My mother grasped his hand and dragged him inside the dorm room. His eyes widened as he nearly tripped over the threshold. I just heaved a sigh and followed them through the door.
“Yes, come in. Elle has told me everything about you. I know all about your transfer to this Spellwork division, and I hope my daughter has welcomed you to town with open arms.”
Caden met my gaze and stifled a grin. “Your daughter has been very welcoming, ma’am.”
“Oh, call me, Melinda, please. We’re practically family.” She crimped a hand through her thick crop of blonde curls, jangling the set of bangles on her wrist. A long-sleeved hunter green peasant dress flowed down her willowy frame, and a braided black rope cinched her waist. “Sit, sit,” she said, gesturing to the foot of the bed. “I’m glad you’re here, Caden. You can help me perform the ritual. I won’t have my daughter go another second without a formal blessing.”
“Mom, no—that’s not necessary. It’s a formality at best. Besides, I’ve already been a practicing hunter for a couple of weeks. There’s no need.”
My mother frowned and bent to rummage through her bag. “There’s every need, honey. It’s a Spellwork tradition for family to bless a new hunter and accept them into the fold. You were at Ivy’s ritual; I was at my sister’s. We will not be breaking our customs, even if this one will be a bit unorthodox.” She paused and looked up from her bag to gaze around the room. “I doubt a Hunter’s Blessing has ever been done in a dorm room. There’s a first time for everything, I suppose.”
“It is tradition, Graves. I was at my brother’s.”
I mouthed the words, “You’re not helping,” and shot him a glare. It didn’t seem to matter; he looked pleased with himself. I wanted to sink into the floor.
A Hunter’s Blessing was an antiquated tradition, but my mother was superstitious to a fault. There would be no talking her out of it. I guess it was amazing it had taken her this long to show up at my doorstep.
It hadn’t even occurred to me to have one. Mostly because I’d been busy, but also, a tiny part of me kept waiting for the high council to pop out of nowhere and yell, “Surprise! We were just kidding. You can go back to your old life.”
“Take off your shoes,” my mother said, squinting at my training attire. Her brow wrinkled. “We don’t have the customary robes, but at least take down your hair.”
Caden chuckled and handed me a hairbrush from my nightstand. He was enjoying my discomfort way too much. I snarled but accepted the brush and removed my ponytail. My mother continued to forage through the bag, popping up with a small plastic container.
“Now, these are for Loki. They’re ghost treats. I had them specially enchanted. I believe they’re chicken-flavored, but there might be some beef in there too. Feed him one a day, and I’ll send you more when you run out.” She passed the container to Caden. He opened the lid, and Loki perked up from his post near the bed.
I reached into the container and pulled out a treat. The small biscuit turned translucent in my palm, and I tossed it into the air for Loki to catch.
Seriously, this woman thinks of everything.
“Okay, I think we’re almost set.” My mother had begun placing candles around the room, and I held up my hand when she thumbed a lighter.
“Wait, Mom, you can’t burn those in here. It’s not allowed.”
Her shoulders slumped. “What do you mean? I’ve been sending you candles for three years.”
“I know. I have more candles than clothes in my closet. I’m going to get kicked out if anyone ever finds them.”
She made a discontented sound in the back of her throat. “No candles. No traditional robes. I guess that means no incense either.” She sighed. “We’ll just have to make do. But I’m taking the candles I sent back with me. No use letting perfectly good aura cleansers go to waste. Stand over there, sweetie. And Caden, come join my hand while we recite the blessing.”
I did as I was told and moved to stand in the center of the room. It felt a little strange accepting my position as a demon-hunter while dressed in yoga pants and wearing purple-and-green-striped socks. At Ivy’s coronation, she’d worn a flowing white gown and a gold-threaded robe. Diamonds had studded her ears. There also weren’t boxes of ramen noodles and a microwave sitting in the corner.
I guess beggars couldn’t be choosers.
They spoke the chant in front of me that was supposed to help protect me from evil and guide my hand. Maybe it would help. It certainly couldn’t hurt. Even Loki got in on the action, sitting regally next to my mother, his nose tilted in the air. He might have just been looking for more treats though. It was hard to tell.
Bowing my head, I let their words wash over me.
When the blessing was finished, my mother dived back into her bag and removed a velvet-lined box. “I got you a gift.”
“Mom, you didn’t have to do that. You can’t afford it.”
She waved my words away, bracelets clinking on her wrist. “I know, I know. And don’t worry—this is a hand-me-down. It was Ivy’s. The council returned it to the family after . . .” Her voice faded as tears glistened in her eyes. “Well, I think Ivy would have wanted you to have it.”
I opened the box and stared at the silver pendant with the Spellwork symbol carved into the precious metal. An enchantment circled the edge, the words written in the old language. My throat grew tighter the longer I stared. This was never supposed to be mine.
Caden moved to help me put on the necklace. He brushed my hair over my shoulder and fumbled with the clasp. His fingers were warm against the back of my neck, a direct contrast to the cold metal from the pendant. He whispered softly in my ear—a final blessing meant only for me.
I glanced at my mother. Her smile wobbled, and she dabbed at her eyes with a tissue.
