Page 78 of Curses and Cauldrons

“Who was that?”

Piper shakes her head, both hands back on the steering wheel. A tear tracks down her cheek. Penelope sticks her head between the two front seats.

“Why are you crying? What’s going on?”

Odie sticks her phone in front of Penelope, who reads the text on screen. “Are the others okay?”

“It’s not them.” Piper doesn’t say anything else but pulls to a stop. I look out my window and realize we’re in front of the Lumen coven house.

My stomach swoops, nerves pounding under my skin. “What are we doing here?”

Piper opens her mouth, but no words come out. She lowers her head, a sob escaping.

“What’s going on?” Pen’s eyes dart between me and Piper.

The passenger door opens, and a hand wraps around my arm, dragging me out of the car.

41

ROMAN

“How long are you going to sleep? Ugh, this is so boring. You know what, I don’t need you awake for this.” A woman's voice grates on my nerves, hammering nails into my already pounding head.

The rustle of clothing approaching has me cracking open my eyes.

I’m in my bedroom. My shoulders ache in time with my head, and I shift, only to find I’m tied to the fucking bed. What the hell is going on? The last thing I remember is holding Josephine in my arms.

The fire.

Bram’s house.

Fuck. Bram. He was still outside his burning house when Anastasia drugged me. What happened to him?

“Oh, you’re awake.” Anastasia crawls onto the bed beside me, disappointment dripping from her words.

“Sorry to ruin your plans,” I growl, pulling at the binds around my wrists again. I can’t feel them digging into my skin,but there’s no give at all. If I can’t use my hands, then I can’t access my magic.

Anastasia is wearing a virginal white nightgown. I’m not fooled. I glance out the window and see it’s still dark out. Either I haven’t been out that long, or I’ve been asleep for an entire day.

“Actually, I think this will be more fun.” She runs her hands down my chest.

I buck my body, knocking her hand away. “I’d prefer you keep your desperate talons off me.”

Anastasia’s head cocks to the side. “You think you’re so special because you have a curse and belong to one of the founding families.”

I bark out a laugh. “That’s the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard. Do you honestly think I want my curse?”

“Do you know what my family’s power is?” Anastasia ignores my question, her fingernail tapping against my chin. I snarl at her, ready to bite the fucking thing off.

“Persuasion.”

All the wealth of the Lexington family is owed to the fact that their magic can influence or persuade individuals. Especially those who haven’t guarded their minds against assault. It’s particularly easy to sway the thoughts of someone not firm in their own beliefs.

Motherfucker. That’s probably how she got the fucking key to my place. Some poor employee likely handed it over without realizing why.

Anastasia grabs my face in her hands, forcing me to look into her cold blue gaze. There’s no humanity staring back at me. Just a hunger for power, for prestige. “You will want me. You will desire me.” She brushes her thumb over my lip, and I rip my head away with a laugh.

“You think your sad magic can compel me to get turned on. To want you? Never.”

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