AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She’sss mine. She’s sssafe with me.
I gritted my teeth to stop myself from replying to my snake. I’d gotten used to talking to it out loud, as if it wasn’t a part of me. We used to feel like one, but since the uncontrolled shifts started, it felt like a separate entity, and we just happened to share the same body.
“I’m sorry it messed up your family so badly.”
I shrugged. “That’s going to end with me, even if I never break the curse. I got snipped so I can’t accidentally pass it on.” That was a lot of private information to tell a woman I’d only just met, but I figured she already knew the worst of it so what the hell.
“That’s one way to break the curse in the future, Zayn. But it doesn’t stop it from ruining your life right now.”
No, it didn’t. Which had me wondering… “How did you stop him, um, me? Youdidstop me, right?”
“I made an energy barrier around myself, then put you under a sleeping spell. Then while you were out, I put this on you. You shifted back in your sleep.” She approached, knelt on the velvet cushion next to me, and picked up my hand.
A zing of electricity ran through us, and it took me a moment to realize she was trying to show me something.
On my wrist was my father’s broken watch. It was one of the few things of his I had left.
“I hope you don’t mind. It was the only thing I found that would work.”
“I don’t understand.”
She twisted her hands in her lap and wouldn’t meet my eyes. “I needed something metallic and circular, something that can be worn around the neck, ankle, or wrist. It’s an old spell meant to stop shifters from shifting.”
I glared down at the watch. The sneaky little thing had turned my father’s watch into a slave bracelet! And since she’d been the one to cast the spell, I was now bound to her.
I growled and turned on her, but she was fast and bounded across the room.
“I can take it off if you want. I’m not trying to bring you under my power. It was the only thing I could think of that would help with your uncontrollable shifts.”
“How did you even know the spell? Did your family make a habit of enslaving shifters?”
Shock flitted across her face at the accusation. “Never! It’s not a spell I’d ever cast before.” She pointed to an old book on the beaten-up coffee table. “I had to dig that thing out.”
It was titledHistory of Witchcraft and Wizardryon the cover and had colorful post-it notes sticking out of it as bookmarks. It looked like something only a serious witch would have.
I took another look at Sybil. She looked young, and I’d assumed she was a garden variety witch up until now. But maybe she was strong enough to help break my curse.
I fiddled with the watch clasp, but sure enough it wouldn’t come off.
“I can take it off for you. Whoever put it on must take it off.” She took a tentative step toward me.
“No. If this is to help stop uncontrolled shifts, I’ll keep it on. As long as you’ll remove it when I ask.”
“It’s probably not the best thing anyway to leave it on,” she said. “You’ll need to shower eventually. And that watch looks expensive.”
I shrugged. “It’s waterproof. It’s fine. I’ll keep it on.”
It also gave me a connection to the witch, though I didn’t say so. I wanted an excuse to see her again, even though I knew nothing could ever come of it.
A loud pounding suddenly reverberated through the apartment, and I stood, leaping between my door and Sybil, instantly ready to protect her. But the knocking wasn’t coming from my door; it sounded a little farther away. Someone was beating on the witch’s door.
And whoever it was sounded angry.
Chapter 7
Sybil
“Openup,Sybil.Iknow you’re in there.”
