She raps her knuckles on her hair, producing a hollowclang-clangsound.
The witch narrows her eyes.
“So you’re complaining about the effects of my magic wish flowers—flowers youstolefrom my bush after trespassing on my property?”
I can see the other girls shaking their heads and backing away.Theyall know thatMirabellais going too far butMirabellajust doesn’t know when to quit.
“Yes, actually,” she says, lifting her chin and glaring up atGrizalyn.“Mymother is a member of theSeelieCourt, you know.Oneword to her and you’ll have to deal withQueenMorgannaherself!Soyou’d best fix this mess or you’ll be sorry!”
For a moment,Ithink the witch might actually explode with anger.Herpurple eyes blaze and her nostrils flare until you can see two little white dents on either side of her nose.
But when she speaks, her voice is surprisingly mild.
“Very well,” she says, her lips curving into a cruel smile.“I’llfix it.ButIdo believe it’syouand your fellow thieves who are going to be sorry.”
She waves one long, white hand and murmurs something under her breath.Ifeel the whisper of magic passing by—though it doesn’t touch me—and suddenly everyone is back to normal.
For a moment—just a moment—Ithink everything might be all right.
Then she starts to speak.
“Know this, little priestesses—no magic comes without a price.Andstolen magic costs most of all!”she intones, staring at all of us—me included, even thoughIwas the only one who didn’t steal a wish flower.Iwant to protest, but beforeIcan speak, she waves her hand, andIfeel magic moving again.Thistime it touches me directly, prickling over my skin like a rash andGrizalynspeaks what is unmistakably a spell—a curse.
“A fire shall burn you, fierce and wild
No longer maidens—soon with child!
Seek the roughest male you can find
Beg him to take you—fuck you blind.
You’ll crave his touch, you’ll need his hands
You’ll beg his tongue to meet demands
No prayer will grant you sweet release
Until at last your hunger’s ceased
But once within his seed is cast
Your hidden shame will rise at last.
Your belly swelling as you rut,
Is proof to all you’re just a slut!”
Her voice rises almost to a scream on the last line and all the girls—myself included—shrink back from her.EvenMirabellalooks uneasy—almost as uneasy asIfeel.
Inside,Ican feel the curse taking effect—latching onto me like a greedy parasite.Betweenmy legs,I’malready feeling hot and wet and swollen.Isthis what the witch meant when she said “Afire shall burn you, fierce and wild?”
I don’t know andIcertainly don’t want to find out.
“Please,”Isay, beforeIcan stop myself.“Please,Ididn’t take a flower.”
“Oh you didn’t?”Grizalynbends down to look more closely at me and it’s allIcan do to stand my ground.“Hmm, a half-breedFae,” she murmurs under her breath.“Mostinteresting.Andwhat is your complaint?”
“ThatIdidn’t…didn’t take any of your flowers,”Igasp.Becausethe feeling of needing between my legs is getting even worse and now my nipples are painfully tight too.Goddess, this curse is no joke!
