Page 42 of Magic and Matrimony

I move farther into the woods and repeat the exercise. I look at the time. Fuck. I’m going to fail out of this stupid challenge.I’m reminded briefly of the time I was failing my literature class in high school. It wasn’t because I didn’t understand how to do the damn work, I just wasn’t doing it. I was too busy fucking around.

I won’t let Piper take this journey on her own, though. Not with her fuckface of an uncle possibly still in the competition. I sprint through the woods, letting my magic pour out of me. I pass downed trees, rotted logs, and piles of dead lives.

There.

Nestled next to a tree stump, partially covered in dried grass, is a snail shell. My magic snags on it, illuminating the object like it’s been covered in glow-in-the-dark paint. I snatch it up and run back to the clearing. I have less than a minute left. Breaking through the wood line I come to a stop near Lucida.

“Here. Found it.” I drop the shell in her palm with a puff of breath.

“Just in the nick of time.” She smiles at me. I check my phone. There’s literally thirty seconds left.

“I wouldn’t be half as interesting without a little dramatic flare.” I grin and make my way back to Piper. “How’s your hand?”

She’s still holding it to her chest, but her fingers are straight now. Before Piper can answer, Tucker comes crashing out from the woods, reminding me of a monster emerging from the deep.

“I’ve got your fucking trinket.” He throws a stone at Lucida. She doesn’t even flinch, but catches it, snatching it out of the air like a pro ballplayer.

There’s a boom that vibrates the air. “The first challenge is officially over. Eleven of the twelve witches will move on to the next trial.” Lucida’s voice is clipped. Danielle was the only one who didn’t make it through. That means that Francesca and my mother also found their objects.

“Hello. Can I have your attention?” Speak of the fucking devil. My mother is yoo-hooing for the attention of the coven that’s still gathered in the clearing. What now? It’s four in the morning. My hands are throbbing from beating the shit out of Tucker. Piper’s hand is still obviously not fully healed. I want to go home.

“This is just a little invitation to my fellow council members. Or should I saypossiblecouncil members, to be specific. I’m having a dinner party tomorrow night. I expect to see you all there. We need to start fostering goodwill between us. Of course that means you as well, Lucida. Sorry, everyone else. This isn’t really meant for your ears.” Bianca chuckles.

“Then it makes perfect sense to share it while half the coven is present.” I roll my eyes, already dreading the evening.

Lucida steps in front of my mother. “I’ll be in touch shortly with more information about the second challenge. Congratulations to those who made it through this first trial.” Lucida frowns as she looks over at Danielle. “Thank you all for coming.”

“What’s going to happen to her?” Piper asks.

“I’ve got some healing potions I’ll give her and make sure she gets home safe.” Lucida spins her bracelets, looking angry. At Tucker? “I can only trust the magic has selected the right members for this council. That the trials will weed out anyone who doesn’t deserve to lead.”

I’d say we’re off to a bad start.

“Let’s go home,” I say to Piper, feeling drained.

Piper falls asleep on the way back to the chateau. She must be exhausted because it’s only a fifteen-minute drive. I hate to wake her, but I can’t exactly leave her in the car all night.

“We’re home.” I brush the hair back from her face and she blinks up at me with bleary, half-awake eyes. We shuffle inside like we’ve just returned from an epic battle.

“I feel like I need to get in shape or something. I don’t know why this is so exhausting.”

“It’s because dealing with my uncle is always exhausting. Thank you for that. For protecting me.” Piper rubs her eyes.

“I’m just sorry I wasn’t there sooner.” And that I wasn’t there to protect her in the past. The nonchalant way she’s handling Tucker beating her up tells me all I need to know about how often it must have happened. The beating I gave him wasn’t remotely severe enough.

Her gaze drops to my hands. “Come with me.”

“Oh, where are you taking me?” I raise an eyebrow. Maybe this night will have some positives after all.

“Somewhere very exciting.” Piper chuckles, and I follow her into the closest bathroom. It’s the same one I took her in to dry off the night she showed up at my front door, asking me to marry her.

“I’ve been here before.” I make a circle with my finger and pretend like I’m not sure where we’re at, tipping my head to look around. “It’s not that exciting. Although, I did get engaged here. Remembering good times?”

Piper gives me a wry smile. “I want to clean up your hands. Josephine was wiped out after healing Danielle and me, otherwise she would have healed you too.”

I wave her off. “They’re fine. No need to make a fuss. In fact, you’re the one who needs looking after.” I pick up her hand and wince at the black and blue bruising on her finger. “I thought you said Josephine healed you.”

“She did, but she can only do so much. Think of it like being on day six of healing instead of one hour in.”

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