She gasped. “What?”
I nodded, my gaping hole still ragged at the edges. “I didn’t even know that was possible. But one moment, I was staring at her, feeling guilty as hell and realizing I’d made a mistake, and the next I felt something being torn from my soul.”
“You can’t remember them at all?” Her voice was soft, worried.
“Not at all. And they can’t remember me. At least, that’s what she told me. I’ve been looking for them for over a decade now, so I believe her. Unless they never wanted me to begin with.” It was a fear that had developed over the years. What if they did remember me, but they were glad I was gone?
“They wanted you.” She reached out and gripped my hand hard. “They did.”
“How can you be sure? I have no way of knowing the truth. I know only what she told me.”
“I know.” She sounded so confident that I wanted to believe her, but it was impossible. “She was unhinged.”
“I realize that now. I’d been too young to see it then. Too self-absorbed.”
“It was a jerk move, breaking up with her on Valentine’s. But you meant well, and the punishment definitely didn’t fit the crime.”
I gave a bitter laugh but had run out of words.
“And you’ve been trying to get the curse lifted all these years?” she asked.
I nodded. “She disappeared after that, and I can remember her face, but she must have taken her name from my memory. I haven’t been able to find her to get her to remove the curse. Instead, I’ve been to countless witches and sorceresses, but none have managed it.”
“And today was the same?”
“Today was worse. I went to the Jade Sorceress, and she couldn’t do it.”
She winced, then tried to smooth her features. “She’s powerful.”
I nodded. “The most powerful one there is, as far as I could tell. It took me two years to get an appointment.”
“And she didn’t succeed.” Her voice was low with sadness. “Did she?”
“She didn’t. And she also said she didn’t know anyone else who could help.”
“So you’re out of options, especially if you can’t find the witch who did this.”
“Pretty much.” I’d known this day would come eventually. Maybe it was for the best that I give up hope.
That was just too dark, and my head was swimming from the whiskey. How much had I had? I enjoyed a dram every now and again, but never like this.
“I think you’d better get to bed.” Isobel’s voice sounded from above me, and I realized I’d put my head on the table.
“Yeah.” I rose, slightly unsteady on my feet.
“Come on.” She wrapped an arm around my waist and led me toward my bedroom.
“I never drink this much.” And I could feel it swimming though my veins, making my head spin.
“I can tell.” She stopped by the side of my bed, and I untangled myself from her and fell onto the plush surface.
This was not my finest moment.
“I’ll leave a glass of water on the nightstand.”
“Thanks.” I draped an arm over my face, and darkness took me.
Chapter
Seventeen
Isobel
I dreamed of Rafe that night, and the sadness that had been haunting him for over a decade. No wonder he was such a grump. No one was meant to forget their entire family, but for a werewolf, pack was everything. Losing them would be like losing a limb. It was just so damned tragic.
And what a miserable cow that witch had been. If I could get my hands on her, I’d give her a pig’s tail like Catrina did to her enemies. In fact, I wouldn’t stop there. Perhaps the eight-year-old could help me give her a pig’s snout as well. She deserved it.
Actually, she deserved to be in jail. Meddling with someone’s mind like that was pure evil, and illegal. Determination buzzed within me as I climbed out of bed. The sun was rising, and I had a lot of work to do. Not to mention, I had to check on Rafe.
What lit a fire under your butt? Poa asked from the end of the bed.
“How can you tell I’ve got a fire under my butt?” I asked her as I pulled on fresh clothes.
Your face. It’s all serious, and your eyes are pretty freaky.
“Good.” I wanted to find that witch right now and make her reverse her curse. I also wanted to punch her. Before or after I gave her a pig’s snout, I wasn’t sure. The snout would be a bigger target.
Well, if you need any help kicking ass, I’m here for you.
“Thanks.” I smiled at her, convinced she could read my mind even though she said she couldn’t. “I’ll let you know.”
I left her to nap on the bed and headed downstairs, finding Rafe still in his bed. The warm sunlight gleamed on him as he slept, one strong arm thrown over his head and his face peaceful in slumber.
“Five more minutes,” I murmured, then went to the kitchen to make him breakfast. After the day he’d had yesterday, it was the least I could do.
Once I had the bacon and egg sandwich on a plate, I knocked on the doorframe of his room and called out in a singsong voice, “Breakfast is ready.”
He sat bolt upright, rubbing his face. “You scared the hell out of me.”
I grinned. “Sorry. I don’t want it to get cold, and there’s loads of work to do today, so you need to get up and get started.”
He groaned, but he didn’t sound as tortured as he’d been last night. I was pretty sure he’d want me to act normal, so I did. He might not even remember he’d told me.
“Breakfast is on the counter,” I said. “I’ll meet you at Lavender House later.”
“You’re not coming?” He sounded distinctly grumpy, and I smiled.
“Eventually. I just have an errand to run.”
He grunted. “Well, don’t take too long. That house doesn’t like me.”
“That house doesn’t like anyone.”
“It tolerates you.”
“Barely.” I headed toward the door. “See you later.”
It didn’t take long to get into town, but I didn’t head to the hardware store, which was where Rafe probably thought I was going. Instead, I went to the Aurora Coven. Rafe had tried every witch he could think of to help him with his problem, but he hadn’t tried me.
I might be unpracticed, but I was sure I had a gift for sensing curses and enchantments. I’d figured out what was going on with the house, after all. And I’d seen a blue light when I’d used the curse detector spell, which was something Cecelia said never happened. I had the skill—I was sure of it—but I needed to hone it.
For the first time ever, I didn’t drop in at Margot’s. Normally, her coffee and pastries were my first stop in town. Life was too short to live without Margot’s. But today, I had a mission that left no time for scones.
I parked right in front of the coven and walked to the door. The brass handle buzzed with magic as I turned it, which I was pretty sure hadn’t happened before. Oddly, there was no one in the front room, even though it was after opening hours. Maybe whoever was meant to watch the desk was in the kitchen or workshop. “Hello?”
No one responded.