I shrugged.
He stepped closer. His eyes locked on the doll.
“You touched it.”
I frowned. “Okay, and?”
He took the doll carefully from my hands, as if it might explode.
For a long moment, he just stared at it.
I could see the anger building behind his eyes.
“What is that thing? Is it going to harm us?” I asked quietly.
He didn’t answer right away, but eventually said, “Bad work.”
But I could tell from the way his shoulders stiffened that he did.
And the way he looked toward the front door, then walked away…
Like he already knew exactly who had sent it.
I walked behind him, though, curiosity killing me. He walked into the backyard, took off the bone and clothes, and then tossed the doll on the ground. He grabbed a bottle of lightning fluid and a match, then torched the doll.
“I’ll be back later. Put the fire out when it burns fully and sweep it into the dirt.” He walked off, leaving me wondering,what the fuck just happened?
CHAPTER 51
Zay
“You Made Me Grow Up Too Fast”
The house I grew up in hadn’t changed. Same marble floors. Same quiet hallways. Same smell of Madam Laveau’s expensive perfume that always made my stomach turn.
I hadn’t been back here in months, but the place still carried memories I never asked to keep.
Madam Laveau sat in the living room like royalty, legs crossed, silk robe sliding along the couch cushions while she sipped wine.
She smiled when she saw me.
“Zacian.”
I didn’t return it. “Where did you get that doll, and why did you send it to my house?”
She tilted her head slowly. “What doll?”
I stepped deeper into the room.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about.”
She sighed softly, like I was being dramatic.
“You burst into my home, making accusations?”
“Iknowyou sent it.”
Her eyes flickered.
