Page 28 of Curses & Cold Brew (Maple Hollow #2)

RAMONA

I tore across the pumpkin patch, kicking up leaves in my wake. I’d never raced this fast in my life.

Please, please, please. Let her be safe.

My lungs burned as I silently begged and bargained while I ran.

Whatever needs to happen, whatever I need to do. Please, to every devil in every circle of hell, let this hunch be right.

As I approached the building, I saw no signs of movement, heard no calls of distress.

Fear choked me in its viselike grip.

I ate up the distance to the rickety door and threw it open, then ran inside.

My cursed meat suit was flooded with endorphins and ready to take on Naphula, Esme, and any other creature standing in the way of my girl.

But when I got there, I spotted Iris, wearing nothing but the sweater I’d knitted for her, leaning against the central beam with her arms crossed while she stared smugly at bloodied and tied-up Naphula.

“Oh, hey,” Iris said like we’d bumped into each other at the library.

“Hey?”

She’d been kidnapped from my house. This was the most terrifying moment of my immortal life. And all she said was hey ?

“I told you, demon.” Iris shrugged. “I’m a powerful witch. I can take care of myself.”

All the panic ebbed and melted to something like lust-addled relief as I crossed the distance to that powerful witch .

Locking her in my sights, I grabbed Iris by the back of the neck and pinned her to the beam behind her.

My tongue delved into her mouth, and I kissed her with all the relief and desperation that had been churning within me.

They’d taken her. They’d taken her from me , and the fear of losing her had made all of my inexplicable feelings crystal clear.

She was here, safe, strong, and as wicked as I was in every way. And I loved her. Simple as that.

I finally pulled away enough to murmur against her lips, “I want to fuck you so badly right now, but we need to deal with this whole vampire thing first.”

Iris’s hands slid up my sides as if she couldn’t stop herself from touching me— torturing me —but with a disgruntled sigh, she dropped them. “Later?”

“Later,” I promised. “And many times after that, witchling.”

I took a step back, needing to put some distance between us before my hands delved under the hem of her sweater and slid up her?—

Naphula groaned from behind us.

I turned to see her gasp, her eyes returning to their normal color.

“Ramona. I–I’m sorry,” Naphula spluttered. “I didn’t mean—I didn’t know what I was doing?—”

Blood trailed from her nose and several cuts on her face. I wasn’t sure if they were inflicted by Esme or Iris.

“What happened?” I asked, walking over to her.

“No, don’t,” Naphula warned, terror in her voice.

She wiggled against her binds, but the rope was illuminated with a familiar glow that I knew was Iris’s magic keeping them in place.

“I can’t fight her. I don’t know when the trance will take hold again.

You need to keep me tied up until you break the curse she’s using to contain me. ”

“Esme.” I balled my hands into fists. “She’s not content with stealing my marks and hurting my girlfriend. She needs to go after my best friend too.”

“Did you just call me your girlfriend?” Iris piped up from behind me.

It was my turn for a furious blush to burn across my face. “Well, I?—”

“I like it,” Iris offered before I had time to spiral out about my feelings being unrequited.

She liked it. She liked the thought of being mine.

“Can you two lovebirds break this damned curse on me before you fuck each other? Please?” Naphula snapped. “Also—” She stretched her head to look around me and glare at Iris. “If you break my best friend’s heart, I will kill you.”

“You’ve already tried to kill me,” Iris pointed out with a shit-eating grin.

That’s my girl. “And look how that turned out for you.” Damn, she was really not helping quell my libido with that sexy retort, especially when her green eyes flitted to mine.

“But I have no intention of breaking any hearts.”

At those words, an overwhelming flood of emotions rushed over me. It felt so sudden yet inevitable at the same time.

I leaned in?—

“Ramona!” Naphula cut in. “Where’s a fucking ice bucket when I need it, goddammit? Like, I’m happy for you, but seriously, get your shit together. I don’t know how much time we have before I go full-on Manchurian Candidate again.”

“Okay, okay,” I grumbled, frustrated that I couldn’t indulge in this moment.

I wanted to tell Iris that I had no intention of breaking her heart either.

I wanted to share with her the million secret, scary things that she gave me the confidence to finally say aloud.

But breaking vampiric curses came first. That was the sensible thing to do.

I turned fully to put Iris out of my view, then said to Naphula, “Start at the beginning. How did Esme even get close enough to you to place a curse on you in the first place?”

“I was summoned to make a deal. The mark was cloaked, not that unusual in our line of work.” She was right; it was common for powerful beings to shield their identities, but it was still dangerous.

I’d scold her about that later. “The mark wanted me to help her get revenge on someone, but because she’s a vampire, she had no soul to give. ”

“What could possibly be as valuable as a soul?” Iris asked.

My pulse quickened. “She gave you a promise. An exchange. Favor for favor?”

“Yes,” Naphula admitted, hanging her head. “She said she could help me block out any remaining, uh, feelings I had for . . . someone.”

“Naphula, no.” I groaned, rubbing my eyes in frustration. “You opened up your mind to a cloaked vampire for that? Why didn’t you just come to me instead?”

A sheepish expression crossed my friend’s face. “The circumstances were too embarrassing to tell you about. Not again.”

“This is about Eloise?” I said, exasperated. “You’d rather wipe your crush from your memory than be honest with her?”

“See? This is why I didn’t tell you!” Naphula snapped back. “You don’t understand what it’s like to be in the thrall of a lesbian werewolf, okay? Also, talk about hypocritical, accusing me of being afraid to admit my feelings.”

Shame chased away my anger. She was right. Worse, I’d failed my friend when she’d needed me the most, and my sanctimonious judgment had left the perfect opening for Esme to attack.

Remorse softened my tone. “I’m sorry I ever let you doubt that we could’ve figured it out. Together.”

“I was desperate, Mona.” She shook her head as she looked between Iris and me. “I know you know what it feels like when someone hijacks your emotions like that. I thought it was the out I needed.”

“Well, you having to deal with Wyatt will be punishment enough,” I reminded her. “Especially if he finds out that the reason for breaking my sigil was because of your feelings for his sister.”

“Agnes is going to feed off this gossip for months ,” Iris muttered.

“I didn’t know I was going to be forced to attack anyone!

” Naphula barked. “I tried to resist Esme, but the curse was too strong. The second I shook her hand, I welcomed her into my mind, and she did more than just erase the feelings.” Her throat bobbed.

“I lost so much time. At first, I thought it was a few too many drinks, but then things weren’t stacking up.

I’d wake up in bed with dirt beneath my fingernails, blood in my hair .

. . I have no idea what she made me do.”

“How long has this been going on?”

“Two months.”

“Two months ?” I howled. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because after I realized who she was, I couldn’t. I couldn’t bear the thought that you’d see me as weak.”

“I’m supposed to be your best friend,” I countered. “I’m the person that helps you bury the bodies, Naph. No matter what you’re going through. Friends kill our enemies together, always.”

“That is both very sweet and very upsetting,” Iris murmured.

“And the feelings for Eloise are really gone?” My question brought her attention back to me.

“They were. Until I saw her again. When we?—”

“You’re fucking the baker!” Iris whisper-squealed. “Jordyn’s gonna die when I tell her.”

“I’m sorry, Mona.” Naphula ignored my elated witch. “I knew I should’ve never agreed, and by the time I summoned the courage to tell you, Esme had caught on and her magic wouldn’t let me get the words out.”

I looked down at Iris. “Can you break this curse?”

“Not alone.” She jutted her chin at all the bruises and cuts on Naphula’s face and jaw. “We need to gather the whole coven to have any chance. This is very dark magic. It would be faster to kill Esme.”

“I like that idea better. Quick and dirty,” I said with a wink.

“You better stop winking at me,” she warned, and I could see flashbacks of the night before strobing behind her eyes.

“Maybe just kill me,” Naphula grumbled. “I can’t take this anymore.”

“Alright, alright.” I snorted. “Is there a way to bring Esme here?”

“There is,” Naphula replied. “I can contact her through my mind, tell her that I’ve got Iris, and we can rendezvous to deliver her.”

“I’m not using her as bait.”

“Oh, come on,” Iris countered. “Look at me! I make great bait. I lured you here and I barely had to try.”

“You didn’t lure me here. You were taken from my house and I had to come find you.”

“The witch waited for you to come find us.” Naphula bit back a grin. “We were sitting here for at least twenty minutes before you showed up.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. The last thing I needed was these two in cahoots.

“Fine. Agree to a drop-off point and we’ll ambush Esme there.” I turned back to Iris and pointed at her. “You can be the bait if you put some pants on first.”

She saluted me. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Lucifer, help me. What have I gotten myself into with you, little witch?”