Page 13 of Hexes and Exes

My mother, on the other hand, turned every conversation between the two of us into a lecture on how I was failing my father. How I wasn’t being a dutiful daughter, and how I was letting the family down. At a certain point, I just couldn’t do it anymore.

In the end, Jamie turned out to be a piece of shit, but that has nothing to do with how much magic he has. In a lot of ways, I don’t regret that I chose him over obeying my father, even if I wish I hadn’t wasted so much time on the prick. The thing is, my mother never fought to keep me in her life. When my father said he was done with me, she followed suit.

“I’d love for her to find her own way and get out of there, but she’s been under his thumb for years. I don’t think she’ll ever leave him.” Sadness for my mother, and for our relationship, swells up inside me. My parents make a point to see me every few weeks so they don’t forget me, but it never feels like an act of kindness. At least not with my father. It’s as though I’m an enemy he has to keep tabs on. It’s different with my mother. Seeing her breaks my heart every time.

Stellan pushes off the counter, but he doesn’t leave the kitchen. He grabs a glass out of the cupboard and fills it with water. He slides the drink over to me. “How did party planning go? Are you and Bram ready to strangle each other yet?”

I narrow my eyes. He had to have let Bram in our apartment to drop off the stupid doll. Why is he being so cagey?

“Talking to him is like playing a game of Operation. One false move and you’re going to get shocked.”

“Sounds like you’ve met your match. I will beat him up if he’s mean to you.” Stellan flexes his muscles, and I roll my eyes.

“You can’t be with me all day, so I don’t think that threat is going to work. Besides, I have a few ideas of my own.” I eye thedoll that’s sitting on the counter and a smile curves up my lips. You want to play, Abraham Blackthorn? Let’s play.

7

BRAM

Bettina hands me my coffee with a smile. I mumble a thanks and head toward my office. I took the numbing potion last night that helps keep my curse somewhat tempered. Without it, my emotions easily spiral out of control. I hate how it makes me feel almost as much as my curse. The second the elixir passes my lips, it’s as if my body is coated with a cold numbness. Everything is duller. Colors are muted, my vision isn’t as sharp, and the world feels gray. At least I’m not strangling people and siphoning the magic out of witches, leaving them a husk of a person with my shadow magic. There’s a very real chance I could do that.

I used to take the drink once every few months. I got maybe a week where things felt decent, and the world wasn’t too muffled, just before the rage, the darkness of my curse, would start to take over. For those few days, I would feel normal. But the potion doesn’t last that long anymore. I should take it every other week at this point. I don’t know if my desire to chuck the elixir in the garbage is my curse at work, or if it’s because it makes me feel nothing at all. With my curse, it’s a different sort of numbnessthat occurs. It snuffs out everything good in me with only the dark parts left.

My phone buzzes in my pocket and I sigh when I see my father’s name flash on the screen. Normally, I don’t see him outside of coven events. Hearing from him two times in one week is enough to last me the next few years.

“Yes,” I answer, unable to work up enough effort for an actual greeting.

“Abraham. I’m calling to check on the progress of the party.”

No one calls me Abraham, except for my father. I swear he does it to be a dick.

“Considering you just told me about it yesterday, I’d say we’ve made a lot of progress so far.”

“You better be taking this seriously. The entire coven is watching. Your failure won’t just be on your shoulders, but will land on the door of all Blackthorns.”

“I trust since you’ve seen fit to assign me to oversee this extremely important event that you have faith I’ll be able to deliver. In fact, I better go. I should be planning now.” I hang up before my father can say anything else.

If possible, my mood has gotten worse.

Employees purposefully dart out of the way when they see me coming. Roman is waiting at the bottom of the stairs, a pained look on his face.

“I take it you took the elixir last night. How are you feeling?” He joins me as we walk up to our offices. I ignore his comment.

“Our dad just called to ensure I’m taking this party planning seriously.”

Roman gives me a confused look. “The council is really enthusiastic about this entire event.”

“At least someone is.”

“I’ll let you get to it. I believe your co-chair it’s already waiting for you.” Roman slaps me on the back and heads towards his office while I make my way toward mine.

The door is already open. When I walk inside, Ava is sitting on the couch typing away on a laptop.

“I didn’t realize you’d be here already. I would’ve come earlier if I had known.” The words sound cold and condescending.

Ava’s head snaps up, and she blinks at me in surprise. “No big deal. I was just making some notes. I hope you don’t mind. I spoke with your chef, and she came up with some ideas for food we could serve.”

Ava looks different today. She’s still wearing one of those oversized sweaters in a horrible muddy color, but instead of swimming in her pants, her jeans are fitted to her body. Paired with her winter boots, she looks sort of…cute. Like she just came inside from making a snowman and is ready to curl up with a hot chocolate and a good book. In fact, the vision of the two of us lounging in front of a fireplace while a snowstorm rages outside hits me full force.

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