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Shit. Now, my big mouth is about to get Aggie into trouble.
“She didn’t,” I blurt. “I overheard you all talking about it while you were healing my wounds.”
Grandma sweeps her glare to Aunt Klara, who shuffles on her feet. “I didn’t want to overload the girl with magical anesthesia. Not while her life hung in the balance.”
“Or maybe you just wanted me to suffer,” I say. “You’ve always hated me and now I know why.”
Everyone falls silent. Aggie fidgets at my side, making no move toward her broomstick. I stare out into the garden, where the other witches are now tiny blots in the sky. If I don’t use this opportunity to convince him not to slaughter the Boogie Man, I’ll lose him forever.
“Please, don’t hurt Henry,” I say. “He saved my life.”
Grandma’s brows pull together. “Did you not hear what that creature said? He came to our realm because he sensed our ancestor’s magic. The same magic I used to revive you. Your Boogie Man saw a chance of breaking his chastity curse with your murder.”
Pain spreads across my chest at the truth in her words. It thickens my throat and burns the backs of my eyes. “He might have started out like that, but he changed.”
“He changed tactics,” Aunt Klara says. “When clawing at Aggie didn’t work, he decided to use seduction.”
“Then why did he save my life?”
“Because it had to be him to strike the killing blow,” Grandma says, her eyes softening. “Not a third party.”
Aunt Klara shakes her head. “Use your brain. His wife’s natural death didn’t break the curse, so getting at you is his second chance.”
Grandma dabs at her eyes. “Well, I’m sorry we couldn’t save you from getting violated. Klara, heal her wounds.”
“No,” I blurt. “He didn’t force me to do anything.”
“Then you’re as naive as you are useless,” Aunt Klara says with a sneer.
Grandma raises her palm. “Enough. We have a rift to seal.” She turns to Aggie. “You will repair the damage to the wall and administer to Alienor’s needs until we have removed the threat.”
“Babysitting her again?” Aggie whines.
Bristling, I try not to be insulted that my cousin sees me as some kind of burden.
“Why do I have to stay with her?” Aggie asks.
“Because I say so.” Grandma runs her hands down the broomstick’s shaft, making it float back into the garden.
Aunt Klara flies out with her, and they both disappear into the skies, leaving me alone with a furious Aggie.
“You were having an affair with the Boogie Man, weren’t you?” she says, her voice sharp with accusation.
“Could you release me from your mum’s spiderweb thingy?” I ask.
“Answer my question,” she snaps. “You shagged him after he tried to murder me with his claws.”
My heart sinks into my stomach and lands with a splash of acid. Aggie has a point. If Grandma and Aunt Klara hadn’t arrived the morning Aggie released the Boogie Man from the trap, she probably would have bled to death.
“Well?” She taps her foot.
“He lashed out because he believed you set the trap. And maybe he thought your locket would also protect you from his claws.”
Aggie’s cheeks turn pink. “Mum already gave me so much shit about tarnishing the locket for fashion.”
“Your mum’s a bit of a nightmare.”
She huffs. “Tell me about it.”
