Page 91 of Wicked Thirst
Gray threw his head back and bellowed to the ceiling. Blackness flowed through Zinnia’s power right toward her. The moment it touched her skin, she sucked in a sharp breath and her eyes rolled into the back of her head. Her body fell to the ground. Convulsions racked her from head to toe, yet the flow of magic didn’t break off between her and Grayson. Everyone leapt into action at once, trying to get to her.
“Back up!” Ophelia reached into her potion bag and pulled out a vial. It was a glittering purple liquid. She pulled the cork out with her teeth and dumped the contents over Zinnia’s face.
Zinnia stopped convulsing and her body went limp. She sucked in a deep breath and rolled to her back as if she was sleeping. Tuck staggered back and hunched over and vomited . . . tar.
Astrid threw her hand out and a bucket appeared in front of him. “What the hell is this? Beckett?”
“Dark, dark shit.” He turned to Ophelia. “Any ideas?”
“How would I know? I’m not the one killing them with black magic!” She reached into that pouch and began rummaging around. “If I was they’d be dead already.”
Moira pushed her out of the way and dropped down to her knees right next to Zinnia. She held her hands over her and a pinkish mist flowed into her body.
For a few moments it looked like nothing was happening, then Zinnia’s eyes fluttered open and she sucked in a deep breath. “What happened?”
“You’re an idiot.” Ophelia shoved her shoulder. “I thought we all agreed that the only one who gets to play with dark magic is the most responsible one: me.”
Tucker stood up straight and ran his hand over the back of his mouth. Sweat beaded his brow, and his skin was sickly pale. “I don’t usually like to say your sister is right but . . .”
“From now on we do not test any magic on Grayson until we discuss it.” Astrid held her hands out like she was stopping traffic. “To avoid any of whatever the hell that was.”
Moira rose to her feet. “I quite agree.”
I nodded. “The only way we’re going to help Grayson is if we all work together and get as much information as we can, then we form a plan and do it.”
They all nodded in agreement.
Grayson just cackled. “Come on. Let’s play. I wanna play.”
Moira turned to face me, and her face turned deadly serious. “Piper, there’s something I need to tell you. Actually, I need to tell all of you.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
MOIRA
Ihadn’t spoken these words to anyone ever. I swore that I would take them to my grave when the time came. The world would never know the truth, yet here I stood about to tell them exactly what happened all those years ago and how things came to be like this now. My son was mad with dark black magic, and I could no longer bear to see him like this. These powerful Queens were going to help him, and I truly believed they’d do everything in their power, which meant I had to do everything in mine.
“Piper, there’s something I need to tell you. Actually, I need to tell all of you.”
“You can tell me anything.” She was so lovely, caring, and beautiful. The perfect soulmate for my son.
I glanced toward the dungeon door. “What I have to say cannot go beyond this room.”
Serrina opened her arms wide and red sparks covered the walls. “Anyone outside this room will have the sudden desire to walk away and not listen to a word you speak.”
The reassurance made me feel better, like I could trust them. “I am trusting you with the most delicate information of my life. And up until this point, I am the only person who has a memory of the events I’m going to tell you about.”
Piper took a step closer to me and rested her hand on my arm. “Whatever it is, I just want you to know that I trust the Queens and Guardians.”
“We want to save Gray as much as you do.” Zinnia rose to her feet. “I swear it.”
“Very well. What is it the kids say these days? Oh yes, buckle up.” I knew if I didn’t tell them the whole truth, they’d get themselves killed dealing with this curse.
200 Years Ago
The baby squealed and squirmed in my arms. He was so strong and held the looks of his father. Sometimes it was difficult to see those mahogany eyes staring back at me. Titus only had flecks, but Grayson had full, deep mahogany eyes. Even the tiny hairs on his head matched Graymont and Titus’ hair. My heart sank at the thought that he would never know his father, the man I’d grown to love in so many ways.
Graymont stood beside me with his arm wrapped around my shoulder. He gave me a little squeeze. “We will see to it, Moira. We will have him back.”
