Romani Magic (Shifter Blood: Romani Curse Book 3)

by Frances Trilone

  “Are you okay?” He reached over to touch my face tenderly with his other hand.

  “Yes,” I replied as I saw headlights heading our way.

  When the golf cart stopped at the side of the road, I was surprised to see Kaleb with Markus. They both jumped out as I helped Garrett get to his feet.

  “I thought you died back there.” Garrett slipped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me close.

  Kaleb glanced at us. “I’m not easy to kill.”

  They picked up Ava and placed her on the cart while I helped Garrett sit in the row behind her.

  “Is Julius dead?” I asked.

  “No.” Kaleb sighed. “I’m sorry. He got away.”

  I sat next to Garrett, furious our plan had failed. We hadn’t stripped Julius of his powers, and we had no idea where Orla or the other witches were.

  What had Devlin said was only strategy if we couldn’t stop Julius and I didn’t want to run away?

  History must repeat itself.

  Chapter 38

  “Do you think the barrier will hold?” Rosella asked as we hurried toward the Healing Place. We were there to check on the injured, particularly Ava and Garrett. Glancing back over her shoulder, she curled her lip.

  At Calandra’s request, we’d helped reinforce the barrier spell. Every available witch at the coven had assisted other than those tasked with healing the injured.

  “Yes, but the wolves are keeping an eye on things tonight. We’ll be safe.” I opened the Healing Place’s main door.

  We walked down the hallway, passing several private rooms, including the one I’d stayed in the night I’d gained my powers. Each door had a paper taped to it with the patient’s name. Up ahead, the doctor who’d shown me a few healing spells several weeks ago exited one room and entered another.

  “You expect witches to trust the wolves?” As we turned the corner, Rosella glanced over her shoulder again before we continued walking toward the doors at the end.

  “They have no choice at the moment.” I didn’t need to look to know why she kept glancing over her shoulder. Markus was following us; I suspected because Kaleb had ordered him to.

  Kaleb. My chest tightened.

  After he’d helped carry Ava into the Healing Place earlier, he’d left without looking at me or saying anything. I had no idea where he was right now, but at least I knew he was okay. I still couldn’t believe he was alive and had been at the coven this whole time. Why hadn’t he told me the truth?

  “At least Calandra told them to stay in the woods,” Rosella muttered as she pushed the doors open.

  The Healing Place’s large training space had transformed into a bustling, chaotic emergency room. Every bed held an injured person, and witches and warlocks worked over them, performing healing spells. To my surprise, three wolf shapeshifters stood at a table, filling vials with their blood. While Markus joined them, Rosella and I searched for Garrett.

  I heard his voice from the corner of the room and choked down a sob. When Garrett had passed out earlier, I was afraid I’d lost him. It was all I’d been able to think about while we reinforced the barrier spell.

  “Go help someone else,” Garrett yelled, pulling a sheet over his legs as he sat up in bed. He turned away as a witch tried to examine the bandage around his chest. “I’m fine. You don’t need to keep checking on me.”

  “I see you’re already causing trouble.” Rosella laughed as she hurried over to Garrett and gave him a hug. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

  “Of course I’m okay. Just a few fractured ribs and a bump on the head. I’ll stay here tonight and be back to my old self by tomorrow. Nothing to worry about.” He released his sister and looked over at me, giving me his best smile. “Did you guys keep the barrier up?”

  Afraid I might cry if I spoke, I just nodded. Despite his assurances, Garrett looked awful. Along with the bandages wrapped around his head and middle, he had bruises on his arms and puncture marks on his neck. There was a deep cut above one of his eyebrows, and his cheeks were flushed and sweaty. Nothing about him looked fine.

  “Where’s Mom?” Rosella asked.

  “They took her to the High Council’s private exam room. Why don’t you check on her?” Garrett asked, his gaze still locked on mine.

  “Okay, but I’m staying here tonight to keep an eye on both of you.” Rosella left the room, carefully avoiding Markus, who now stood by the doors with his arms folded.

  As a tear slid down my cheek, I found myself unable to move or even speak.

  “I swear I’m fine.” Garrett cleared his throat and patted the bed. “Please sit.”

  Taking a deep breath, I sat next to him on the bed and reached for his hand. My gaze traveled from his face down to the fresh bruises on his arms.

  “Are you okay?” He squeezed my hand. “I was worried about you tonight.”

  “They wouldn’t dare hurt me. Instead, they went after someone I care about.” I wiped my face as more tears rolled down my cheeks.

  “Yes, but they went after the wrong guy.”

  “That’s not true.” I lifted my head and met his gaze, not quite believing what I’d heard. “I might have been mad at you last week for hiding the truth, but that doesn’t mean I don’t care about you. I’d never let anything happen to you, and Julius knows it. That’s why he threatened to kill you.”

  “I know you care about me, but you still love Kaleb. I’ve known this for a while, even if I didn’t want it to be true.” He let out a deep breath and winced. “I saw it on your face tonight when Calandra removed the spell and you realized he was alive. Julius should’ve never made you choose between us.”

  “Julius doesn’t know the truth about Kaleb and me.”

  “Kaleb still loves you,” Garrett mumbled.

  “You don’t know that. He could’ve changed his mind. That might be why he hid from me all these months.”

  “You know that’s not true. And it’s why he didn’t let you choose tonight,” Garrett said. “I was wrong about him. He’s been here the whole time, protecting you and teaching you how to fight. He saved you and Rosella that night at the county fair. You should be with him, not me.”

  “No. He’s with the wolves, and my place is here with the witches.”

  “That’s crap, and you know it.”

  I looked down. “It’s better if I stay away from him. He’s the beast from the prophecy, and I can’t—”

  “You and I both know you’d never hurt Kaleb or cause the wolves’ downfall. What if Rosella’s right about the prophecy not being literal? Maybe it means something else.” He gently lifted my chin until I met his gaze. “Do you think I want you to go to him? I want you to stay here with me, but if you don’t go, you’ll only regret it, and you’ll never completely belong to me. Just talk to him. I’m sure he had a good reason for lying all these months, and you need to know.”

  Garrett was right. If I didn’t go to Kaleb and get answers to the questions swirling in my mind, I would regret it. “I’ll see him tomorrow. Right now, I should see who needs help around here.”

  “That’s too late,” he insisted. “I overheard those three wolf shapeshifters talking earlier. They’re returning to Norwood Isle tomorrow, including Kaleb.”

  “Are you sure? That can’t be right.” I glanced over at the three shapeshifters. One of them was now talking to a warlock. “Even if I wanted to see Kaleb, I don’t know where he is.”

  “I’m sure your shadow knows.” He nudged his head toward the door, where Markus stood, watching us, and maybe listening to our conversation. “He seems to do whatever you ask.”

  I looked down at our clasped hands, feeling torn. “Garrett, I…”

  “Don’t say anything.” He leaned forward and kissed my cheek. “You owe me nothing, and I don’t want you to worry about us. You and I are fine, no matter what you decide. Please, just talk to Kaleb.”

  I nodded. “Before I go, can I cast a healing spell on you?”

  “No. I don’t need any
more spells. Seriously, I’m fine, and I’ll be fine tomorrow when you come by and tell me what Kaleb said.”

  “I’ll bring cookies.” I stood, giving him a grateful smile.

  “Now you’re talking. Make sure you add extra chocolate chips. You know how much I love them,” Garrett said before turning to look at Rosella, who’d appeared on the other side of the bed. “What’s wrong?”

  “She’s dead. She’s…” Rosella’s lips trembled, and her face had drained of color. Tears pouring down her face, she collapsed onto the bed and buried her head in her brother’s lap. “They couldn’t save her, Garrett. They said…”

  Wincing, Garrett moved his legs while Rosella curled herself into a ball, sobbing against him.

  “I’m so sorry.” I sat back down on the bed and pulled him into my arms.

  He sucked in air and then wept against my neck as it finally hit him.

  Ava was dead.

  Chapter 39

  After showering and changing into a blouse and jeans, I asked Markus to take me to Kaleb. With wolves still on coven grounds, I slipped on my boots and ensured my hunting knife was in place. I had no idea how many of them I could trust or if traitors still existed among the coven.

  “Why are you bringing me here?” I asked, surprised we weren’t heading for the woods. Instead, Markus had led me to a three-story building near the Main Hall. I couldn’t remember what this building was for, but I knew I’d never been inside.

  “You said you wanted to see Kaleb,” Markus replied as he held the door open. “He’s in here.”

  Hesitating, I looked over at the Healing Place in the distance, wishing Garrett hadn’t insisted I leave. They’d given Rosella a sedative before moving her and Garrett to a private room. I’d promised Garrett I’d talk to Kaleb and get a good night’s sleep since Boris and Calandra had announced an important meeting tomorrow. The coven needed to regroup and discuss their next steps.

  I stopped in the doorway, looking at Markus. “Is it true what Garrett said? The wolves are leaving for Woodlake early tomorrow morning, including Kaleb?”

  “Yes,” he replied.

  I ground my teeth. Had Kaleb planned on leaving without talking to me? He must know I had questions.

  Holding my head high, I strode into the building and found myself in what looked like a hotel atrium. Red couches and black coffee tables had been arranged in intimate sitting areas, surrounded by green shrubbery and flowers. All around me were doors with room numbers, and an elevator sat straight ahead. Above us, I could see two more floors, with rooms and corridors that overlooked the building’s lobby.

  This must be the coven’s guest quarters, but why was Kaleb here? The coven leaders weren’t leaving until tomorrow. Surely he couldn’t be staying in the same building as them?

  “You were amazing tonight. That wall of fire… I’ve never seen anything like that.” Markus wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “You certainly don’t need my protection anymore.”

  I smiled up at him, relieved he was finally acting like his old self. Ever since Julius and the vampires had run off, he’d treated me like a stranger. “What’s up with the cold attitude before?”

  “We’re in a coven filled with witches and warlocks. I assumed you’d want me to treat you like I treat the other witches.”

  “By being rude to me? I might be a witch, but we’re still friends. I don’t care what others think.”

  “If you say so.” He stopped in front of room number eleven and knocked on the door before pushing it open. Leaning toward me, he whispered, “Go easy on him.”

  With a nod, I entered the room. My heart racing, I had no idea what to expect. I wasn’t the same Romani girl Kaleb had saved that night in Woodlake. Now I was a witch with powers and part of a prophecy that entailed killing Kaleb and all the wolves. Maybe coming here had been a mistake. It was already close to midnight, and Kaleb had to be resting.

  With a separate living area and bedroom, the room was much bigger than I’d expected. Heavy black curtains covered the windows, and the door to the bedroom stood open, revealing a king-sized bed and a door to what I assumed was the bathroom. The living area held a couch, coffee table, television, small desk, and a round table with four chairs. The same strange red symbols I’d seen in Woodlake covered the walls—a five-pointed star with a circle in the middle and two crossed arrows. Someone had cast a privacy spell, which meant no one outside could hear anything said in this room. The blood looked fresh.

  Kaleb stood in front of the table, his back to me as he talked to three wolf shapeshifters in human form. They all wore jeans and black T-shirts and were studying a map of Norwood Isle while discussing vulnerable areas for possible attacks. Kaleb must have felt my presence or heard my heartbeat because he folded the map and straightened.

  “Join the others; we’ll finish this discussion later,” he ordered the men.

  They left the room, and Markus closed the door behind them, leaving Kaleb and me completely alone.

  I folded my arms and assumed my best calm face, expecting Kaleb to turn around. But he didn’t. He just stood there, staring at my reflection in the television.

  “How’s Garrett doing?” he asked.

  “His ribs are fractured, and he has a bump on the head, but he’ll be fine.” I sighed, wishing he’d turn to face me. I didn’t like talking to his back. “Are you okay? That knife looked really close to your heart.”

  “I’m fine,” he replied in a flat tone as he rubbed the back of his neck. “I didn’t mean to scare you tonight, but I couldn’t risk Julius killing Garrett. I didn’t want you having to live with that.”

  Not sure how to respond, I took a deep breath. Choosing between him and Garrett was impossible, and Kaleb knew that. “They couldn’t save Ava. She died.”

  “I’m sorry. I ordered the wolves to protect you, your friends, and the High Council witches. But the wolf who had his eye on Ava tonight failed.”

  “Why would you order the wolves to protect us?”

  “What do you think?” He finally turned to face me, his eyes flickering yellow. “Did you expect me to do nothing when I found out you were going after Julius tonight?”

  My heart tore in two as he continued to stare at me, his hand resting on the back of one of the chairs. It physically hurt to look at him—his green eyes, his wavy black hair, his muscular biceps, his broad shoulders, his lips. Whatever spell Calandra had cast to make him look like Carter was now completely gone.

  Ignoring his question, I stared over his shoulder at a painting of two mermaids sitting on a rock. I couldn’t bear looking at him anymore. I could barely breathe without my chest hurting. “Why is there a privacy spell on this room?”

  “It was part of the deal I made with Calandra. She gave us a room with privacy spells, and the wolves protect the coven tonight. We’ll be out of here early tomorrow.”

  “Were you planning on saying goodbye?” I snapped, sounding much more upset than I’d intended.

  “Of course.” His eyebrow shot up. “I knew you’d go see Garrett after helping with the barrier spell, so I planned on coming by to see both of you in the morning. I wouldn’t have left without saying goodbye, Sienna.”

  “That’s it?” I glared at him, hurt and angry he made it sound so casual. Like he’d just drop by the Healing Room and say ‘goodbye, have a nice life.’ That was it. No apology for lying. No explanations. No nothing.

  “I’m not sure what you want from me.” He jammed his hands into his pockets.

  “How about an explanation? You crossed that barrier spell in Woodlake and survived. I don’t understand how that’s possible.”

  “Calandra promised me she’d explain everything to you. I didn’t think you needed to hear it from me.”

  “Well, I’m here now.” I unfolded my arms and took a seat on the couch. I couldn’t believe he’d expected her to explain what happened and not tell me himself. “Spill it. Garrett cast a locator spell for you, and the pendulum didn’t move. I thought y
ou were dead.”

  “That’s because Calandra cast an ancient spell to hide me.” He sat in one of the chairs and folded his arms. “I remember Garrett carrying you away that night, then next thing I knew, I woke up here, in that room where you met Devlin. I couldn’t shift into a wolf; I could barely walk. Calandra told me she’d brought my body back to the Raven Coven and had planned on using my blood for spells. Except I wasn’t dead. I shifted back into human form within three days but didn’t wake up for two weeks. By then, she’d cast the spell to conceal me, knowing you’d ask someone to cast a locator spell.”

  “That still doesn’t explain why you didn’t die.” I shifted on the couch, wanting him closer.

  “Calandra says it’s because you healed me with your blood. It’s the only—”

  “You told her I did that?” I gasped.

  “No.” He tilted his head, eyeing me sideways. “You told her.”

  “What? No, I didn’t… Damn, you’re right.” I groaned as I remembered the coven meeting when Calandra led me out of the Great Room. She’d touched me and released her hold on my arm almost immediately. I recalled her looking taken aback. I’d hoped she hadn’t seen anything important from my past.

  “I didn’t die because your blood was still in my system from the healing spell. That’s why the witches are forbidden from healing the wolves. Some of your powers temporarily transferred to me, making me immune to witchcraft. I also heal faster now.”

  “Let me get this straight. You survived the barrier spell, and Calandra brought you to the coven, where she cast a spell to hide you. Then one of you came up with this crazy plan to train me, but instead of telling me the truth, she cast another spell to make you look like Carter. Why not just tell me the truth?”

  “We couldn’t. Your binding spell was wearing off, and we couldn’t risk anyone reading your mind. That’s the reason we lied to you, and why she urged you to learn how to block your mind from others.” He unfolded his arms and rested one hand on his leg, the other on the table. “I had that crazy idea to train you when Carter quit.”