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*CHAPTER 9*

My eyes shifted uneasily between each of them, "What do you mean?"

"Kassie," Jenna said, voice gentle, "Something unusual happened tonight."

My heart rate, which had slowed considerably thanks to the tea, picked back up to racing again, "Okay," I said slowly. I'd had enough bad news broken to me over the years that I knew how it began—and my muscles tensed.

Malcolm sighed, clearly tired of beating around the bush, gesturing to me, "Look at your arm."

I blinked at him confused for a moment before doing what he said, lifting my arms out of where they were twisted in a throw blanket.

On my left inner arm, a black twisting mark spiraled on my skin, wrapping around my wrist like ivy. It spread all the way up to my elbow. A stark twining symbol that stood out against the pale skin.

A hurried glance down at my forearm was enough to confirm what he said. Black shadowy swirling marks had been etched into my skin along my inner arm. A symbol I'd never seen before.

"What is this?" I asked, fingers coming up to brush the strange symbols on my arm. I rubbed against it, and my stomach sank when the mark didn't budge.

“It looks like we were Cursed," Malcolm said, holding his own arm out. I had to drag my gaze away from my own Mark to see what he was talking about. There, on his own inner arm, was a black swirling mark that was an identical twin to my own.

What the fuck?!

“Cursed?” I demanded.

Richard cleared his throat, "I mentioned before that along with Elemental Magic—the Magic that we possess—there is also a secondary type of Magic. The Magi community refers to it as Blood Magic. Forbidden Magic."

My eyes darted between the three of them, “You’re saying someone did Blood Magic on us?”

Malcolm leaned forward in his armchair to set his mug on the table, "Remember that explosion that happened right before you blacked out?"

The one that threw me to the ground after we'd been fighting about my car. I nodded stiffly.

"I'm not sure how it happened, but we had a Curse cast on us. I didn't get a look at who did it to us or have any idea why. All I know is one moment we were trying to keep away from ghouls and the next, we both had Marks."

Dread pooled in my stomach, "What does that mean for us?” I asked slowly.

"It means we can't let you leave," Malcolm said.

I looked between Richard and Jenna for confirmation, and the regret on their faces was enough to make my stomach drop.

"We're not entirely sure what the Mark means," Richard admitted, "All Curses leave distinct Marks on those who are Cursed, and I can’t say this is one I’m familiar with.” I don't think I was imagining the curious glint in his eyes. "That's why we called the head of our local coven shortly after you arrived. He should be here any moment. He has more expertise about this than we do."

I chewed warily on my lip, considering,“And you think that he’ll know what the Curse is? And how to reverse it?”

“We certainly hope so,” Jenna said with a sympathetic tilt of her lips.

Richard nodded, “If anyone knows more about this, it’s Peter—” His statement assurance was cut off by a knock on the front door. “Ah, that’s probably him now.”

I took another sip of calming tea while Richard stood to make his way towards the front door. Jenna was refilling my cup for me as Richard re-entered the room with the man I guessed was the Head of the local Coven. He was tall, with sparse hair graying around the temples, and a bit lanky.

He was wearing an impressive-looking three-piece suit. And while the graying of his hair gave away his age, he didn't have a single wrinkle marring his skin. If Lauren were here, she'd be badgering him about his skincare routine.

Richard pulled up a chair for him, "Kassie, I'd like to introduce you to the head of Valley's Coven, Peter Pruitt."

Peter's eyes landed on me, his gaze sparking with surprise as he took in my scraped and patched up body, "Very nice to meet you, Kassie. Though, I'm sorry it had to be under these circumstances." He leaned over the coffee table to hold out his hand for me to shake. I barely suppressed a flinch at how cold his palm felt against mine.

"It's good to meet you too," I told him.

"And Malcolm, Jenna, it's good to see you, as always.”

Jenna stood to greet him,“Thanks for coming on such short notice, Peter.”

He dipped his head in a nod, “Of course. I’m always glad when my knowledge can be put to good use. When Richard told me about the Curse Marks, and what had happened, I couldn't quite believe it at first."

“Any information you can give us would be appreciated.” Richard said.

Peter turned back to me where I had risen from my seat on the couch onto stiff legs, "May I have a look at your Curse Mark?”

I nodded, holding out my Marked arm for him to inspect. As he reached for my arm with the Curse Mark, I noticed Malcolm's entire body go stiff from where he stood a few paces away. I shot him a speculative look but he didn't meet my eye, the muscles in his jaw looking tight enough to crack teeth. Peter grunted as he considered my Mark, letting go of my hand.

My stomach flipped uneasily, “Do you recognize it?"

"I believe I do,” His dark eyes jumped from left forearm over to Malcolm, "And you have this exact Mark on your arm as well?”

Malcolm nodded stiffly, "Same Mark, same place."

"I thought this might be the case,” Peter stepped away from me to inspect the black swirling Mark on his arm as well. Malcolm hesitated only briefly before uncrossing his arms to undergo the same curious perusal I had. Peter made a thoughtful sound in the back of his throat.

Richard adjusted the glasses on his nose, "As I mentioned before, we still need to do research in the archives, but some of the Markings appear similar to some Binding Curses I’ve seen.”

Binding Curse? I did not like the sound of that. Not at all. Peter spoke again before I had the chance to ask what that was.

"You’re right. It is a type of Binding Curse. ” He nodded, finally tearing his gaze from Malcolm's forearm. I couldn't read the expression on his face as he peered between Malcolm and me. A small smile danced on his lips, “I believe congratulations are in order."

"What do you mean by that?" Malcolm asked slowly, a muscle in his jaw ticking.

"This Curse...the last reference of this type of Life-Binding being performed was over two centuries ago. It used to be a fairly common practice among Magi," Peter's mouth tipped up in a half smile, as he glanced between us again, "in Marriage ceremonies."

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