Page 77 of A Dream of Stars and Curses

I feel a strange mixture of relief and fear at hearing her voice. I know Kate and Leverett won’t let anything happen to me now they’re here, but the sound of her voice may have forever scarred me. Still, I didn’t kill her.

I don’t mind admitting that I’m more relieved for me than for her.

Kate frowns. Leverett stands tall and extends his claws. He’s in front of me, so I can only see part of Chiara.

‘You know very well that she can’t hurt you,’ he growls. ‘You’re a coward, Chiara. I will end you for this.’

I shake my head again, but he can’t see me.

‘No, I... I did something,’ I say.

Leverett doesn’t take his eyes off Chiara when he says, ‘What do you mean?’

‘She used magic!’ Chiara spits. ‘Your human used magic and threw me down the stairs! Explain that!’

So I didn’t imagine it. Can I still do it now? I don’t feel any different except tired. Certainly not like there’s magic running through my veins.

Kate looks at me like she’s seeing me for the first time.

Leverett chooses to ignore everything Chiara just said.

‘What do you want me to do, Esta?’ he asks. ‘You’re the one she hurt.’

‘Has Kate told you about the boggart?’ I ask. Leverett nods. ‘I think it used her, too. This isn’t really her doing. It manipulated her.’

I imagine Chiara all but foams at the mouth when she says, ‘Nothing manipulates me, witch!’

‘Esta doesn’t want you to die,’ Leverett says. ‘I’m sure you can’t comprehend this kind of mercy and I’m not sure I agree with it, but I will follow her wishes.’ He bends down, takes me into his arms, and stands with me folded against his chest. My face heats like I’m blushing, but after how much blood Chiara seemed to take, I can’t quite picture my face anything other than deathly pale. Probably for the best right now.

Our eyes meet, he gives me a loving smile, and I feel like I’m going to melt.

‘We should talk, when you’re better,’ he says. ‘The boggart may have influenced my decision, too.’

I won’t dare hope that he wants to be with me after all, but I’m overjoyed that he wants to reconsider, at least. The boggart messed with all of us. I imagine we’ll all be revisiting the last few days to consider how much of them was us and how much was his influence.

Leverett turns around to Chiara. I try not to look too smug in his arms.

‘If I ever see you near Esta again, I will kill you.’

And with that, Leverett carries me away from her and towards Kate’s car. Kate still looks slightly baffled by me having used magic. The confusion is mutual. But if anyone can help me make sense of it, it’s her.

Leverett carefully places me in the backseat and lets me lean against him. Kate drives. I’m asleep in seconds and barely aware when Leverett carries me into Kate’s house.

One crazy vampire lady down, one boggart to go.

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