The Connelly Curse

by Lily Velez

  But there was a dark side to it as well. Those believed to pose a threat to others, such as an out-of-control witch with lethal mood swings, were placed in solitary confinement within The Citadel until they learned to rein in their magic. And those who possessed an unnaturally large amount of Masteries like Jack were watched very closely for any indication of an upset in the sacred natural balance we witches so revered.

  All that to say that if Rory didn’t manage to keep his magic in check, we’d have a very big problem on our hands. One glimpse into his mind was all it would take for the Elders to determine his magic had gone practically radioactive.

  “Like I said, you need to start better controlling your magic,” Connor said.

  Rory just kept staring down at the Summons, as if it were a death sentence. In a way, I supposed it was. What would stop The Council from tossing him into The Citadel if they so wished? Our namesake was already tainted with dark magic, and I didn’t think even Connor could stand against six powerful Elders.

  “I don’t know how,” Rory finally confessed miserably, his voice just above a whisper.

  Connor and I swapped glances. The truth was, with so much going on with Maurice, Seamus, Mam, and Jack, the start of our younger brother’s witching year hadn’t been at the forefront of any of our minds. Even his sixteenth birthday had been a bit of a miss, considering we’d been in the middle of grieving our grandfather’s sudden death instead.

  In other words, he didn’t know how to control his magic because we hadn’t bothered to teach him. None of us had thought there’d be a need to. We’d assumed Rory’s magic would mirror his personality and be meek and unassuming.

  Connor raked his fingers through his hair and heaved a long breath, his irritation slowly thawing. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his thighs, and clasped his hands between his knees while he stared at the carpet in thought.

  “It helps to have a center,” he finally said.

  Rory shook his head, not understanding.

  “It can be anything. A person, a place, a concept. But it has to be something important to you, something that you love. Even better if it’s something you’d die for.”

  “That’s not at all dark,” I muttered.

  “What’s your center?” Rory asked.

  When Connor didn’t immediately respond, a smirk tugged at the corner of my mouth. I crossed my arms and regarded our curmudgeon of a brother. “Yes, Connor. Pray tell. What, or shall I say who, is your center?”

  “Could you manage to be serious for one minute of your life?”

  “I can barely manage it for one second honestly.”

  He shook his head and focused on Rory. “Your center serves as an anchor for your magic. It’s what keeps you grounded at all times. That way, no matter who or what provokes you, things don’t escalate beyond your control.”

  “How do I make something my center, though? And how do I use it for that purpose?”

  “I’ll teach you,” Connor said. “I’ll work with you every day until you have to stand before The Council. What? You don’t believe me?”

  “A few days ago, you said you’d go to The Council and tell them I’d broken one of our witching laws.”

  “And you honestly think I’d sell out my own blood? I was angry, Rory. But no matter the stupid things you, Lucas, or Jack may do, I would never betray any of you. We’re brothers. We have to stand together and have each other’s backs. Otherwise, what’s the point in being family at all?”

  I flattened a palm to my chest and wiped at a nonexistent tear. “I felt that one deep in here.”

  Connor rolled his eyes. “What’s important is that we’re honest with each other. If we have a problem, we tell each other. I don’t care if it’s a classmate or the Dark Lord himself. This family has subsisted on secrets and lies for long enough, and I’m sick of it. From here on out, we’re a team. We work together, not against each other. Always.”

  “I’ll drink to that,” I said, nodding.

  We both looked at Rory next, who had returned his eyes to the Summons. After a long moment, he nodded too, meeting my gaze and then Connor’s. “All right,” he said at last. “No more secrets, and no more lies.”

  41

  Scarlet

  “Why do you look so worried?” It was strange, I knew, that I’d become fluent enough in Kai’s mannerisms to detect such a thing, but here we were. “You haven’t developed a genuine soft spot for me, have you?”

  Kai lifted his eyebrows at the unexpected inquiry, no doubt surprised that I was in such a mental state as to actually banter with him. I wouldn’t lie, I was just as surprised. Regardless, it couldn’t be helped. Now back at Nightfell, I’d eaten my fill, hunger no longer tormenting me. My Wargling bites had fully healed, and any lingering pain from my first two trials were minor pains at best.

  What’s more, after my conversation with Jack, after that breathtaking moment we’d shared when it’d seemed we’d shaken the very foundations of the earth, I was feeling invincible. Unshakable. Like a warrior. Like a conqueror. One final trial stood between me and the Sword of Light, and if my calculations were correct, tonight was our final chance to stop Alistair before he broke the last seal.

  And I had every confidence that we would stop him.

  “A soft spot?” Kai asked. “Now who’s thinking a little too highly of themselves?”

  “You still haven’t told me why Morrígan’s summoned us. She hasn’t done this before.”

  “No, she hasn’t,” he agreed, frowning slightly.

  I glanced to the pack of armed guards in front of us, beside us, behind us. They marched in sync as they escorted us to the goddess’s throne room, their eyes pinned straight ahead. They were the very ones who’d retrieved us from The Everwoods, Morrígan presumably learning of our success in recovering The Violet Jewel through her network of avian spies. I could only imagine the fury she’d felt at our embarrassing her once more.

  Despite the warm confidence I felt, I still had survival instincts. Something gave my heart a quick squeeze. I lowered my voice slightly. “Do you think it’s a trap?”

  “Morrígan wouldn’t dare dishonor herself before her court by reneging on her word. And come now, little witch. With all the history now between us, do you truly believe I would willingly lead you like a lamb to the slaughter?”

  Surprisingly, I didn’t. Surprisingly, I thought I just might trust him after all. The reason why humbled me, and I cleared my throat as I groped for words.

  “Speaking of which,” I started, toying with the hem of my sleeve. It felt like such a luxury to have bathed and washed away all the grime from the past few days, to be outfitted in new and clean clothes that smelled like spring water and valley breezes. “I haven’t had the chance yet to thank you.”

  “My word,” Kai said. “Have we gotten to the sentimental bits already?” His wisps of smoke coasted along his edges, casual and at ease.

  “I know those Warglings would’ve killed me if you hadn’t intervened. Jack also told me about The Goddess’s Pearl. I hate to tell you this, but maybe you have a redeeming quality after all.”

  “Or perhaps you’re my best chance at possessing the Sword of Light.”

  I’d considered that, of course, that Kai was merely protecting his own self-interests. At the end of the day, he was a demon. He was a prince in the forsaken lands, and a son of the Dark Lord. I was a means to an end and nothing more.

  But I kept going back to my first interaction with Kai. And I kept thinking about what Jack had revealed at Morrígan’s fête regarding Kai saving him more than once from witch hunters.

  “Why did you do it?” I asked.

  Kai looked at me with an arched brow. “You do realize you’re going to have to be a bit more specific than that, don’t you?”

  “Why did you save Jack from The Black Hand in Dublin? You didn’t even seem to care initially. What changed?”

  He shrugged. “Your persistence intrigued me.”

 
“It has to be more than that.”

  “Does it? Believe it or not, I’m not always in the mood to play savior. I certainly wasn’t that night.”

  I thought back on his flushed face and wine-scented breath, not to mention his surly attitude at being disturbed. “You were upset about something.”

  “Clever girl.”

  “Court drama?” I ventured. He’d been wearing his crown and chain of office at the time. And when we’d stood trial before Morrígan, the goddess had made it sound like Kai’s relationship with the other demon royals was, at best, strained.

  Kai’s poker face was masterful, revealing nothing. “Fortunately, Jack has your insufferable stubbornness to thank for his besting The Black Hand once again.”

  “You genuinely care about him,” I said, unable to keep the surprise out of my voice. Because while I’d hoped for as much, I’d recognized the likelihood of it was abysmally low.

  Yes, Kai had befriended a lonely, six-year-old Jack. Yes, he’d saved him from The Black Hand innumerous times. But I’d wanted to believe it’d all been calculated moves on Kai’s part, him slowly stealing away all of Jack’s defenses until he could checkmate him.

  Now I wasn’t so sure. More than ever, it seemed true that things weren’t always as they seemed.

  “Jack and I are more alike than you know,” Kai said simply.

  That, I wasn’t so sure about. Was he referring to the dark magic Jack had used to escape from the Marauders? He’d shared that truth with me hours after our kiss, while we watched the rain continue to fall from the warmth of the cave. Jack had said very little about the incident, and I didn’t pry, sensing the shame he felt. I simply assured him it was behind us now, that a new beginning for us was starting, and we could be whoever we chose to be in it.

  Unfortunately, I didn’t have the chance to ask Kai to expound upon his remark.

  There was no time. We’d arrived at the doors to Morrígan’s throne room.

  “You’ve become quite the thorn in my side, girl.”

  Morrígan looked as menacing as ever as she regarded us from her throne of skulls and bones. She was clad entirely in black, donning a form-fitting jumpsuit that completely covered her neck, arms, and legs. Her teardrop-shaped ruby, as always, hung just beneath her throat, its colors swirling like the turbulent waters of a lake in a storm.

  Knee-high boots covered her feet, and a cape fashioned entirely from ebony feathers hung from the ledge of her shoulders. She looked like a soldier. No—a commander. A commander ready to make the world her footstool.

  Last time I’d been in this room, seven robed figures wearing plague masks had sat behind Morrígan’s throne. They weren’t present now. Nor did we have the audience of those who’d attended the fête those long days ago. There were no courtiers present either, so that when Morrígan finally dismissed the guards, it left me alone in the throne room with a prince among demons and the goddess of death herself.

  Not the most heartening company.

  “A thorn indeed,” Morrígan remarked as she stood from the throne. Her movements were effortless, cat-like. She practically glided across the floor. There was a rush of beating wings, and then a crow swooped down and assumed its perch atop the goddess’s shoulder. Not just any crow—that crow. The one with the beady, aware eyes that never failed to impale me.

  “Of all the heroes to brave The Trials, a lowly, mortal girl is the one to best them all. How objectionably remarkable. My darling sister has clearly chosen her newest champion well.”

  Not sure how to respond, or if a response was even expected, I simply kept my hands clasped before me and met her eyes evenly.

  “A pity about the boy, though.”

  My heart missed a beat. “What do you mean?”

  “Surely you know by now that such a thing could never be,” she said. “The Cave of Nightmares hardly manufactures lies. You will be a Daughter of Brigid until your last breath, and whatever the goddess requires of you, you are to do it without question.”

  That sickly image of Jack pressing his hands to a blood-stained shirt flashed in my mind. I shoved it away and steeled myself. “I won’t play the part of a pawn.”

  “And if my sister demands it?”

  “Then I’ll refuse.”

  There was a wicked glint in Morrígan’s eyes, as if the answer pleased her. “And do you think she’ll take kindly to such defiance?” She laughed. The sound made my stomach roil as the laugh echoed throughout the spacious throne room, as if dozens of Morrígans surrounded me.

  “You mortals have always believed your deities to be so faultless,” she said. “Perhaps you were of the mind that there would be no consequences should you defy Brigid. But what good is an attack dog with no teeth? You were chosen for a reason, and if you’re unable to fulfill the obligations of your role, she’ll have no choice but to put you down.”

  I stared at her, my thoughts tripping over themselves. I honestly hadn’t even thought far enough ahead to consider Brigid’s response. I supposed a part of me had assumed it would be an amicable parting between us, me willingly stepping down from a weight I couldn’t carry. I hadn’t fathomed being smitten by the wrath of a goddess.

  “Nature abhors a vacuum. Another like you will rise up to take your place, to complete the task you mean to leave unfinished. And once that destiny is back on course, you’ll be the next target. Brigid certainly can’t have an unworthy warrior bearing her runes.”

  Without meaning to, my fingers brushed against the inside of my left arm. All the while, my head spun with Morrígan’s assertions. There was no way to confirm whether or not she spoke the truth. I obviously wasn’t going to take her word for it that Brigid, the same goddess who’d exuded nothing but love and warmth toward me, would see to my death if I bucked against my destiny. I could learn the truth only through speaking with Brigid herself.

  “Except Jack won’t follow the path laid out for him,” I said, “so there’ll be no need for anyone to come against him.”

  “You don’t know my sister. If Brigid fears the boy’s doom is inevitable, she won’t take any risks. She’ll see him as nothing more than a threat that must be eradicated at once.”

  Morrígan descended the steps of the dais and slowly sauntered around me and Kai. I resisted the urge to turn in place and track her movements, not liking the idea of giving my back to the mistress of death. Even Kai’s wisps of smoke drifted more closely to his body, as if they feared Morrígan might lash out and snatch them.

  “Of course,” the goddess went on, “I may be persuaded to offer you and the boy protection against my sister…”

  My head whipped in her direction as she came full circle, standing before us once more.

  “I’ll admit, when you first agreed to The Trials, I knew nothing of your fortunes. Imagine my surprise when The Cave of Nightmares displayed what it did. But even that was nothing compared to what I witnessed next when the boy brought you back from death’s grips. It became abundantly clear at that point.”

  I shook my head. “What became clear?”

  “That you and the boy are Fated, of course.”

  “Am I supposed to know what that means?”

  “You’re soulbound,” she clarified, though it offered me no clarity whatsoever. “From before the time either of you were even born, you were predestined to cross each other’s path. You’re kindred souls, forever connected. Your destinies are intertwined and can never be torn asunder.”

  Though it was Morrígan who spoke them, the words still had an effect on me, stirring a deep knowing buried in the center of my chest. Fated. Soulbound. It all felt so right.

  I was instantly reminded of a mosaic vase I’d made that had once toppled off my nightstand, breaking into two perfect halves. I remembered the relief I’d felt at bringing those halves together, their serrated edges fitting together so perfectly, each part at home again with its companion.

  “From what I understand, you called the boy out of the darkness sometime recently.
In doing so, you initiated the bond between the two of you. When he paid the debt in kind, the bond was consummated. Your magic and his magic are now linked until the day death parts you. The bond of the Fated is the greatest and most powerful bond two souls could ever share.”

  That explained the all-consuming connection I’d felt with Jack, the pulsating energy that cloaked me and burned like a furnace in my center, that brightened with his nearness and longed for him when we were apart. We were linked. We were bonded. I could barely absorb the enormity of the words, much less the significance they conveyed.

  Breaking out of my reverie, I focused on Morrígan, on the cruel twist of her knowing smile. “Why would you want to help us?”

  “You would be of great value to me,” the goddess said. “It’s no secret I wish to conquer the realm of the gods. With a Fated pair under my standard, entire armies could fall at the slightest bit of magic you exude.”

  “So you’d have us trade one war for another,” I said. “How would that be any different from what Brigid or the Dark Lord are doing? You all only want to weaponize me and Jack in some way.”

  Morrígan’s smile never left her thin lips. “But I’m the only one who’d prefer you both stay alive at the end of it all.”

  I considered that for a long moment. “What about the Sword of Light?” I briefly explained why I needed it, what was at stake. Before, it’d seemed safer to say as little as possible to Morrígan. Now, it was imperative to lay everything out on the table.

  “Do what you must do with the sword and then return it to me afterward.”

  I could hardly trust my ears. I knew it couldn’t have been this simple all along, since Morrígan wouldn’t have made this offer without knowing Jack and I were Fated, but I still couldn’t believe the ease with which these negotiations were proceeding.

  When my eyes flitted to Kai, though, my burgeoning hope deflated. The parameters of our bargain forbade me from withholding the sword from him. If I didn’t honor our agreement, it would mean the damnation of my soul. I revealed this to Morrígan, Kai’s body going rigid beside me as I confessed.