by AJ Renee
He took his time returning to Brandy’s side and winked at her. “Sweetheart, why don’t you go say hello to your brothers.”
A few angry grunts sounded in the room as Junior snapped, “She doesn’t need your permission!”
“Trust me,” he said and kissed her temple when he returned to her side. It did not matter that only a few minutes had passed since he’d kissed or touched her. The easy affection grounded him and soothed his spirit.
“What’s up?” Ethan murmured as the others converged on Brandy. “What the—”
Brandy gasped, a look of surprise tossed in Ryan’s direction.
“I’m guessing you haven’t interacted with any of them since the time in the cabin?” Ryan asked Ethan, tracking Brandy as she moved among the group of large men.
“No, other than Junior, this is the first time I’ve seen them in weeks. With everything going on, I haven’t made it to family dinners either,” he replied, giving Ryan a knowing look.
Ryan nodded. “Junior was projecting so he was different, but I suggest you go greet them. See if you notice anything.”
Ethan joined the large group and touched some brothers on the arm and embraced others.
Brandy slipped free, and her arms encircled Ryan’s waist. “All of them?”
“Seems so. Question is what specifically.”
“I wonder why everyone but us just got felt up,” Andrea said to the woman who had slipped under Junior’s arm.
The woman laughed. “You noticed it too?”
“Junior’s wife, Debbie,” Brandy said.
“You realize talking about the baby is going to be easier than bursting their bubbles, right?” Ryan asked and chuckled.
“What aren’t you two telling us?” Edward asked, wagging a finger between them.
Ryan met Junior’s eyes and noted the bastard was enjoying himself.
Junior raised his hand. “I kept my end of the bargain. It’s your turn now,” he stated, looking at the three of them.
“What bargain?” Carter snapped.
Brandy sighed, leaning her weight into Ryan, and her wave of exhaustion hit him. Bending forward, he placed an arm behind her legs and scooped her into his arms. “Let’s sit. There’s a lot to talk about.”
Junior’s eyebrows snapped together with worry, and Ryan gave him a short nod, hoping to ease his mind. The others, on the other hand, muttered their displeasure over Ryan’s hold on her and that they had been kept in the dark about something.
Moving toward the couch behind the group, he paused by Junior. “She’s just tired.”
Everyone but Edward and Carter settled into a seat. The two of them opted to stand behind the couch like sentries. Brandy leaned her head against Ryan’s shoulder once they settled into a spot.
“Like I said, there’s a lot to talk about, so let us get it out first, and we’ll answer and prove anything.”
“Prove what?” Carter asked.
“Carter,” she warned, and he responded with a glare.
“Everyone knows Brandy went off the grid.” Ryan ignored their mutters and continued. “After her birthday, things changed, and she found herself in a bit of trouble, which only snowballed. Ethan reached out, and we knew he’d be of help, and eventually Junior got tired of the run-arounds. We asked him not to tell any of you so don’t get angry at him. We were just protecting you.”
“Bran, what the fuck is this assh—”
Sitting up in Ryan’s arms, Brandy flicked her wrist.
“Ouch!” Edward cried and grabbed his chest. “What the hell just happened?”
“Anyone else want to insult Ryan?” she asked, and when no one replied, she continued. “He’s not going anywhere, so stop. He’s not Greg or any other idiot I’ve brought around. I know this now. I’m too tired for this shit. We’re fucking witches, got it?”
Ryan swore a pin could drop to the ground and the neighbors would hear it. Looks of disbelief crossed everyone but Junior’s and Ethan’s faces.
“For goodness’ sake,” Brandy snapped before creating a ball of fire in her palm. She transformed it into a ball of water, and finally with a puff of air, she sprayed everyone with a mist.
Everyone but Junior and Ethan jumped up, some spooking and debating the exit.
“Sweetheart, I don’t think—”
As quickly as everyone moved away, she pulled them closer and froze their bodies. “If you behave, I’ll let you go. Now quit this shit. Short, short version: Mom was a witch and so was Dad. Dad was not killed by a bear but most likely a werewolf. Mom died because of a curse. Each of you has magic. How much? Well, we don’t know. I’m sure each of you has something you’ve noticed. I was gone because some asshole demon wanted me because as you can clearly see I have some badass powers. Oh, and I’m also pregnant.”
With another flare of her fingers, everyone stumbled as she released them. Brandy leaned against Ryan and shut her eyes.
“That was one hell of a Band-Aid, sweetheart.” Ryan chuckled.
“They’ll get over it,” she said.
“You’re pregnant?” Andrea yelled over the commotion of voices.
Ryan gave Junior and Ethan a look. Both men nodded and moved behind Ryan and Brandy. His number one concern was his mate, not the info bomb she had dumped on her family, no matter how entertaining their reaction was.
The next hour was spent answering questions. Brandy’s soft snores had begun about ten minutes into the discussion, and Ryan nearly growled at Junior when he suggested laying her down in the guest bedroom. She was where she belonged, in his arms.
By the end of the hour, Ethan sat on the floor at Ryan’s feet and Junior on the arm to the chair. Ryan gathered this bunch was a tight-knit family. The love flowing between them was a strong bond.
“About this curse, how do we save her?” Junior asked, his soft eyes focusing on Brandy’s sleeping form.
Ryan pressed his cheek to her head and smiled. “I think we broke it without knowing. We were kind of hoping Ethan could help us find out.”
“How?” Ethan asked, and Ryan filled them in on his family line.
Ethan’s eyes widened and nodded. “Serena told me it was difficult to remove curses. What a brilliant way to rectify Suzanna’s wrong!” His gaze narrowed. “How can I help? I don’t—”
“There’s a spell only oracles can perform. You’ll need to call forth Cassandra.”
“Who?” Junior asked as Ethan began shaking his head.
“How am I supposed to do that?”
Ryan smiled at his new friend. “She’s your ancestor, so it will be easier. Center yourself like Serena’s been teaching you and say, ‘I’m in need of guidance. Cassandra Broderick, please come forth.’”
“What a load of shit,” Edward muttered from their right.
Ryan ignored the businessman and his logical mind and instead snapped his fingers. In his free hand, a white tapered candle appeared. “Use this. It’s already been blessed.”
Ethan chuckled. “I need to learn how to do that,” he stated.
“Me too,” Brandy muttered against his chest, her breath warming him through the fabric of his shirt.
“Hey, sleepy head, feel better?” he asked against her hair.
“Mhmm… What are you doing, E?” she asked, her voice rough with sleep.
Ethan pushed to his feet and shook out his arms. “Ryan thinks I can call Cassandra forward so we can see whether the curse was really broken.”
Her pink face turned toward him, her bright eyes shining. “Really?”
Ryan nodded. “Oracles can call forth ancestors much easier than rounding up a coven. Then again, there are enough of us here.” He shrugged.
“Bran?” Ethan called, tipping the candle toward her. The tip lit instantly, and he gave her a quick thanks.
“Not sure I’ll get used to seeing that,” Max muttered.
The room stilled, everyone watching Ethan close his eyes and center himself. Ryan could feel Ethan’s magic stir, mixing with t
he other power in the room. A sense of pride bubbled in Ryan’s chest as he witnessed Ethan embracing his power in front of his family.
“Holy shit,” James whispered, his attention across the room from Ethan.
Ryan felt Brandy follow the same path but did not see what caused him to react.
“Please come forth…”
An image formed across from them, a woman with long dark hair pulled back by a ribbon. Her eyes reminded him of Ethan’s. Ryan looked at James and watched his mouth open in surprise.
“Cassandra? Cassandra Broderick?” Ethan asked, his voice wobbling with nerves.
Her head tilted before giving Ethan a single nod. “I am.”
Brandy gasped and raised her fingertips to her mouth.
Cassandra turned, noticing everyone in the room for the first time. The edges to her eyes creased, and her lips tipped into a smile. “My grandchildren,” she whispered in awe. “Why have I been summoned?” she asked, directing her attention to Ethan.
Brandy scrambled off his lap and moved to Ethan’s side. “Hi—”
“Ah,” Cassandra said and raised a hand toward Brandy’s stomach.
Ryan pushed off the couch and barely managed to stop himself from drawing her back into his arms.
Cassandra’s eyes flashed to his and widened. “It was never our intention to hurt Suzanna. You two have done what those before you have failed.”
“The curse?” Brandy whispered, and he could hear hope mixed with fear.
“Yes, my child. A new beginning for our family.” Cassandra stepped closer to Brandy and Ryan and offered them each a hand. When they took hold of hers, she layered them one over the other, and Ryan pulled his free. “Do you not wish to accept my blessing?”
Ryan wanted it more than the woman would ever know. Before he could answer, she continued.
“You are bonded. Why do you not wish to claim her as yours?”
“I do, but she’s not ready,” he whispered.
Brandy turned toward him, confusion clear on her face. “What’s going on, Rye? What is she talking about?”
He opened his mouth to answer when Ethan spoke. “I think she wants to perform a handfasting.”
Chapter 34
“A what?” Junior asked.
Brandy had heard the term before in books, but having her great-whatever-grandmother mention it was something different altogether. “A handfasting… like a wedding?”
“For witches it is,” Ryan whispered. “You’re not ready—”
“Your daughter grows within you. How are you not ready?” Cassandra asked. Her confusion mirrored the same that Brandy had experienced a moment before.
Her brain tried to catch up with what was going on.
“She’s too young!” Carter snapped. “This is all absurd!”
Cassandra shot him a bored expression before chuckling. “Love is the most absurd of all the emotions. When you find your mate, you will feel like the biggest fool. Now… I ask you,” she said, and their eyes met. “My time is limited. Do you wish to claim your mate?”
Ryan squeezed her hand. “You’re not ready. We’re not in any rush.”
Brandy’s heart pounded against her breastbone, but the steady thumping slowed as she stared into his eyes. His eyes were filled with hope, love, and promises of a future together. The events of the weeks that had passed since they met were ridiculous to say the least. And yet, he was the calm in the storm. Brandy knew in her heart of hearts he was it. She would do anything for him and their child, and there was no doubt in her mind or heart that he, too, would do anything for them.
“Would you be okay with an official ceremony later, so Peter and anyone else we want can be there too?” she whispered and pulled his hand to hers and Cassandra’s.
His eyes widened with happiness. “Only if you’re absolutely sure.”
Her lips tipped up, and her heart threatened to burst with love. “You’re mine, and I’m yours.”
###
Thank you for reading Cursed Love! I hope you loved Ryan and Brandy’s story as much as I do. Want to spend more time with the Brodericks? Buy Cursed Sight today!
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Cursed Sight
Everything Ethan Broderick believed about his family history was a lie.
After learning he’s a descendant of a long line of powerful witches, he’s eager for guidance on his expanding powers. Pairing up with the fiery witch in charge of the local coven was a logical decision. What he didn’t expect was for her presence to awaken more than his oracle powers.
Serena Bishop stopped trusting men years ago. Needing to fill the vacant oracle position in her coven, she offered to help Ethan for purely selfish reasons. Except, the attractive and intelligent man managed to weave a spell around her stone-cold heart when she wasn’t watching.
Visions of impending danger for the sexy high priestess haunt Ethan.
Can they eliminate the threat, or will he lose another woman he loves?
About the Author
AJ Renee grew up in a military family and moved around until her family settled in Florida. She graduated from the University of Central Florida with a M.S. in Criminal Justice and a B.S. in Psychology. She currently resides in Illinois and spends her time with her Air Force husband, three young daughters, and cat. She loves to travel and see family and friends whenever she gets a chance. She has a love of music, movies, and anything that can make her laugh. AJ believes in reading books with humor and mystery that end in a happily ever after to help ease our minds and hearts of life’s daily struggles.
For news on future releases and to connect with AJ Renee, sign-up for her Newsletter or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads, and/or Bookbub. AJ would love to hear from you! You can email her at: [email protected]. Go to www.AJRenee.com for more on her work.
ALSO BY AJ RENEE
ST. FLEUR SERIES:
Widower’s Aura
Always Mine
Duplicity
No Going Back
Taxed by Love
Complications
LOVE IN SCRUBS SERIES:
Joshua
Jason
Wes
BRODERICK COVEN SERIES:
Cursed Love
Cursed Sight
Cursed Whispers ~ Coming 2021
Cursed Touch ~ Coming 2021
Cursed Luck ~ Coming 2021
OTHER TITLES:
Finding Love at the Falls… (Short Story)
Fractured Fairytales Book One
Beauty Unmasked
Winter’s Surprise
A Deadly World: Vampires in Paris
Billionaires Club
Unlucky in Love
Take Two: A Collection of Second Chance Stories
