Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 68024 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68024 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
“Yes. I imagine it would be.” He sighs and looks down at the book. “I can tell you about their children and grandchildren, if you ever want to know about them.”
“Thank you. Perhaps once this is all over, we can have that conversation.” I return to the chair across from him and sit. “In the meantime, I’m sitting across from my seven-times-great-nephew.”
Xander’s eyes fill with humor. “Yes, you are. My mother and grandmother are both still living. They’re in Florida now, but I’m sure they’d like to meet you.”
“When this is all over,” I repeat. “I’d like to meet them, too. For now, I’d like to focus on lifting this curse, Xander.”
“Of course.” He turns his attention back to Katrina’s Book of Shadows. “She mentions the curse in here but states plainly that those of the Craft were always warned against using it because it was so unpredictable. She says, and I quote, ‘Hallows End could be lost forever.’”
“She knew what my plan was,” I say slowly. “So, she must have written that before I cast the spell. She warned me against it, but I didn’t think there was any other way.”
“We’re going to figure this out,” he assures me. “We’re going to harness the power of the Harvest Moon at the end of the month. It falls on Samhain this year.”
“Will we be ready?”
“We have no choice,” he says simply.
“Xander, I have a question.”
He raises a brow.
“I feel the power in you. Just what is the extent of your magic?”
His lips turn up, and then, right before my eyes, he becomes a black cat.
I stand and back up, not sure I believe what I just saw.
“You’re kidding.”
“Meow.” He licks his paw and then becomes human once more.
“I’ve never seen that before.”
“Our bloodline has only grown more powerful through the ages,” he says with a satisfied grin. “Sit, and I’ll tell you more.”
Chapter Eight
Lucy
Lorelei beat me to Breena’s house today. The three of us decided to gather and start getting some special things ready for our Samhain celebrations.
“I’ve missed doing this together,” I inform them as I walk inside and take my raincoat off, hanging it by the door before shucking my boots. I take a long, deep breath. Breena’s house always smells of baked goods and whatever incense she’s been burning. It’s comforting—like walking into a big hug. And her home is the epitome of cottagecore, with homemade quilts thrown over the backs of her couch and chairs and other crafts she’s done herself set about. She has the fire burning and her cauldron set above it, bubbling away.
“You were gone too long, Lora.”
“I know,” she says with a heavy sigh as she sits back on the couch, her legs pulled up under her. “But it was good for me. I missed this, too. Samhain is my favorite holiday. And, of course, I love being with the two of you. I was so homesick.”
“You could have come home at any time,” Breena reminds her as she stirs something into three mugs. “You’re always welcome here.”
“I know. I know I am. I just…couldn’t. I needed the time away to do a little soul searching. As I said before, I didn’t do much with the Craft while I was gone, but I did a ton of meditation, some chakra work, and spoke a lot with my guides and ancestors.”
“Here. I made hot cider with apples that I found at the farmer’s market,” Breena says, passing me a mug of steaming cider before handing one to Lorelei. It smells of cinnamon and apples and makes me smile.
“I love fall.” I sip the brew and sigh in happiness. Then, the ivy I sent home with Breena catches my eye. It’s sitting on her mantel, along with some half-burned candles, dried flowers, spell bowls, and photos of us as young girls. I walk to it, whisper, and watch as it comes back to life. “Really, all you have to do is water this thing, Breena. It’s thirsty.”
“I think I overwater it in fear that I’m not watering it enough,” she admits. “I’m good at a great many things, but keeping plants alive has never been one of them. Anyway, what did the ancestors tell you, Lorelei?”
Our cousin sips from her mug thoughtfully, and then tears begin to fill her eyes. Both Breena and I rush to her in a panic.
“Oh, geez, I didn’t mean to make you cry,” Breena says, rubbing circles on Lorelei’s back.
“Were the ancestors mean to you?” I ask, and when Lorelei lets out a watery chuckle, I breathe a little sigh of relief.
“No.” She brushes away the tears. “It’s just…I know that leaving was the right decision at the time. I just couldn’t stay in Salem after everything that went down with Xander.”
“That’s perfectly reasonable,” I agree and brush at her pretty auburn hair.