by J. N. Colon
Marisol wasn’t eating, and my mother wasn’t working or covered in animal hair. Hell had frozen over.
“I’m sure you’re hungry, Evangeline.” Abuela used magic to float a plate to the empty seat.
My lips thinned. It was another glaring reminder she’d lied to me my whole life. Just perfect.
I folded down in the cushioned wooden chair, grimacing at my sister. It was only half sincere. At least we’d be together in our misery.
The little things in life.
“How was your sleepover with your friend Riley?” my dad asked.
My gaze landed on a guilty-looking Lucas. He’d lied to my father for me. I half expected him to spill the beans about where I’d really stayed last night. Etie had dropped me off early this morning on his way to the Leroux house before anyone was awake.
Marisol snorted, and I kicked her under the table. I didn’t want to get into another argument with my dad over Etie.
His dark eyes shifted between us. “What’s so funny?”
“Nothing,” I squeaked. “Riley’s was fine.” I grabbed a homemade biscuit and a piece of bacon.
My father scooped eggs onto his fork. “What did you girls do?”
“Yeah, Flaca, what did you do? Braid each other’s hair?” Marisol tore off the end of a sausage link. “Or pillow fight?” Her brows wiggled.
I kicked her again, but she moved, and my big toe smacked into the chair leg. Pain shot up my foot. “Stop calling me that,” I gritted out. “Unless you want me to start using a couple of your nicknames—the ones I’ve heard at Chickarees.”
Her haughty smile dropped.
I thought so.
“I don’t want you hanging out there, Marisol.” My dad plucked another pancake from the stack with his fork, earning a smile from Abuela. “It’s no place for a young lady.”
“Marisol’s a lady?” I did a terrible job of hiding my smile. “I never knew.”
She stuck her tongue out at me before turning to the imposing figure at the other end of the table. “Dad, I’m almost twenty-one. You can’t tell me where I can and can’t go.”
He wasn’t that imposing, not to Marisol.
“It’s not that bad, Cris,” my mother said. “Marisol is probably the biggest troublemaker in there.”
My sister smirked. “Got that right.”
Cristóbal De la Mora looked none too thrilled at his eldest daughter’s reputation. He rolled his broad shoulders and stared at his plate.
“Lighten up.” My mom reached for his hand, lacing their fingers together. “I just got you back. Let’s not spend the entire time arguing with our girls.”
His expression softened and for the first time, a smile tipped the edges of his lips. “You’re right, Erica.” He kissed her knuckles. “I missed you.”
A lump grew in my throat. As mad as I was at my family—minus Marisol—it must have been hell going ten years without the person you loved. Now I understood why my mom never removed her wedding ring, and why she never went on any dates.
“I could always keep an eye on things here if you want to go somewhere for a few hours,” Lucas offered, his warm brown eyes regarding my father with more reverence than he deserved.
My mother instantly perked up, but the smile my father gave didn’t reach his eyes, deflating her shoulders.
“I’m not sure that’s such a good idea right now, Lucas, but I appreciate the offer.” He released my mom’s hand, and she went back to eating—or picking at her food.
I wasn’t the only one who’d lost their appetite.
“Hijo, you should get out of town for a few hours. You’ve been cooped up in this house for days. No one would recognize you outside of Carrefour.” Abuela toggled her hand between Marisol and me. “They’ll be fine.”
“It’s not a good idea.” He sighed and grabbed the napkin from his lap, placing it on the table. “It would be another story if we were at the coven house. There would be plenty of other witches and protection to keep any trouble away.”
Marisol dropped her fork onto her empty plate. How she managed to scarf down the entire thing within a few minutes was beyond me. “Are you seriously blaming your lack of freedom to spend time with Mom on Angel and me?”
“It’s just a fact,” he said. “If we were there, your mother and I would be able to reconnect like she deserves.”
Marisol scoffed. “She deserves more than that. She deserves a husband who cares for her.”
My father slammed his fist on the table, rattling the dishes. “That’s enough! You and your sister—”
My mother’s hands lifted as she scooted back from the table. “That is enough, all of you.” Her hazel eyes hardened on my father. “You breathing down their necks isn’t going to help anyone.”
“Damn right.” Marisol crossed her arms against her chest.
“And you girls need to stop putting all the fault for this on your father,” she added.
“We don’t.” Angry heat flooded my cheeks. “All of you lied to us.”
My dad sighed and rubbed his forehead with the tips of his fingers. “I’m trying to protect my family. Taking you all to the coven is what’s best.”
Marisol slid her plate away. “Maybe, but you don’t want to give us an option. You’re demanding we go.”
“Yes, I am,” he admitted. “And it’s not only for your safety. It’s for everyone else close to you.” He turned his attention on me, his expression hardening. “Your friends are in danger every minute you spend with them.”
My jaw dropped. “They are not. I’d never hurt them.”
He shook his head. “Not on purpose, but what do you think will happen if a coven of ruthless witches finds you while you’re with them? They won’t hesitate to hurt those girls to get to you, killing them even. Or what about dark voodoo casters? They’re even worse.” He leaned forward, pinning me with an ominous look. “You’re bound to a pouvior bokor. It’s only a matter of time before someone senses all that power and comes for you.”
Acid crawled up my throat, and the small amount of food I’d eaten threatened to reappear. Was I putting Riley and Lana in that much peril just by remaining in town? I didn’t want them involved in this crazy world. That was why I couldn’t tell them the truth. But I never considered the danger looming over them simply by knowing me.
Cool water washed over my feet as the sun baked my shoulders. The afternoon rays glittered along the surface of the pool. The world beneath it was tranquil and peaceful, nothing like the turmoil raging around me.
I hadn’t been able to forget my father’s words at breakfast. Was he speaking the truth? Were my friends really in danger the longer I stayed in Carrefour or was this another manipulative lie?
A long sigh drifted out, and I leaned back on my hands, the concrete warm beneath my palms. We were hanging out in Lana’s backyard since mine was off-limits. The waterfall, bamboo accents, waxy plants, and brilliant flowers surrounding it made it feel like an oasis in the middle of stifling hot Louisiana.
Lana and Riley continued to bicker back and forth about the décor of their future dorm room. The two of them couldn’t have been more different. Riley wanted pink and sparkly, while Lana wanted cool tones and modern. Their dorm was going to have a serious split personality if they couldn’t compromise.
“Instead of pink, I can deal with purple.” Riley chewed on the end of her pen. “But we have to at least have those crystal chandelier lamps I’ve been dying to get.”
A sneer pulled at Lana’s lips. “No way. I’d rather it look like everything had a Pepto-Bismol bath.”
“Perfect! We’ll go with the pink then.” Riley jotted down their decision on the pink and white notepad.
Lana’s jaw dropped, realizing she’d been had.
I chuckled. “You guys are going to kill each other.” They were leaving in a couple of weeks. Then, they’d be safe. Maybe I could simply wait it out instead of running to the coven.
The sliding glass door opened, and Mrs.
Rhee poked her head out. “Girls, I made some dumplings. Come get some.”
My stomach rolled. I was still queasy from this morning. “I’m not hungry, Mrs. Rhee, but thanks.”
“I’m sure Riley won’t mind eating your helping then.” Mrs. Rhee was almost as petite as me with high cheekbones and perfect skin. She hardly looked old enough to have a teenage daughter.
Riley was already scrambling up, almost knocking me into the pool. “I’ll eat hers, mine, and half of Lana’s.” She licked her glossy lips. “Those are my favorite.”
Lana and I giggled at our friend’s enthusiasm. We laughed even harder when Mrs. Rhee blocked the redhead from entering the kitchen until she kicked her shoes off.
My smile slipped. I was really going to miss them. Would I even be able to visit them after we handled this situation with the voodoo king, or would they always be in danger around me because I was a conduit?
Lana nudged my leg. “Why the long face?”
I turned toward her, wishing I had a pair of dark sunglasses to hide my eyes. Lana was always too perceptive for her own good. “I was just thinking about how much I’m going to miss you guys.”
“We’re going to miss you too.” She bit her bottom lip, her head tilting as she surveyed me. “But there’s something else bothering you, isn’t there?”
See what I mean.
“Nope. I’m fine.” Liar!
“Is it Etie?”
Speaking of the pouvior bokor, a familiar tingle eased over my toujou. I perked up, searching Lana’s yard for him. He had to be close.
My friend nudged me. “Did you tell him Lucas kissed you yet?”
I froze. Oh my God. That did not just come out of her mouth.
“What!”
My head swiveled as Etie marched out of the thick foliage in the back, angry fire lighting up his gaze. He must have climbed the fence to avoid Mrs. Rhee.
Lana winced. “I’ll take that as a no.”
My heart was in my throat as Etie halted in front of me, the sun creating a blinding halo around his dark, tousled hair. With his hard expression and storming eyes, he looked like an avenging angel. “Etie, I—uh—was going to tell you.” Every drop of moisture had evaporated from my mouth. It was worse than a desert landscape.
“When?” he hissed.
I scrambled to my feet so he wasn’t such an imposing figure. At six-foot-something and packed with iron muscles, he was still pretty damn daunting. “It was the night my d—” My gaze flicked to Lana. Hell. I’d been about to say my dad. I cleared my throat. “It was the night my uncle came to visit.”
His nostrils flared. “Did you kiss him back? Did you like it?”
Lana stood and backed up, jerking her thumb over her shoulder. “I’m going to get some food.” She quickly pivoted and high-tailed it into her house.
Now I was left alone with the livid Cajun.
He crossed his arms against his chest, his muscles bulging. “Why didn’t you tell me? Were you even going to tell me?”
“Of course.” I internally groaned at my squeaky voice. Why did I have to sound like a mouse? “A lot’s been going on lately. It slipped my mind.” It hadn’t slipped my mind. I was avoiding it.
Etie gave a barking, humorless laugh. “We both know that’s a crock of shit, cher.” He stepped forward, his wild scent washing over me. “You didn’t tell me because you were protecting that lying brujo.”
That was partly true.
“What kind of a kiss was it? Was there tongue?” His voice was barely more than a growl. “Did you go back for seconds?”
Heat flooded my veins. I pushed him back—tried anyway. “I didn’t like it, and I didn’t ask for it. He caught me off guard.”
Etie shook his head. “Now I get to say I told you so.”
I scoffed. “That’s real mature.”
“I don’t care about being mature.” He absentmindedly rubbed his toujou. “I told you he was here to steal you away, but you didn’t trust me or my judgement.”
I tossed my hands up. “I’m sorry. I don’t have a lot of experience in dealing with this kind of thing.”
“All the more reason you should have trusted me!” A mix of incoherent French and English poured from his mouth while his hands gestured wildly. His eyes were too bright, close to glowing with magic. He was probably cursing me out a hundred times over.
If I started yelling in Spanish, would that shut him up?
“I don’t know what you’re saying!” I glanced over his shoulder to see Riley, Lana, and Mrs. Rhee all pressed against the sliding glass door watching us.
Blood flooded my cheeks. I’d never been in the limelight before Etie came along.
I grabbed his wrist and tried tugging him toward the trees lining the back of the yard for more privacy, but he wouldn’t budge. “We have an audience,” I hissed. “I don’t want to lose control of my powers while we’re arguing.”
He gently pried my fingers off. “Not a problem. I have nothing else to say right now.” He brushed past me.
“Etie! You didn’t even let me explain.” I darted after him, planting myself in front of his massive frame.
His tumultuous eyes met mine, and I shuddered. “How about I don’t have anything else nice to say right now,” he growled. “I don’t want to say something I’ll regret.”
My heart dropped into my gut. Tears burned my eyes, but I stepped away and let him pass. He marched off, disappearing through the trees.
I bit my lip to keep sobs from escaping my mouth. I should have told him. Why did I have such a knack for screwing things up?
Chapter 7
I absentmindedly flipped through a spell book, unfocused on the words scrawled across the pages. The attic floor pressed against my butt, unforgiving and hard. I shifted, wincing at the numbness tingling through my bottom half.
I’d been stewing in my bad mood for the last few hours. Lucas had followed me up, but when I told him what happened, he disappeared. It wouldn’t help the situation if Etie popped up and saw us together so soon after learning about the kiss.
Etie was furious, but I’d also felt his heartache. I’d hurt him. Again.
What was wrong with me? I was worse than the wicked witch of the whatever. I was possibly putting my friends in danger, I’d made another deal with the voodoo king without considering my soul mate’s feelings, and I’d let another guy kiss me.
And that said guy was still hanging around.
I fell back with a long sigh, tossing the book aside. The white lines of the pentagram were distinct beneath me. My finger traced over the intersecting crescent moons as I thought of the night I’d touched it and the memories of my family binding my powers that had jolted through me. They were just bits and pieces, fragments of stolen time.
My life was so full of lies I couldn’t always tell what was the truth even when it smacked me in the face. Maybe that was part of the reason I didn’t believe Etie and everyone else when they said Lucas had a thing for me.
It was more than just a thing. He’d grown up expecting to marry me—another secret I’d kept from Etie.
My stomach clenched. It wasn’t right. Our souls were bound. There should be nothing but trust between us. I had to tell him no matter how badly he’d react. It was better than finding out from someone else.
Creaks echoed on the stairs and for a split second, I thought it was Etie. I shot up, my heart jumping in my throat. But moments passed, and I didn’t feel that little tingle through my toujou. My shoulders slumped.
Hazel eyes framed by gentle waves of auburn hair appeared in the doorway. “Angel? I thought I might find you in here.” My mom strolled in, still wearing a clean t-shirt and jeans.
“What are you doing up here?” She rarely visited the attic. She wasn’t too interested in spell books and witchy whatnots. I shifted, crossing my legs as she walked closer.
A frown settled over her face. “Lucas told me that Etie found out he kissed you.”
Traitor. First, he was l
oyal to a fault to my dad, and now he was spilling my personal drama to my mom.
She folded down in front of me, grimacing at the hard floor. “Don’t be mad at him. He was just worried and thought you might need to talk.” She shrugged. “Marisol’s not here so…”
I picked up the book and absentmindedly rifled through the pages again. “Aren’t you happy Etie and I are fighting over Lucas? You want me to be with Lucas.” She may have taken my side when Dad forbid me to see Etie, but I didn’t think for one second she really approved of the voodoo caster over Lucas.
“That’s not true.” When I ignored her, the book was taken from my hands. “I’m serious, Angel. I want you to be with whoever makes you happy. Obviously that’s Etie—even if there were no soulbind.”
I peeked up, expecting lies lingering behind her nice words. “Do you really mean that, Mom?”
“Of course, sweetie.” She reached over and gently patted my knee. “I can see how happy you are with him. Things aren’t perfect between you guys, but nothing ever is.” Her lips pursed. “And if it seems perfect, it’s a lie.”
I huffed. She would know about lying.
“Unless… Do you have feelings for Lucas?”
“No.” I’d already been over it in my head a hundred times. Lucas was a total babe and sweet—at least he pretended to be—but Etie was my everything. Even when he was yelling at me in some foreign language, I still loved him more than anything.
My mother watched me for several minutes before finally nodding. “Just checking.”
Or holding out hope I’d say yes. She wanted me to have a soul mate and a boyfriend?
“Why don’t you go talk to Etie?” she said, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. “He’s had some time to cool down, and he can’t stay mad at you forever.”
I wasn’t sure about that. Etie was as stubborn as they came. “I still have to tell him about the arrangement.”
“That might sting a little.” She patted my shoulder. “Best to do it quick like ripping off a bandaid.”
“Right. A bandaid.” One massive, hellacious bandaid coming right up.
