Page 32 of Sweaty Nights & Gator Bites

I smiled, opening the journal to the first page. The parchment was old, but the writing was clear and strong, shimmering slightly with residual magic. “It’s beautiful,” I murmured, running my fingers over the elegant script.

“Lia, look at this,” Dre said, pointing to a passage. “It mentions a powerful entity named Garrick.”

I leaned closer and read the entry. “This journal might hold the key to understanding what he is doing. Although, I’m a lot more afraid thinking he’s been alive for so long. That shouldn’t be possible.”

“It’s not a pleasant thought,” Dre agreed. “Let’s see what it says. It talks about an alliance formed between the Leveau family and other powerful families, including Garrick. It seems like they were trying to harness his power for protection, but something went wrong. There are mentions of betrayal and dark magic.”

I frowned as my mind raced. “Garrick might be seekingrevenge for that betrayal. That could explain his recent actions.”

Dre shook her head. “That doesn’t feel right. Not after Marie lost her foothold in the city. Maybe she kept Garrick down until now. There’s nothing here to say one way or another. We will show this to the sisters and ask Mary Alice questions when Dea can find her.”

The sun began its descent as we made our way back downstairs. The others were standing in the entryway. “What’s up?” Dre asked curiously.

“We wanted to check the regular wards,” Kota replied.

Dani nodded in agreement. “We promised Mabel, Harriet, and Elsie we would have additional security. Phi suggested we reinforce and check all of our regular wards. We haven’t done that for months, so there could be holes.”

Dea stood next to her, her hands glowing softly with energy. “We just need to ensure there are no gaps in our defenses.”

Dani headed to the door and threw it open. “We should start at the southwest corner and work our way around. That way, we can be sure we’ve covered everything.”

Kota, her eyes scanning the tree line, added, “Adèle can you scout the perimeter and let us know of any vulnerabilities?”

“I was planning on it. I will let you know what I find,” she replied before she took off.

When we moved together to begin the task, I was overwhelmed with a sense of unity. We were all in this together, each bringing our unique strengths to the table. I knelt by the roots of the closest oak tree and brushed my fingers against the cool earth. "Let’s begin."

All of us channeled our magic into the ground. A soft hum filled the air, growing louder as the spell took shape. I felt the energy pulse through me. It was a steady rhythm thatmatched my heartbeat as it sought out the wards protecting our land.

"We’re almost there," Dea murmured, her voice a calming presence amidst the growing power.

Adèle’s telepathic voice echoed in our minds. "There’s a weak spot near the eastern fence. Make sure to reinforce it."

Dre tilted her head in that direction. “I’ve got it. Funnel power to me,” she told us as she went to work. We sent a portion of our power to her while keeping focused on the scan. I could feel the spell’s reach, extending to every corner of our property. It was ready to alert us to any disturbance.

“We’re all set on the north side,” Adèle informed us. She moved on to the western edge and let us know it was good. She covered the last side and confirmed what our scan revealed. “Everything’s secure.”

“I wouldn’t go that far,” I snarked, knowing better than to let my guard down or get too comfortable. Shit usually hit the fan when I did that.

CHAPTER 11

DANIELLE

The moon hung low over the bayou as we skirted the murky waters and gnarled cypress trees to meet with Remy. The sound of the frogs, cicadas, and other swamp critters was serene and normal. It belied the danger I could feel lurking in every corner. “Stay close and keep your eyes open,” I whispered, turning to my sisters. With them at my side, I wasn’t a frightened mess. They made me brave.

“I sense subtle magical currents ahead. Be ready,” Adèle whispered into our minds.

We had been out here for a bit using the insights Remy had provided last night. We wanted to get a feel for things ourselves so the gators didn’t think we were leaving everything to them. “Look at this,” Kota said, pointing to a faintly glowing symbol etched into the bark of a tree. It pulsed with a dark, unsettling energy. “That’s new.”

Phi knelt down and examined the ground around thetree. “These markings are fresh. Garrick was here not long ago.”

I glanced around, feeling a prickle of unease. “I bet he’s what Adèle is feeling.”

Dre adjusted her stance and watched the darkness. “We need to stay together.”

Dea nodded and patted the pouch of potions at her belt. We moved forward with care. The bayou was a labyrinth of shadows and hidden dangers without the asshole killing people out there. He made it that much more dangerous. My nerves were strung tight as I looked for Garrick or any of his friends. The anticipation of a confrontation felt inevitable.

“Dre, over there,” I said, pointing to a faint glow in the distance. We moved cautiously, the air growing colder as we approached.

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