Page 39 of The Incubus and the Bodyguard

Vlad hesitated before giving her an account of what had taken place at theOro Divinothree nights ago.

“A peace deal?” the old woman repeated with a frown.

“Yes. We never completed the negotiations.” The words had barely left Vlad’s mouth when he stiffened.

“That’s another factor we failed to consider,” Delphine said with a faint frown.

“These people may not just be after you and theBlack Devils.” Cortes lowered his brows. “They may very well not want this peace deal to go through in the first place.”

Vlad’s heart thumped against his ribs.

Why didn’t I think of that? If that’s the case, then the Lucianos and Wei Chen really are innocent.

Mrs. Son-Ha rose and came over to him. “Strip.”

Tarang’s eyes rounded. Popo sucked in air.

“What?” Vlad said hoarsely.

“I need to examine your core,” Mrs. Son-Ha said impatiently.

Vlad swallowed, his gaze darting to a shocked Cortes and a poker-faced Delphine. “And I have to be naked for this?”

“Who said anything about being naked?” Mrs. Son-Ha said irritably. “I just need you to open your shirt.”

“Oh.” Heat crawled up Vlad’s neck at the amused glint in Delphine’s eyes. He shrugged out of his jacket, undid his tie, and flipped his shirt buttons open.

Mrs. Son-Ha dragged a chair over and sat opposite him.

“This might sting a little,” she muttered.

She leaned in and pressed her hand against his stomach.

Vlad tensed at her cool touch. Nothing happened.

The light flickered, causing Cortes and Delphine to glance uneasily at the ceiling. Glass trembled on the shelves.

The hairs rose on the back of Vlad’s neck when Mrs. Son-Ha’s pupils glowed white.

The same pale light came to life around her fingertips.

Heat flared on his skin, causing his breath to catch. He clenched his teeth when the sensation turned into a sharp, prickling feeling.

Tarang began pacing the floor beside them, little huffs of concern leaving his throat.

Mrs. Son-Ha frowned after several seconds. She lifted her hand off Vlad’s abdomen and sat back, the radiance fading from her hand and pupils.

“That’s a voodoo spell.”

“Voodoo?” Cortes’s eyes widened. “You mean like?—”

“Traditional African sorcery?” Mrs. Son-Ha shook her head, her expression grim. “This is much older. Much darker. It shares some characteristics with black magic but it’s also different.” She studied Vlad. “Someone bound your powers using their own blood. Like I said, it’s a nasty curse.”

Realization dawned on Delphine’s face. She looked at Cortes.

“That’s why the spell didn’t affect you and your familiar. It was meant only for Vlad.”

Vlad’s throat tightened as he held their host’s gaze. “Can you undo it?”

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