Page 40 of Lila

“I didn’t want to overstep, so I haven’t studied it. But I can tell it’s old, a few years at least.”

“Years? Oh my god,” Luca breathes as a chorus ofDamnsechoes around us.

“I’m sorry, Luca.”

“Don’t be. I wouldn’t even know he was cursed if you didn’t tell me.”

“The last time I told someone they were cursed, it got my high priestess arrested and me in hiding from her cronies. I should have said something sooner, but I didn’t want to upset you.”

“Oh,bella.”

“Is that why you’re in Silver Springs?” Harkin asks behind me.

“Yeah. But it didn’t work. My mom said they’re missing. They’re trying to find me.”

“We won’t let anyone hurt you,mi reina,” Mateo growls.

“No we won’t,” the others agree.

“Thanks, but I don’t know what y’all would be able to do to two angry witches. No offense,” I mutter.

“Offense taken,” Luca scoffs. “We may not be witches, but we’re not helpless. Harkin is a freaking phoenix shifter. He can burn them to ash. And I’m a siren, dear. I can compel them to leave you alone.”

“And even if we can’t take care of them between the five of us, Silver Springs has lots of powerful witches that’ll step in to help a fellow Springer,” Jett says.

“Springer?” Mateo murmurs under his breath.

“Lav said the same thing,” I sigh. “I’m just not used to being able to count on anyone besides my mom and Lavender.”

“You can count on us, Bumblebee.”

It feels like the weight of the world leaves my shoulders at Jett’s ardent vow. It’s this moment I know, down to my very soul, that nothing can tear us apart. My heart fills as my mates surround me, radiating love.

The next morning, I study Gray’s curse. Being as old as it is, it takes longer to untangle than Mateo. Luca and I think it’ll be best if Grayson doesn’t know what I’m doing, so I have to be subtle. I can’t just stare at him like I did Mateo. By the time breakfast is done, I’ve barely breached the surface of the curse.

I shake my head slightly, silently telling the guys I need more time.

“Hey, Gray. Wanna play Mario Brothers?” Harkin suggests.

He jumps up from the table in response, bouncing on his toes as he makes happy noises.

Harkin chuckles. “I take that as a yes.”

Gray runs to the living room and already has the game system turned on by the time we join him. He bounces in the middle of the couch holding his controller and Harkin and Jett sit on either side of him. Luca sits in the oversized chair and a memory from last night flashes in my mind. He grabs my hand and pulls me down to sit on his lap.Not exactly like last night, but I can get used to using my guys as chairs. They’re surprisingly comfortable.

The boys take turns playing video games with Grayson as I cuddle with Luca, pretending not to stare. It takes several hours, but finally, I have it unraveled. And I ampissed. When I find out who did this to him…

Leaning up, I kiss Luca’s neck and whisper in his ear. “I know how to remove the curse.”

He jerks to the side, staring at me with so much relief and hope in his eyes I could cry.

“You do?”

I smile and nod. “I have to go back to Highway to Spells and I’d prefer to use Lav’s workroom to make the potion, but I can do it.”

The biggest smile I’ve ever seen on anyone takes over his face and he slams his lips to mine in a short but ferocious kiss before pulling away.

“I need to call Ann.” I grimace because I honestly forgot all about her. She’s going to be so mad. “It’ll be fine,bella. You worry too much. I didn’t call her earlier because I wanted to wait until we had more information to share. What would be the point in telling her…” His eyes flick to Grayson on the couch and back to me. “You know.”

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