Chapter 13

THIRTEEN

F ia’s fingers trembled as she dialed Luna’s number, her exhaustion making even this simple task feel like defusing a bomb while blindfolded. The phone rang twice before Luna’s soothing voice answered, a balm to Fia’s frazzled nerves.

“Luna? I... I need help,” Fia whispered, her voice cracking with fatigue and desperation. She sounded like she’d been gargling gravel and chasing it with sandpaper smoothies.

“Hang tight, sweetie. The cavalry’s coming,” Luna assured her.

Within an hour, Luna arrived with Celeste, Tabitha, and Sera in tow, bursting through the door like a glam-rock SWAT team. The moment they stepped into the living room, their eyes widened in concern, taking in the scene before them.

“Oh, honey,” Celeste gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. “You look absolutely drained. Like a vampire’s juice box after an all-you-can-suck buffet.”

Fia tried to smile, but it came out more like a grimace. Dark circles shadowed her eyes, giving her a distinct raccoon-chic vibe, and her usually vibrant hair hung limp and lifeless around her pale face as if it too had given up the will to live.

“Is it that obvious?” she attempted to joke, but the humor fell flatter than a pancake in a steamroller factory. “I was going for the ‘glowing new mother’ look, but I think I missed and landed on ‘extra from The Walking Dead’ instead.”

“What’s going on, Fia?” Luna asked gently, guiding her to sit on the couch.

Fia’s eyes welled up with tears she was too tired to hold back. “It’s Vienna. She won’t sleep at night at all. She cries nonstop unless I’m holding her. For hours. And during the day, she’s fine with Sayer, but at night...” She trailed off, her exhaustion evident in every line of her body. “It’s like she turns into a tiny, adorable vampire, sucking the life force out of me instead of blood.”

Tabitha, ever the problem-solver, piped up. “Have you tried garlic? I hear it works wonders on vampires.”

Sera elbowed Tabitha. “Tabitha, we’re trying to get the baby to sleep with Fia, not repel her entirely.”

“You guys, she doesn’t sleep all night. Like not even for five minutes. And then in the mornings, she nearly passes out from exhaustion and I have to work and take care of a million things so if I get two hours it’s a miracle.”

“Wait,” Celeste gasped. “You’re really not sleeping at all?”

“No.”

Tabitha frowned. “That doesn’t sound right. Can we see Vienna’s room?”

Fia nodded, leading them upstairs. As they entered Vienna’s nursery, Luna’s eyes narrowed. She closed her eyes, her lips moving in a soft incantation. The air around them shimmered for a moment.

When Luna’s eyes snapped open, her expression was grave. “Fia, someone’s put a hex on the crib.”

Fia’s heart lurched. “What? But... I didn’t sense anything!”

“It’s very well hidden,” Luna explained. “It’s a two-part sleep disruption spell. The first part keeps Vienna from sleeping at night, and the second makes her uncomfortable with anyone but you during those hours.”

Rage and fear warred within Fia. Her hands clenched into fists, magic crackling at her fingertips. Fia’s brow furrowed as she processed Luna’s words. “But... why? Why would someone do this to Vienna? To me?”

Luna’s expression darkened, her violet eyes flashing with barely contained anger. “This hex wasn’t just about disrupting sleep, Fia. It was designed to break you down slowly but surely.”

A chill ran down Fia’s spine. “What do you mean?”

Luna sighed, placing a comforting hand on Fia’s arm. “The spell was crafted with precision and malice. By forcing Vienna to only find comfort with you during the night, it ensured you’d be the one losing sleep. Over time, this would drain your energy, your magic, and your ability to care for Vienna effectively.”

Celeste nodded grimly. “It’s a cruel and calculated move. Whoever did this wanted to weaken you both physically and mentally.”

“But who would want to do that?” Fia’s voice trembled, a mix of fear and rage coloring her words.

Tabitha stepped forward, her blue eyes filled with concern. “Someone who doesn’t want you raising Vienna, perhaps? Someone who thinks they have a claim on her?”

The implication hung heavy in the air. Fia’s mind raced, thinking of her estranged family.

“I can’t say for certain who’s behind this,” Luna said carefully, “but I can tell you it was done with ill intent. This wasn’t a prank or a misguided spell. Whoever cast this hex meant to harm you and potentially separate you from Vienna.”

Sera, who had been quiet until now, spoke up. “The good news is, now that we know what we’re dealing with, we can protect against it. We’ll set up wards and teach you detection spells. They won’t catch you off guard again.”

“We’ll also talk to Sheriff Reed so he’s aware of what’s going on. Don’t you worry about. We got this.”

Fia nodded, feeling a surge of determination cut through her exhaustion. “Thank you, all of you. I... I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

“That’s what friends are for,” Celeste said warmly. “Now, let’s get you rested up. We’ll do a restful sleep spell on you. You need energy and to be clear headed. You’ll need your strength to face whatever comes next.”

As her friends began the sleep spell, Fia felt a mix of gratitude and resolve wash over her. Someone had tried to break her and separate her from Vienna. But they had underestimated her resilience, her support system, and most of all, the fierce love she had for her niece. Whoever was behind this would soon learn they had picked the wrong witch to mess with.

With that thought, Fia drifted off into a deep, restorative sleep, her body and magic beginning the process of healing and strengthening for the challenges ahead.

Her last conscious thought before drifting off was a silent prayer of thanks for the amazing women surrounding her and a flicker of worry about who might have hexed her baby’s crib.

As sleep claimed her, Fia’s mind finally quieted.