Page 44 of Minnie

Amber glances at me. “Do you feel any different?”

I shake my head.

“Okay, let me take off the magic dampener, and we’ll see if Delphine’s powers hold.”

I nod.

Amber unclasps the dampener. “How do you feel?”

“I… still can’t feel Julian. And none of my other spells are working.” I touch my frizzy hair. “Do I look any different?”

“No.” Amber grins. “You look perfect.”

I know she’s referring to Delphine’s magic, not my actual looks, but I still break into a grin. This might actually work.

This might actually work!

“Okay, I’m calling Julian.” Amber takes out her phone and makes the call.

Julian’s tired face pops up on the screen, and he yawns as he asks, “All set?”

Amber nods and turns the screen so we can all see Julian. “We’re ready to go.”

Julian nods and starts the van. The engine rumbles to life and Julian says the same words he always does. “I’m going to drive slowly. Just say the word, and I’ll turn around.”

“We’re all good so far,” Amber tells him.

I nod. “I can’t feel where you are,” I tell him. “And all my other spells aren’t working, so Delphine is legit. Plus, all the cribs collapsed.”

Amber shows him the cribs, and he mutters something under his breath.

“Sorry,” Delphine says.

“Not your fault,” Amber quickly tells her.

Julian clears his throat. “Okay, I’m about to pass the first line.”

“That’s how far he can get when I’m not wearing the magic dampener,” I explain.

“Done,” he says. “Still doing okay?”

I nod. “Yes.”

“Keep going, Juli,” Amber adds.

We all grow silent as we wait. A few minutes pass, and then Julian says, “I’m about to pass line two. Should I keep going?”

I hesitate. But this is it. This is how we’ll know.

I square my shoulders. “Yes. I’m good.”

“I’m going as slowly as I can.” There’s a honk in the background. “Let me put the emergency blinkers on.”

They echo in the silence, marking each passing second that Julian moves forward without triggering the curse.

“I’m still okay,” I say, eyes wide. “Actually, I feel great. I think it’s working.”

Julian grins on the phone screen. “You okay if I speed up?”