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We both stood their grinning at each other like fools until Madame Laveaux cleared her throat.
“If you two are done making googly eyes at each other, we don’t have much time.”
“Again, time for what?” I asked.
“This big oaf was supposed to talk to you about this,” she muttered. “I found a solution in an old text. Nico wants to be able to freely touch his woman and his children—I can help with that. There is a special recipe that I must work with, however. It has certain ingredients that must be gathered a specific way. I brought everything with me except for what you must provide.”
“And what might that be?” I asked, glancing from her to Nico. He didn’t look happy.
“Blood from you both.”
“Excuse me?” I deadpanned.
Nico let loose a heavy sigh. “Now do you see why I was reluctant to bring it up?” I wasn’t sure if he was talking to me or Madame Laveaux, but it didn’t really matter.
“What exactly will this magic elixir do?” I asked with a disbelieving gaze and making sarcastic quote motions when I said “magic elixir.” If I didn’t know half of what I knew, I might think the woman was off her rocker. The thing was, I knew a lot. The abilities my brother and many of his friends had were things most people believed were out of books and movies.
“It will subdue his ability to read you. He will no longer see your thoughts and memories. If it is done before the baby arrives, then it will pass from you to the unborn child and any further children you might have. It will be unpleasant, and there is some risk to you and the baby, which is why it’s imperative you’re certain this is what you want. If your heart is not one hundred percent onboard, the results could be disastrous. You can’t force someone to love you, because the magic knows the truth.” The ominous declaration made my stomach drop and my heart stutter.
“Hurt my baby?” I turned to face Voodoo’s grandmother with bugged eyes. The thought of anything happening to it had ice running through my veins, and I rested a protective hand over the now large bump.
“There is a slight chance, but if you truly love him, there will be no worries,” Madame Laveaux said as she gently laid a hand to my shoulder and her silver bracelets jingled. “You must look deep in your heart and decide if the love you feel for him is a forever love and not a passing fancy.”
For a moment I was nervous, but then a calm passed over me, and I knew my answer. “I love him more than my next breath. He and my baby are the two most important people in my life.”
He stepped up behind me and pressed a kiss to the crown of my disheveled hair as his arm wrapped around me to rest over mine on my pregnant belly.
“I have no hesitations,” he said in my ear, and my heart filled to bursting.
“Good. Then you must follow me to Voodoo’s temple. Hurry get dressed.”
“What’s the rush?” I asked.
She paused with her hand on the knob. “It must be done before the baby arrives.”
“But we have time,” I argued with a laugh.
“The baby will be coming tomorrow.” She stared at us with an expression that brooked no argument.
Nico and I glanced at each other in shock. I wasn’t due for another two weeks. Madame Laveaux snapped her fingers, and we were clambering to get clothes on. Within minutes we were rushing out to the common area.
Voodoo was waiting, and he motioned for us to follow him.
The January wind was biting and numbing as I tugged my beanie down over my ears and clasped Nico’s gloved hand in mine. Silently, we followed Voodoo down the snowy path that led to the farm across the field. The shed he used as a temple loomed ahead at the back of the property.
With each step, my heart pounded harder. There was no doubt of my feelings, but the abilities Voodoo and his grandmother had were unnerving at times.
The snow swirled around our legs as the wind picked up. By the time we reached the small building, it was whipping my hair in my face. Voodoo ushered us inside, and we were immediately enveloped in warmth and the cloying scent of incense. Candles were scattered around the room and were the only light source.
We stomped the snow off our boots on the mat.
“Come. Sit.” Madame Laveaux said as she waved a hand to indicate we should sit on the other side of the short table. It barely sat two feet off the ground. There was a rug under it that I knelt on, then cast a glance at Nico. He gave my hand a reassuring squeeze.
The moment we both settled in across from her, she began to chant in a language I didn’t recognize. My gaze took in the odd items laid out on the red fabric over the table. There were also two small glass bottles with the stoppers set to the side with an intricately decorated silver dagger.
When her chanting abruptly ended, the candle flames flickered, and a shiver skated over my skin.
She held out a delicate hand to me, and I placed mine in hers. Her skin was cool and soft as she turned my palm up.
