Page 40 of Cursed Touch
“Can I give it to Vanessa?” he asked.
“Of course. That is actually a really good idea. I’ll make sure to get you a couple more from downstairs. One for her apartment, her boutique, and a small one you can keep in your pocket.”
He nodded. “What’s all of this?”
“You have magic in your blood but haven’t been given certain powers. Sometimes using herbs and stones helps to draw out magic and aid in spell work. So, for example, Ethan can move this stone from this side of the table to the other, but you can’t, right?”
“Right.”
“Well, I’m going to teach you a work-around that will enable you to tap into your magic. These items will reinforce the magic so you can do it. You won’t be able to do it as easily or often as those who can naturally, but then again, you Brodericks keep me on my toes regarding the norm of us witches.”
He grabbed her wrist and met her eyes. “Thank you, Serena. You’ve been a lot of help, and my brother’s really lucky to have you.”
She smiled and he released her. “We’re lucky to have each other.”
Chapter 19
Carter: I’m running later than I planned. Hope you’re hungry. Bringing enough tacos for an army!
Vanessa read the text and grinned. She set the phone down to the right of her workstation and rolled her shoulders. Music played quietly from the speakers in the boutique, and the doors had been locked for nearly two hours.
Diving into her work as soon as she closed helped her not think about Carter or the million ways things had changed for her.
She grabbed the finished bracelets and carried them to their display before returning for the matching earrings. If she had known how popular the stones would be, she would have created more a long time ago.
Vanessa froze when an uneasy feeling washed over her. She turned her head slowly and found a man watching her through the glass from the sidewalk. His eyes narrowed before flashing red. She stepped back, and her gaze darted to the locked door. He gave her a sickening smile as another man sneaked up on him.
Looking at the street, she noticed it was unnaturally empty. A flash of red pulled her attention, and flames formed where the man—the thing—had stood and disappeared as fast as it began. The other man gave her a curt nod and moved into the shadows before she could nod back.
“What the hell was that?” she muttered, her heart hammering away.
A banging at the back sounded, and she yelled with surprise. She turned from the front to the back a few times before creeping upon her back door.
“Vanessa? Are you okay?”
“Vanessa? Goddamn it, let me in!”
She finally made out Carter’s voice through the ringing in her ears. Her fingers fumbled as she tried to unlock the door. Swinging it open, she was relieved to see his face and tossed her arms around his neck.
His warmth pressed against her front as he guided her inside. “Shh… What happened, sweetheart? Why’d you scream?”
She put her forehead to his chest and blindly swatted his side. “You freaking scared me!”
“Iscared you? Why? You knew I was on my way,” he said, setting her back so he could close the door.
“Carter?” a deep voice called before Carter opened the door again.
Vanessa stared at the man from minutes before. He was tall, muscular, and there was a hardness about him that she could not put her finger on.
“Oh, hey, Xander!” he said, shifting a bag from one hand to the other so he could offer it. “Everything okay?”
His head made the barest movement. “Tubar, up front. I took care of it, but there are a lot more on this side of town than normal.”
Tubar. She scoured her brain for what it was. Vanessa remembered hearing the name, but with everything she had learned, it was hard pinpointing it all.
“Lower level demon,” Carter told her before facing Xander. “Thanks, man, I appreciate it.”
“You got a dagger on you in case another shows?” Xander asked.
