Page 52 of Bewitched By the Voodoo King
Gently, I tugged on Maple’s fingers, but she shook her head and hung back. She was welcome to hear whatever it was my mother was going to say, but I respected her need to keep her distance. I hadn’t done a good job of making her feel welcome, and then I’d proclaimed things I hadn’t ever said to her in private. Knots tangled in my stomach as I left her in the arms of Adelle and followed my mother away from the ball.
My mother was usually a free spirit. She loved her incense and her fun colors. She was never one to conform to what anyone else expected of her. She was a wise woman with many talents, and as I watched her retreating form, I wondered who I was more like—her or my father.
Her head was held high, and her shoulders were back as she marched down the long hallway. When she stopped, I met her curious stare as she turned back to me.
“You have come a long way in such a short time,” I had no idea where she was going to go with this. “But it is probably time that you take up the mantle that I usually carried. Though I love my lavish parties and planning them, it is no longer in my place to stand and address our coven.”
Everything I could have said didn’t feel right. What did this mean? I knew I was technically the Voodoo King, but this felt different… Strange. Like she was preparing to leave.
I blinked. Maybe she was. Maybe there was nothing left for her soul here now that my father was gone.
Instead of waiting for me to reply, she continued. “I know this transition hasn’t been easy on you. No one is prepared for the paperwork that comes with leading people, but you have done it with grace and dignity. Your father would be proud,” her eyes shone with unshed tears. “I know you were hoping to sneak off with your wife tonight, but tomorrow is the full moon.” She reached forward and linked her fingers through mine. “Tomorrow we fight and we will win. I don’t know what you have planned, but we will bring our people to greatness again. Which means, tonight, you must address your coven. You must give them hope for their future.”
I closed my eyes for a brief moment. As if the pressing weight on my shoulders couldn’t get any heavier, here it was… that much heavier. I gritted my teeth in frustration and some fear, but I didn’t deny her. I would never.
“Does this mean that everything will be passed over to Maple, as well?” Maple wasn’t anywhere near ready for this.
My mother watched me with calm and loving eyes. “Yes, eventually. But not now. I will continue to plan and throw the parties. I will be here for the both of you, but I will do it from the backseat. It isn’t my place to make decisions for this coven anymore.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She patted my cheek affectionately and turned to walk back to the party.
“What do I say to them?”
Her lips twisted mischievously. “I’m sure you’ll think of something. Come on, you have a speech to give.”
Rune’s featureswere sharper as he walked back into the party. The soft edges I’d seen earlier, the teasing smirks and lingering looks, were gone. In their place stood the Voodoo King.
Adelle pulled me off to the side and we sipped spiked punch together as we watched him approach the raised dance floor.
I elbowed her in the ribs, and she shot me a look. “What is he doing?”
She shrugged. “If you were a little bit more patient, I’m sure we would both figure it out together.”
I rolled my eyes at her as if she wasn’t right. I watched Rune as he adjusted his tux and rolled his head on his shoulders. Iblinked a few times as I watched… were those shadows swirl around his feet? If it hadn’t been for my makeup, I probably would have rubbed my eyes. Was I seeing that correctly?
Adelle smirked. “He’s showing his power and his birthright. He will not be doubted or undermined. After what Babette pulled? He’s making damn sure no one questions him ever again.”
“I thought I’d have more time to prepare this,” he said, his voice deep, steady. “But it turns out my mother had other plans.”
A ripple of laughter moved through the crowd, but every eye stayed locked on him.
“Tonight, we gather to celebrate,” Rune continued, his voice ringing with power, “to be one, to remember who we are.”
He stepped forward, his shadows wrapping gently around his legs, nearly getting lost in the dark pigment of his suit. “But tomorrow,” he said, and his tone sharpened like a blade, “we gather to fight. To eradicate the darkness that has been preying on us for far too long. The wolves think they can weaken us. Scatter us.”
A pause. His eyes scanned the crowd before landing on me. I would have been a fool to think they softened, but I could pretend.
“Tomorrow, our magic is at it’s peak. Tomorrow we will show the wolves who rule New Orleans.”
Someone whistled, a few cheered, and the rest clapped. Rune held up his hand again, and the crowd hushed.
“I wasn’t ready to be the Voodoo King. I wasn’t ready for this calling, but the ancestors knew better. The ancestors planned better. I may not be everything you wanted, but I am here to stay, and I will do whatever it takes to make sure this coven is back to its former greatness.”
With that, he took a step down from the raised dance floor, his eyes on me, and marched across the space standing between us.
The crowd erupted once more, louder this time, voices rising in a fever of hope and adrenaline. But Rune didn’t seem to hear it. His gaze never left mine.
