Spells A Bayou Magic Novel - Kristen Proby Page 0,72

would she say that?

Stop it, Lucien says.

Something is off with Esme. I’m not crazy. Why would she mention blood magic?

Because it’s mystical and people eat that shit up with a spoon.

I don’t reply, just nod and decide that I’ll be keeping a closer eye on Esme this evening.

“Lucien and Millie, can I speak with you?” Miss Sophia asks. She leads us to a private space on the other side of the house and has two pouches in her hands. “I wanted to give these to you yesterday, but decided to charge them under the full moon last night first.”

She passes us each one of the pouches.

When I open mine, I find a necklace with a Mother of Pearl pendant the size of a baby’s fist.

“Sabrina gave me these, and I think you should have them. They were originally yours to begin with. The Mother of Pearl is for harmony. It stimulates intuition, imagination, and sensitivity. And it’s a beautiful piece of jewelry.”

I brush my thumb over the stone, then loop it around my neck to join my amethyst.

“Thank you so much.”

Lucien opens his pouch and finds a dagger with different-colored stones in the hilt. Emerald, sapphire, amethyst, among others.

“Sabrina didn’t know where this dagger came from, just that it was yours, Lucien.”

“It’s ancient,” he says with a sigh and turns it over in his hands. “I need to do some research to be sure. Thank you, it’s beautiful.”

“You’re welcome.” She smiles at us both. “Blessed be.”

When we return to the others, I see that more members of the coven have arrived. It’s always so fun to see familiar faces, to chat with those I only see a couple of times a year.

All of these people came to help us last year when we defeated Horace in the bayou. They’re our family.

“Hey, guys,” Dahlia greets as she approaches. “I thought I’d never get out of the shop today.”

“Well, you’re just in time,” I assure her. Dahlia’s eyes fall on my new necklace.

“That’s gorgeous,” she says. “And new.”

“It’s actually old. Miss Sophia gave it to me.”

“I love it.” She smiles. “I need to get myself a talisman. I just haven’t decided what I want.”

“You can always try out different ones and then go with the one that feels the best.”

“Good idea.”

We’ve walk over to where Mama’s sitting with my sisters and Cash.

“Can we sit here?” I ask.

“You can,” Mama says and then turns cold eyes to Dahlia. “But she’s not welcome here.”

I frown and glance at Dahlia, who seems completely unfazed.

“Mama—”

“No, it’s okay,” Dahlia insists. “I need to go say hello to someone over there anyway.”

She walks away, and I sit next to Lucien. “Mama, that was rude. Dahlia’s my friend.”

“You should not be friends with that woman,” Mama replies. “Her soul is dark.”

“She did work in dark magic for a long time, but she left that coven and is now working with Lucien,” I reply. “She’s one of us.”

Mama just shakes her head, and I decide to leave it alone for now.

I look over and see that Dahlia is sitting with Esme and Lucien’s parents at a table nearby. I’ll have to apologize to her later.

Esme looks my way and offers me a smile. I wave at her and then turn my attention to the conversation going on around me.

I have a feeling Esme is the one we need to be worried about.

With night descending quickly, we gather our tools and sacred items and walk as a group out to the field.

The moon is high, big and yellow. I feel the strength of it soaking into my skin, and I’m grateful.

When all of the candles are set out in a wide ring, and the black salt is poured, we form a circle inside and join hands.

Suddenly, Cash reaches for the buttons on his shirt.

I share a look with my sisters and have to press my lips together so I don’t laugh out loud.

“What are you doing, child?” Miss Sophia asks.

“Isn’t this where we dance naked under the moon?” Cash asks.

I can’t contain the bubble of laughter that escapes. Daphne snorts.

Brielle cackles.

“I guess not,” Cash mutters. “I hate all of you. And just remember, payback’s a bitch.”

“Language, child. This is a sacred space,” Miss Sophia says, but her lips twitch with mirth.

Lucien’s laughing next to me, and as the others catch on to our little joke and join in.

“Come on, Cash, you know it’s funny,” Miss Sophia’s granddaughter, Lena, says. “At least you didn’t get naked.”

He narrows his eyes at me in