Page 13 of Sweaty Nights & Gator Bites

Marie smiled and I was surprised to see there was a hint of relief in her eyes. “Thank you, Dea. I know this isn't easy. My family will be indebted to you all."

Dea inclined her head and continued to study the scroll. Dre and I looked over her shoulder to check out the scroll. There was a translation written to the side of the original spell so we could read it. There weren’t as many names as I had imagined. I bet there were less than fifty.

Kota crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair. “What kind of risks will Dea be facing? We will not allow her to do this unless we understand.”

Marie met Kota's gaze. “These rituals draw on spiritual energy. If anything goes wrong, she could face serious repercussions from those around her. The individuals we're summoning hold centuries of knowledge and power."

Dre's skepticism was palpable. “And what if the spirits aren't cooperative? What if they feel like lashing out at her for daring to call them?”

Marie folded her hands in her lap as annoyance flashed across her face. “That's a possibility. If she shows sincerity in her intentions, she can earn their trust and cooperation.”

I placed a reassuring hand on Dea's shoulder. “We'll be with you every step of the way. We can support you with our magic and ensure the ceremony goes smoothly.”

With that Marie took her leave, and we proceeded to discuss the issue more frankly. Lia and Dre had gone to the kitchen and come back with snacks and drinks. We gathered in the ladies’ parlor of Willowberry, our usual spot for hanging out when we weren’t outside.

I leaned forward, my elbows resting on my knees. “We need to talk about this ritual. There are a lot of risks involved, and we need to consider them all carefully.”

Lia nodded gravely. “Absolutely. We're talking about summoning powerful spirits into the living realm. Not only could they lash out at Dea. They could also break free of her control and create chaos in our city. Who’s to say Marie isn’t using this as a way to get back her position of power?”

Dea looked contemplative as she sat across from me. “I know the risks. I also understand the significance of what Marie is asking.”

“I believed her when she told you about her true purpose. And let’s face it, healing her family's legacy could have profoundpositive effects on the entire city,” Adèle said. “Possibly even the entire magical world.”

“But what about the potential that they are malevolent spirits wanting to take over?” Phi interjected. “We don't know anything about what they are actually like.”

Kota added, “And then there's the strain it will place on you, Dea. This kind of summoning takes an immense amount of energy and focus. We don't want you to be drained or hurt.”

I glanced at Dea. Despite the concerns raised, I saw the determination in her eyes and changed tactics. “Dea, are you sure you're up for this? We need to be honest about what it will take.”

Dea nodded slowly. “I am. But I won't lie. I’m scared.”

“It's going to be incredibly challenging, but Dea can do it,” Adèle told us. “You need to be prepared for anything.”

Dre, who had been silent until now, spoke up. “Let's not forget our current commitments and investigations. We're already stretched thin with the selkie shifter case. Can we really afford to take this on right now?”

Lia sighed and rubbed her temples. “That's a good point. We need to prioritize our tasks. We can't drop everything for this ceremony, but we also can't ignore it. We’re going to need to divide and conquer here.”

Kota nodded in agreement. “We need to know the tasks before we think about splitting up. We’re stronger together. We can always call the kids to help handle parts of the reunion.”

Phi raised her hand. “First, we need a secure location where we can control the environment for the summoning,” She ticked off points on her fingers. “Second, we need protective wards to keep out any unwanted spirits. Third, we need to ensure we have enough magical energy to supportDea without draining her completely. That’s just for calling the ancestors.”

Kota nodded in agreement. “We need backup plans in case things go south. We need to be ready for any outcome."

Everyone was ready to tackle these situations. Facing challenges head-on together was one thing we did best. It also set us apart from most people. “Okay,” I said. “Let's make a list of everything we need for the reunion and the case.”

The room seemed to hum with a renewed sense of purpose as we started making lists. It was a daunting task, but we were the Twisted Sisters. If anyone could pull off a ritual of this magnitude while juggling a murder case, it was us.

“Lia,” I said, turning to my sister, who was our go-to for making custom shit, “start coordinating the resources we need. Phi, work on the protective wards. Dre and Kota, identify locations for the gator shifter investigation. We can head to the swamp next. Dea and I will focus on preparing the ritual itself.”

With a unified nod, we dispersed, each of us with a clear task ahead. Dea and I decided to hold the ritual in the gazebo. It was still outdoors but provided a shelter we could ward. It was the easiest way to keep unwanted spirits out of the plantation. The six of us regrouped an hour later and piled into Lia’s vehicle.

Leaving Willowberry Plantation to look for clues about who might be getting money from Bouvier, the gravity of our mission hung over us like the thick Southern heat. We needed to get to the bottom of the gator shifter threat. That meant diving deep into local folklore and gathering every scrap of intel we could find. “We’ve got a lot of ground to cover,” Kota said when we climbed out of Lia’s car.

I nodded and adjusted the strap of my bag across my chest. It was filled with potions and my daggers. Phi’s heldnotebooks and enchanted tools. “We should start by trying to find Voss. Bouvier said he’s been around these parts forever. And he knows about the shifters.”

“I was going to suggest the same thing,” Dre replied and pointed to a spot on the map where we thought Voss might live. Ashton had hacked into Bouvier’s cell phone and identified the spot as a place he’d visited several times.

Navigating our way to Voss’s shack wasn’t easy. The terrain of the swamp was hellish in the heat of the day. We had to go over twisted roots that seemed to reach out to trip us. We made our way through dense thickets of thorny underbrush that snagged our clothes and scratched our skin. We also walked across patches of treacherous, ankle-deep mud that threatened to suck our boots right off. The oppressive humidity made every step feel like a marathon. It didn’t help that the constant buzz of insects was a persistent, grating background noise.

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