Page 84 of Jinxes and Drumsticks

“SoCal,” she says. “Inland. Some place called Fawnskin that’s really close to Big Bear Lake.”

I inhale and let out a shaky breath. I’ve never been so frustrated by my bloodline curse. To know that my mother is living her best life just a few hours away makes my gut churn. And I can’t even go there. I can’t even confront her.

It feels cruel.

“Well, too bad I can’t fucking leave,” I say.

“We’re playing a show in Big Bear next week,” Damien says, his voice light—tentative—as if he’s unsure that I’ll want him to go and wants me to weigh in before the others seize the opportunity.

“No way,” I say. “I’m not sending you to confront my mother on your own. Not when it’s clear she has a pretty firm grasp on her magic. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“I can go with him,” Wren says. “Lilipad, we shouldn’t let this opportunity slip. She may have an answer to getting you out of the house.”

“I don’t want you in danger either,” I say.

“Don’t patronize, Lillith,” Bastion says. “You know as well as I do that Wren’s magic runs as thick in the blood as it does for the Nightingales and the Bramblethorns. She’s better at protective magic than both you and me.”

“Bastion, my mother cast a spell that lasted over two decades,” I say.

“By using a taglock she didn’t make,” Bastion argues. “It probably wouldn’t have worked otherwise.”

I look at Damien and he quirks an easy smile at me. “Little bird,” he says. “I’m going to be in town anyway. Let me do something to help you out, here. Let me figure out how to break your shackles, so I can bring you on the road with me and show you off to the whole fucking world.”

I don’t see it. But I can feel Bastion rolling his eyes.

I look at Wren and she nods. “I’ll keep him safe, Lilipad. I promise,” she says.

Damien pulls me into him, tucking my head under his chin right when I need him to. “I don’t want to be apart again,” I mumble. “I feel like you just got back.”

“This will help us, right? Potentially?” he says. “Because I don’t want to be apart from you either.”

“Yeah,” I say.

“And I’ll spend every free moment this week with you,” he says.

“Okay,” I say.

“And I’ll keep you busy while he’s gone,” Bastion interjects.

I feel Damien’s arms stiffen around me, he even pulls me closer into him. “Come the fuck again, Bunyonass?” he snaps.

“Relax,” Bastion says in a long-suffering tone. “It’s not an innuendo. Lillith and I can do research on replacements for her curse ward. We may not be able to make it so she can leave Del Lune, but she can at least get out of the house and follow you around like the little kitten she’s pretending to be.”

“Man, do you ever stop being a prick?” Damien asks.

“No,” Bastion, Wren and I all say in unison.

Damien snorts a laugh and I actually find myself smiling a bit. There’s something warm in my belly at the thought of Wren and Damien spending time together. I like the idea of my best friend and my boyfriend getting to know each other, even if I’m worried about what might happen when they confront my mother.

“Wren, you’ll keep me updated on everything when you’re gone?”

“Full play by play,” Wren promises.

“And I’ll share my location with you, so you always know where we’re at,” Damien promises. “And I’ll call and text you every second I get.”

“Nauseating,” Bastion grumbles.

“Stop being a wet blanket,” Wren says, slugging him in the arm.