“Sorry! I’d forgotten about the sound.” Dizzy shrank a little and glanced at me. “I didn’t used to put sound in them.”

“You should put fire in it, too,” I said, touching the blade with my finger. It was way too nice for the likes of me.

It’s all about who you know.

“Here, honey. You’ll have to push magic into this, but it should hold it for you.” Callie handed me a strange-looking brooch fashioned to look like a big beetle with a lion’s head.

“Never wear that in my presence,” Darius said. “Keep it out of sight.”

He’d get it pinned to his back when he wasn’t looking so everyone would laugh at him, that was what he’d get.

“Will you be needing any more spells?” Dizzy asked Darius.

“How many of those swords do you possess?” Darius pointed at my blade, which I hadn’t put away yet. It was too new and shiny to hide.

“None like that, but we could make some.” Dizzy glanced at Callie.

She shrugged and nodded. “Full payment up front.” At Darius’s shrewd look, she crossed her arms over her chest. “She is the only one I know who can use a blade like that. I would be making it specifically for her. I don’t plan to waste my time simply because vampires can’t be trusted. Money up front.”

“And a brooch that isn’t so hideous?” Darius hadn’t reached for his wallet. Assuming he had one.

“How many?” she replied.

“As many as would be necessary in the event that she encounters a spell much stronger than she can comfortably handle.”

“Since when are vampires worried about the wellbeing of humans?” She turned on me quickly. “Tell me you didn’t bond the shrewdest vampire in existence!”

“I’m not an idiot.” I shrank away from her scowl. Thunder clouds rolled across Darius’s face.

“A sword can create a bond with the handler,” she said, relaxed now. “But a brooch is too small. Anyone who got their hands on it could use it. For some people, that isn’t a big deal. But for Reagan, that could have extremely damaging consequences.”

Those threads of fear resurfaced. She was right about my power, but was she guessing, or did she know?

“For that reason,” she went on, speaking to me, “You need to take care of them, or your power can be used against you. Not to mention analyzed. So two small magical containers would be all I’d advise.”

“Fine,” Darius barked. He checked his watch. “Get two more in motion. Charge the card on file. I will have my assistant review the charge. I expect a discount for the bulk order.”

“You’ll get no discount, or you’ll get no supplies.” Callie gave Darius her bulldog expression.

“That’s what you get for not using please,” I murmured.

Darius threw his hard gaze at Dizzy. “I would like a handful of distraction spells, delivered to Reagan now. Then a dozen more, styled to look like various creatures, color coded. My people will supply you with the colors, as usual. Make the dragon breathe fire.”

“I’m…not sure I can do that.” Dizzy scratched his head.

“C’mon, honey, let’s heal your face.” Callie tugged me along behind her.

“Oh. Do we have time?” I glanced at Darius. He gave me a nod before following Dizzy into his shed. That wasn’t the answer I’d hoped for. I wasn’t sure I wanted to be alone with this woman.

“I hate dealing with that vampire,” Callie said as she pulled me toward the house. “Which is why I usually don’t. He makes me want to kick him.” She huffed as we entered through the door. “Right, honey, down to the brass tacks.” She still hadn’t released my wrist, and was now yanking me toward the stairs. “Do you know about your father?”

“I don’t think I am who you think I am,” I said, guarded. “I’m not a curse breaker. I don’t even know what that is.”

“You didn’t tell that fool of a vampire what you are, did you?” At the top of the stairs, she saw my hesitation. “I knew your mother. I knew her when she met your father. I helped her after she kicked your father out. I know what danger you are in, which is why I agreed to cut all bonds until you were old enough. She died before her time, and I lost sight of you. You took her teachings to heart, which is good. But because of that, we’ve lost valuable time.”

This time I didn’t resist when she pulled me down the hall.

“I loved your mother like a sister,” she continued. “We all did, those of us who knew her well. We didn’t like that she tried to disappear. I was the only one powerful enough to confront her about it. Lord almighty, she gave me a good magical wallop, I’ll say that much. She had great offensive magic. I got through, though. I got to meet you.” She smiled and touched her hand to her heart before directing me down the hall. “Such a little cutie, you were. I couldn’t have kids myself, but I do love them. I got to hold you and rock you—Mother Nature is the most magical of us all. It is wise to use her for guidance.”

Touching moments made me uncomfortable.

I scratched my arm and contemplated making a run for it. Curiosity stayed my feet, however. My mother had never told me someone else knew about me. We’d always been alone. I said as much.

“Your mother and I agreed that your identity should be a secret. At least until we assessed your magic. When it turned out you had a good deal of your father in you, keeping you secret became a necessity until you mastered your various gifts. I didn’t visit your mom because I am always surrounded by busybodies and power seekers. If someone followed me, it would’ve put you both in jeopardy.”

Callie sat me down in front of a huge vanity. It didn’t surprise me to see that all the little boxes and serums were perfectly organized. A massive bed sprawled out behind us, one side ruffled and the other crisply made. An open door on the other side led to a bathroom and a giant bathtub.

“I wondered if she would eventually turn you over to the Mages’ Guild.” Callie assessed my face. “They would want to claim you, and in doing so, protect you. But she was probably right in her choice. They’d seek to use you. Maybe even trade you. They’ve gone horribly corrupt. They don’t have a presence around here, thank God.”

“When I was old enough to look after myself, I tried to get her to join the world of the living again.” I shrugged. “By that point, she said there was nothing for her anymore. She was happy with the life we had, working on her magic, seeing if she could create a spell I couldn’t break apart.”

“I bet that was a challenge for her.” She leaned closer to my forehead. “Burned your eyebrows away, huh? And how’d you get the scratch?” She thumbed my cheek.

“A plant-based sort of goo. I wasn’t paying enough attention.”

“Ah. No problem. I can fix this in a jiffy.” She pulled one of the containers toward her and took off the lid.

“My mother was excellent with healing magic. I didn’t inherit the ability.”

“Not many do.” She waved her hand around. “Hence the big house. Rich humans pay me to smooth facial lines and cure hangnails. Vanity pays, dear, which you’ll learn readily enough from that vampire out there. He’s as vain as…” She let the words trail away. “Don’t trust him, by the way. I’m sure you know that.”

“Obviously.”

“And while he is gorgeous, and undoubtedly has great techniques in the bedroom, it’s not worth it. Think with your head.”

“I know this.”

“It doesn’t hurt to be reminded. A man that fine can wear on the logic, don’t I know. I got mixed up with one of them when I was in college. Time of my life. Getting away wasn’t so easy. Had to kill him and cover it up.” I jerked back in shock. “Hold still, honey. I only want to put this salve on the trouble spots.”

“You killed him because you didn’t want to stop seeing him?”

“It was the only way, I assure you. He wanted to bond me, of all things. I was extremely naive and powerful, a great combination for a predator. Thanks to the advice of an old biddie like myself, I got out. Otherwise I would’ve been lost to him. He didn’t want me to leave, of course. This might sting a little.”