Page 53 of Curses & Cold Brew
I wondered how long she’d been under Esme’s curse, how atrophied her ability to fight back had become. There was a reason this kind of magic had been forbidden by local coven bylaws. It wouldn’t only potentially kill Naphula if she was kept under its grip for much longer, but Esme could just as soon destroy herself with this curse as much as wield it.
“Esme,” I croaked as loud as I could, trying to summon the vampire. But the air remained still—as did my silent demonic babysitter, who didn’t so much as flinch.
I gritted my teeth. This bitch. She’d come back into town, upended Ramona’s life—and by extension, my own—and now she thought could just kill me?
Not happening.You’ve messed with the wrong witch.
Fuming, I gathered the magical energy within me and concentrated it in my fingertips. Small sparks sizzled above my head. My magic felt both relieved and eager to be unleashed.
“Dolor,” I called in Latin. “Afferte mihi sanguinem.”
Naphula twitched as if bitten by a mosquito. It was the smallest warning, but the dark ooze of demon blood appeared as a small nick on her cheek.
“Aha!” I exclaimed with a knowing nod. “Gotcha, bitch.”
I started chanting louder, striking another blow and splitting Naphula’s lip. I knew the demon could take it, probably was grateful I was doing it, even as I beat her to a bloody pulp. The threat to the vessel would bring her consciousness to the surface and pull her out of Esme’s control. I hoped it royally pissed off the vampire as she felt her influence slipping away with the same pain I was inflicting.
“Stop,” Naphula growled, her voice and face contorting, distorted by the curse. “I said stop, you fucking witch.”
I let out my patented witch cackle, glee igniting my magic.
“You didn’t bring me here to fuck around, Esme,” I crowed. “Fight me.”
Naphula lurched forward, her movements sharp and erratic, as if two puppeteers were battling for control of her strings. I pushed harder, spurred on by the knowledge that the connection between her and Esme was fracturing. With a snap of my fingers, I released my useless bindings. The fools had tied me up like I was a human. A simple rope would never stop a witch. They would have needed more than that to keep me held down.
I rose to my feet just as Naphula got within arm’s reach of me. I cocked my fist and swung, hitting her with a hard uppercutto the jaw that had her stumbling backward and my knuckles shooting with a satisfying flash of pain. I steadied myself on my feet, fire magic swirling around my hands.
Naphula shook her head, bits of white and silver bleeding through the black veil in her eyes before disappearing again.
“Fight it, Naphula,” I commanded. Then I spoke to Esme again, a wicked smile pulling my lips. “Come on, bloodsucker,” I snarled. “Let’s play.”
27
RAMONA
Itore across the pumpkin patch, kicking up leaves in my wake. I’d never raced this fast in my life.
Please, please, please. Let her be safe.
My lungs burned as I silently begged and bargained while I ran.
Whatever needs to happen, whatever I need to do. Please, to every devil in every circle of hell, let this hunch be right.
As I approached the building, I saw no signs of movement, heard no calls of distress.
Fear choked me in its viselike grip.
I ate up the distance to the rickety door and threw it open, then ran inside. My cursed meat suit was flooded with endorphins and ready to take on Naphula, Esme, and any other creature standing in the way of my girl. But when I got there, I spotted Iris, wearing nothing but the sweater I’d knitted for her, leaning against the central beam with her arms crossed while she stared smugly at bloodied and tied-up Naphula.
“Oh, hey,” Iris said like we’d bumped into each other at the library.
“Hey?”
She’d been kidnapped from my house. This was the most terrifying moment of my immortal life. And all she said washey?
“I told you, demon.” Iris shrugged. “I’m a powerful witch. I can take care of myself.”
All the panic ebbed and melted to something like lust-addled relief as I crossed the distance to thatpowerful witch. Locking her in my sights, I grabbed Iris by the back of the neck and pinned her to the beam behind her. My tongue delved into her mouth, and I kissed her with all the relief and desperation that had been churning within me.
