Romani Magic (Shifter Blood: Romani Curse Book 3)

by Frances Trilone

  I nodded and walked out of the sanctum, holding my grimoire tight. I wasn’t in this alone anymore, and maybe, with their support, I had a real good chance of stopping Julius.

  Chapter 34

  As Boris suggested, we went straight to Hale House and cast a privacy spell on our closet. Garrett remained downstairs in the living room, but he joined us in the dining room when the pizza arrived. Several of the other Hale House girls ate dinner with us, chatting about the Mabon Ball and what dresses they planned to wear.

  Garrett said nothing and avoided even looking in my direction. He only talked to Rosella when she asked him questions about her date—a warlock from Castor House, who was also a friend of Garrett’s.

  I tried to act normal, like everything was fine between us, but we still hadn’t talked, and I didn’t know how to start the conversation. It’d been less than twenty-four hours since I’d learned about his blood oath, and although I’d already forgiven him, I wasn’t sure how ready I was to continue with our fake relationship.

  Was our relationship even fake anymore? Garrett had said he loved me last night. But had he meant it in an ‘I love my best friend’ kind of way or more of an ‘I love you like a real girlfriend’? Because kissing him didn’t feel like kissing a friend, and as much as I hated to admit it, I’d been relieved when he’d told me he didn’t want to break up.

  I also couldn’t stop thinking about the prophecy and Kaleb. How could he be the beast? That made no sense; unless Kaleb wasn’t the only alpha with a beast mark.

  After eating our pizza and cleaning up the kitchen, we decided to watch a movie since we still hadn’t heard from Calandra. It was already nine o’clock, and I was worried something might be wrong. But Rosella reminded me that the High Council was entertaining the other coven leaders. This also meant that Garrett couldn’t leave until Calandra showed up to escort him home.

  “You need to talk to him,” Rosella said as the microwave beeped. She opened it and handed me the bag of popcorn. Then she put another bag in and closed the microwave. “I know my brother. He won’t make the first move.”

  “I know.” I opened the bag and poured the popcorn into a bowl. “But I’m not sure if now’s the right time. He looks tired. Maybe after a good night’s sleep, we can straighten things out.”

  “He won’t be able to sleep.” Rosella opened the microwave and handed me the other bag of popcorn. “He’s worried he’s lost you already. Please talk to him, but if you’re going to break up, at least wait until after the ball. I know it’s not fair of me to ask, but it’s less than a week away. Two girls have already asked if you’ve broken up because they’re hoping to snag a last-minute date. Neither of them would be a good rebound for Garrett.”

  “Okay, I’ll talk to him.” I dumped more popcorn into the bowl and tossed the empty bags into the trashcan. “Promise.”

  Rosella closed the microwave, and we left to join the others in the living room. Girls from the house filled the room, sitting on the couches and the floor. As soon as we walked through the archway, someone hit play on the remote control.

  Garrett sat by himself in one of the armchairs, staring at the television. He looked tired and miserable. He should be home resting, not hanging out with us.

  Rosella grabbed the popcorn from my hand and nudged me, tilting her head in her brother’s direction. She mouthed ‘talk to him’ before joining some of the other girls on the floor.

  A few of the girls glanced over at me, waiting to see what my next move would be. I wondered if any of them wanted to take Garrett to the Mabon Ball. Even though he was hanging out at Hale House, it was still painfully obvious things weren’t fine between us. We hadn’t sat next to each other at dinner, and I’m sure everyone must have noticed we hadn’t talked to each other either.

  I needed things to be fine with Garrett, and not because of Julius. I cared about Garrett, and seeing him like this was killing me. I preferred Happy, Fun Garrett. Not Drunk Garrett. Not Angry Garrett. And definitely not this Miserable Garrett, who sat in the armchair, acting like someone had stolen his puppy.

  I crossed the room to him. “Is it okay if I sit with you?”

  “Yeah.” He lifted his gaze, looking somewhat surprised as he scooted over to make as much space as he could. “I could sit on the floor if you—”

  “No, this is fine.” I sat next to him at an angle and placed my legs over his leg. I could feel his body tense under me and then relax. “What movie have they picked?”

  “I think a comedy. I wasn’t paying attention,” Garrett mumbled. He finally looked at me, meeting my gaze.

  My chest tightening, I sucked in air when I saw the hurt and confusion in his eyes. This was the Garrett I’d come to care for. The one I could easily fall in love with if given time to get over Kaleb. Did I love him like I’d loved Kaleb? No. But I cared deeply for him. “Do you want to go upstairs?”

  “Yeah,” he replied, his voice scratchy.

  I stood, slipped my hand into his, and led him from the living room.

  “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” one of the girls called out, and they all laughed.

  Neither Garrett nor I bothered responding as we headed up the stairs. After closing the bedroom door, he released my hand and entered the closet. When he turned on the light, I joined him.

  Garrett sat on the floor, facing the door with his back against the wall. He’d pulled both legs up and rested his elbows on his knees. Unlike the rest of today, he now looked directly at me. “I’m sorry, Sienna. Please forgive me. If I—”

  “It’s okay. I forgive you.” I sat on the floor and crisscrossed my legs, facing him. “I know you won’t hand me over, and you had no choice but to tell Calandra and the others about Julius’ plans. I can’t do this without them. Without you. I’m not saying things will be the same between us, but I’d like to move forward and focus on our next steps. Can we do that?”

  “Yes.” He reached for my hand. “I’ll never lie to you again. I promise.”

  “Guess this means I still have a date for the Mabon Ball.” Squeezing his hand, I gave him a smile. “Rosella told me some of the girls were hoping we’d break up and you’d go with one of them. Showing up to the coven meeting without a shirt on seems to have made you quite popular.”

  “Not one of my finest moments.” He chuckled and pulled me closer. “You know there’s no one else, right? Maybe I flirted a little when I was drinking, but I didn’t kiss anyone. I wouldn’t do that to you.”

  “Yeah, I know.” I bit my lower lip, not liking that he’d flirted with other girls. No wonder they thought I’d hooked up with Julius. “You don’t have to tell me that.”

  “Yes, I do. I ignored you for a whole week and treated you badly.” He touched my cheek tenderly. “You know, I meant what I said last night. I love you, Sienna. I know a part of you will always love Kaleb, but I’m here, and he’s not. I’ve been here since we left Woodlake and I’m not going anywhere. Hopefully one day soon, you might be able to love a half-warlock with no powers. And I know you need more time to get over Kaleb’s death, and I’m willing to wait. Maybe after we strip Julius of his powers and make it through Samhain, we could go on a real date at a fancy restaurant?”

  I cleared my throat. Although I loved spending time with Garrett, I wasn’t ready to say I love you or make any kind of commitment. But I certainly didn’t care that he was a half-warlock, one soon to be without any powers. “A dinner date sounds nice. Can you take me to a Thai restaurant?”

  “Yes. I’ll take you anywhere you want.” A smile spread across his face, erasing the pain and anguish I’d seen earlier. Then he kissed me gently, breaking my one rule in our fake relationship when he slipped his tongue into my mouth. Slowly, he moved his hand from my cheek to my waist and touched my bare skin underneath my shirt.

  I pulled away, not yet ready to take our make-out session to the next level. “I want to take things slow. I hope that’s okay.”

  “Of course. If I promise to keep m
y hands to myself, can I kiss you again?”

  “Yes,” I said before leaning in and kissing him.

  “Excuse me,” Rosella said, clearing her throat. I turned and saw her and Calandra standing in the closet doorway, gawking at us.

  “Sienna and I were making up.” Garrett took his arms from around me but held my hand as he smiled. “We’re going to the Mabon Ball.”

  “Well, duh.” A smile lit up Rosella’s face as she sat next to me on the floor.

  “I’m glad you two have patched things up because going to the ball together is an important part of the plan.” Calandra brought the chair from Rosella’s desk into the closet and sat down. “Sienna needs to wear the dress Julius bought her, and both of you must act normal. Garrett, that means you’ll have to meet with Julius this week and lie. On the night of the ball, Ava, Boris, and I will lure Julius to the First Altar around nine o’clock. The three of you will need to meet us there and help contain him while we strip his powers. You’ll know when we’re ready by the light orb I’ll cast into the sky above the altar. We’ve confided in several other coven leaders, and they’ve agreed to help. It’s crucial we stick to the plan.”

  “That sounds too easy,” Rosella said.

  “I wish it were,” Calandra responded. “We have no idea why Julius wants Sienna in the red dress. It’s possible he’s invited vampires, and if that’s the case, we might have a bigger problem than luring him to the First Altar.”

  “Well, everyone’s wearing a mask at the ball, so it’s a definite possibility,” Garrett said. “Can the High Council get rid of the masks this year?”

  Calandra shook her head. “It’s too late, and if we did that, Julius would suspect something’s up. If any of you find out more information that we need to know, light a candle in your window at ten o’clock at night. I’ll be able to see it and come over. Otherwise, you won’t see me or any of the other High Council witches until the Mabon Ball. Each of us needs to go about our everyday activities. Sienna, that includes you learning the spells from your grimoire. Have you put it in a safe place?”

  “Yes.” I nodded, hoping under Orla’s mattress was considered a safe place. Her roommate was staying at her boyfriend’s house, and hiding it under my mattress didn’t seem like such a great idea.

  “I want you to learn whatever spells are in there. They are sacred to your bloodline, so they’ll be more powerful than casting any others,” Calandra said. “If you need help, I’m sure Garrett can assist. Rosella, your mother’s volunteered you to help the High Council this week with whatever we need.”

  “Great.” Rosella sighed.

  “Do you have any questions before I leave?” Calandra leaned back in the chair, looking directly at me. “Anything else I need to know?”

  Clearly, she thought I had something to tell her.

  “I think she means you.” Rosella glanced at me. “What else haven’t you told us, besides the vampire’s name?”

  “I was going to tell you and Garrett tonight.” I narrowed my eyes at Calandra. She must be referring to my deal with Carter, but unless giving him a truth serum went against the coven rules, it shouldn’t matter. “I made a deal with Carter, but I haven’t seen him since.”

  “Carter left this morning, and he’s not coming back, so whatever deal you made is off,” Calandra said.

  “What deal did you make with him?” Garrett asked.

  I sighed. “I asked him to find Markus and warn him about the prophecy.”

  “Who’s Markus?” Rosella asked, scratching her cheek.

  “He’s from the Norwood pack and best friends with the wolf who claimed Sienna as his mate,” Calandra said. “Asking Carter for help isn’t always a good idea. What do you think will happen if the Norwood pack learns about the beast mark in the prophecy?”

  “What do you know?” I pressed my lips together while Garrett and Rosella looked from me to Calandra.

  “I saw the mark in Woodlake when he shifted, but it never occurred to me that it might mean something until I saw the complete prophecy,” Calandra said.

  “What does it matter now? He’s dead, which means that part of the prophecy can’t come true,” I said.

  “Am I the only one who’s confused here?” Rosella stared at Calandra. “You know who the beast is? The one Sienna’s supposed to kill?”

  “They’re talking about Kaleb.” Garrett squeezed my hand. “He’s the beast.”

  I nodded as a tear rolled down my cheek. “I was going to tell you tonight, I swear.”

  “I know.” He wrapped an arm around my shoulder. “Maybe Kaleb’s not dead…”

  “No.” I shook my head. “Markus was right. If Kaleb was alive, he’d be here with me. He wouldn’t leave me alone, not when the Rocklin wolves have made me a marked witch.”

  “I don’t understand. You were in love with Kaleb?” Rosella’s face went white.

  “Yes,” I replied. “But I didn’t cast a love spell on him. We fell in love before either of us knew I was a witch. He crossed the barrier spell that night, to save me from a vampire.”

  “That’s what Orla meant when you first came here. She told me you’d suffered a great loss, and we needed to be nice.” Rosella hugged me sideways. “I’m sorry.”

  “Sienna, I didn’t mean to upset you,” Calandra said. “Garrett’s right. I don’t believe Kaleb crossed that barrier spell as you think. I’m sure he’s alive and has a good reason for not coming to you.”

  “If that’s true, then he needs to stay away from me. I can’t fulfill the prophecy and eat his heart. I won’t be the reason for the wolves falling.”

  “Maybe it doesn’t mean you’ll actually eat his heart.” Rosella’s nose crinkled. “It might not be literal.”

  “I have to go before anyone realizes I’m here.” Calandra stood. “Try not to spend too much time in this closet. Someone could be listening and wondering why your room’s so quiet.”

  Rosella removed her chair from the closet as Calandra left the room.

  “I’ll stay here tonight. We’ll get up early, eat your favorite pancakes, and spend the day casting spells,” Garrett said. “How does that sound?”

  “Sounds good.” I nodded, wiping away my tears and thinking about what Calandra had said. Could Kaleb still be alive and have a valid reason for staying away? But it had been two months; he could have at least let me know he was okay.

  Chapter 35

  Rosella and I stood outside the Main Hall, watching everyone enter the Mabon Ball in their fancy gowns and fitted tuxedos. Two witches stood at the double doors, greeting everyone and handing out masquerade masks. Just as I’d expected, hardly anyone else wore a red dress, which made picking me out in the crowd quite easy.

  “Garrett’s going to die when he sees you. You look amazing.” Rosella swayed from side to side in her teal dress, looking absolutely beautiful as she hummed a song.

  “Thanks. You look amazing in that dress too.” I ran a hand down the side of my red dress, hating that Julius had picked one that showed so much cleavage and had high slits up both sides. At least the dress was pretty, and he hadn’t bought me matching high heels. Instead, I’d worn my black knee-high boots with my hunting knife tucked inside.

  Rosella tilted her head and stared at my hand. “What’s that ring on your finger? Is it new?”

  “Sort of. It’s a family ring.” I looked down at the engagement ring Kaleb would have given to me if only I’d said yes. He’d shoved the ring box inside my boot that night in Woodlake, and I’d forgotten about it until I found it earlier today. I wasn’t sure why I’d decided to wear the ring. I guess wearing it made me feel like Kaleb was nearby, protecting me.

  “We should grab our masks and go inside. It’s already quarter past seven, and I’m starving,” she said, patting her tummy. “Besides, my date’s upset I’m not with him, and I’m sure Garrett’s just running late.”

  “How can you think of food right now? My stomach’s already hurting just from thinking about toni
ght.” I glanced around as more people arrived, but still no sign of him. Garrett running late was not part of the plan. Had something happened?

  “I get hungry when I’m stressed.” She looped her arm through mine and led me to the doors. “Don’t worry. Garrett’s always late, but he’ll be here soon. Everything will be fine.”

  “Hello, ladies.” A dark-haired witch wearing a light blue dress and a pearl necklace stopped us at the doors. Smiling, she held out two silver masks adorned with black feathers. “Enjoy the ball.”

  “Thanks.” Rosella took the offered masks and pulled me into the Main Hall’s foyer.

  Gold streamers and purple balloons covered every spare inch of the foyer’s walls and ceilings. Tables covered in crisp white tablecloths and piled high with buffet-style food ran along both sides of the room. This allowed people to mingle in the center or continue walking to the open doors that led into the Great Room.

  “Don’t look now, but Julius is heading this way,” Rosella whispered. She released my arm and put on her mask. “Remember to act natural and stop worrying. I’ll grab some food and get us a table inside.”

  Giving her a nod, I put on my mask and took a deep breath. This was it—time to take down Julius and put an end to the prophecy. I hadn’t seen him all week; Garrett and I had spent every day casting spells and honing my fire invocation skills.

  “Sienna, you look absolutely stunning.” Julius kissed my hand.

  I smiled, doing my best not to flinch or yank my hand away. “And you look so handsome in your tuxedo. I love your red bowtie.”

  “Thank you. I wanted us to match. I hope that was okay.” He flashed me a charming smile.

  “Of course, we’re family.” Gritting my teeth, I looped my arm through his and pulled him next to me. “I insist you save me a dance tonight.”