Bewitched on Bourbon Street Read Free

emotions was too much to bear, and my knees buckled. I fell to the side, barely missing hitting my head on one of the rented tables.
    “Jade!” It was Kat. She kneeled in front of me, worry lines marring her usually smooth complexion. “Call Kane!”
    “No.” I pushed myself back up. “I’ll be fine. I just need everyone to take a step back, please.”
    Everyone except Kat did as I asked. The relief was instantaneous. My body was lighter and my breathing turned to normal.
    Kat placed her hand over mine and squeezed. “Take what you need.”
    I shook my head, unwilling to use her energy to fortify myself. I had in the past and likely would in the future, but not unless it was absolutely necessary. “Really, it’s okay. I only need a minute.”
    She studied me as if she wasn’t sure she believed me, but after I gave her a reassuring smile, she bent her head in agreement and got to her feet.
    Bea kneeled down in front of me and handed me one of her energy-boosting herbs.
    I took it without resistance.
    “What happened?” she asked, worry streaming off her in waves.
    “I have no idea. Everything was going fine, then when the magic hit me, a stream of black magic came out of nowhere.” I glanced around, searching for a rogue witch. How else could I have been attacked? “Did you see anyone? Someone must’ve cast a spell at the same time.”
    “No.” Bea frowned, confusion mixing with her worry. “And it didn’t come from anyone else. It came from you.”
    My mouth fell open in shock. “That’s impossible. I don’t use black magic.”
    “No. Not on purpose, you don’t. But if something’s off with your powers, then you could’ve—”
    “Jade’s been cursed,” Zoe said, her voice carrying over the whispers of the guests.
    Bea started, and we both turned to eye the young woman. “Are you sure?”
    Zoe nodded. “The black cloud is from the curse, not Jade.”
    My heart raced, and my hands went clammy. How was that even possible? Wouldn’t I remember being cursed? But the pity on her face and the sudden acceptance on Bea’s spoke volumes. I glanced between them, my stomach turning over from the magic-induced nausea.
    “Do you know what kind of curse?” Bea asked.
    “Whoever cursed her…” Zoe swallowed, and a pained expression claimed her delicate features.
    “Zoe?” I prompted, my voice full of tension. “What is it?”
    She closed her eyes, and when she opened them, there was despair reflecting back at me. “Someone has laid claim to your future child.”

Chapter 2
    “What?” I cried, clutching my stomach. “No. You’ve made a mistake. This can’t be possible.” There was no way I wouldn’t have noticed a curse. Especially one with black magic. And how would Zoe know? She had magic, thanks to her new soul, but she wasn’t yet fully trained as a witch. Not in anything as advanced as black magic, anyway. She was wrong. She had to be.
    Bea tightened her grip on my hand, her cold fear sending a shiver up my spine. I knew right then whatever Zoe was talking about was the truth. Beatrice Kelton rarely let her emotions get away from her. She had an uncanny ability to hide them from me. Only something as awful as black magic could tear down her defenses.
    “Bea?” I forced myself to my feet, doing my best not to panic.
    She turned, her shoulders rigid, and tried to smile, but it came off more as a grimace. “We’ll figure it out, Jade. I promise.”
    My heart sank to my knees, leaving a hollow ache in the middle of my chest. “I don’t understand how this happened. No one cursed me.”
    Bea glanced at the spot Zoe had been sitting in, but the new witch was already headed toward the door. “Zoe!” Bea called in her teacher voice, the one that made everyone stop and listen. Only Zoe didn’t get the memo and kept right on going out the front door of the house.
    “I’m sorry,” Lailah said as she rushed after her.
    Kat appeared beside me and wrapped her arm around my waist. I leaned