Chapter 19

Braxton pulledup to Lily's house and killed the engine. Their afternoon of hiking had done wonders to clear his mind. After learning that Lucy was in Washington and that Niko somehow knew about the curse and was apparently trying to find Lucy, too, he'd needed something to distract himself. Otherwise, he'd have lost it. The very Idea that Lucy had followed him to Washington made him want to punch a wall. What awful, destructive thing was she up to now? He really didn't want to know. All he cared about was breaking the curse, and if she was nearby, that meant she'd be easier to find.

Soon enough he'd talk to Niko and then confront his mother. He didn't believe for a second that she didn't know Lucy was nearby. It was likely the reason she was in Washington at all. She either wanted Lucy back as a partner, or she wanted to destroy her for leaving in the first place. He'd known all along that his mother probably wouldn't hold up her end of the deal. But he'd had to try.

"Do you want to come in? I could make dinner," Lily said.

He reached over and cupped her cheek. "There's nothing I'd like more, but I really need to take care of a few things."

Lily chewed on her bottom lip. "Do those things include talking to Niko and seeing what your mom knows about Lucy?"

"You read my mind," he said with a wry smile.

"Honestly, I was surprised you didn't do that right after our talk earlier today." Lily placed her hand over his and squeezed.

"I needed a bit of time to let it sink in. Thank you for going on the hike with me. It was exactly what I needed."

"Any time." Lily leaned into his touch and closed her eyes for a brief second.

She looked so lovely that it made Braxton's heart squeeze. He leaned in and brushed his lips over hers. She tasted like sunshine and strawberries, and he wanted more. When he deepened the kiss, she wrapped her arms around him and let out a soft moan.

It made him want to carry her into her house and taste every inch of her skin. His body was alive with need, desperate for a night alone with her. But this time he wouldn't hold back. He wanted her, wanted to make her his in every sense of the word.

"Brax," she murmured breathlessly. "I want you."

He groaned and forced himself to retreat. Her eyes were glazed with lust, and her lips were red and kiss-swollen. It was nearly enough to make him stay. "I think it's obvious I want you, too." His voice was gruff and full of need. "But not tonight. Not until?—"

"The curse is broken," she finished with a sigh, looking disappointed.

He hated himself. "I'm sorry. I just don't want that hanging between us when I finally make love to you."

She gave him a weak smile. "How can I argue with that?"

Braxton leaned in and kissed her again. They stayed wrapped in each other's arms for what seemed like forever, until Lily was the one to pull back. She ran her thumb over his jawline and said, "I have to go in now. But promise me we'll find a way to break this curse soon, otherwise, I think we're both going to combust sooner rather than later."

"It's a promise." He didn't know how, but he'd find a way.

She jumped out of his truck and ran up to her house. Once she was inside, Braxton headed home, dread already coiling in his gut as he told his phone to call Niko.

The phone rang five times before his friend's voice mail clicked on.

"Niko, it's Brax. Call me as soon as you get this. It's important."

After he parked in his long driveway, he didn't bother going into his house. He headed straight for the garage apartment, but even as he climbed the stairs, he had a sinking suspicion that his mother wasn't there. The lights weren't on, and none of the windows were open. It was one of her things. She always needed a window open. She said she felt caged in without it.

He knocked anyway, and when she didn't answer, he let himself in. The bed was unmade and there were dishes piled high in the sink. He made a noise of disgust and headed back down the stairs to his house.

After tossing his keys in the bowl next to the door, he called out, "Dante?"

No answer.

Brax was striking out all over, and he instantly regretted leaving Lily. He could've been wrapped in her arms instead of pacing his living room. The very thought of her sent a shot of lust through him.

"Hello, Brax," a soft, very unwelcome voice said from behind him.

He turned and clutched at the stairway banister. "Lucy. Long time no see."

"As soon as I heard you were here in Washington, I knew I had to come see you." The petite woman had died her brown hair platinum blond, and instead of being dressed in an oversized boho-style dress like she'd worn when they were together, she was dressed in jeans and some sort of low-cut wraparound shirt that showed off her ample cleavage. She'd topped the look off with six-inch stiletto heels.

"Why? Are you here to cast another curse? My mother is living in the garage apartment. I'm sure she'd be happy to sell you another one, though she swears she's given up the life. But I'm pretty sure neither one of us would believe her."

"Brax, come on now." She made a pouty face. "That's not why I'm here, and you know it."

"You think so? Because I really have no clue. My best guess is that you and my mother have teamed up to find a way to ruin my life again."

She sighed. "I can see you're still angry. Fine, I'll get right to the point. The reason I'm here is to offer you a deal."

He scoffed. "You want me to make a deal with you? You're out of your mind."

"Maybe. But what if I offered to break the curse? Then you could go off and make babies with that mousey blonde you seem to like so much."

Unadulterated rage surged through his veins. "You've been watching me and Lily?"

She smirked. "You didn't think I'd come here without doing my research, did you?"

He wanted to strangle her. "There aren't going to be any deals, Lucy. You're going to break this curse and then leave me, Lily, and the rest of this town the hell alone. Got it?"

"Sure. But you're going to do something for me first." She gave him a wide smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"Why would I do anything for you?" He glared at her, wondering what he ever saw in the woman standing before him.

"Because if you don't, not only are you going to be saddled with this curse forever, but your mom, your girlfriend, and her entire family are all going to end up magical eunuchs."

He stared at her, processing what she was saying. "That's impossible," he finally said. There was no way she had that much power. His mother, sure… Maybe Lucy could strip Katerina of her power. But the Befana witches? He started to laugh. "You've taken one too many potions. I think it's rotted your brain."

Lucy narrowed her eyes at him, hatred streaming off her in waves. "You have no idea the power I've acquired over the years, Braxton Kirkwood. The only thing that's holding me back now is you and that nosy friend of yours you sicced on me."

"What are you talking about? I didn't sic anyone on you." Was she crazy? All he'd ever tried to do was find her to break the curse and move on with his life.

"Pay attention, Braxton. I'm talking about the one who has been hounding me for the past three years. Your buddy at the Magical Task Force. He's getting on my last nerve, and you're going to get him off my ass. In return I'll break the curse, and we can live the rest of our lives pretending we never met."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Braxton said, staring at her in complete confusion. "I don't know anyone in the Magical Task Force."

"Don't lie to me, Braxton. It won't end well for you," she said in a sinister tone.

That pissed him off. "If anyone is a liar, it's you, Lucy Lansing. I have no idea what you're ranting about. Your paranoia has gotten the better of you. I don't know what you think you know, but it's all bullshit. Now break this curse and leave me alone, or I will find a way to turn you into the Magical Task Force again."

"You haven't changed," she said, shaking her head. "Still the na?ve dreamer I fell in love with all those years ago." There was a nostalgia in her tone now that made Braxton's skin crawl. "Maybe I was wrong," she continued, smiling sweetly at him. "Maybe I don't want to sever the connection."

"Lucy," he warned, moving toward her. "Don't do this. You haven't missed me all these years, otherwise you'd have come back sooner. Can't we just end this and move on?"

"I'll never be able to move on. Not now. Not when they're going to haul me off to prison for crimes your mother forced me to commit," she spat out. "It's your fault she came into my life. Why should you lead a happy life while I spend mine on the run? No, that's not going to happen. I think it's time you came home to me, where you can pay for the sins of your mother."

"Lucy, I?—"

A bolt of magic hit him right in the chest, sending Braxton to the floor. The last thing he saw was Lucy peering over him, shaking her head as his world turned black.