As awful as I am for considering it, this may be the only chance to pass his class. I shouldn’t exploit his so-called feelings for me, but I shouldn’t pass up on this opportunity. He won’t fail the witch he believes himself infatuated with. As for his romantic advances, that’s where things get a little trickier.

I didn’t hate how he looked at me—far from it. I had even been thinking of kissing him at one point. I must play along a bit if I want the potion to run its course gracefully. It should be easy enough with a male who looks at me like I hung the moon just for him.

Our need to remain secretive will also help us not take things too far—even if his touch had been a surprising delight. I must keep my wits about me. When the potion fades, his memories surely will not. Hopefully, he’ll be so repulsed with the idea of himself wanting me that he won’t question where the feelings came from.

I’m manifesting that the embarrassment he’ll feel after this ordeal will ensure his silence.

That way, I can take my passing grade, graduate, and never look back.

It is risky to dance this fine line while a love potion is in the mix, but I see no other options at the moment. Additionally, I’d never take advantage of him in this situation, my improving grade notwithstanding. That is why it is paramount that I keep our relationship flirtatious—heady—but void of any real action.

Whatever desire he feels for me now will be gone in a week or so. The rejection—which is to be expected—will still sting. I should protect myself by not getting too attached and taking things too far.

A sharp inhale pulls me from my thoughts.

Prue’s bright blue eyes blink open. With a groan, she rubs the side of her head.

“Water,” she croaks.

Fetching her a glass, I help her sit up, the cot squeaking beneath her.

“Small sips,” I say.

She clears her throat, her eyes still looking far off.

“What happened? Zander and I took your potion and then—” Her eyes land on Zander next to her. Her sharp inhale tears at my heart, and I feel fresh tears pool in my eyes. Taking her hand, I hold on to it tightly.

“Prue, I’m so sorry. I made two potions yesterday. One was my sleeping dram, and the other was your love potion.”

I hate lying to my best friend, but it is the only way. If I want to stay at Axwyne, no one can know what I did.

“I left a piece of parchment on the one you were supposed to take.”

“I didn’t see a note.” Prue takes another small sip from her glass.

My stomach sinks further.

“I know. I found it under one of the tables in Mistress Saege’s room. It must’ve blown off after I left. I only realized the mistake when I collected my sleeping dram this morning.”

Prue nods, setting down her glass of water.

“The potions looked so similar, I thought I knew which was the right one. We were both excited to take it, and I just guessed.” Her hand tightens in mine. “I shouldn’t have done that. I was careless, Darcee. I should’ve waited and asked you which was the correct one. Can you ever forgive me?”

A surprised rasp leaves me. I stand and settle myself on the cot beside her.

“Only if you forgive me for being such a careless witch. I ruined your night with Zander.”

“Actually, I had a pretty incredible dream about him.”

“Oh?” I ask, wiggling my eyebrows. “Do tell.”

“Later,” she says with a grin.

Her thin arms wrap around me, and we hug. I inhale her lavender scent and let it ground me. This will be over soon—a week at most, and things will return to normal.

“What happened to it?” Prue asks as we pull apart.

“To what?”

“The love potion you made for us. Once Zander and I have recovered, I thought we could try retaking it.”

Waving a dismissive hand, I try to keep my voice neutral.

“It had gone off during the night. I’ll make you two a fresh one. And personally deliver it this time.”

Prue chuckles, settling back against the pillows.

“You’re the best, Darcee.” A yawn sneaks up on her. “This sleeping potion is no joke. How bad is your sleep schedule to need such a thing?”

I laugh even if it sounds brittle to my ears.

“I only take a sip each night. Not the whole bottle.”

“Right,” Prue says, the word fading as her eyes begin to close.

Leaning down, I press a kiss to her smooth brow.

“Sleep,” I whisper. “I’ll check on you later.”

Prue is already asleep as I collect my things and hear the bell signaling the start of the school day. Excited voices filter in from the halls. I turn to walk out of the infirmary and leave my slumbering friend behind.

I don’t know how I’m going to focus. All my thoughts are of Bael as I walk through the hall. Three weeks , I think. Three weeks until graduation, and you’ll never see him again.

At least, that’s what I tell myself.