Kisses and Curses

by Michelle M. Pillow

  “That I couldn’t tell you. I’m third-generation dhampir, and mawmaw didn’t like talking about it.” Jefferson reached for the tater tot nacho platter. “A vampire seduced a house slave, and my genetic line became the family shame. That’s all I know about the family secret.”

  “Your grandmother never mentioned a vampiric name?”

  “No, mawmaw wouldn’t speak of it.” He reached into his shirt and pulled out a talisman. “She said this would keep them from finding me, though. I know warlocks and vampires aren’t exactly friends. They won’t be coming here because of me. I can promise you that.”

  Euann nodded. “The woman in the t-shirt, she doesn’t know much. Most of this town doesn’t know anything.”

  “They won’t hear it from me. It’s not exactly like I want to advertise what I am. It’s hard enough making a go of things when that strange woman with a notepad keeps coming in here winking and asking me if I can get her fenced goods.” Jefferson made a move as if to carry the tray to the table. “I don’t need to add freak of nature to my town resume.”

  He followed Jefferson out of the kitchen. “That would be Mrs. Callister. Trust me, being on her bad side isn’t exactly a bad thing. In fact, it will probably gain ya sympathy in town.”

  “Hey, Euann?”

  He turned at the sound of Cora’s voice. He watched her expression to see if she detected his glamour. She didn’t. Jefferson took the food to the table, leaving them alone.

  “I’m going to go back to the house,” Cora said.

  “Why? The food isn’t even—”

  “I don’t know what I said, or did, but it’s clear you’re not…” She gave a weak shrug. “You hid in the restroom, and now you’re hiding in the kitchen. You won’t look at me. I can take a hint.”

  “Hint?” Euann hated the look on her face. “There is no hint.”

  She crossed her arms in front of her stomach in a protective gesture. “Fine, I can see the glaringly obvious.”

  “Cora, I want ya to be here.” Euann let the back of his fingers graze her cheek. “I want everything to be perfect, but it’s not. My family ruined the picnic. This outing was ruined by…”

  “Mrs. Callister? What did she say to you that has you acting all weird?”

  “No, not Callister.” Euann couldn’t expose himself in the restaurant, not with the busybody outside and locals inside. He touched his face, feeling the tuffs of fur hidden by the glamour.

  “Then did I say something? I know I ask a lot of questions. It’s my nature. It’s why I got into library sciences. I ask questions and look for answers. This whole,” she lowered her voice to whisper, “magick thing,” before continuing at her previous level, “is new to me. I want to understand it. I want to understand why I feel the way I do.”

  “There are things happening tonight that do not belong on our first date,” Euann said. “I’m sorry. This is nothing close to what I wanted.”

  “So you do want this to be a date?” Cora leaned closer to him.

  “Very much so.” Euann nodded.

  “Then it is a perfect first date,” she assured him.

  “Now you’re being too kind.” He laughed. “Or mocking me.”

  “From all accounts, the best first dates are awful, and awkward, and wonderful despite all that, and strangely memorable.” Cora turned to look at the table. “I’d say we hit all the requisite points.”

  “What part was awful?” Euann studied her as she glanced at his family. Her beauty was only outweighed by the spirit he saw behind it. When she’d kissed him, every piece of his life’s puzzle had fallen into place. He knew what he wanted, what he needed. There was an honesty in Cora and a kindness.

  “When I thought you didn’t want to be here any longer,” she answered.

  “And awkward?” He touched his cheek. The fur was receding.

  A slight blush colored her cheeks even as she laughed. She turned to him, lowering her head as she said, “When your family interrupted while we were…” She gave a meaningful hum.

  “See, that was my awful moment,” he admitted. “I’ve regretted not bolting the doors with magick since they interrupted us. I can guarantee what happened next would have been wonderfully memorable.”

  He lifted his arm for her to take. “Come on. Let’s finish this first date. I can’t wait to get to the ending.”

  “You want it over?”

  “I want the kiss goodnight.” He grinned as he led her to the table. Kicking the leg of his cousin’s chair, he said, “Rory, move your arse. I’m sitting next to my lady.”

  Chapter Twelve

  “Don’t move.”

  The stern command stopped Cora in her tracks. She had one foot on the stairs leading to Euann’s bedroom, and the other on the marble foyer floor. They had just returned home from an inadvisable amount of drinking at Crimson Tavern. The walk had done her some good, considering Rory had ordered more than a few rounds of shots for the table and they had left her tipsy.

  Fine. Drunk. It left her drunk.

  “Where have ya been?” The petite bearer of the voice did not match her volume. Like the others, she had dark brown hair and eyes. There was a fierceness to her beauty. It was in the flush in her cheeks and the heat in her gaze.

  Cora moved so Erik blocked her view of the woman.

  “Ya look lovely, Ma,” Iain said.

  Erik shifted his feet, unwittingly putting Cora once more in the angry woman’s eye line.

  “Yeah, Aunt Margareta, have ya done something with your hair?” Rory added. “It looks shiny.”

  Margareta arched a brow. “Don’t sweet talk me.” The woman began a tirade of words in the language Cora couldn’t understand. She wondered if she was part of this lecture, or if she should sneak upstairs to give the family privacy. She decided to go with holding very still and hoping the angry woman’s eyes didn’t find her.

  “Don’t worry. When she’s screaming like that, it’s not too serious. It’s when she’s quiet and whispery that you have cause for concern.” A younger version of Margareta in designer clothing appeared beside Cora; however, unlike Margareta, she had a distinct British accent instead of a Scottish one. She held out a manicured hand. “I’m Malina, disgrace of a daughter.”

  “Cora,” she answered, taking the offered hand for a quick shake. “Magickal hostage.”

  “Nice to meet you, Cora.” Malina placed her hands on her hips. They both watched Margareta.

  “Should I leave?” Cora whispered.

  “I wouldn’t make any sudden movements if I were you.” Malina tilted her head as Margareta continued to speak. “She looks a little jumpy to me.”

  Euann placed his hand on Cora’s back and leaned to look around her at his sister to whisper, “When did ya get back?”

  “About thirty minutes ago,” Malina answered. “Luck was on my side, and I got a good flight out of Vegas.”

  “Speaking of luck, is Dar with ya?” Euann glanced around the hall.

  “No. He,” Malina looked at Cora for a moment before finishing, “had a poker tournament to attend.”

  “She’s cool,” Euann said with a grin. “Cora’s with me.”

  “Why’s your nose fuzzy?” Malina studied her brother.

  Euann touched his nose and cleared his throat. Cora had no idea what they were talking about and figured it to be an inside joke.

  Margareta’s stern torrent of words went on for a few more moments before Malina finally lifted her hand and stepped forward. “You’re welcome, Ma. Now may I please see my brother?”

  Margareta took an aggravated breath as she looked at her daughter.

  “What does it matter, my love, so long as our son is home safe?”

  “That’s my da.” Euann nodded at the man who placed his arms around Margareta’s shoulders. The couple hardly looked old enough to have grown children…at least by human standards.

  “Ya want me to thank ya?” Margareta demanded of Malina as if it was the most ridiculous thing she’d ever
heard.

  “No. Not just me, Ma, Dar. He’s been grabbing every bit of good luck he can get his hands on to make this happen for us. You have no idea what he’s suffered for me to perform this summoning spell. Bringing back a long-lost brother from the grips of unknown magick isn’t exactly easy. If it were, we would have done it long ago. But maybe now you can see it wasn’t my fault. Maybe now you can stop blaming me for Kenneth’s disappearance. Now where is my brother? I want to see—”

  “Ya look well, Malina.” Kenneth appeared in the dining room doorway. Dark circles marred his eyes, and he looked emotionally worn.

  “Ken?” Malina gasped. She ran to him, her heeled boots clicking on the floor. She threw her arms around him. “I can’t believe it worked.”

  “This was ya?” Kenneth didn’t look angry, just exhausted. “I wish ya would have left well enough alone.”

  “How could I?” Malina grabbed his face. Her hands worked over him as if to convince herself he was really there. “I’m so sorry for what I said. I didn’t mean it.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Kenneth took her hands and pulled them off him.

  “The night you left. We fought over how you are overprotective of me, always chasing off boyfriends. I said some mean things.” Malina tugged her fingers from his grasp and again touched his cheek. “Say you forgive me.”

  “Yeah, sure,” he dismissed. “I don’t remember what you’re talking about, but sure, I forgive ya.”

  “Did you lose your memories? Was it a horrible place you were trapped in?” Malina was finally forced to let go of her brother as he stepped away from her.

  “Tell her where ya were, Kenneth,” Erik said.

  Kenneth’s mouth tightened.

  “Oklahoma,” Erik said. “That’s right. Not a portal. Not a realm. A freaking state in the Midwest.”

  “Actually, Oklahoma is considered the South. The Kansas border is where the Midwest…” Cora let her words trail off as all eyes turned to look at her. Now was not the time to be all smarty-pants librarian. She had no idea what possessed her to speak.

  “I don’t understand,” Malina said. “What’s in Oklahoma? Leprechauns? Niall dealt with an outbreak there a while back. Did that have something to do with you?”

  “Jewel didn’t mean to free them into our world,” Kenneth said. “It was an accident.”

  “Jewel?” Malina looked around the room. “I think someone needs to catch me up.”

  “I think it’s about time Kenneth caught all of us up.” Erik swayed a little on his feet, and Cora was a little grateful she wasn’t the only drunk one there. “The whole family is here, brother, so let’s hear it.”

  “Raibeart was correct. I took the phoenix, but I didn’t know what she was at the time. It’s complicated. Jewel is my daughter. Her ma, Geneva, was an Appalachian mountain witch.” Kenneth appeared deeply troubled. His hands shook, and he kept rubbing circular patterns on his chest as if following a design she couldn’t see. “The witches want the phoenix back, but I promised Geneva that I wouldn’t let that happen. She gave her life to make sure our daughter was free of that place. I can’t let them take her. She’s too powerful and hard to control. I have to protect her. I’m all she has.”

  “Ya think we wouldn’t do everything to protect our first grandchild?” Margareta demanded, her words more frustrated than angry.

  “I know ya would have tried, but Jewel is special. She…” Kenneth looked around helplessly. “She’s such a sweet girl, but the power becomes too much for her. She acts out and then she…”

  “She flames out,” Angus finished for his son when he faltered.

  Kenneth nodded. He touched his chest. “I’m protected by whatever magick Jewel’s ma carved on me, but…”

  “How long does she have, son?” Angus asked.

  “What are ya talking about? How long?” Margareta inserted. “Angus MacGregor, what are ya going on about? What is wrong with my granddaughter?”

  “If ya would stop shouting long enough to let a man speak maybe ya would learn something.” Angus kept his tone even. “Also, I love ya, my beautiful wife, please don’t hex me later.”

  “The first time she lasted roughly nine years. The second time about ten.” Kenneth leaned against the wall and slid to sit on the marble floor. He leaned his head forward, running his hands through his hair. “I fear not long. Her powers surfaced faster than the last times.”

  Cora studied the faces of those around her. She might be impaired, but not so much she couldn’t understand the seriousness of what they were saying. Jewel was dying.

  “But, she’s a phoenix, right? Doesn’t that mean she’ll come back?” Cora asked.

  Kenneth stared at her as if questioning why she was there.

  “Cora’s right,” Euann said, standing closer to her as if to come to her defense. “She came back before. Won’t she come back again?”

  “Have ya ever lost a child?” Kenneth asked.

  “Aye, we have,” Margareta said. “Twenty-five years ago.”

  “It’s not the same,” Kenneth argued.

  “I would disagree,” Margareta returned.

  “I have held my daughter twice as she died in my arms.” Kenneth slapped his hand on the floor next to him. He didn’t bother to stand. “When she comes back, she’s not the same. Her personality is different, and her likes are different, even her expressions are different. I changed her name because she’s not the same girl. She’s mine, but she’s not the child I lost. I love her each time, knowing I will lose her, knowing that when she is reborn, it will be like she has a new sister. She will never grow up. She will never finish school, move out on her own, fall in love. This is it for her, an eternity of surging from the flames only to smolder. And this is my life, taking care of her, forever. I won’t let her power fall into the wrong hands. It’s no wonder her ma passed this burden on to me.”

  “We can help,” Iain said. “This burden is not yours alone.”

  “Losing me is one thing.” Kenneth looked at his mother. He appeared defeated. “But losing a grandchild, over and over?”

  “Ya were always a bit of a fool, son.” Angus put his arm around his wife’s shoulders. “The decision ya made to stay away? That was the wrong choice.”

  Cora felt a strange energy flowing in the room, an invisible force that moved like a current over the family. She edged slowly away from Euann to the stairs. Grabbing the oak banister, she used it to steady her as she tried to sneak away.

  “I don’t like it when you fight.” Jewel appeared at the top of the stairs. “Stop yelling at my daddy!”

  “What are—?” Margareta’s words cut off, even though her lips kept moving. She grabbed her throat, looking around at her family. Jewel had taken away Margareta’s ability to speak.

  Malina covered her mouth but the smallest hint of a laugh escaped. “This delightful creature must be my niece.” She went to the stairs and hurried up to meet the child. “Well done, mischievous one. I have been trying to quiet my ma for the last three hundred years.”

  “Who are you?” Jewel asked.

  Malina held out her hand. “I’m your auntie Malina, and I have the biggest closet in the entire mansion filled with sparkly dresses and princess tiaras. I promise I am much more fun than my brothers.”

  “You want to play with me?” Jewel asked.

  “Of course I do, munchkin,” Malina answered.

  Jewel jumped up and down, clapping her hands. “Yay!”

  “Um…?” Cora glanced at Euann. “Should we warn your sister what that means?”

  Euann smirked. “No.”

  Rory, Iain, and Erik all started laughing.

  “What did I miss?” Margareta asked, her voice having returned when Jewel left.

  “Nothing, Ma, Malina will make a fine babysitter while we sit down as a family and find a way to protect Jewel,” Erik said.

  “We’ll look in the old library.” Margareta whistled and twirled her hand.


  “Yes.” Angus nodded. He waved his hand over the foyer. A round table with chairs appeared next to cushioned furniture. It was strewn over the room in a haphazard fashion. Steaming coffee cups also appeared. “Time to sober up, laddies.”

  Dusty tomes floated from somewhere beyond the dining room. Margareta controlled them with her hand. Their leather and metal bindings looked ancient. The caked dust was so thick it blew from the books like powder. Cora found herself reaching to touch one as it passed. It glided beneath her outstretched fingers, causing streaks in the dust.

  “Cora, I’m sorry,” Euann said as he caressed her arm. He walked with her away from the stairs to where they could have some privacy. “I cannot come upstairs with ya tonight. Please believe that I want to more than anything.”

  The thrill of anticipation and desire stirred within her at his admission. It warred with her curiosity about what was happening at the base of the stairs. Cora leaned to watch the books line themselves up on the table in neat stacks. She wanted to look inside them.

  Euann glanced over his shoulder and then turned. He pressed her against a wall were the others couldn’t see. His gaze dipped to her mouth. The unmistakable press of his desire bumped her leg. Cora ran her hands up his chest and felt his heart beating against her fingers. She wasn’t sure if it was the liquor or his touch that made her lightheaded. Maybe it was the magick between them.

  “I really want you to come upstairs with me,” she whispered. His lips danced close to hers, not completing their journey.

  “Ah, love, I’ll come to ya as soon as I am able,” he promised.

  A light moan left her as their lips brushed.

  “Come on, boy, we have a lot of work to do this night,” Angus bellowed.

  Cora stiffened and pulled her head back to stop the kiss. Her eyes rounded as she glanced to the side.