Page 59 of RAKEish

“Moving on,” Ms. Birdie continued. “Molly sought out anyone related to the wicked witch who might know about the curse on the Landshire first-borns.”

“And?”

“Well…not to bore you with the details,” Ms. Birdie said. “She unearthed a rather helpful detail about all curses.”

“Do tell,” Lux encouraged.

“The antidote to any curse must always be hidden within ten miles of the newest of the cursed individuals.”

“That is very thoughtful of whomever came up with the laws governing those who cast curses. It’s like evil with customer service.” How much money had Ms. Birdie paid Molly Thorn for this information?

“And the antidote must be hidden in plain sight,” Ms. Birdie added.

Lux bit her tongue until the desire to laugh had passed. “This Molly Thorn is full of fascinating tidbits. I bet she’s the life of every soiree.”

Ms. Birdie smiled wryly. “The wicked witch who cast the spell on the Landshires used a loophole in the rules and broke the antidote into two sections. The Landshires discovered the first half. In short, it states the curse can only be broken by a certain deed performed by a woman who loves the youngest among them. Which, in our case, is Scott.”

Lux’s eyes widened in mock horror. “Don’t tell me—that deed is oral sex. Am I right?” Hell's fudging bells. Did I just say that out loud to this pillar of society? What is wrong with me?

Ms. Birdie’s lips tightened, her expression one of mild reproach.

“Sorry. That was crude,” Lux quickly apologized. “What exactly is the nature of this deed?”

“The specifics remain a mystery,” Ms. Birdie said. “That part of the antidote hasn’t been discovered. But it’s somewhere here in Manhattan within ten miles of Scott’s residence.”

“That’s all you’ve got to go on?” Lux asked, not bothering to hide her skepticism in her tone or face.

“Not all,” Ms. Birdie replied, tartly. “Molly received a cryptic hint from a good witch who is currently living in the second veil.”

“Of course it was cryptic,” Lux said. Cryptic was another word for vague.

“Cryptic,” Ms. Birdie said, with sharply raised eyebrows, “because she’s bound by a witch’s code of conduct which frowns upon one witch interfering with another’s handiwork.”

“What was the hint from the good witch?”

“‘Peculiar is as peculiar does, she’s hidden the answer just because. Seek within, where enchantment dwells, a place where secrets and magic swells.’”

“That’s it? That’s the helpful clue?” Lux asked. “It sounds like a riddle from a children’s book.”

Ms. Birdie pointed to the quaint shop they stood in front of. “According to Molly, the answer is through those doors. But, as I’ve stated, only a woman truly in love with Scott can uncover the antidote. To all others, it will remain hidden. Which is why, despite my giving it a go, I was unable to locate the antidote.” Her gaze lingered on Lux meaningfully.

Lux self-consciously touched her face. “What? Do I have whipped cream on my nose or something?”

After showering, other than a touch of mascara and lip gloss, Lux had not reapplied her makeup. Today, more than ever, she needed to feel like the woman she’d been before meeting Scott Landshire in person. The woman with a good head on her shoulders and a wall around her heart.

“Your face is fine,” Ms. Birdie said. “It’s your heart I’m looking into.”

“You can see my heart?” At this point, Lux wasn’t dismissing anything.

“Not exactly. But knowing Scott as I do, women can’t help but fall for him. I suspect this has happened to you. And I suspect the sensible side of you is now searching for a way to prevent those feelings from growing stronger,” Ms. Birdie said gently.

“What makes you think I don’t want to love Scott?” Lux asked, a hint of defensiveness in her voice. “He’s not a bad guy.”

Ms. Birdie looked at her speculatively. “You mentioned in your dating profile that you’re seeking a grounded man, someone who stays committed even when the initial charm fades,” Ms. Birdie said. “Scott, with his history and charm, doesn’t currently fit that description. That’s not to say he won’t eventually do the work to change. The question is, are you willing to risk your heart on that eventuality?”

Lux’s thoughts drifted to her mother—a cautionary tale of love gone wrong. The idea of falling for someone like Scott—charismatic but potentially fleeting—was terrifying. Better to guard her heart now than face life-altering heartbreak later. “You’re right. I may have given a section of my heart to Scott, but I can’t—I won’t—let those feelings take over my whole heart. It’s too risky.”

“Then you’re the ideal person to break the curse,” Ms. Birdie said, a trace of relief in her voice. “Going into that shop will empower you to protect your heart.”

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