Page 96 of Curse in the Quarter
"I felt it click into place." Maman's eyes sparkled with satisfaction. "That woman's ghost can finally rest easy, knowing her city's protected proper. Question is, what you planning to do with all that free time now that you ain't got magical obligations eating up your attention?"
"I want to court Delphine properly this time."
The words came out more nervous than he'd intended,and Maman's knowing smile suggested she'd heard the uncertainty in his voice.
"About time," she said. "Boy, you been waiting twenty-five years since the moment you found out she was born for this exact opportunity. Girl already knows you ain't human—she heard you called angel, fallen angel, all sorts of things in her research. Now you get to show her what that means after your connection strengthens naturally."
"I'm concerned about her safety," Bastien admitted. "My world is dangerous, Maman. There are entities that would target her just for being connected to me, supernatural politics she shouldn't have to navigate, magical threats she's not equipped to handle."
Maman set down her cup with a sharp clink. "This whole thing has been about giving Delphine choice, cher. Keeping her at a distance when your bond naturally wants to strengthen? That's just another kind of control. Charlotte trusted you to let her choose—honor that trust."
"But—"
"No buts. You think that girl don't know exactly what she's getting into? She been researching supernatural New Orleans for months now, learning about vampires and werewolves and all manner of dangerous things. She’s smart enough to make informed decisions about her own life."
Bastien stared into his coffee, seeing his own reflection wavering in the dark liquid. "What if I make mistakes? What if I approach this wrong and drive her away instead of drawing her closer?"
"Then you make mistakes and learn from them, same as any man courting any woman." Maman's voice gentled slightly. "You think regular human relationships don't involve risk? Don't involve the possibility of heartbreak and disappointment and all sorts of complications?"
"This is different."
"How?"
The question caught him off guard. How was it different, really? Because of their past lifetimes together? Because of the mystical tether connecting their souls? Because of the magical world she'd be entering by association with him?
"I've loved her across three lifetimes," he said finally. "The stakes feel higher when you've already lost someone twice."
"Higher stakes just mean the reward's worth more when you succeed." Maman leaned forward, her eyes serious. "Charlotte designed this whole thing so her soul would have choice, so love would be freely given instead of magically compelled. But choice means risk, cher. Can't have one without the other."
His phone buzzed against his chest pocket, the vibration startling him out of his contemplation. He pulled it out to find a text from Delphine, sent just minutes ago.
Delphine:
Hey, there's this new exhibition at the Contemporary Arts Center about folklore and urban legends. Want to check it out this weekend? Figured you might find it interesting given your “extensive” knowledge of local supernatural traditions.
Bastien stared at the message, his chest tightening with something that felt like anticipation mixed with terror. She was reaching out to him, actively seeking his company, suggesting an activity that played directly into their shared interests. The patient approach was working—she was drawn to him naturally, without magical compulsion or soul memory forcing the connection.
"What's that smile for?" Maman asked, though her tone suggested she already knew.
"She wants to go to an exhibition together this weekend. Something about folklore and urban legends."
"Course she does. Girl's been circling around you for weeks now, looking for excuses to spend time with you. You just been too nervous to notice." Maman reached over and patted his knee with maternal affection. "This is good, cher. This is how it supposed to work—natural attraction, shared interests, genuine compatibility drawing you together without magical interference."
Bastien typed back quickly:I'd enjoy that. Saturday afternoon?
Her response came within minutes:Perfect. Meet at 2? And maybe we could grab dinner after if the exhibition's interesting.
His heart did something complicated in his chest, a combination of elation and nervousness that reminded him of being sixteen and asking a girl to dance for the first time. Except he wasn't sixteen, and this wasn't just any girl—this was Delphine, Charlotte's soul reborn, Delia's essence given new form, the woman he'd been waiting decades to court properly.
"She wants to have dinner too," he told Maman, unable to keep the satisfaction out of his voice.
"Of course she does. That girl's been half in love with you for weeks, just waiting for some sign that you might be interested in more than professional friendship." Maman finished her coffee and set the cup aside. "Question is, you ready to be courted back? Because she ain't gonna be passive in this relationship, not with that personality. Times have changed. Women have changed.” Maman gave him aknowing look. “She gonna challenge you, push you, make you work for every bit of affection you earn.”
"Good," Bastien said, and meant it. "I want her to challenge me. I want her to push back when she disagrees with me, to call me out when I'm being overprotective or condescending, to bring her own strength and intelligence to whatever we build together."
"Then you better start figuring out how to balance those angel-born protective instincts with respecting human autonomy," Maman warned. "That's gonna be your biggest challenge—letting her make her own choices about risk and safety instead of trying to shield her from everything that might possibly hurt her."
Bastien nodded, understanding the wisdom in her words. Charlotte had fallen for him partly because he'd respected her intelligence and independence. Delia had been drawn to his authenticity rather than his mystery. Delphine would respond to the same approach—honest courtship that acknowledged her strength rather than trying to protect her from her own decisions.
