Chapter 17

CHAPTER 17

I MMY

After my mother left, I spent the rest of the day reading through the grimoire, while Edge recharged in the other room so I could concentrate. My mother was right. Many of these spells were advanced, using techniques and even languages I didn't know. And the potions and charms used ingredients that I had never heard of. I desperately wanted to prove my mother wrong and show her I was worthy of the grimoire, but I worried that maybe she was right and I was in over my head.

The sun was sinking low in the sky when my phone rang. It was my sister Tatiana, married to the scion of the Morganti clan, Leland Morganti. They had two perfect children, one witch and one warlock, already showing great promise in the magical talents arena, and were destined to lead the coven into the next generation. I had never seen the inside of their manor. It looked like I was going to get my first glimpse the following evening.

I sensed that I should be on alert, but my sister had never really cared about me or anything to do with me. Why would she suddenly show an interest? Unless my mother had called her about the grimoire and they were joining forces to gain it from me? I wish I could believe my mother wouldn't do anything that underhanded, but I knew my mother. She craved power, status and control above all else. Even after a cursory review of this grimoire, I could tell it held great power and potential.

"Tatiana. What an unexpected…" I really couldn't say pleasure since, honestly I wasn't sure if it was a nice call or not.

"Really, Imelda. You're my sister. Why wouldn't I want to talk to you?" Even her laugh sounded forced.

I resisted the urge to list all the reasons why my sister wouldn't call me. We weren't close, had never been close. I had always been beneath her, especially when my magic went wonky. And once she had married into the Morganti clan, well, I may as well have been invisible, or should have been since I was an embarrassment, which is why I wasn't even included in her handfasting ceremony. At least I was invited, though relegated to the table by the kitchen.

But I played along and settled for the simplest answer. "Maybe because we haven't spoken in years."

Another fake laugh that sounded like the tinkling of shattered glass. "Imelda, that's only because you're so much younger than I am and don't understand the challenges of being a wife and mother. But you're growing up now and ready to take your place in the family."

Bingo! There it was. I could almost hear my mother's voice layered over my sister's words. But another part of me, the young girl who desperately wanted a big sister and a close bond with her sister, yearned to believe her words.

"Why now, Tatiana?"

I held my breath waiting for her response, praying she wouldn't disappoint me.

There was a brief pause and then she spoke. "We were never close. We're too far apart in age and had nothing in common. But we're family and someday, we'll need to rely on each other to lead our family into the future, well, us and Alain. Now that my children are a bit older, I have more time to get to know you. And you're older too. Maybe we can be friends, or at least friendlier."

Well, that seemed more logical. Mother had always focused all of her attention on Tatiana, while father spent his time with Alain. I had been left adrift, being several years younger then both of them. Her words made sense but I sensed that wasn't the whole story. But I would go along for now. I agreed to dinner the following evening and doubled down on my research in the grimoire.

I had even called my friend Darla over to look at it. She had tried to open it and received an electric shock so bad that she went into convulsions. Once she recovered, I had her look over my shoulders and showed her some of the spells and potions. She couldn't even read the words. She said it was the worst case of word salad she had ever seen. I even tried to write the spells on another piece of paper, but it would not work. It was like I had forgotten how to spell.

I suspected the grimoire not only chose the witch, but it only allowed that witch to read it. But I still needed help figuring out what some of these spells were and if one of them could help Edge. It would be tricky if no one else could read it except for me.

I made a light dinner and focused on the book for the remainder of the evening until I collapsed in bed, snuggled against Edge, losing myself with him, all in an effort to distract myself from thoughts of my dysfunctional family.

It only partially worked.

The next evening, I dressed carefully in a midnight blue tea length dress that carefully skimmed my generous curves without calling too much attention to them. The last thing I needed was a lecture on the latest diet fad running through the coven and how it could benefit me greatly. I straightened my hair and pinned it up in a french twist and applied my makeup in a subtle way, all under Edge's glower.

"I don't like this. Your family isn't kind to you, yet you're jumping when they call. That doesn't seem like a good idea," he growled.

How could I explain that I longed for the close sister bond that Darla and Terry had? Sharing a room, exchanging clothes, talking about dates, and being there for each other. I had close friends, but the bonds I saw between sisters was something I always envied and longed for with my own sister, yet it always eluded me. Maybe Tatiana wanted to develop that now that we were older.

And maybe Loki grew a pair of wings and flew across my bedroom.

I patted Edge on the cheek. "Don't worry. I will be on guard tonight. We'll have some pretentious food, while Leland brags about his latest ward-breaking spell that he created. Tatiana will tout the latest and greatest magical trick the kids have done, as if they were first. I'll try not to fall asleep during dessert, which is possibly something that I am allergic to, that Tatiana will accuse me of lying about, and then I'll come home. Easy peasy."

Edge looked doubtful, and I should have realized he was right.

I walked into the perfectly redesigned drawing room, gilded in gold leaf and cherubs on every corner of the wall, and ran into the very date who had bailed on me at the Rusty Anchor. Erik Dupree.

I faltered in my steps, almost face planting into his loafers. My brother-in-law helpfully grabbed my shoulders and just about threw me at Erik. "Do you know Erik Dupree? Your mother thought he would be the perfect addition to our little soiree tonight."

I avoided Erik's outstretched hand and cast my gaze around looking for my traitorous mother who was, not surprisingly, at the bar getting another drink. She gave me a little wave of her fingers. "Hello, dear. Erik's family is very prominent in Because. I thought he would be the perfect compliment to you."

I scowled at him as he grabbed my arm and pulled me closer, as if to hug me. Suddenly, Edge popped up between us and lunged at Erik, his face a horrifying spectre. Erik dropped my arm and stumbled back with a high-pitched scream, stumbling over an ottoman strategically placed for effect.

"Do not touch Immy." Edge glared at the man on the floor.

My mother gave a loud sigh and rolled her eyes. "Really, Imelda. Must you cause problems wherever you go? I thought we asked you to leave that ghost of yours at home."

"He's not a pet, mother. He's my mate," I said, not intending to spring the news on my family quite like that, but it felt right to say it.

Edge whirled around, the horrific look gone, replaced by the sweet man I knew. "Do you mean it, Immy? I'm your mate?"

"Of course you are, if you want to be, that is." I suddenly felt self-conscious as if I had made the move before we were ready. What if Edge wasn't sure? What if he rejected me in front of my whole family?

A brilliant smile crossed Edge's face. "I love you, Immy. I'd be honored to be your mate."

My mother stalked up to us, inserting herself half into Edge, shuddering when she touched his ghostly form. "I demand you end this ridiculousness. He's a ghost, Imelda. You have so much potential, especially now that you possess the Kemera Grimoire, the most powerful grimoire ever created. Once you harness that power, you could be the most powerful witch of our age!"

Her words slowly penetrated, and I looked at Tatiana, who had the grace to glance away, shame on her face. "So this wasn't about gathering as a family?"

"Of course not. This is about you making an appropriate match and bringing honor to your family. We don't yet know how your magic, faulty as it is, will work with a powerful grimoire. That's why it may be best to merge you with a powerful witching family. Maybe one of your offspring will have better luck with the grimoire than you will."

Her lack of faith in me wounded me deeply, and I tried not to let it show. "What makes you think I cannot manage to make the grimoire work for me?"

She pursed her lips. "Have you not been able to make your friend more corporeal? Dear, leave the serious magic to those who know how to do it."

Anger burned inside of me and suddenly one of the spells from the grimoire revealed itself, plain as day, in my mind. My fingers danced in the air and I murmured words in a language I didn't know. Then I flicked my hand and the gaudy gold leaf all around the room fell away, changing it to cheap, gaudy foil that was peeling away from the wall. The cherubs that, in my opinion, were creepy fat babies, turned into distorted demonic fauns and satyrs dancing across the ceiling. And the red velvet accents shifted to animal print with gold tassels.

I stifled a giggle at my sister's horrified scream. At least now it revealed the true tackiness that it appeared to be. My mother glared at me.

"How did you do that?"

I gave her a sly smile. "Simple. The grimoire taught me."

I swept out of the room, leaving my mother with a gaping mouth and Edge at my side. Who needed to be close with a family who didn't respect you?