Page 52 of Enchantra (Wicked Games #2)

LIGHT

Genevieve adored Louisiana right before the turn of summer. The blooming magnolias, bright fashion, last crawfish boils. She especially enjoyed the fact that it wasn’t a hundred degrees outside, which meant she could take strolls without her hair becoming a terribly frizzy mess.

“Who’s coming, again?” Luci asked, pulling her long flaxen hair out of her face as they walked back to Grimm Manor from the Garden District.

Umbra was trotting just ahead of them. These days Umbra was more her shadow than Rowin’s.

“Grave and Sevin,” Genevieve answered Luci. “They’re Rowin’s brothers. You’ll definitely like Sevin. Grave maybe not so much.”

“For this cure, right?” Luci recalled. “You said they only have a year?”

“Less than that now,” Genevieve corrected. “Since the Silvers still played in the Hunt this year, Knox was forced to give their mother one last dose of the Fix, at least. And Grave’s been on the hunt nonstop but hasn’t had any luck. Rowin and I are afraid he’s going to drive himself—and everyone else—mad if he doesn’t get a lead soon.”

Their strides slowed as they approached Grimm Manor, where Luci herself had recently taken up residence after a few unfortunate events had occurred in her life over the past couple of months. Grimm Manor was a safe haven, after all, and Ophelia was particularly keen on trying to help Luci after the strenuous start of their relationship back in Phantasma.

She and Luci barely set foot inside the house before Rowin was there, wrapping Genevieve up in his arms for a kiss as Luci stepped past them with a sad smile.

“I missed the fuck out of you,” Rowin murmured as he set Genevieve back on the ground. Umbra chirped at his feet, and he reached down to pat the fox on her head. “You too.”

It had been two weeks since they’d seen each other. He’d been running around with Grave and Sevin, all of them desperate to find their mother’s cure now that the family had been released from Knox’s hold. Well, except for Barrington—whom none of them had been able to get in contact with since Genevieve’s trick set them free and Knox’s Hellmouth disappeared from within Enchantra. Something that made her stomach turn.

Someone behind them cleared their throat.

When Rowin refused to let her go, Genevieve stood on her tiptoes to peer over his shoulder. “Hello, Grave.”

“Hi, pal,” Grave murmured.

“Hi,” Luci offered from where she stood as well. “I’m Luci. Genevieve told me all about you. Welcome to New Orleans.”

Grave flicked his eyes over to Luci. He didn’t offer more than a single dip of his chin in acknowledgment.

Genevieve threw Luci a look of apology as she asked, “Where is?—”

“ Vivi ,” Sevin exclaimed as he shouldered Grave and Rowin out of the way. A sucker was hanging from his grinning mouth as he wrapped his arms around Genevieve and spun her in a circle.

“Enchantra has been a little less exciting without you,” Sevin said as he put her back on her feet and tapped the tip of her nose affectionately. “And Rowin a lot more insufferable.”

Rowin rolled his eyes.

“Unsurprising on both accounts, honestly,” Genevieve laughed.

“I do have a letter for you from Ellin. Though it’s mostly just petty gossip,” Sevin told her as he produced an envelope from his waistcoat.

Genevieve snatched the letter up greedily and found that it had already been torn open.

“Did you read it?” she accused.

“I got bored. My brothers are rather dull travel companions,” Sevin reasoned with a shrug. “Page three is particularly exciting.”

Genevieve gave him an exasperated look, but before she could offer a response, a movement caught her attention out of the corner of her eye. She glanced over to see Salem blinking into view beneath the open archway that led to the den.

He raised a brow at the sight of all of them. “Ah. You’re all already here. My apologies, I was visiting an acquaintance in town.”

By the smell of tobacco clinging to him, Genevieve would bet good money that acquaintance was Jasper.

Salem strutted over to the stairs to call, “Angel?”

They all watched as Ophelia appeared at the top of the stairs, her red dress swishing as she bounded down. Salem offered a hand to assist her off the final step, pressing a quick kiss to the tips of her fingers before letting go.

“Impeccable timing.” Ophie smiled at Salem.

Salem reached out to shake Rowin’s hand in greeting. When Salem let go, Rowin gave a subtle flex of his fingers, and Genevieve could only assume the Prince of the Devils had made his grip just a little too tight. It had taken some time to convince Salem to help the Silvers, particularly after he’d learned of everything that had transpired within Enchantra, as well as the message Rowin had brought from Salem’s father.

Not to mention how angry Ophie had been that she came home from a vacation married .

“Does this mean you remember everything now?” Ophelia asked after Genevieve ran home from the Riverwalk in the middle of the night.

“Yes,” Genevieve confirmed.

“Wonderful.” Ophelia nodded. “Because now I’m going to throttle you, Genevieve Lila Grimm ? —”

“Well, it’s Silver, now.” Genevieve winced.

“Yes! Because you got married ,” Ophelia huffed. “Are you mad? I don’t care if it was for survival. I missed your wedding!”

Ophelia elbowed Salem in the side now, bringing Genevieve’s attention back to the present.

“ Behave ,” Ophie chastised Salem as he gave Rowin a smug look.

Salem huffed a laugh. “And here I thought you preferred it when I misbehaved, angel.”

Ophelia sighed heavily as she flicked her eyes over to Rowin and Grave. “You’ll have to excuse him. Devils cannot be taught manners.”

“We have that in common,” Sevin chimed.

Salem pressed an affectionate kiss to Ophelia’s temple before looking to Rowin and his brothers. “Any news?”

“We’ve heard whispers that one of the cures is on reserve with a member of the Daemonica,” Rowin told them all. “Which means?—”

“You’re looking at the soon-to-be newest pledge of the most elite Demon institution in Hell.” Sevin grinned.

Rowin and Genevieve exchanged a loaded look. Grave, on the other hand, did not look happy.

“For the record, I still think you should let me go,” Grave argued.

“Divide and conquer, brother,” Rowin recited for what was likely the millionth time. “Breaching an ancient organization that prioritizes partying and making reckless decisions is practically Sevin’s calling.”

“Besides,” Sevin said as he took the lollipop out of his mouth, “they would never let you in. There isn’t a single ounce of fun in your entire body.”

Grave grunted.

“Come, let’s all get a drink,” Salem inserted, waving them toward the drawing room.

Rowin made to leave with the others, but Genevieve tugged on his arm, holding him back for a moment alone.

“Yes?” he murmured as he tucked a strand of hair back from her face.

“I’ve missed you, too,” she told him. “Terribly. Especially at night. My hands have just never been as skilled as yours?—”

“You’re going to get yourself into trouble if you keep saying things like that,” he warned, his golden eyes sparking with wicked intent as she slid her palms up his chest, toward his quickening heartbeat.

She gave him an innocent smile. “What’s new?”

As he scooped her up into his arms and headed for the stairs, she laughed. Grateful to herself for clawing her way through the darkness, and the light that followed them everywhere now.

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