Chapter 1

"We're going to do magic together," Charley squealed to Nina, making Stella and me share a look.

I squeezed her hand. "This is going to be so much fun. We haven't had anything blow up in a few days. It's about time."

Stella snorted. "That's because we were trapped on that island and missed out on it. Although, they didn't get to experience negotiating with a troll or fighting off demons, so it's a wash if you ask me."

Nina and Charley looked over their shoulders and gaped at us, making us laugh out loud. Nina leaned closer to Charley. "They're so weird," my daughter whispered to Stella's.

We were practically doubled over from laughing so hard as our Sanctum unfolded before us like a hidden oasis beneath the surface of reality. Going down there to work magic always felt like we were leaving the world behind. Even if we were working quickly to deal with a crisis.

Sharing this space with them made our magical journeys much more of an adventure. It was comforting to have friends along for the ride in the same boat as we were.

Sobering up, I took in the room. The entire space was charged with Hattie's power and unique signature, and I hoped it stayed that way. This was her legacy. Actually, we were her legacy. None of us would be here if not for her. Neither would my unborn babies. I owed her more than I could ever repay. And the only way I could thank her was to do right by her name and make sure Tainted and Dark witches like Lyra and Zaleria didn't get away with their bullshit.

"Okay," I rubbed my hands together as I turned to our work table.

The table was a family heirloom passed down through Hattie's family. And now it would be passed down through mine. It stood as a testament to the countless spells it witnessed. Its surface was marked by the scars of time, a canvas that told tales of the Silva magic in every groove and carving.

As Nina, Reece, and Charley gathered around the ancient table, their eyes reflected the untamed curiosity that lived within me. Despite being more seasoned and having a better handle on magic I still had this sense of wonder while also feeling like I didn't know much. As if she sensed my thoughts, Nina's fingers traced the carvings on the surface and spoke with a sense of wonder, "Do you think this table remembers all the spells done here, Mom?"

I smiled, lifted a shoulder, and then searched for Tarja. "It might, Nina. This table has seen more magic than we can imagine. Tarja could tell us for sure."

Tarja jumped onto the surface and rubbed her body against my arm. "Yes, it does. Items in a witch's sanctum are imbued with their magic, and over time they become powerful relics which is why the furniture is passed down through the generations like the family grimoire."

The youngest, Reece, pressed her hands onto it, her eyes widening. "I can feel it, Aunt Phoebe. It"s like it has a heartbeat, but different."

Charley"s eyes were sparking when she asked, "Can we do big magic today? Like, really big?"

Stella and I exchanged amused glances. Nana snorted as she paused in gathering ingredients from the shelves for whatever potion she had in mind. "What do you think I'm getting all this for? We're going to make the best face cream on the market. It will get rid of all these deep crevices on my face." I gave Nana a look. The girls" enthusiasm was infectious, but a lesson in the intricacies of magic was in order.

"Absolutely. I like the way you think, Nana," Stella agreed before I could say otherwise. "But remember, girls, big magic demands focus," Stella advised. "The greater the spell, the more attention it requires. There can be no room for distractions."

Nana pinned the three teenage girls with a hard stare. "And distractions include daydreaming about crushes or wondering what Mythia"s making for lunch."

I rolled my eyes at Nana. "If you're resorting to giving yourself warnings, Nana, perhaps we need to make a memory potion," I teased. Her mind was sharp as a tack, but that last part was more what she would do than the girls.

"Magic is a dance with unseen forces. Keep your minds sharp and hearts focused, ladies. Disaster happens when a witch loses focus. Or casts spells, or creates potion for personal gain," Tarja explained.

My head snapped around. "Wait, what? That's a thing?" I thought of a popular TV show I used to watch.

Tarja looked up at me with her piercing green gaze. "There are no immediate repercussions for having selfish motivations, but it is often the first step in the slide toward becoming Tainted. In teaching my children lessons they need to access for their witches, I was reminded that you are entirely new to witchcraft. It would break my heart if we lost any one of you to the darkness."

The girls nodded, absorbing Tarja"s counsel with a sense of reverence. Before delving into spells and potion-making, I turned to my mom. Her struggles as a tribred were etched on her face and reflected her internal battles.

"Mom, did you forget your potion?" I asked, concern lacing my words. She'd created a revolutionary concoction that helped manage the cravings of her shifter and vampire sides.

A faint smile played on her lips. "No, love, I took it. But with the full moon approaching, the challenge intensifies. I need to tweak the recipe for that time. My work with Arjun gave me some ideas, and I am working on a new recipe."

Nana clapped her hand on Mom's shoulder. "You're stronger than you know, Mollie. We can work on that instead if you'd like."

Mom gestured to the cauldron I hadn't seen bubbling in the corner. "Not necessary. I've got it brewing."

I inclined my head and then focused on the girls. "Now, little apprentices," I announced with a smirk, "we need to start by learning the Latin incantation we will use for the cream Nana wants to make. Every potion must be enchanted at the right time. Because Mom and Nana are making this one for the first time, we won't have much notice of the spell, so we need to be prepared." Nina, Charley, and Reece exchanged excited glances, their youthful enthusiasm setting the tone for the room.

"Perhaps we should start having them practice simple spells first, Phoebe. I know they have some experience, but it's always good to do some exercises that will get them in the right frame of mind," Tarja suggested.

"Great idea!" Stella said. "It helps to practice your focus so it comes as second nature in emergency situations."

I lifted a finger, stopping Stella. "Not that they will have anything to deal with like we have. But, yes, it helps to practice focus. It's harder than it sounds."

Tarja walked over and stopped near an assortment of candles, herbs, and cryptic symbols. "Let"s start with "Lux,"" she said. "Can you two demonstrate?"

Stella and I nodded. I stared at the candle, chanted the spell, and followed it with a flick of my wrist. The wick of the candle closest to me ignited and cast ethereal light across the Sanctum.

"Do we have to move our hand, too?" Reece asked.

I shook my head. "Nope. Eventually, you won't even need to say the spells aloud. You will be able to think of them. But I find that adding the movement helps my focus and intent."

Stella nudged my shoulder. "Plus, it looks cool when you're doing something like lighting a candle. It adds a little flair."

Nina, Reece, and Charley snickered and then tried to do the same thing. The three of them chanted the spell and mimicked the motion. Their laughter bubbled as the room embraced the gentle illumination.

Stella playfully raised an eyebrow. "You need to focus to light the candle."

The girls sobered but never stopped giggling entirely when they tried again. Stella and I gaped at them, and the three flames fluttered brightly a few seconds later. "How in the hell did they manage to do that?" I blurted. "I had to blank my mind to cast the simplest spell."

"Because you aren"t a teen anymore. You overthink things and make matters too complicated. Not to mention you lost the belief that you could do anything long ago," Nana said with a smirk. "Next up," she continued, shifting her focus to Nina, Charley, and Reece, ""Silentium." Let"s see who can silence the room first."

Nana started lightly tapping the side of the cauldron with a wooden spoon as the girls tried to cast the spell. The rest of the Sanctum descended into hushed concentration as the girls focused on the incantation. These three were naturals. Less than five minutes later, silence settled like a gentle mist. Nana nodded in approval.

"Excellent. Now, for a bit of mischief. "Flectere,"" I said. Once again, I chanted and added a subtle hand gesture. The girls watched as a small trinket on the table wiggled in response.

Reece giggled, "This is fun! Can we turn someone into a frog next?"

Stella shot me a mock scandalized look. "We"ll stick to non-living things for now, Reece."

"Unless you become Tainted, you can't actually turn anyone into anything. You can't create a love potion that would take away free will, either. You can create something that will open another up to a relationship without forcing them to choose someone they don't want," Tarja told them.

Reece held up her hands. "I'm not a bad witch. I was just kidding. I swear. I promise I'm not going to become a Dark witch."

Tarja prowled over to her, rubbed her head along Reece's side, and then stepped back. "I know. You wouldn't be in here if you had any darkness in you. You'd be out searching for different instructions because this wouldn't be enough. I blame your questions on mundie media. They have all sorts of wrong ideas about witches."

The lessons continued, weaving through the basics of magical language. As the kids became more proficient, Tarja offered spectral guidance. Her presence a comforting assurance in our familial spell-casting endeavor.

In the midst of it all, Binx, Mom"s familiar, slinked into the scene. The feline"s eyes glowed with an otherworldly intelligence as he approached Mom. She'd been quiet the entire time, which had become her new norm ever since Lyra changed her into a fusion of witch, vampire, and shifter.

"Anything you want to add, Mom?" I asked.

Binx sidled up to Mom, nudging her with an affectionate purr. "She"s tapping into new frequencies, Phoebe. Lyra"s mark may have changed her, but she"s learning to harness the wild energy within, and it's giving her a new outlook on things."

Mom blinked and nodded in agreement. "It's fascinating how each person feels and smells so different. As I said earlier, I'm more heightened right now, and it seems like it's affecting everything. Honestly, I feel like a squirrel with ADHD. My focus is continuously pulled in different directions. Don't worry about me. I love watching the girls."

Tarja took over, started directing the spells to try, and told Stella and me to do it with the girls. As we ventured into more complex spells, laughter echoed through the Sanctum. The atmosphere was charged with the camaraderie of a family bound not just by blood but by the shared tapestry of magic. And amid the incantations and mystical banter, the generations intertwined and created a tableau of enchantment. It would linger in the annals of our magical heritage. It was a first for the Dieudonne clan.

Binx walked over to Mom, and I shot my gaze to Tarja who explained that he was helping her maintain her stability. Apparently, he was channeling some of the wild energy flowing through her before it burst free and caused a magical maelstrom.

Then, I noted the clench of her jaw and felt the prickle of her power. With Binx standing with her, Mom"s magical tempest gradually transformed into a controlled symphony. The wild energies harmonized with her intent.

We spent a few minutes with Mom and Nana, teaching us the incantation for the cream. "Now, you're ready to make the lotion," Tarja said when she was convinced that we were ready.

Nana beamed as she looked over the ingredients she'd gathered. "We're going to make an anti-aging cream that promises timeless beauty," Nana said.

Mom moved forward with a nod. "First, Essence of Moonstone Petals," Mom declared.

With a flourish, Nana presented a vial containing the glistening treasures. The girls, eager to participate, added a petal each, stirring with silver spoons. Mom chanted an incantation, and the potion responded with an ethereal luminescence as if capturing the essence of moonlit beauty.

"Next, a pinch of Frostberry Essence," Nana said as she opened a container of frostberries. Under Mom"s guidance, the girls each added some, making the potion exhale a frosty mist. It created an ephemeral winter aura.

"May winter"s chill preserve your beauty," Nana intoned. The cream radiated a cool, refreshing quality that hinted at the essence of pristine snow.

The enchanted dance continued with the introduction of dewdrops from the Veil of Twilight. They were shimmering drops that transformed the potion into a liquid dusk. Charley and Nina were entranced by the mesmerizing spectacle and watched as the potion acquired an otherworldly glow. Reece was looking over the ingredients still laid out and no doubt, trying to figure out what would go next.

"Now, a dash of Celestial Stardust, stirred widdershins," Mom instructed. However, the enchantment took an unexpected turn when Reece, in her enthusiasm, added a bit too much Celestial Stardust. Instead of gleaming with radiant luminescence, the potion sputtered and emitted tiny sparks.

Mom"s eyes narrowed, but she remained composed. "That's an enthusiastic touch, Reece. A tad too much stardust, but no worries. Magical mishaps are part of the learning process."

Reece looked sheepish, realizing her mistake. Mom called forth a delicate wisp of magic and then whispered an incantation. The errant stardust coalesced into a mesmerizing nebula that danced above the potion.

"See, my dear," Mom said warmly, "even missteps can be turned into something beautiful. Magic is forgiving but demands respect and precision. Now, try again."

Reece grabbed a pinch and looked to Mom, who nodded and gestured for her to add it to the cauldron. This time it went smoothly, and the mixture glowed brightly. Mom continued to guide them through the intricate process, emphasizing the delicate balance required in potion-making.

"Now come the mundane ingredients like shea butter and phospholipids," Mom said as she told each girl what to add and in what amount. With that done, Mom held up the last jar. "And last but not least, a drop of pure Aetherial essence."

Nina carefully added the radiant essence, and we all gathered to chant the spell. Immediately, the cream transcended its earthly form. It became a radiant elixir that seemed to defy the laws of conventional magic.

The room basked in the aftermath of the mystical creation. The girls surveyed our handiwork with satisfaction while marveling over the completed potion, The Sanctum exuded an aura of magical achievement. Mom's wariness was gone, and now she had a twinkle in her eye as she imparted a final piece of wisdom. "Apply this potion with care. And never forget you're beautiful no matter what. Never let anyone or anything make you feel like you aren't enough."

Nana had just dipped a finger into the cauldron when the sound of boots on the stairs echoed throughout the room. My mate"s sexy smile appeared a second later. Bless him. Aidon was carrying a tray of food and a carafe of herbal tea. His watchful eyes flickered with concern when they met mine. Setting the burden on the table, he embraced me in his big arms and kissed my lips.

"I figured you and our Little Wonders were getting hungry."

Nana smeared the cream on her cheeks as she snorted. "That was a good call. It's been a couple of hours. She was bound to get hangry soon."

I patted my stomach and smiled at her. "You're right. What was I thinking?" My babies were growing bigger and bigger every day, which meant I was getting bigger as well. I could still fit into my bigger clothes, but that would change soon.

Aidon chuckled. "I take it things went well since nothing blew up. What did you make?"

Reece bounced on her tiptoes. "It's some super cream that will get rid of cracks the size of the Grand Canyon on Nana's face. And I added the stardust!"

Nana glared at Reece. "I don't have wrinkles that deep."

I snorted as I picked up a piece of mango and popped it into my mouth. "Wrinkles are wisecracks, remember Nana?" That's what she always used to tell me when I was growing up.

Nana lifted her chin. "And I"m as wise as they come."

All eyes darted to the staircase when another set of boots started pounding down it. Stella squealed and raced to greet her husband, Todd, when he reached the bottom. Stella"s husband was the Sheriff of our town.

"This is a nice surprise. I didn't expect you to stop by," Stella told her husband before the corners of her mouth turned down. "But you aren't here to learn how the girls' magical training went. What's wrong?"

Todd wrapped an arm around Stella's shoulders and turned with her to look at the rest of us. "A friend called me about a case, and it seems to be right up your alley. An elderly woman named Olive has gone missing in Salem, and the circumstances are...peculiar." There was a time when talking about something like this would have destroyed my appetite. Now, I didn't pause in inhaling a taco as Todd began to share what he knew of the case.

Apparently, a seemingly ordinary recluse had vanished from her home without a trace. There were no signs of forced entry and no clues left behind. The doors and windows were all locked and the alarm was set from the inside. The inexplicable nature of the disappearance had drawn the Sheriff"s attention which prompted him to seek advice from Todd. And he sought answers beyond the conventional.

"The thing is," Todd continued, "I"ve seen mysteries in this town, but this one feels different. The last year and a half have taught me much about getting a feel for things. And there"s an eerie energy surrounding this one. It's almost like a whisper of something supernatural. I can"t shake the feeling that we"re dealing with more than meets the eye."

Stella pursed her lips. "Supernatural? Like ghosts and goblins? Or demons? Or witchcraft?"

Todd offered her a wry smile. "More like witches and things that go bump in the night. It"s hard to explain, but my gut tells me we"re looking for something nefarious. Not necessarily as dark as Lyra, though."

"Okay. I'm not quite sure what we can do to help," I said. I was still catching up from our ordeal on the island.

Todd leaned in, his eyes narrowing with a seriousness that cut through everything else. "You have to find Olive. This woman, Phoebe," he began, his voice a low murmur, "was last seen standing at her window, staring into the darkness. Witnesses claim there were lights flickering in her living room before she vanished from sight. The problem is, her power was out."

Stella"s sharp intake of breath mirrored my own surprise. Even for seasoned witches like us, this was no ordinary occurrence. Teleportation took immense power and often involved Blood magic. Many gods and goddesses could do it, but I doubted they were involved. They rarely got involved with mortals.

"What do you think?" Stella asked Aidon. Her eyes reflected a mixture of curiosity and a tinge of mischief.

Aidon nodded with a steady gaze. "It"s worth investigating. If there"s something supernatural afoot, we should be the ones to uncover it."

Nina chewed on her lower lip. "So, you"re heading to Salem?" There was a slight waver to her voice.

I crossed to the other side of the table and hugged my daughter to me. "Yeah, we are. It's not far from here, so the trip shouldn't take too long."

Nana looked at Aidon sternly. "And Aidon will watch over them. I won"t have my girls getting kidnapped again. This could be a trap Lyra set."

Aidon met Nana's gaze with a mix of assurance and affection. "I won't let them out of my sight. They"ll be safe with me."

After that, we all traipsed upstairs, and Nina helped Stella and me pack a few essentials. Mom added snacks while the girls grabbed potions and our daggers. After that, our departure was swift. We left behind the cozy warmth of family and my home for the cold embrace of the night.

We piled into Aidon"s car and embarked on the road to Salem. Aidon"s driving defied both reason and speed limits. Stella was never one to let a moment pass without commentary, so she teased him, "Have you glamoured your car, or do you just enjoy flirting with speeding tickets?"

Aidon"s laughter echoed through the car. "Perks of godhood. No traffic ticket can catch me."

I chuckled at his arrogance. It was so unlike his normal attitude that it was funny. They bantered as I considered Nana's comment about this being a trap. We would need to cast a spell to prevent us from being whisked away against our will again. Just in case. The atmosphere in the car grew more charged with each passing moment, an unspoken understanding that Salem held secrets that begged to be unraveled.