Page 71 of Curses and Cauldrons

“Maybe I’ll just look at this one.” Piper slides Ava’s book across the table and sits down. Ambrose tries to do the same with Bram’s book but gets a growled, “Try it.”

Odie and Stellan are sitting on the couch with Penelope, watching everyone else with amusement. Roman and I are at the end of the table, waiting for the chaos to calm down.

Piper hums under her breath. Ambrose leans in to see what’s caught her interest and she freezes up. Ambrose either doesn’t realize or he’s not afraid of pushing personal boundaries. I think it might be the latter.

“What is it? Did you find something?” he asks Piper, whose cheeks and neck flush.

“Ah, just, can I see that book?” She points to Bram’s book but doesn’t look him in the eye.

Ambrose pulls it closer, but Bram slaps his hand down on the open pages.

“Oh, don’t be a dick. I’ll give you your book back in a second.”

“Fine,” Bram snaps. Ambrose drags the book to Piper, and she mumbles a thanks.

“See here.” She flips to the last page of her grimoire and to the first page of the other book. “And here. They literally cut it in two. Right in the middle of an entry. This book”—she points to the book in front of her—“has the beginning section, and the other has the later half.”

Ambrose pushes up from his spot at Piper’s side. “Well then, as much as I’ve missed grade school group reading time, I think this might be a one- or two-person job. Who wants to read? I can make some snacks.”

37

JOSEPHINE

“Oh God,” Piper says loud enough to wake me.

My face is nestled into Roman’s lap, his hand resting on my head. I straighten, sitting up so fast my head spins. There’s a spot of drool on Roman’s pants.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to fall asleep.” I swipe my hand over my mouth.

Roman smooths my hair back, leaning in to kiss the edge of my jaw.

“It’s been a rough couple of days. You needed the rest.”

I scan the room, looking for my sister. She’s made a makeshift bed in front of the fireplace and is lightly snoring with her mouth wide open. Bram and Piper are still at the wooden coffee table, poring over the books. Ava and Odie were napping on the couch opposite me, and they both blearily blink away the last remnants of sleep. Stellan and Ambrose are playing pool in a connected room to the left. They both saunter in, looking slightly drunk.

“Did you find something, Piper?” Ava leans forward, rubbing the corners of her eyes.

“It’s the story. The real story.” Piper stares at Ava, and then looks around the room.

“This one has information about the curse. And how the Briar Witch died.” Bram’s brow is pinched.

“How could the Briar Witch write about her own death? These are her grimoires, aren’t they?” Stellan leans on his pool cue, his hair sticking up all over the place like he’s run his hands through it a dozen times. He always has something of a beard, but it looks longer, more out of control than usual.

“It was a spell,” Bram says.

“Okay, well, the suspense is killing me. Anyone care to have a little story time?” Ambrose plops down on a wingback chair, throwing one leg over the arm. Even his golden appearance is rumpled.

“Go ahead, Piper. What did you learn?” I prompt, knowing how much she hates being the center of attention, but also how important it is to find out what happened.

“I’ll just read a bit here.” Her quiet voice trails off. Ambrose gets up from his seat, pours a drink of whiskey or rum or who the hell knows, and sets it in front of her. Piper’s eyes flit up to him in silent thanks, and then she tosses the whole thing back.

“I meant for you to sip it, but that works too.” Ambrose chuckles and settles back into his seat.

Piper gasps and blows out a breath like fire is about to come shooting out. She clears her throat and then continues with more strength. “The first part of the grimoire details her family’s arrival in Mystic Hollows. She was a young girl named Briar Ravenhurst.”

Ravenhurst? That was the grimoire I read at the coven. That must have been her family’s grimoire, and this book belongs to Briar.

“It’s full of everyday spells and enchantments, but there are also historical accounts of specific founders parties and newmoon ceremonies. Then she wrote this, ‘I fear my time is limited. Things are not as they should be in Mystic Hollows. The founding families moved here to be free of persecution and create a home where magical beings could live without worry and tyranny. But they have forgotten the old ways. They no longer worship the Triad, picking and choosing to honor the Maiden or the Mother as it suits their needs. They are more concerned with the accumulation of power than using their magic for good.’” Piper’s voice trembles. Ambrose gets back up. Piper flinches when his hand lands on her shoulder.

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