Page 5 of Seas the Reckoning

It’s enough to make me wonder if we’ll ever feel truly safe.

3

SEER’S ORDERS

Grammy locks eyes with Starla.

“You may not be a seer, but you’re incredibly perceptive. I worry that, while Councilman Taylor helped us get rid of the Goldsboro coven’s meddling and their attempts to buy the bar, it may have given your father the idea that threatening the place could be an effective way to get to you. Not to mention it probably confirmed for him that your life here is not purely to spite him but that you care deeply for this location and those around you.”

“That should have been obvious when I stopped going to visit him,” Starla grumbles.

“Perhaps. But those who view relationships as transactions do not always recognize care and compassion in others. Regardless, he’s now well aware of your attachments and has had months to deduce the best way to use this leverage against you to get what he wants. He undoubtedly has an angle for this visit. I want you to be able to get through this event with as few distractions as possible, and then solve Leena’s curse.”

“And you’re sure we should address things that order, and stick together?” I ask.

Maybe we’d be better off if I tried to handle the curse myself. That way, I’d have full use of my song and could intervene if Starla’s father attempted anything.

“The magic is clear. You go together. Starla first, then the curse. I have also seen that doing things that way will provide the final clue to the mystery of how Leon got the idea to transfer magic from supernaturals to humans.”

Grammy puts a hand to her temple as everyone bursts into speech yet again and the rising voices drown her out.

This time, it’s not Grammy who gets things back under control.

Pickles lets out a particularly loud awooo.

Grammy beams at the basset hound.

“Thank you. This trip will be a three-birds-with-one-stone situation. Particularly since … well, never mind. You’ll come across the answers you need for yourselves, which is how it has to be.”

“What exactly does that mean? Do you know more than you’re telling us?” Starla asks.

“If I did, and I kept it to myself, that would be because it’s what magic demands.”

“Magic could stand to be a bit more forthcoming,” Starla grouches.

Grammy’s dark blue eyes flicker at her granddaughter.

“I do encourage you to express yourself however you’d like to your father once you’ve upheld your end of the bargain. Think of that as a reward of sorts for getting through the weekend. And, back to my initial point, you need trustworthy people here at the Sea Wench while you’re away.”

Keegan’s chest puffs up a bit when the coven leader looks at him as she mentions trustworthy individuals. Brody dips his chin.

“We’ll take care of it,” the red wolf shifter promises before cracking his knuckles.

Grammy claps her hands.

“Splendid. I’ll keep an eye on things myself, of course, and I’ll be sending Imogen back and forth between here and the coven house, as both she and Shanell will be the coven’s boots on the ground, so they can also keep me informed. There’s been enough supernatural shenanigans going on in this area for a lifetime. We’re not getting taken by surprise again.”

I catch Brody’s smile when Grammy mentions the witchy lawyer, but I’m more focused on her determination to protect CB and those who reside here. It ought to give me peace of mind.

Or it could make them all targets if Starla’s father does decide he wants to intervene in her life here. What if Leon gets out or his unknown associate chooses to attack while I’m away?

I take a few deep breaths as Grammy continues speaking.

“And that leaves who will be going along on this trip. The four of you⁠—”

Pickles barks, and Grammy grins at him.

“Sorry, five. The five of you. I do see that some more individuals will come into contact with you on the way, but it’s important you trust your own judgment on that, so I won’t cloud it for you. Just know that you should follow your instincts when it comes to whom you should include in your plans. You should, however, bring Ji-hwan.”