The Hidden Grimoire by Karla Brandenburg (pride and prejudice read TXT) 📕

Georgia repeated the incantation. “Cure her gifts like fired clay.”

LeAnne raised her arms. “No, Georgia. That isn’t nice.”

If Georgia cast the spell, intentionally or not, it would mirror back on her. “No, Georgia. You don’t know what you’re doing.” The vise inside me eased and I crouched beside Georgia. “Why don’t you go back to sleep, honey?”

Georgia, overtired, overstressed, and shushed one too many times, wasn’t finished. Her eyes shone with an eerie light. She turned on me and the force of her energy knocked me to my butt. “Don’ wanna nap.” She turned to her mother and repeated the spell.

Did the spell work without drinking the potion? In either case, the spell clearly stated the person casting and the intended target would both lose their powers.

“Brynn?” Kyle called, still knocking on the door.

“I’m okay.”

LeAnne seemed transfixed by Georgia, her mouth open in an expression of shock.

I reached for Georgia, cringing against the tightness that bound me. Georgia repeated the words her mother had spoken a third time, then pointed at LeAnne.

LeAnne took two steps backward. A ripple cut through the air between them. The green waves leapt into the air until they culminated in a flash. I shielded my eyes.

Remy cried and I picked him up from the couch, rocking him and humming. The ball of ice inside me trickled as it melted. Georgia lay on the floor, curled into a ball. LeAnne leaned against the wall, staring blindly.

The front door burst open.

“What the hell is going on in here?” Jason shouted.

LeAnne tried to speak, but appeared too stunned. Jason rushed to Georgia and lifted her into his arms, shooting me a glare. Georgia wiggled and started to cry again.

Nope. He wasn’t going to believe me. Not for one single second. This was all going to be my fault. I knew he’d blame me as clearly as I saw the hate in his eyes.

Kyle followed him in, assessed the room, and circled my waist with his arm.

I sighed, drew a deep breath. “She asked for help,” I told Jason. “I came. Now that you’re here, I can leave.” I extended Jason’s son toward him—his gurgling, contented son.

Jason blinked. Set Georgia down and took the baby. Remy seemed to quiet Jason’s temper. “LeAnne?” he said, not taking his eyes off me.

“She forced her way in here,” LeAnne screeched. “Tried to get me to drink a noxious potion.” She pointed at the spilled glass on the carpet.

“Time for us to leave,” Kyle said.

“Not so fast,” Jason sent me a heated glare. “I told you to stay away from my family. You’re trespassing, and I’m inclined to press charges.”

Georgia hurled herself against my legs once more, still crying. “Aunt Bwinn.”

I crouched beside her. “You’re okay, sweetie. Daddy’s here.”

“Daddy mad.”

“Yes, he is, but he loves you very much.” I shot Jason a glance. “Don’t you, Daddy?”

“Of course, I do.”

I took hold of Georgia’s hand and stood tall. “She needs sleep, and she needs to be three years old and not be taking care of the baby.”

Jason straightened. Tilted his head as he looked at LeAnne. I recognized the stunned expression from when Kyle first understood Narcy had bewitched him, as if he’d come out of a cave into bright sunlight.

If what Hannah had told me was true, I might have expected him to see through LeAnne while she was pregnant, when her powers were weakened. Giving him the benefit of the doubt, I chose to believe he was doing what he thought was best for his family and making the most of a bad situation. I suspected things were about to change, and he wouldn’t want an audience.

“Do you want me to put you to bed before I leave, sweetie?” I asked Georgia.

She tucked her thumb in her mouth and nodded.

I closed my eyes, extended my telekinesis toward the sock monkey and held out my hand. The monkey came to me and I handed it to Georgia, then led her to her bedroom.

“Sleep,” I whispered into Georgia’s hair.

“Sing me?” she mumbled around her thumb.

I sang Blackbird, and before I reached the chorus, she was sound asleep.

I was going to be the bad guy in this scenario, no matter what I did. If what I suspected had happened, I wouldn’t have to worry about guiding Georgia’s dreams any longer, but that wouldn’t stop me from wishing I could be a part of this sweet girl’s life, and her baby brother’s.

I kissed her forehead, smoothed her hair and marched out of her room, to where Kyle waited for me.

“You need to call the police,” LeAnne cried. “Have her arrested.”

“I can do that for you,” Kyle offered. “We’ll see who they take away.”

Jason sighed. “That won’t be necessary.”

I met Jason’s gaze, saw the conflict there. “You know where to find me.” I opened the top of Ash’s basket and looked for her. She lay on the sofa, grooming herself. When I picked her up, she meowed as if she was in pain. I eased her into the basket, grabbed my coat, took Kyle’s hand and we left.

Chapter 41

Kyle took Ash’s basket and opened my car door. “You want to ride with me, or are you okay to drive?”

I wanted to put distance between myself and LeAnne Hanson. “I can drive.” He reached across to put Ash’s basket on the passenger seat, took my hand and eased me behind the wheel before he closed the door. “See you at home.”

Ten minutes later, I walked into my own house and scooped Ash out of her basket and sat at the dining room table. “You okay, kitty?” I asked.

She curled into my lap nudged my hand with her head. I scratched her ears and ran my hand over her body, stroking her fur and inspecting her for any wounds. She seemed unharmed, perhaps as exhausted from the experience as I was. We drew strength from each other, and as Ash’s purrs grew in volume, I closed my eyes and let the