Page 24 of A Dream of Stars and Curses

‘Mischief?’

‘Esta?’

‘Am I cursed?’

Mischief stretches, gives me a long, self-indulgent squint, and yawns. ‘How would I know if you don’t? I’m an extension of you, remember?’

‘I know, but...’ I’d hoped that my unconscious might have picked up on something the rest of me hasn’t, even if it’s just a niggle at the back of my mind. But I guess that’s not the case. ‘So there’s nothing at all?’

Mischief yawns again. ‘Nope. No blocks or anything. Although...’ She sniffs the air like she can smell evil magic on the breeze. ‘There is one thing.’

My whole shadow forest stills. The leaves stop rustling as my heart beats faster. If Mischief can detect anything, no matter how small, I can pass it on to Kate. Maybe I won’t need to. Maybe I can address it right now.

‘What is it?’ I whisper as if I’m suddenly afraid of my own unconscious. I’m not. Haven’t been for a long time. Dreamcatcher aside, that is.

Mischief hops into my arms and nuzzles into my neck. ‘Esta, I... I think you’re in love with Leverett.’

I almost drop her. ‘You’re lucky I adore you.’

Mischief nuzzles her face into my neck, purrs, and jumps out of my arms again. ‘Sorry. I can’t stop teasing you if you don’t stop teasing yourself.’

I sigh and slide down against a tree. I’ve been so preoccupied with the possibility of being cursed that I’ve barely noticed my shadow forest today, but I let the breeze pick up and stroke my skin. I’ve opted for an almost see-through dress. It flows beautifully in the breeze, like it’s made of air currents. I’ve never found such a dress when awake, but in here I can do anything I want. Flowy air dress it is.

At least I’m not surrounded by half-naked Leveretts. Maybe being preoccupied with something else for a change is a good thing. Huh. Who knew?

‘So there’s really nothing?’ I ask one more time. ‘I don’t care how small or faint it is.’

Mischief loafs next to me. ‘There’s really nothing, but I will keep my kitty senses on high alert for you.’

I don’t want to correct her and say it’s for us, but I can’t help thinking it. Can’t help remembering that the Dreamcatcher messed with her just fine until I took back control. I know that none of it was real, but who knows what a curse might do? If someone tried to scramble my mind, how would it affect Mischief? She can’t really lie to me since she’s part of me, but what if that’s part of the curse? She could be cursed and not even know it. What do I—

Mischief paws at my leg. ‘Esta.’ She draws a claw along my knee, and I feel a thin trickle of blood drip towards my ankle.

‘Sorry. I know you’d tell me.’ There’s no point dwelling on what-ifs. It’s not healthy. ‘Let’s talk about something else.’

‘Yes,’ Mischief purrs. ‘Let’s talk about Leverett. You know you want to.’

---