Chapter 17

Lily's fingersflew over the keyboard of her computer as she searched the county website for homes that were scheduled to be auctioned. She took a sip of her tea as she scrolled and then sat up when she spotted the small blue home in Hansville.

"I'll be damned," she muttered to herself. "It is up for auction." She had to admit that Niko was likely telling the truth, and him being there probably didn't have anything to do with looking for Lucy. Especially since she now knew that Braxton had never told him about the curse. Houses that were up for auction often weren't open for public viewing, so anyone interested in bidding would have to check it out from the outside. She sat back in her chair, pulled out her phone, and called Braxton.

His phone rang twice before it went straight to voice mail. She didn't want to have a one-sided conversation, so she ended the call and texted him, asking him to call when he had a chance. She still needed to tell him that she'd found Lucy's last known address and that his ex was most likely in the area.

A text came back almost immediately. He was dealing with a leaky pipe at his house and would call when he could.

Lily sighed. It was always something. She glanced at the clock and yawned. It had been a long day, her eyes were starting to water, and she had to be up early to work on the rest of the details for the Midsummer Festival. They had gotten almost everything done except for finalizing the website. Lily had volunteered to handle all the updates since Braxton wasn't as computer savvy as she was. And since the festival was coming up fast, she wanted to get it done before eleven o'clock, when she had to be at her grandmother's for the coven meeting. There was no way Lily was going to miss that.

Katerina Kirkwood would just have to live with it.

Lily sent one last message to Braxton, letting him know she was headed to bed and that she'd talk to him tomorrow. When her weary body finally hit the sheets, she fell into a deep sleep within seconds.

* * *

Lily held backa grimace when she glanced out the window and spotted Katerina Kirkwood climbing the stairs to her grandmother's porch. It was five minutes after eleven, and the coven meeting had just started. Her grandmother and the other five witches who were present were not impressed.

"Looks like our guest has finally arrived," Bethany said with an air of irritation.

"I'll let her in," Lily said, jumping to her feet and heading for the foyer. She yanked the front door open and found Katerina with her fist up, clearly getting ready to knock. "You're late."

"I thought the meeting started at 11:00?" she said, sounding confused.

"It did." Lily held the door open and ushered the woman in. They were silent as they made their way into the parlor, where the meeting was being held.

"This is Katerina Kirkwood," Lily said. "Katerina, this is my grandmother, Bethany Befana, and the rest of the Befana Bay coven. I've already filled them in on your history, so don't bother trying to sugarcoat it."

Katerina sent Lily a death glare so vile that if a curse had been attached to it, Lily was certain her heart would've already stopped.

"Take a seat Katerina," Bethany said. "Lily tells us you're trying to reverse a curse you sold to a young woman some years back."

"Yes," Katerina said, sitting with her hands in her lap. "The curse bound my son to her, and now if he has a relationship with anyone other than her, the relationship is doomed."

"Destruction of the Heart Curse," Serena, the witch sitting to the right of Bethany, said. Her tone was dripping with judgment.

Katerina gave a tiny nod. "Yes. That's the one."

"You do realize that's illegal, right?" Serena asked.

"I don't cast those kinds of curses anymore," Katerina said, her eyes full of apprehension. "I admit I made mistakes." She let out a nervous laugh. "Doesn't everyone at some point in their lives?"

"Not those kinds of mistakes," a darked-haired witch named Jacinda said. She was wearing a white linen suit that made her look like she should be on a southern porch sipping mint juleps.

The other remaining witches all nodded, supporting Jacinda's statement.

"Well, aren't we judgmental," Katerina muttered to herself.

Bethany stood up and cleared her throat. "From everything I've heard, you're the type of witch who belongs behind bars. I'd be careful about what you say while in this room, Katerina. If the witches of Befana Bay are judging you, it appears there is good reason. You have been allowed an audience here for one reason and one reason only. Braxton is a valued member of this community. If there is something we can do to help him, we will. But understand that helping you is not something any of us are eager to do. Now, please state your case for what it is you think we can do to help Braxton."

Katerina's face flushed a deep red as she clenched her fists in her lap. Lily couldn't help the satisfaction that washed over her, knowing that Katerina was humiliated. The woman deserved no less after everything she'd put Braxton through.

"I would like to reverse the curse that was cast on Braxton." Katerina swallowed hard and continued. "Since I made it, all we need is a coven powerful enough to break it. I was hoping that, for Braxton's sake, you all would be willing to help do that as soon as possible."

Serena scoffed. "You want us to do a curse reversal without the witch who cast it?"

"We don't have a choice," Katerina said meekly. "I've been looking for Lucy for a number of years now but haven't been able to find her. You don't know how much it's eaten away at me that I'm the one responsible for what happened to my son. I just don't think I can go on living like this. We have to find a way to break the curse."

Unease bubbled in Lily's gut, and she knew in that moment that Katerina wasn't being entirely truthful. There was something about her story that was off. She wasn't here because of guilt over what she'd done to her son. There was another reason. "You're lying," Lily blurted. "Tell them why you're really here."

Serena glanced at Lily and then back at Katerina, her voice eerily calm when she said, "Your lies are not permitted here."

"But I'm not lying!" Katerina got to her feet and placed her hands on her hips as she stared down at Lily. "Stay out of this. You don't know anything about me or my son."

Bethany reached out and placed her hand on Katerina's shoulder, giving Braxton's mother a slight shove and forcing her to sit again. "You will remain respectful to all the witches here, or you can leave. Your choice."

Katerina sucked in her cheeks, looking like she'd just sucked on a lemon.

Lily was torn between laughing and throwing her out. Katerina might have been asking the coven to help break Braxton's curse, but she wasn't there out of the goodness of her heart. Lily was certain of it. Breaking the curse had to benefit Katerina in some way. Lily just didn't know how. Still, if it freed Braxton, Lily didn't really care what the reason was. She just wanted the man she was falling in love with to finally be free.

"You say you've been looking for the woman who cast the curse," Bethany said. "What steps did you take to find her?"

"Steps?" Katerina asked, her voice hesitant.

"Yes, steps." Bethany was impatient now. "What have you done to find her?"

"Um, well, I've done multiple internet searches and have asked about her among the people I've… uh, done business with. Lucy's a ghost. There's not one trace of her on social media."

Lily gave Katerina a flat stare. For a grifter and a scammer, her effort was sorely lacking.

"You didn't hire a private investigator?" Serena asked, sounding just as irritated as Bethany.

"I, um, don't have the resources for that," Katerina stammered.

"The answer is no," Serena said.

"But—" Katerina started.

"It would take all of us to be in agreement," Bethany said, cutting her off. "If one is out, then we all are. Frankly, I'm in agreement with Serena. There is more to be done to find this Lucy woman. It's much too risky to try to break the spell without the person who is bound to Braxton." Bethany put an arm around her granddaughter. "I am not willing to put anyone else at risk because of your reckless behavior. When you've found Lucy, then come talk to us. Until then, you're not welcome in this house."

Katerina sat in her chair, motionless, her mouth hanging open.

"That means you're dismissed," Serena said. She gestured to Lily. "Can you see Ms. Kirkwood out, please?"

"Of course." Lily took Katerina by her arm and tugged for her to move. When she didn't, Lily hauled her up and said, "Go."

The movement seemed to prod Katerina out of her shocked stupor. She planted her feet and cried, "You can't do this! Do you understand what this means? Time is running out! If this doesn't happen soon, it won't happen at all. You have to help me."

"We don't have to do anything, Ms. Kirkwood," Bethany said, her tone full of ice. "Now please go. I'm sure you'd rather leave under your own power than have me and the rest of the coven escort you out."

"You're the reason I always stayed away from covens," Katerina called over her shoulder as she stomped toward the foyer. "So high and mighty and full of yourselves."

"I'd stop your ranting if I were you," Lily said as she followed the woman. "Once they lose their patience, it won't be pleasant."

"Pleasant. As if there was anything tolerable about that meeting. They get off on making people like me feel small. Well, forget it. I don't need their help. I'll figure out how to break the curse myself."

Lily opened the door for her. "I hope you do," Lily said honestly, even though she knew it would be impossible unless she found Lucy. "Braxton deserves better."

Katerina didn't say another word as she left the big Victorian house and disappeared around the corner.

Lily closed the door softly and went back into the coven meeting.

"I'm sorry, Lily," her grandmother said. "I know you were hoping for a better outcome."

"I was," Lily said. "But all hope isn't lost. Braxton's mom might not have the resources for a private investigator, but I do. When I find Lucy, I'll let you know."

"You do that, dear." Bethany gave her a hug and then sat back in her seat and clasped her hands together. "Now, let's get on with the important stuff. Who's in charge of the magical beautification of the grounds in front of the post office?"