Page 63 of Radiant Shadows

“Janette,” the older woman hissed scoldingly, mercifully rescuing me from having to answer.

Shea stifled a laugh behind sucked-in lips before introducing her. “And my grandmother, Marjorie.”

I did the same with Marjorie, nodding at them both.

“Aunt Janette, Gram, this is Tobias, Arya’s boyfriend.” Shea gave an awkward smile and held out her hands like I was some sort of display.

I stepped back, clasping my hands behind me, unsure what to do next. I didn’t know if it was common for Shea’s family to vet guys who wanted to hang out with her or if they were awareof my situation and reason for being here. Either way, the way everyone stood looking at one another felt awkward.

Shea reached behind her on the desk for an ancient-looking, large bound book. It made my stomach leap into my throat, and beads of perspiration gathered on my forehead. Shea stared at the book for several seconds as if gathering her thoughts.

“So...I found the spells,” she said, still not glancing up. “The curse and thecounter-curse. Sorry it took so long, but the grimoire only started cooperating yesterday.”

My eyebrows shot up in surprise. “It was in your family grimoire?”

It seemed pretty incredible and almost too easy that the exact spell we needed just happened to be in the spell book of the first witch I’d sought out. I felt my skepticism rise again but shoved it down.

I needed this. My family needed this. Mymomneeded this.

Shea nodded, still not looking at me. “The spell requires the magic of at least three witches.” She finally lifted her eyes to meet mine. “So Aunt Janette and Gram have agreed to help.”

So, that’s why they’re here.

Janette beamed with enthusiasm, but Marjorie merely smiled as if we were about to do something mundane, like making a sandwich.

They weren’t here to make sure I acted like a gentleman and treated their niece and granddaughter with respect. They were here to add their own powers and strengthen the spell.

I swallowed as the gravity of the situation fell on me. “Is three enough?”

It was only natural and logical that it would take several to break the curse. I remembered reading that several of the witch sisters placed it. I wasn’t sure of the exact number, but I thought it had to be more than three.

The women looked amongst themselves. Shea shrugged.

“It should work,” she said, then opened the book to a marked page and handed it to Marjorie, who propped it on a yellow music stand she’d retrieved from the corner. The old book looked ridiculous on its practically neon perch.

Janette pulled a small black pocket knife from her back pocket and handed it to Shea, who thanked her with a grimace.

Blood.It must need blood.

Without thinking or being asked, I offered my hand.

Marjorie cupped my palm with her own beneath and looked expectantly at Shea.

Shea’s face contorted again—she’d been right, she did look a little green now—and she flipped open the knife and held it over her own hand.

I attempted to withdraw my hand upon realizing it wasn’t my blood that was needed, but Marjorie held it firm and motioned for Janette to also place her hand beneath.

Shea squeezed her eyes tightly for a moment as if bracing herself. It didn’t seem like a good way to draw blood. I would hate for her to accidentally hit an artery and bleed out on the rug—curse or no curse, my chances with Arya would plummet indefinitely.

When she opened her eyes again, her face was stoic and determined. She placed the edge of the blade firmly on the tip of her finger until a deep red bead appeared. She then handed the knife to Janette.

Shea smeared the blood on my palm, drawing a circle as she recited words in a strange, ancient-sounding language. “Pa-eem hetem en ib.”

Janette took the knife and cut her finger, then did the same over Shea’s blood. “Pa-eem hetem en ib.”

Marjorie took the knife for her turn.

“Heru meri ee em hotep,”Shea, Janette, and Marjorie said simultaneously, re-tracing the circle. “Kem neheh,” the three said almost together, then drew a line through the circle, Shea shuddering. “Kem neheh.”

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