Page 25 of The Curse

I watched as Alastair gulped nervously. Something bad was about to follow.

“Brodie Salvatore was murdered by Morgan, sir. He refused to abandon his home, and he was destroyed. I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t here to protect him…to protect all of you,” Corbin answered. He was furious, quivering with his need for revenge. I watched as the tips of his fingers sparked in outrage. “It won’t happen again. Morgan is going to get what she has coming to her.” His eyes softened when he looked at me. “Morgan will pay for what she’s done to your ancestors, too, Nico.”

“For what she plans on doing to me,” I added. “I’m certain she plans on my death, as well.”

Alastair spoke up. “What are we going to do about that, Corbin? I know you must still be weakened from the spell she cast on you. How will you protect Nico when the time comes?”

“Nico will be perfectly safe in Marblehead and by my side. There are rules to her curse. First rule, she can’t set foot in Marblehead, and a projection won’t be strong enough to tangle with my magic, even in my weakened state. Second rule, the Bailey descendant is only susceptible to her magical influence for a small window of time. She must take your life the very second of your birth. After that, you are no longer powerless to fight her.”

“Sounds simple enough,” I muttered…knowing there was probably nothing simple about the curse.

“What can I do to help, Corbin?” Alastair asked, once again on the edge of his seat, bouncing around like an energetic puppy.

“Gather the remaining members of the coven and tell them what’s happened. After that, I need you to bring my coven back to me, Alastair. Meet with each of them and let them know that I’ve returned and that I humbly request that they return home, where they belong. If they are happy where they are, I understand, but I would love to see our family together once again.”

Alastair was damned near preening with the responsibility Corbin had given him. I thought back to the words my lover had written all those years ago,this one is going to be important. Even then, Corbin had recognized Alastair’s significance to his coven.

“They are scattered, Corbin. This could take several days.”

“I understand,” he answered. “Go to Keller or Spellman first and have one of them cast a protective spell on you. You need to be invisible to everyone except members of our coven. Morgan will know I’ve been freed from her spell, so she’ll be desperate to do anything to weaken our coven. I won’t lose another loved one to her evilness.”

Alastair cringed at Corbin’s words. “You think she’ll know? How? Your own coven isn’t aware yet,” he declared.

Corbin’s eyes drifted lazily to me and he winked. My knees felt weak. “There’s no way she didn’t feel my lover’s magic when he incinerated the spell she’d cast on the house and then when our combined magic released me from my prison. Yes, she’s aware of what’s happened, and I’m certain she’s plotting her next move. Go see Keller first. I mean it, Alastair.”

“Of course, Corbin,” he answered submissively. “Keller and I are friends. He’ll take extra care of me.”

“Riker would take better care,” Corbin remarked under his breath.

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