“No, bellend. She just helped Sophie retrieve the book for funsies. How dense are you?” Tish retorts.
Lucca snarls at her. “Who are you calling dense, fleabag?”
“Hey, let’s not call anyone names, please,” Vivi interjects. “And yes, Luc, I said I’d help. It’s not a big deal.”
His expression softens. “Anything that requires your blood is a big deal, love.”
“Well, she already agreed to help, so no backsies,” Tish chimes in again.
“We’re missing a few ingredients to perform the spell,” Aurora interjects. “Some are rare.”
Vivi turns to her. “Doesn’t your mother have them at her house?”
“I’ll call Miranda so she can check. If not, we’ll have to make a trip to the Nightshade Market.”
Lucca and Saxon groan, and Tish says, “Yes, I love that place.”
“May I remind you that it’s still unsafe to be roaming about Salem, especially the Nightshade Market?” Lucca glares at everyone.
“He’s right, Miss Sophie,” Igor says. “Your father is on the lookout for you, and hewillhave people stationed at the Nightshade Market.”
Sophie lifts her chin. “We better hope that the High Witch has what we need, then.”
Forty-Seven
LUCCA
Iwas under no illusion that the High Witch would have the ingredient needed for the spell because nothing has ever been easy for us. When Aurora tells us they need to visit the Nightshade Market, I’d already expected that.
“Is getting the ingredients for this spell a life-and-death situation?” I ask.
Both Sophie and Tish say, “Yes,” while Igor says, “No.”
“Maybe not to you,” Tish retorts. “You’re not the one stuck as a pet.”
“You’ve been stuck for centuries. What difference will a few more days make?” He scowls.
“A few more days won’t make a difference to my father. If he’s looking for me, he won’t stop until he finds me. Waiting is pointless,” Sophie argues.
Of all the things that I have to worry about, looking for an ingredient for a spell that requires Vivi’s blood isn’t at the top of my list of priorities. But I can’t say no to Vivi when she’s determined to help our new “friends.”
“Fine, you can go, but Vivi will stay,” I reply.
She puts her hands on her hips and glares. “Why do I have to stay?”
“Because we do have something more pressing to do tonight. I’d have told you sooner, but you left without telling me.”
She looks remorseful. “I’m sorry. I thought we’d be back before anyone noticed we were gone.”
I pull her to me. “It’s okay, love.”
“I’ll go with Sophie,” Vaughn pipes up.
“I want Saxon to go too,” I say. “I’m not taking any chances when it comes to Jacques. And your guests will have to wear a blindfold when they leave and return to the mansion.”
Vaughn’s brows arch. “Why? They aren’t going to betray us.”
“He’s right, Vaughn. Mr. Tellier would know how to extract information from us even against our will,” Igor chimes in. “I don’t object to wearing a blindfold.”
