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Callius takes a slow sip of his cucumber lemon water and my patience almost snaps.
“Good for you for making it this far without having a mental break. Claudette’s spell was cast to keep you as far away from New Orleans as possible. Something must’ve gone wrong after her death because, from what I can tell, the spell is—for lack of a better word—leaking. It may have started out working properly, but over time it has spread and caused anxiety.”
Well, that explains a few things.
“Trust me, it hasn’t been smooth sailing. My magic got away from me and almost caused a plane to malfunction on the runway when I got here.”
The only way I boarded the plane in the first place was with a butt-load of sleeping pills and a complimentary glass of wine. Good thing, because otherwise I probably would have made us crash into the Atlantic Ocean.
“After what happened to your mother and father, I’m sure Claudette was simply ensuring your safety.”
His words settle in.
“The nervousness that takes me over… the panic I feel in crowds… that’s not normal anxiety?”
“No. It’s definitely a spell.”
Why would she do that to me?
I couldn’t attend university because being on the busy campus made me have panic attacks and caused me to lose control of my magic. Instead, I got an online certificate for bookkeeping to help Grand-Mère with the business.
I couldn’t attend Victoria’s bachelorette last year because it was at a loud club in the middle of the city.
I have been rescheduling my trip to Greece for six years because every time I try to go, I can’t make it farther than the airport security screening.
And all of it was Grand-Mère’s doing? I shake my head, my mind tripping on the implications that my grandmother—the woman who raised me and was my guardian and closest friend—could’ve done something like this to me.
She had to have known…
How many times had I confided my frustrations in being such a hot mess to her… lamenting over the places I wanted to go… the things I wanted to do…
“No. I don’t believe it. Grand-Mère wouldn’t do that to me.”
Callius gives me a pitying smile. “Oh, sweet pea, Claudette would do that and so much more if she thought it necessary to keep you safe from the dangers of the world.”
So many things have been spoiled for me because of this stupid fucking spell.
Betrayal slices through my chest like a red-hot knife, followed immediately by the sharp pang of guilt for being angry at my deceased grandmother.
“I can clear it if you like,” Callius offers, his voice gentle.
I don’t trust him. Do I want to have him use his perverted magic on me? I could always make a trip to Adelaide’s tomorrow morning and get her to fix me.
No. I don’t want to live with this spell hanging over me for another minute. It’s already taken too much from me.
I swallow the lump in my throat and shove away the doubt clouding me. “Fine. Do it.”
I extend my hand again, but Callius pushes out of his seat and instead positions himself behind my chair as he places his hands on either side of my head.
I clutch the edge of the countertop, the marble cool to my touch, and squeeze my eyes shut, mentally preparing myself for what comes next.
Just when I think nothing will happen and the warlock is playing me, a sharp stab of pain jolts across my temples.
Callius’ hands disappear, and when I peek an eye open, he’s reclaiming his seat next to me and picking up his fork.
“That’s it?” As far as I can tell, nothing has changed.
“What did you expect? Cleansing flames and fireworks? Perhaps a bit of witchy chanting?”
