Cursed (The Price of Magic Series Book 1)

by Freya Black

  I nodded, and Magnus picked through his navy robe, as if digging for a hidden treasure. He extracted a white oak wand and pointed it at the portal.

  “Good luck,” he said in a hushed tone. He forced a smile, a clear attempt to hide the doubt that crossed his face.

  We thanked him and slung our bags over our shoulders, and then we stepped through the mist.

  We landed on our feet in the Arcadian forest, a few miles south of the Coven House. My body trembled at the sight of storm clouds peeking through the thinning canopy. Even the Gods and Goddesses wanted to spit on us for our treason. We’d be stripped of our powers and hung in the Gallows. The Council would make sure of it.

  With Sloane pressed against me, our fingers braided together, the guilt of breaking Divine Law weighed heavily on my chest. But Sloane’s warmth spread up my arm, keeping me grounded and able to continue on our mission. We hiked down the mountain, stopping after what felt like an eternity. The old wooden bridge where we had left the gray wolf creaked beneath my feet as I stepped onto it.

  I popped open a vial of Rejuvenation Potion. After sucking down half of the pink liquid, I handed it to Sloane to finish. Like everything in the palace, the potion was a trick of the mind.

  Now that we were home, thoughts of Declan rushed over me. Every time I’d mentioned what happened between Declan and me, Sloane had brushed it off, said he didn’t want to ruin whatever time we had left. The conversation was necessary. And considering the deadly consequences that awaited us, I had to clear the air.

  I clutched Sloane’s hand, so I could feel his reaction. “We need to talk about what happened with Declan.” I managed to steady my nerves, only for the panic in my voice to give me away.

  Most of the time, Sloane could shield his emotions, but his anger broke through. “I wasn’t trying to listen in on his thoughts. I caught a few words when he passed me the rolls at dinner.”

  I leaned over the bridge and stared at the waterfall churning beneath my feet. The magic in the air sent shock waves through my body. There was no sign of dark Fey disguised as wolves or anything out of the ordinary. That was a relief.

  When I looked over my shoulder, steel-blue eyes stared back at me.

  I was on the verge of tears, which made it harder to steady my voice. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea Declan had those kinds of feelings for me. I want to be with you, not him. Our connection is more than our auras. When I’m with you, I feel alive, powerful, and for the first time in my life, I have something worth fighting for besides my Coven.”

  “I was afraid I’d lost you,” Sloane said, hooking his arms around me, holding me close enough so that I could feel his heartbeat.

  He kissed me, and fireworks exploded inside me as the power of our auras fused together as one.

  I pulled away from his mouth and whispered, “Never.”

  Chapter 24

  By the time Sloane and I reached the gathering room at the Coven House, our clothes were drenched in sweat, and we could barely stand up straight. The mouths of our Coven flew open as we strolled down the aisle toward the altar.

  Kate gritted her teeth and marched toward us. “How could you?” Her nostrils flared, as if smoke would shoot out from them. “Where have you been all this time? We thought you were dead.” She pulled me against her trembling body, sobbing in my ear.

  “We were only gone for two nights. I’m sorry.”

  Kate lifted her head from my shoulder, slack-jawed. “Two nights?” Her tone sounded like a bark, cold and haunting. “Try two weeks.”

  My eyes narrowed at Sloane, and he shrugged.

  “No, that’s not possible. We only stayed two nights in the castle.”

  The Inner Circle crowded around Kate, each with mixed expressions. If the Imperium Council or Hexenjagers didn’t kill us, our Coven might finish the job. Declan flashed a curious smile, but I felt too deflated to do anything.

  Quinn stood behind Kate, fuming like a kettle ready to explode. His eyes sharpened at us, as if they could cut through iron. “Time doesn’t work the same in Krona.” He glowered at Sloane, his arms folded across his chest. “Sloane should have told you that. You—”

  Kate sliced through his words, a fiery pain in her voice. “Do you understand the position you have put us in?”

  I didn’t dare blink, let alone interrupt. Her voice was so menacing.

  “Using a Scipio wand is against Divine Law. So is tethering to another realm without approval. As Interim Coven Leader, you have given me no choice but to turn both of you in.”

  “No! Please don’t. We had a good reason. Just hear us out,” I pleaded, extracting the purple pouch Erilaz had given me from my pocket. “We found a way to defeat the Hexenjagers. If my visions are correct, they’ll be here on Samhain.”

  Kate turned to face the Coven, showing off the Talisman. “Our suspicions were correct. I had hoped we were wrong.” She angled her body toward me but refused to look me in the eyes.

  It seemed pointless for Kate to carry the burden of my actions when I was disgusted enough for both of us.

  Kate slipped the Talisman into the velvet pouch. “I don’t know what to do with the two of you. After dinner, we’ll have a vote to decide.” Without another word, she stomped back down the aisle, followed by the Inner Circle.

  I cringed as Quinn hauled Sloane by his shirt collar upstairs. He didn’t look at me, not with Quinn inside his head, poking around.

  Silence fell over the room with nothing more than the patter of rain hitting the skylight. I leaned my head back, gazing up at the moon, its power pouring over me. My entire body shook, as if the weight of my actions were enough to drain the life from me.

  Declan clutched my bicep, his fiery aura piercing my skin like he knew I was about to crumble to pieces. On the outside, I had the disheveled appearance of a homeless person. And my insides were no better. When my stomach wasn’t growling, the sick taste of bile at the back of my throat made me want to vomit.

  Celeste hooked her skinny arm around mine, luring me away from Declan and down the hallway. Her hazel eyes shot wide open, a fleck of gold catching the subdued lighting. “You’re back!” An excited squeal reverberated through the hall.

  I glanced over my shoulder. Declan trailed behind, scraping his sneakers against the sandstone.

  When we reached the stairs, I leaned against Declan, consumed by the exhaustion that had swept over me since I walked into the Coven House. “Just take me to my room already. I can barely stand up.”

  Celeste inched away from us, toward the doors under the stairwell. “I’ll meet you guys up there.”

  “Okay,” I said, devoid of emotion. Then, I latched on to Declan. “I need a bed. Now.”

  He held on to the banister, dragging my limp body up the stairs, and after I used my powers to open the door, he maneuvered me into bed.

  Declan plopped down next to me and rolled onto his side. “Did you find what you were looking for in Krona?”

  Our faces were so close that I could feel his breath on my lips, and even though I knew there was a possibility of Declan kissing me again, I didn’t move an inch. I was too tired to care.

  “Yes, and no. I have to figure out how to use the Talisman without letting the dark magic consume me. And Queen Moira had no idea whom my parents had hidden the Galdrar from or why they’d had a stolen Scipio wand.”

  Deception, betrayal, secrets were words I now associated with my parents, leaving me deflated.

  My mother’s memory and now her legacy were tarnished. She had been the one pulling the strings, not my father. He’d just gone along for the ride.

  In the dim light of my bedroom, Declan’s eyes changed from emerald to a mossy green that echoed his sadness. Just like my anger triggered my powers, his eyes were the windows to his soul.

  “Everything will work out.” He shrugged.

  We both knew it was a lie.

  The tears started brewing, and as much as I tried to suppress them, it was another fight I lost. �
�I can’t believe they did this.” I buried my face in the pillow and sobbed. “Years from now, after I’ve been executed, when your grandchildren read the Coven’s history, they will remember my mom and me as traitors and my dad and Sloane as coconspirators.”

  Warmth spread down my back as Declan massaged my aching bones. “Don’t say that.” He frowned, wiping a tear from my cheek. “Your mom wasn’t a traitor, and neither are you. When the Talisman saves us, the Coven and the Imperium Council won’t care how you did it.”

  “Cyprian turned dark after he used the Talisman. A mortal cannot survive its power even if I am the Crescent Witch from the prophecy.”

  Declan smiled and continued tracing circles on my back. Unlike my fleeting faith, his was in full bloom. “You’re not just any mortal, far from it.”

  A knock on the door brought Declan to his feet.

  I peeled my face off the pillow when I heard Celeste’s mousy voice say, “You looked like you could use this.”

  She strolled into the room with a serving dish, the scent of French vanilla cloaking the dusty air, and handed me a cup of coffee.

  I looped my finger around the handle, and for the second time since we’d bound our circle, I felt Celeste’s energy. Her touch was surprisingly cold, a true sign of a Hydromancer.

  “You’re the best.” The frown I’d worn all day like a badge of dishonor turned into a half-smile. “I swear, you can read my mind sometimes.”

  She pressed a mug to her lips, drowning out her laughter. “Nope. You have Sloane for that.”

  The rich food Sloane and I had eaten in Krona crossed my mind as I gulped down the sweet vanilla liquid. I missed my new family even if they were fairies. I even missed Clara and her honey-scented bath oils. Then, I realized I had ambrosia and honey tarts in my backpack, a gift from the Queen. Celtic symbols sparkled gold as I removed the lid from the ceramic jar.

  Declan’s nose wrinkled in delight. “What are those?”

  “Say good-bye to Kate’s cookies. These will be your new favorite.” I set the jar on the bed between Declan and Celeste. “Food in Krona is so much better. You have no idea.”

  As the tarts disappeared, the container appeared to magically replenish itself.

  Declan held the jar to his eyes, as if looking into a telescope. “Gotta love the Fey and their Glamour magic. Nothing is ever what it seems.”

  My lips tightened, slowly creeping into a smile at the thought of Queen Moira. When she’d handed me the jar, it’d shimmered a soft green glow. That should’ve been my first clue.

  Then, she’d said, “May you think of me every time, my dear.”

  Her words swirled through my brain, making me miss her even more.

  I bit into my second tart and looked up at Celeste. “Have you seen Sloane around?”

  “Seen, no, but I heard Quinn yelling at him through the door.”

  Declan smirked. “I’m surprised they don’t yell in their minds.”

  Celeste rolled her eyes at Declan. “Don’t be a jerk, Delaney.”

  I didn’t even bother to scold Declan. A light tap on his shoulder was enough to silence him.

  Celeste noted my irritation and quickly changed the subject. “So, what do you think the Inner Circle will do? I can’t see Kate turning you guys over to the Imperium Council.”

  My stomach twisted in knots. I tugged at the loose thread that had separated from the comforter and rolled it around my finger. “I don’t know. I just hope the Inner Circle doesn’t crucify us.”

  “You were only trying to find a way to defeat the Hexenjagers. I’m sure they’ll understand.” Celeste paused for a second. “How much of a punishment can they give you?”

  “It’s worse than you think.” Declan sighed. “I overheard Dr. Callahan say that the punishment can be up to fifty years of imprisonment in the Gallows or removal of your powers.”

  Celeste puffed, blowing streaks of caramel hair in her face. “But if they drain enough of her powers that would kill her. They can’t do that.”

  She had just come to the realization of what I had known since I found the wand. Of course, she didn’t understand; she wasn’t a Crescent Witch. I had known the risk we were taking when I opened that portal. My mother had chosen this path, and I was determined to see where it led. And if I had to do it all over again, I would make the same decision to break Divine Law.

  Declan nodded, his eyes settling on a picture frame on the chest of drawers. “I know, but stealing a Sacred Token is considered an act of treason. If it were only unauthorized tethering through a gateway portal, it probably would be a slap on the wrist…but using a Scipio wand is another story.”

  He frowned, and as I followed his gaze, it was easy to spot which picture he was eyeing. It was the day I’d pushed him off the trampoline in a fit of rage in my backyard and broken his left arm. Declan had stood on my front step with a goofy grin, begging me to sign his cast before the plaster had a chance to set.

  I elbowed Declan in his bicep and nodded at the picture frame. “That was a good day.”

  Declan took a deep breath and laced his fingers between mine. “Yeah.” A sideways smile crossed his lips. “It was the best day of my life.”

  My heart sank to my stomach at the thought of what I would be leaving behind. I loved him. Maybe it was not the same way I loved Sloane, but I did love Declan. Our relationship was different, special.

  As I stared at the crescent moon I had drawn next to my name on his cast, I felt nauseous.

  “I’m sure we could reason with the Council.” My words were as fake as the bleak smile I forced. “We were careful. I didn’t see any Praetorians in Krona, so I doubt they saw us. And it’s not like the Queen is going to tell on us.”

  “I hope not.” Celeste glanced down at her cell phone, dejected.

  She knew Sloane and I were as good as dead. We all did. I prayed the Imperium Council would spare the Coven—if we survived Samhain.

  Kate stood in front of the altar with dozens of candles flickering behind her. “Members of the Inner Circle, we are gathered here to decide the fate of Fiona Mandrake and Sloane Blackwell. They are guilty of the unauthorized use of a stolen Scipio wand and unlawful tethering to Krona. You must decide if you want to turn them over to the Imperium Council to face Divine Judgment. They have broken two major laws that could place our entire Coven in jeopardy. Before we begin, I would like to give Fiona and Sloane a chance to explain themselves.” Kate’s gaze shifted toward our bench. “Fiona, Sloane, anything you wish to say?”

  I was speechless. As I found the hardened steel of Sloane’s irises, his pain hit me like a ton of bricks. After an awkward long pause, I faced the members of the Inner Circle. A hint of sadness gleamed in their eyes.

  “We’re guilty of these crimes. I’m not going to deny that, but we did this for the Coven and this town. The Talisman of Grimnir is the only magical object that can defeat Hexenjagers, and without it, we’re all dead. I understand if you need to turn us in, but please wait until after Samhain. I’m the only person who knows how to use the talisman.”

  “Thank you, Fiona,” Kate said, pleased. “Sloane, would you like to add anything?”

  Sloane straightened his back, and his muscles tightened as he cleared his throat. “Fiona is right. We’re guilty, but please don’t turn us in—not right now, at least. Fiona spent hours learning the language of the dark Fey, and no one else can combat their dark magic. They will destroy the town if we don’t fight.”

  “They make a good point.” Robert Martell shook his silver hair, exposing a long scar over his eyebrow, a battle wound from the Glamour War. “But we can try to reason with the Council.”

  “The Council doesn’t listen to reason,” Kate snapped back, her mouth twitching in anger.

  “Well, we can’t send them off to their deaths,” Vivian, Celeste’s mother, interjected with authority. “I won’t allow it. Fiona is like a daughter to me and to all of you.” Her lip quivered, but she remained firm. “Amelia and Presto
n would roll over in their graves if they knew we were thinking about turning her over to the Council. And what about Quinn? After all he has sacrificed for this Coven, don’t we owe it to him to spare his only child?”

  Kate threw her hands in the air. “Enough! It’s time to deliberate. Vivian, we’ll start with you.”

  Vivian jerked her head back to center. Dark curls pinned into a messy updo fought to stay in place. “I vote no, of course.”

  “I vote yes but with reservations,” Robert said, his voice raspy. “I think we should wait until after Samhain to talk to the Council. They’re just kids. It’s not like they knew the rules.”

  “Duly noted,” Kate said.

  She reminded me of a judge on television. All she needed was a gavel.

  Kate’s eyes locked on Quinn, and with a simple nod in his direction, his expression hardened.

  “First, I would like to apologize for my son. He understood the laws and chose to break them anyway. But I cannot ignore the fact that we need Fiona’s knowledge of the Talisman. Without it, we will have a repeat of the Glamour War.”

  The rest of the Inner Circle followed suit, agreeing to wait until after Samhain to turn us over to the Imperium Council.

  Kate shoved her hands in her pockets and let out a loud sigh when it was her turn to vote. “This is hard for me. A long time ago, I made a promise to Amelia that I would protect Fiona, but I also have a responsibility to this Coven. I hate to say this, but I abstain.”

  She looked disgusted with herself, and I felt awful for the decision my actions had forced her to make.

  “So, it’s decided.” She sucked in a deep breath, knowing her vote didn’t make a difference. “Fiona and Sloane will face the Imperium Council’s Divine Judgment.”

  Chapter 25

  Jonathan Dorn’s eyes narrowed, fixing his gaze on the alcove at the back of the room. “Fiona and Sloane, welcome back.” He shoved his hands in the pockets of his trousers, too small for his lanky frame. Peeking out from a clump of brown hair neatly folded to the left side of his face, he continued, “Don’t worry about your assignments. You can make up the time you missed by the end of the semester.”