Bewitched on Bourbon Street Read Free Page A

into her, grateful for the contact.
    The front door slammed behind Lailah, the sound echoing through the silent room. Most of the guests were clumped together on the far side of the room, keeping as far away from us as they could get. Or, more to the point, as far away from me as they could get.
    Rosalee and Dani were off to the side, separate from the group. Dani stood completely still, her face stark white, while Rosalee performed a cleansing spell, no doubt to make sure my black magic hadn’t tainted her sister.
    “We should go,” Bea said.
    I nodded but said, “Not until we’re sure Dani’s okay. Rosalee’s spell is probably sufficient, but I’d feel better if you checked her for any dark spells.”
    Bea glanced between us, and I could tell she was fighting with leaving my side.
    “Go,” I said. “I’ll be all right.”
    “Okay, but don’t go anywhere. I want to explore the spell attached to you and see if we can find a magical signature that will point us to the witch responsible for this.”
    “I didn’t think that was possible. When Lucien was cursed, we never did that.”
    “Of course I did, dear.” Bea gave me an odd look. “It was there, but was so old it was too faint to identify. Yours has to be fairly recent. We have a much better shot of tracing it.”
    I nodded, forcing down the unease trying to choke me. Could someone I knew actually have done this? I’d made a few enemies over the past year, but most of them were demons or black magic users who’d been neutralized or incarcerated. Had one escaped? I wrapped my arms around myself and shuddered.
    Whoever it was, the person must’ve wanted my future child for his or her power. Kane was an incubus, and I was a white witch. The chances of having a mundane child were almost nil. “I’m yours when you’re ready.”
    Bea touched my hand in a motherly gesture and then took off across the room.
    I slumped into a chair and picked up the nearest drink.
    “I wouldn’t if I were you,” Pyper said.
    “Huh?” I froze, my lips inches from the straw.
    “The last thing you need is a penis in your mouth.” She smiled gently and took the drink from my hand and replaced it with a highball glass. “Vodka with a twist. I think it’s clear you could use something a little stronger.”
    “Where did you get this?” I eyed her. “The bar is serving wine and daiquiris.”
    She shrugged and patted her bag. “I brought backup, just in case.”
    I let out a sad chuckle and forgot I’d sworn off alcohol as I took a sip. The liquid hit the back of my throat and burned pleasantly as it went down. My nausea from earlier had vanished. Thank the gods. I drained the glass and smiled lazily at Pyper. “Thanks. That helped.”
    “Pyper to the rescue.” She held a small flask up. “More?”
    “Yes.”
    She mixed me another drink, and then another, both gone seconds after she’d handed them to me.
    I slammed the glass down on the table, relieved the panic that had been trying to seize me had been buried by the booze buzz.
    “You okay?” Pyper asked.
    “As okay as can be expected, I guess.”
    Kat sat next to me, and the three of us watched Bea talk with Rosalee and her sister.
    “It’s not your fault, you know,” Pyper said.
    I turned to meet her gaze. “No? Maybe not, But I always seem to be the catalyst when this stuff goes down.”
    “You know why,” Kat said. “Dark forces seek out power. But that still doesn’t make any of this your fault. It’s just a fate you were born into.”
    I nodded because I knew that was what was expected of me. But her words made my heart sink. Could I bring a child into the world knowing what she was going to be subjected to? Suddenly I understood why my mother had kept my power from me for all those years. If I’d stayed in Idaho and continued to live my quiet life, would any of this have happened?
    Maybe not, but it was clear darkness would’ve found me anyway. And then I wouldn’t have Kane. I straightened,