Romani Magic (Shifter Blood: Romani Curse Book 3)

by Frances Trilone

  “You’re related to Lucas?” I asked. “What about those vampires last night? One of them told me he could shift into a bat; is he family too?”

  “No. He lied to you. None of them were tatcho vampires. As for Lucas, he’s my younger brother, and he’s much too self-centered to care about a demon or killing the wolves,” Devlin said. “A vampire isn’t giving the orders. It’s the one thing I’m sure of, and that’s why I came looking for you now. Someone on the High Council is in charge, but I don’t know who. And you’re not safe until we figure out who it is.”

  I stared at Devlin, not sure if I could trust what he’d said about Lucas. He’d made a good point about the tatcho vampires betraying Vadoma and why they’d not want her back. If they hadn’t run off, maybe she would have survived.

  “Well, we know it’s not Calandra,” Carter said.

  “That’s not true.” I frowned at him. “She’s told me so many lies. I have no reason to trust her or any of them except for Julius. He was Cyprian’s best friend.”

  “Are you forgetting that Cyprian trusted a vampire more than Julius?” Carter said. “He could be the one behind this. Maybe two of them are working together, but I know it’s not Calandra. She’s done nothing but look out for you.”

  I sighed, not wanting to argue with Carter. It sounded like he and Calandra had some kind of weird relationship. “You said Vadoma’s bones were scattered and if they can’t find the bones, the spell won’t work. Do you know where her bones are?”

  “No, but they must be close to finding them. If they weren’t, they wouldn’t have kidnapped the witches,” Devlin said. “I know they don’t have the skull, and they can’t find it without your help. Have any of the High Council asked for your blood?”

  “Calandra used my blood for a spell, but she didn’t take any of it with her,” I said, remembering when I was at Woodlake Hospital and she’d needed my blood for Mom’s healing spell.

  “If any of them ask for your blood, then you’ll know who’s the traitor,” Devlin said. “Be careful who you trust at the coven. Some witches want Vadoma to return and rid the world of the wolves.”

  I sighed, feeling overwhelmed by all the information. Everything made more sense now, except for one part of the prophecy. “You said the beast is a wolf. Are you sure?”

  “Yes.” Devlin glanced at Carter.

  “Then it’s not me who’ll slay this wolf. It’s Vadoma; after she possesses my body,” I said.

  “It’s possible, but that last line about two becoming one might refer to her soul joining your body.” Devlin tilted his head.

  My gaze drifted to the grimoire in my lap. I hadn’t even looked at the other pages yet. Maybe those pages held clues to what the prophecy meant, and I wouldn’t need to slay this wolf.

  “I’ve been here much longer than I planned. I need to leave.” Devlin stood, snapping the chains off his ankles and wrists.

  Carter jumped to his feet in front of me, growling.

  “Did you really think you’d captured me? I let you bring me here because I needed to speak to Sienna.” Devlin looked at me over Carter’s shoulder. “It’s important you keep my identity a secret. If I’m compromised, the other vampires might not be so forthcoming with their information. Only reveal my identity if it’s a matter of life and death.”

  I nodded. “Okay.”

  “Don’t try to find me. When you leave the coven, I’ll come to you.” Devlin walked to the door, where he paused and turned around. “You’re running out of time. You need to take down the High Council witch so they can’t cast the spell to resurrect Vadoma. That’s your best strategy right now. Or you can run away and hide until Samhain’s over. If you can’t do either, then history needs to repeat itself. It’s the only way.”

  “What the hell does that mean?” Carter asked me as Devlin left and closed the door.

  “I don’t know, but I can’t run away and leave those kidnapped witches to die.” Holding the grimoire, I stood and glanced around the room, imagining Carter hanging out in this small place. He probably couldn’t wait to get back to his pack. “Guess I’d better get back before anyone notices I’m gone.”

  “I’ll walk you home,” Carter said.

  I followed him, hoping Garrett was on his way to Hale House. I couldn’t wait to hear what he thought about the prophecy in Marie’s grimoire.

  My grimoire now.

  Chapter 29

  The next day, I spent hours looking through my grimoire and learning how some of the spells differed from the witchcraft books I’d read. Unlike Cyprian, Marie and my ancestors had been meticulous at writing notes and drawing diagrams.

  Garrett hadn’t turned up the night before, but when I’d gone down for breakfast, one of the witches had given me a note from him. A short note saying sorry and that he’d see me later. After dinner, when he still hadn’t appeared, I decided to go by Castor House. Maybe he’d lost track of time, or he’d been at another meeting today that had run late. Either way, I couldn’t wait to tell him all about Devlin. Hopefully, Garrett knew how to figure out who on the High Council was lying. Because there was no way that I’d let a demon take over my body.

  After changing into a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, I headed to the kitchen, feeling hungry after having barely touched my dinner. All I’d been able to think about was Orla and how there must be something I could do to get her back.

  Two girls, whose names I couldn’t remember, sat at the kitchen table in their pajamas, eating pizza and talking about the upcoming Mabon Ball. It seemed everyone was excited about the High Council inviting several other covens to attend.

  “Hey, Sienna.” One of the girls, who had golden blonde hair, wiped her mouth with a napkin. “We’re watching a movie later if you want to join us.”

  “Sorry, I can’t.” I eyed their half-empty pizza box on the counter. The pepperoni and mushrooms smelled delicious. “Can I have a slice of your pizza?”

  The other girl nodded as they continued eating.

  “Thanks.” I put a slice of pizza on a napkin and sat across from them at the table.

  “If you want more, go ahead. We need to save room for the cupcakes,” the girl with blonde hair said. “Are you meeting Calandra tonight?”

  I shook my head. “Garrett and I are hanging out.”

  They glanced at each other, looking confused.

  “You’re going to the party? I didn’t think you liked to drink,” the blonde said.

  “What party?” I finished my pizza and debated whether I had time to eat another slice. It wasn’t like Garrett and I had set a time to meet. Hopefully, he was home because I wasn’t about to stop by Ava’s house to find him.

  “The Kellar House party. We stopped by there an hour ago, looked like there was lots of drinking and dancing,” the blonde girl said. “Garrett’s there with his friends.”

  A party with drinking and dancing? That didn’t sound like Garrett. Maybe he couldn’t refuse, or he had to make an appearance. But why hadn’t he stopped by to see me first or asked me if I wanted to go? After all, we still had a fake relationship to maintain.

  “Are you sure it was Garrett?” I glanced at the clock on the wall; it was only eight o’clock. I still couldn’t imagine him at a party. Maybe it was just a guys’ night out.

  “Yes.” The other girl nodded as she got up and grabbed another slice of pizza. “Rosella’s there too. Didn’t they tell you about the party?”

  “I guess I forgot.” I shrugged, acting like it was no big deal. If Rosella was with him, then he must have stayed at Ava’s. Maybe he was keeping an eye on his sister. “Where’s Kellar House? I don’t think I’ve been there.”

  “It’s five houses down from here, on the end. You can’t miss all the loud music and the pink flamingos,” the blonde replied.

  “Thanks.” I tossed my napkin into the trashcan before leaving the house, then rushed down the street toward Kellar House.

  Surprisingly, there was no one else outside enjoying the ple
asant evening. Everything was quiet, too quiet for a Sunday night. Which meant everyone was either at the party or staying inside their own houses. I couldn’t believe they’d throw a party tonight, especially after Cindy’s death and with Orla missing. Didn’t anyone care?

  As the girls had said, you couldn’t miss Kellar House. Hot pink flamingos lined up along the sidewalk leading to an opened front door. People danced on the front lawn or stood on the porch, talking above the loud music playing somewhere inside the house.

  After greeting a few familiar faces, I entered the house and checked the living room. Lots of people sat around drinking or playing board games and video games, but no sign of Garrett.

  “What have you done to my brother?” Rosella pulled me into the hallway. “I knew you two dating was a bad idea.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I pushed her hand away, not liking how upset she was. Something must have happened at their family dinner last night. “I haven’t seen Garrett since yesterday morning.”

  “If you’re lying, I’ll—”

  “I’m not.” As I glanced over her shoulder, two guys walked out of the kitchen, holding red plastic cups. I didn’t have time for Rosella or her accusations. “Where is he? I need to talk to him.”

  Her eyes softened unexpectedly. “I think he went home. We should head back to Hale House, and you can talk to him tomorrow.”

  “You’re lying.” I bit my lower lip, fighting to control my rising unease. Why yell at me about her brother and then try to convince me to leave? “If I have to turn this house upside down looking for him, I will. Now, tell me what’s going on and where your brother is.”

  “He’s in the backyard with his friends,” she replied. “He’s drunk.”

  “What?” I laughed. Rosella had to be wrong; Garrett never drank more than two beers. He’d told me alcohol messes with our magic, and he didn’t like to drink. “That’s not possible. Your brother doesn’t get drunk. He knows his limit.”

  “You don’t believe me?” She stepped aside. “Go see for yourself.”

  I rolled my eyes and walked down the hallway toward the kitchen. Garrett might have had an extra beer tonight, but there’s no way he’d get drunk.

  More people were hanging out in the kitchen, eating chips and drinking while watching others play a game of beer pong. Even the backyard was crowded, and if everyone hadn’t been chanting Garrett’s name, it would have taken me longer to find him.

  But there he was, standing by the keg with his friends. He held a shot glass of clear liquid in one hand and had a grin stretching from ear to ear.

  My mouth fell open when Garrett drank the shot and his friends lifted him in the air. Holding him by the legs, they hung him upside down. What the hell was going on?

  As Garrett guzzled beer from the keg, everyone cheered. Everyone except me.

  Crossing my arms, I walked over to him as his friends set him back on the ground.

  “Uh-oh.” One of Garrett’s friends nudged his chest. “Looks like your ball and chain’s here.”

  Garrett stumbled into a group of girls and wrapped his arms around a couple of brunettes, who didn’t appear to mind him hanging on them. When our eyes met, his smile disappeared. He didn’t look at all happy to see me. Definitely not what I’d expected.

  “You’re doing shots and keg stands? I thought we were hanging out.” I fidgeted with my wolf bracelet, realizing I sounded like a jealous, pissed off girlfriend. And I didn’t even have to pretend because seeing him drunk and surrounded by these girls made my stomach twist.

  Nothing about Garrett or this situation felt right. Had something happened at their dinner with Ava last night? If so, why hadn’t he told me?

  “Guess I forgot. No big deal.” He shrugged, leaning into one of the girls. “It’s not like we have to spend every waking minute together, do we?”

  “No, but…” I didn’t like this side to Garrett. If this were any typical night, I’d understand he wanted to hang with his friends. But I’d been attacked by vampires two nights ago, and he knew I’d been going to talk to Carter. Had Rosella told him I hadn’t talked to Carter and my training had been canceled? “Can we talk?”

  “We are talking.” He laughed as he released his hold on the girls and turned to face his friends. He pumped his fist in the air. “Shots. Shots. Shots.”

  “Garrett,” I yelled his name, but everyone whistling and clapping for more shots drowned out my voice. The crowd surrounded Garrett, blocking my view and preventing me from talking to him.

  I stumbled back, anger surging through my chest, an intense heat roaring through my body. Shaky and hot, I took several deep breaths as I staggered to the side of the house and fell to the ground. A small ring of fire lit up around me, then just as quickly, snuffed out.

  “What the hell.” I groaned. I’d just invoked the fire element without even trying. But how could that be? I hadn’t even managed to invoke earth yet.

  Getting to my feet, I looked back at the crowd and saw Garrett staring over at me. A look of sadness crossed his face, but he shook it off and turned to join his friends in another round of shots. It seemed alcohol had revealed the truth. Garrett was not someone I could rely on.

  Chapter 30

  “You’re up awful early.” Rosella approached Hale House’s front porch, a travel mug in one hand, and a duffel bag in the other. Dressed in a black skirt and red blouse, she looked much too cheery for seven o’clock on a Wednesday morning. “What are you doing out here?”

  “Reading.” I lifted the book from my lap, showing her Dad’s copy of Romeo and Juliet. Between what I’d learned from Devlin and witnessing Garrett’s drunken episode, sleeping had been a challenge. Garrett hadn’t even come by to apologize or provide an explanation. It made no sense.

  “Spoiler alert, they both die in the end.” She tossed her duffel bag toward the front door and joined me on the wicker couch. “You need a love story with a happy ending, I have books on my shelf. Why don’t you pick one to read?”

  “Sure.” I looked over at her duffel bag, overflowing with so many clothes, the zipper wouldn’t shut. “Are you back to stay?”

  “Oh God, yes. Mom keeps hanging around and asking questions. When she started talking about boys and sex, I knew it was time to leave.” She glanced at my cat pajamas. “Are you training with Carter this morning?”

  “Yes.” For the first time ever, I was actually looking forward to my training session. Having a few days off had been nice, but I was anxious to get back to training, and I hadn’t seen Carter since the night I met Devlin.

  “Be careful. My mom says he’s not to be trusted.”

  I glanced at Rosella, hoping she wasn’t planning anything crazy. “You’re not going to follow me again, are you?”

  “Hell no. I have better things to do than watch you train.” She took a sip from her mug. “I hear my brother was out drinking again last night. Have you talked to him?”

  “No.” I tucked the bookmark in place and closed my book. Rosella wasn’t interested in what I was reading or how my training sessions were going. She wanted to know why Garrett was drinking, and so did I. “Did he and Ava get into a disagreement at your family dinner?”

  “No, he never showed up, but I talked to him before he left for his meeting. He was in a great mood and said he’d see me at dinner. That’s why I thought you two must have had a fight.” Rosella pressed her back against the cushion and let out a heavy sigh. “I came here to talk to you on Sunday, and someone said he was drinking at the party, so I went to confront him. He refused to talk to me, and when I mentioned your name, it just made him angry. Do you have any idea why?”

  “No. I was hoping he’d talked to you.”

  “I can’t believe he’s acting like this. But I’m sure he’ll come to his senses and show up with flowers, begging your forgiveness.” She set her mug on the table. “I saw what you did at the party. You invoked the fire element.”

  “I didn’t mean to. It
just happened.”

  “You should be pleased. I have a strong affinity for air, but I can’t invoke fire, and I’ve been trying for years. You’ll be a High Council witch one day. And that’s the highest honor there is.” She crossed her arms. “When I was twelve, I had some issues controlling my powers, and my mom gave me a few tips. I know Garrett’s been helping you, but I can show you a few things if you’d like.”

  “That would be great.” Hugging my book against my chest, I glanced around, an uneasiness creeping over me. I’d had the same feeling these past few days. Like someone was watching me.

  “What’s wrong?” She glanced at me sideways. “If you’re worried about Garrett, I can—”

  “No. It’s not that. I’m sure it’s nothing, but I feel like someone’s watching me.” I tried laughing it off, but a shiver shot down my spine.

  “If you’re getting weird vibes, I wouldn’t ignore them.” She took another sip of coffee as she looked around. “You’re a witch; our intuition’s usually right. How long have you been feeling like this?”

  “Since we were attacked at the fair.”

  “We should smudge sage sticks later and cast a spell to reveal any shadows. Then you’ll know if you’re imagining things or if someone’s actually watching you.”

  “Reveal shadows?” I’d never heard that term.

  “Yeah. It’s a simple spell I found in my family’s grimoire. You could…” She jumped to her feet, squinting at something down the street. “What are they doing?”

  Calandra stood in front of one of the houses, waving her hands in the air. Across the street from her, Julius was doing the same thing to another house.

  “It looks like they’re casting a spell.” I stood next to Rosella, trying to get a better look. “Have you seen them do this before?”

  “No.” She shook her head. “Here comes Boris.”

  Looking in the same direction as Rosella, I saw Boris heading up the street toward us. With messy hair that stood on end, dark bags under his eyes, and his clothing hanging on him like he’d lost weight from not eating, Orla’s father looked dreadful.