Page 16 of Cursed

Maxum steps forward, his identifying tattoo-like marks on his massive body covered with Rourke’s shirt and sweatpants. His face is obscured by a glamour to make him look human, but not the human face he usually wears in public. This all means he should be able to walk away from this without backlash even if, for some freak reason, these bullies remember what’s going to happen.

I’m not gifted with the ability to create glamours to disguise myself, so hopefully, Maxum will extract their memories of this interrogation completely. I wouldn’t mind if their tiny, pitiful minds were scrambled like eggs in the process. Maybe they’d be kind for once in their pathetic, useless lives.

Millie is the first to wake fully. “What is going on?” She scans the room, but Kat and Douglas are out of sight in the bedroom, waiting for this to be done.

I’ve never dealt with this student before. She’s never been in one of my classes. A strange realization crawls through my mind as I study her face and energy. For some reason, she reminds me of Shayla. It’s too much to be ignored.

As the mean little mage glowers at me, I see that it’s not her eyes that remind me of my mate—in shape or color. But thereissomething. After I pack away my fond feelings for Shayla and my anger toward Millie, Iseeit.

They are related.

But how? The thought comes to me that Shayla doesn’t know who her father is. Could they be half-sisters? No. Tate Mannyx, the mysterious and powerful shifter, can’t be Shayla’s father. But the more I study Millie’s energetic signature, the more I suspect the Supernatural Council member had an affair with Shayla’s mother.

But why? Why would a powerful male like that be with someone he considers lesser? And does he know about Shayla’s existence?

Millie grunts as she attempts to use her telekinetic power to throw Maxum and me backward. She curses and looks down at the crystal charm around her neck—which effectively cages her abilities. She glances over at Chara to see that she wears one as well.

Chara shakes her head as she comes to.

“What the fuck is this about?” Millie demands of us.

“Something that I should have done long ago.” I step forward menacingly, rolling up my sleeves up as if I mean to pummel her face.

Millie’s eyes widen for a moment, assuming that is exactly what I mean to do.

Thinking about how they bullied Shayla and then almost murdered my mate and Landis, I wonder why I don’t. My old childhood trauma rises in me, and I remember I don’t want to be violent like my father was. But damn, these assholes tempt me.

I riffle through Chara’s bag and find a cache of poisons and elixirs. Snatching up an inhibitor tonic laced with iron, just like the one Chara used on Landis, I growl. I’d like to see how she handles the same treatment. I curse and shove the toxic brew back into her bag and identify a potion with a sweet floral scent of volderberry, which is used to lower psychic defenses and make your victim more pliable. And, of course, it’s also illegal. She could be expelled just for having this. Perhaps, when this is all over, I’ll turn her in for having these.

I eye it, wondering if I should use the forbidden substance.

In for a penny…

I grab Millie’s jaw and pinch her mouth open by pressing into her cheeks.

Maxum helps by pinching her nose and closing her lips to make her swallow the fluid in her mouth.

We give Chara a dose too.

Both females glare at us as if they could retaliate any second. But they are secure, unless they have another illegal magic surprise to throw at us.

I’m not worried. Maxum is resistant to most magic, very much like a dragon. Some say the species are related.

Besides that, we have woven our power and wards around them.

Now, for some answers.

I’ve already provided Maxum with most of my questions, since he will be the one mind-diving if they resist. But my instincts say the new question about Shayla’s origins is important.

“Millie, are you related to Shayla?” I ask.

Her eyes widen a fraction, informing me I’m on the right track. She would have sneered if she believed it to be untrue.

Picking up the same micro-expression I did, Maxum asks, “Howare you related to Shayla?”

Millie squirms but doesn’t answer.

Maxum tenses next to me. His gaze seems to burrow into the telekinetic mage, probably starting to probe into the bully’s mind.

---