Page 102 of Potions & Prejudice
Georgie raised her hands. “I promise I’m not running away. We’re just getting a little fresh air.”
He didn’t respond at first, just staring at his sister, assessing. “Fine,” he said. “But don’t be gone too long.”
Georgie swallowed and nodded. She and Edgar left the cottage, door clicking closed behind them.
Draven straightened.
“What?” I asked. “Did you figure it out?”
“No,” he said, frowning at the parchment. “I’m not sure this curse can be broken. When your grandmother cast it with her final words, she bound it to her death.”
My heart sank as he spoke.
He tapped the quill he was using on the counter. “Which means as long as she stays dead, the curse cannot be broken.” He straightened. “I’m so sorry, Elspeth.” His gaze moved to my sisters and Mama. “I’m sorry to all of you.”
Mama’s shoulders sank right as the door burst open, Auggie marching in, her face pale and her eyes wide.
“I think I’ve done something bad,” she said, worrying at her bottom lip.
Draven came to stand beside me, kissing my forehead and resting his arm around my waist.
“You’re going to have to be more specific than that.” Prue peered at Auggie over the top of her book.
“I’ve beenworking with Helena,” she burst out.
Draven stiffened.
“Working with Helena?” I asked. “But Helena manages famous people. You’re not famous.”
“Helena discovers talent,” Auggie snapped back.
Draven stood still as a stone next to me, his gaze focused on Auggie. Fear flashed in his eyes.
“So what’s your talent?” Prue asked.
Auggie shot her a withering look. “Helena said I was beautiful, that I had a great sense of fashion. That she could see me as a model. Someone who showed off the latest trends from top designers.”
My stomach curled.
“Well, that sounds wonderful.” Mama clapped her hands together. “My daughter. A model!”
Something wasn’t right.
Draven stepped forward. “What did she make you reveal?”
I looked between Draven and Auggie. “What does that mean? Reveal what? What does that have to do with being a model?”
Draven sighed, staring at Auggie. “Are you going to tell her, or am I?”
“What’s going on?” Mama threw up her hands.
“She requires a secret,” Auggie said, her normally confident voice now small and quiet. “It’s insurance. Binding. Something she asks for to make sure her clients uphold their end of the contract when it comes to performances, duties, giving Helena her fair cut. I thought it sounded reasonable, but I’d been holding out on the secret,” she said. “Because there was only one secret I could think of that would be good enough for Helena to accept.”
My stomach dropped like a stone to the floor. “No. Auggie, you didn’t.”
“When we came back here, I went to Helena right away. Told her I was ready to sign with her, reveal my secret.” She sniffled. “I told her we don’t have magic.”
Mama gasped, and Prue dropped her book to the floor. I stumbled back into Draven’s chest, and he wrapped his arms around me.
