Page 94 of Cursed

“Shay?” I rub over the skin on her forearm where one burn mark used to be. “Did you see this?”

She lifts up Arden’s oversized t-shirt she’s using as a nightgown and reveals a mar-free canvas of flesh. “What the—” Her hand skims over the same spots I had memorized and used against her mother yesterday. Eyes wide, she looks up at Arden, then at Branden.

If anyone could have healed that, it would be them, but they both shake their heads no.

Branden suggests, “Maybe when you let go of your mother’s hold over you, and all that magic flowed through your body—you just…healed?”

She stares at her clear skin again in shock. “Is it weird that it feels strange to not have them?”

“I don’t think so.” I stroke her arm, and she clasps it in return.

“You are always beautiful, but I’m happy they are gone so you don’t have to be reminded of that pain.” Arden strokes her soft flesh lovingly, adoringly.

“I never realized until now how much the scars had become part of me.”

“Maybe letting them go is the beginning of freeing yourself from your abusive past?”

Shayla let her tears fall. Whether she cries from relief, or joy, or melancholy that she ever had been tormented like that, I don’t know for sure. But I guess it might be from all of that and more.

Gently, I brush the tears from her cheeks. “If their correct, I’m happy that you’re able to release those marks and the pain associated with them.”

Shayla gives Arden a kiss and me a hug. “Thank you.”

After a soft exhale, Branden says, “We have to deal with the fallout… unfortunately. But first, we should eat.”

With a quick check at the tiny window, the sky outside reveals it’s almost evening.

* * *

All six of us eat a simple meal. Shayla and I patiently wait to get caught up on what has happened since the asylum.

“Myra has roused a few times,” Hollis tells us. “She identified your fathers as part of the draining operations. I’m certain that we will need to officially give statements to the supernatural authorities. Before we surrender ourselves to be questioned, we should contact our information networks—spread the word and truth about what happened at the asylum.”

“Have we made any contact?” I ask. “Do we know if we are still fugitives?”

“Fortunately, some of the faeries in the area attested to a team of investigators what happened. It looks like many of the Enforcers being paid off, have fled their posts and positions when their benefactors were eliminated.”

“Smart.” Shayla grumbles, “But they got away.”

“For now.” I squeeze her into a side hug, reassuring her that justice will be served.

Hollis nods to our druid. “Arden’s mother is another witness for our case. Currently, she’s in the hospital, recovering.”

“Your mother!” Shayla grabs Arden’s hand. “She’salive?”

His eyes tear up, and he nods. Shayla leaps into his lap and hugs him.

“It was a shock, but I can’t wait for you to meet her when this is all done,” he says quietly.

“Whatever she needs, she’ll have it,” I promise Arden. “I’ll buy a place big enough for everyone, if that’s what you want.” Then I look at Branden and dread asking, but need to know. “Was there any sign of your sister?”

“No. During our fight at the asylum, my father said she was dead. But I can’t believe a thing he says…said.”

“We’ll keep looking for something, some evidence—even if it’s only for closure,” I promise. Then I change my focus and ask, “What about my mother and sister?” They might attempt to challenge me for a claim of the estate since, technically, it’s all mine now. “I don’t want them to hurt any of you in retaliation.”

“The faeries tell us that they are gone. Vanished,” Hollis says with more than a hint of relief. I’m sure he’s glad not to have to deal with my family in any way—now that I might be in his coven.

“What about the faeries?” I ask, worried for the tiny warriors.

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