I swallow past a lump in my throat and step up to the bed, where she’s been laid. She’s lying in a black gown, her wrinkled face peaceful.
Regret and shame burn in my gut. I should’ve come back before this. I should’ve visited. A world ofshould havesprick at my mind, and I shut them out. What’s done is done. I’m here now. That’s better than nothing.
It seems like hours pass as I hold her cold hand and cry at her side. My sisters pass back and forth, each of them crying as we comfort one another.
It’s only when the candles begin to burn low and I realize that it must be getting late, that Ovie clears her throat.
“She’ll walk in a few days,” she says, as is our tradition. “But tonight there’s something I need to tell y’all.”
My gaze snaps onto Ovie. What in the world would weneed to talk about? Nana just died. Shouldn’t that take all our focus?
She wrings her hands—not a good sign for what’s to come. “With your nana’s passing, you know that the line of succession falls to your mother. As of late there have been…ripples in our power, fluctuations that can be attributed to one thing?—”
“Bad weather?” Finn jokes, pulling her ponytail over one shoulder.
Ovie’s gaze skates to her. “No. This has to do with the continuation of magic. As you know, our power survives through the primary generational line, which your grandmother was the head of. My magic came from her, and it now comes from my sister, who was firstborn. The family line must continue in order for the magic to remain strong,” she says, her voice stern to stop any interruptions before they start. “Addie, I believe your grandmother had talked to you about this.”
“She had,” I admit.
Ovie clears her throat and slowly takes in each one of us. “What I’m trying to say is this—the six of you, seven including Georgia, must marry, or else our magic will disappear.”
Deep breath.
Okay. I know this already. This was why I’d told Nana about Edward, why I was excited for the proposal. But now things are different. I’ve sworn off men. But this isn’t the time to confess that to my aunt, who looks like a general readying the troops for battle.
Ovie pins her gaze on me. “And we’ll be starting with you, Addie. You’ll be the first to march down the aisle.”
5
All hell breaks loose.
“I’m not marrying anyone,” Dallas snaps.
“Me neither,” Finn adds.
“Not even that rake werewolf, Dane?” Chelsea says, eyeing her.
Finn glares in response, while Emory and Dallas shout more protests.
“What about Nana? Don’t we get to mourn her?”
“Yeah!”
Ovie throws up her hands. “That is enough! I’m sorry, but you know how this goes. I want to spend time mourning as much as y’all do, but your grandmother understood the severity of the situation. She would want us to focus on this.”
I’m so tired, Nana had told me, her words ping-ponging in my head.
“The magic of this coven requires that our family line continues. That is it.” Ovie’s eyes narrow and tiny flames shoot from them, threatening to scorch us. We all take a step back. “There won’t be any argument. Your mama has put mein charge of making sure y’all are ready for marriage, which means you must each be presented.”
“Presented?” Dallas guffaws.
“At a ball,” I whisper. “Atraditionalwitch ball. We’ve had plenty of others, but this will feature suitors.”
It’s an old custom, pretty much unheard of anymore, just like arranged marriages are, but it does happen on occasion, like when a family needs to get rid of—I mean,marry off—a daughter.
Finn scoffs. “So we’re to parade around like peacocks? That’s ridiculous. I’d rather take part in a witch hoedown.”
Ovie ignores every protest. “You will all go, but our upcoming focus will be on Addie as she’s the oldest and, therefore, should be the first to marry.” She pins her searing gaze on me. It’s enough to make me wither. “We’ve already taken care of your apartment and job. Your apartment is paid for, and your employer has you on an extended vacation. So there’s no need to worry about the human world.”
