Hexes and Exes (Witches of Mystic Hollows #2)

Chapter 1

1

AVA

F uck you.

Fuck you, too.

Fuck you with a rough wooden broomstick. I hope it gives your ass splinters.

I look around the clearing and spot so many people I want to punch. My father, my ex-boyfriend, his intern slash fuck buddy slash apparently new girlfriend. They all get a mental middle finger.

“Happy New Year to the Luminara coven,” Lucida Ash, the head of the Tenebris coven, greets the crowd.

Actually, that’s not entirely accurate. Less than a month ago, Mystic Hollows was a town divided. We had two covens that loathed each other; the Lumen and Tenebris covens. We weren’t even allowed to cross the river and step foot on each other's territory. Then some deep, dark secrets were uncovered, ancient coven history was revealed, and stories we’d been told since childhood were proved to be lies. In a surprise move, the Lumen and Tenebris covens combined, and now we are the newly formed Luminara coven.

The joy in this clearing is palpable. Just kidding. Everyone is pissed.

“Tell me again why we’re here?” I grumble to one of my oldest friends, Josephine Delvaux. She’s standing next to me, bundled up in a puffy coat and a knitted cap pulled down low on her forehead. On her other side is her boyfriend Roman Blackthorn, with whom she shares a magical bond. Inky vines appeared one night on both of their ring fingers. We’ve yet to discover exactly why the mark appeared. All we know is that it’s a fated bond, and it broke both of their curses.

Yeah, that’s right, curses.

Because, of course, this town is more messed up than you can imagine. Every firstborn from one of the most powerful magical families in Mystic Hollows is born with a curse. And while Jo and Roman may have gotten rid of theirs, no one else has. Including me.

“Keep your enemies closer.” Stellan, my younger brother by three minutes, slings an arm over my shoulder. While he’s technically my little brother, he’s also almost a foot taller than me. A lot of people assume that because we’re twins, he also got the shit end of the stick and has a curse, but he doesn’t. I’m the lucky member of the Vandenberg family who gets to suffer.

My friends and I spent last night ringing in the New Year at one of Ambrose Roth’s clubs. Before six months ago, I’d never so much as hung out with someone from the Tenebris coven. Thanks to Josephine and Roman’s Romeo and Juliet love affair–sans the unhappy ending–our friend group has expanded to include a whole new cast of characters. Ambrose is one of Roman’s oldest friends. The Roth family owns most of the entertainment venues in Mystic Hollows. We had bottle service and unlimited drinks all night, so I’m not mad about it. I am, however, tired, hungover, and I have a sneaking suspicion that I did or said something really stupid last night. I just can’t remember what it was.

I should be sleeping off my hangover, or eating greasy food, but no. The Luminara coven called a mandatory gathering at sunrise in our new joint ceremonial site in the Grimwood. If starting the year tromping through the snowy woods in the dark–when it’s zero degrees out and I’ve only had three hours of sleep–is a sign of things to come, then I’m going to hide in my apartment for the next twelve months.

“I don’t trust the coven. If you’d seen the way my mother and Selene were chatting the night of the winter solstice, you’d be suspicious too,” Josephine murmurs under her breath. It wasn’t long ago that her parents performed a ritual on her that backfired. The move got Josephine's mother removed from the Lumen coven council, and in a stroke of karma, made Josephine's parents and one of her sisters the bearer of their family curse. Selene, the leader of the now defunct Lumen Coven, is the co-leader of our new coven. The fact that she was chatting up Jo’s mom, like she isn’t a huge piece of shit, is suspect.

“If we don’t keep tabs on them, then who knows what they’ll do.” Jo shakes her head.

“Probably the same boring shit they always do.” I shrug and rub a hand over the back of my neck. My skin tingles, and I look over my shoulder. Bram Blackthorn’s penetrating gray gaze is focused on me.

Bram is the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen. I mean that in a completely hot, masculine, rip-your-clothes-off-with-a-growl kind of beautiful. His dark hair is thick and always falls perfectly with a slight wave. His cheekbones are sharp enough to cut glass, and his chiseled jaw is one that models would envy.

He’s also a dick.

Here’s what I know about Bram Blackthorn. His full name is Abraham, and I’ve considered calling him Abe, but I’m worried he might punish me. And not in a fun, kinky way. He’s thirty-one, just six months younger than his half-brother, Roman, and three years older than me. His house recently burned down, and he’s been living at Roman’s place. He likes to pick fights and is grumpy most of the time.

“What?” I mouth the word.

He raises one brow and a faint smirk tips up his lips. I narrow my eyes and shoot him a glare before facing forward again. So what if my belly is swooping and fluttering with butterflies at that look. It’s just because he’s far too attractive for his own good.

Then there’s me. Not too tall, not too short. Mousy brown hair, plain jane brown eyes, a stomach that folds over my pants on days I eat too many carbs. Which, let's be honest, is most of the time. I do have a nice rack, though.

Bram sidles up beside me, his arm bumping into my shoulder. “How’s your head feeling?”

“There’s an entire marching band playing a fight song in there. Thanks for asking.” I rub my mittens together, activating a spell Piper put on them to keep my hands warm.

Bram’s eyes are on my face. I slowly turn my head and stare right back. “Did someone draw a dick on my forehead when I passed out last night? Have I grown horns? Why do you keep staring at me?” I’m not shy by anyone’s standards, but there’s something about Bram that brings an extra helping of snark right out of me.

“Has anyone ever told you that you look like one of those wide-eyed dolls.”

I choke on my spit. How fucking embarrassing. I can’t even swallow without injuring myself. “Like…a sex doll?” I say between coughs.

Why did I just ask that?

“What?” Bram barks out a laugh, and multiple heads swivel in our direction. His mouth curls up in a smile, and I swear I spot a dimple. I hunch my shoulders, shrinking in on myself.

“No. One of those dolls from the seventies with the huge eyes. Holy Mother, Vandenberg. Where’s your head at?” Bram drags his hand over his face, the rasp of his morning beard scraping against his skin. “Although, you were dancing on a table last night, screaming about how the only person to give you an orgasm was yourself.” Bram chuckles. “That was fun.”

“Kill me, now,” I groan.

Our new ceremonial site is perfectly aligned in the middle of the boundaries that used to separate the two covens’ territories. It’s a circular clearing surrounded by towering trees. Their empty branches clatter in the fierce wind sweeping across the glen on this early winter morning. There’s an altar in the center of the clearing. The two pieces had been separated and used for the two covens before we combined into one happy family. It’s now been returned to its original state from centuries earlier.

With two covens came two leaders, two coven councils, two groups of previously warring witches. Our coven council was combined, and well, let’s just say it’s a work in progress. The distrust is evident in the way that groups huddle together and stick to one side of the clearing or another.

Lucida Ash, who was the leader of the Tenebris coven, is standing next to Selene Nightshade, previously the leader of the Lumen coven. Selene is a rack of bones with gaunt cheeks and a faintly arachnid quality to the way she moves her hands. Lucida is her opposite, with voluptuous hips and curves. The sun rises behind the two of them, making silhouettes out of their bodies, creating shadowy figures without clear features.

Selene runs her hands across the altar before looking up and focusing on the crowd. “I’m so glad to see faces new and old here with us on this dawning day.”

“As if we had a choice,” my brother mumbles under his breath. Odie, another one of Roman’s friends, steps up beside him. She has long blonde hair and the face of a freaking angel. She can’t speak and her hands move in a flurry of motion as she signs something to my brother.

“As we usher in a new year, we must embrace our new coven. Together, we have much to celebrate. Our magic will grow as we learn to work as one cohesive family. Setting aside our differences won’t be easy, but I’m certain we will only become stronger as one unified group.” Selene’s voice is even and calm.

The crowd shifts and heavy winter gear swooshes with their movements. Those sounds are nearly drowned out by the whispers. The horde doesn’t keep their thoughts quiet for long.

“You’ve lied to us.”

“What about their dark magic?” an accusatory voice calls out, setting off a cacophony of shouts that break out across the clearing. I search for the people asking the questions, but the crowd is too big. The sun is only now rising, and everyone is cloaked in the anonymity of darkness.

Growing up, we were always taught the Tenebris coven, who used dark magic, was evil. The Lumen coven was made up of light witches that claimed their magic was purer and somehow better. It’s all a bunch of bullshit. Most of us, with a lick of sense, knew that, but there will always be people who have terrible critical thinking skills.

Selene’s hands lift toward the sky to quiet the frenzied voices. “We are aware that rumors have been spreading. Invading our coven like a sickness.”

I watch Selene. I don’t trust her. You don’t lead a coven council full of awful people like Jo’s mother, and my father, without knowing who they are. Selene knows exactly what Josephine's parents did to her. Yes, she allowed Jo’s youngest sister to come live with her and kicked her mother, Francesca, off the coven council, but I’m not convinced that she has everyone’s best interests at heart.

Lucida watches the crowd as Selene continues. “We know the falsehoods that some witches have been spreading. They are the disturbed and troubling lies of low-powered witches who seek attention. Do not fall prey to their forked tongues.”

“You’ve got to be shitting me. What rumors? Are they talking about us?” I grumble. After the ritual backfired and Josephine's family became cursed, we kept our mouths shut. Jo was worried Selene would change her mind and take her sister Penelope away from her and send her back to her parents. Mystic Hollows is a small town, though. At least when it comes to gossip. People talk. Word has started to spread about the rebounded curse. Is that what Selene is referring to? We haven’t been randomly chatting about it with other coven members, so I have no idea what she’s talking about.

Lucida places one hand over her heart and another lifts toward the sky. “We know this is new territory for all of you. Half of you don’t know anything about me. I understand that it’s difficult to put your trust in the unknown, but I have always put my coven first. Like Selene, I am a descendant of one of the earliest witching families to seek out a home in Mystic Hollows.” She brings her hands together in a prayer gesture. “We have much to learn about being one coven. I have been the leader of the Tenebris coven for over a decade. Selene has guided the Lumen coven for just as long. We are discovering what it means to combine our power. So please be patient with us.”

She turns and smiles at Selene, who returns the expression. Others may not see it, but they can’t completely hide the forced nature of the action from me. My magic allows me to read auras and emotions. While there are far too many people in the crowd for me to get a direct read on how they’re feeling, their auras are clear as day.

There can be a lot of different interpretations of the color of someone’s aura. Red can be passion or anger, but it can also mean excitement or bursts of energy. The two of them flicker between red and green, leaving a muddy color surrounding them. There’s distrust and a power struggle between them. Interesting.

Selene turns back to the crowd. “To mark this momentous occasion, we want to have a celebration. We will be throwing a masquerade on Lupercalia. This will bring all of us together, renew our magic, and cement our status as one cohesive coven.”

“Lupercalia? Which one is that again?” Ambrose pipes up behind me. Despite having partied as hard as any of us last night, he looks like he just had a facial and is not at all dehydrated. He’s one of those radiant assholes who always has a golden aura and perpetually looks like he’s just come inside from a day of surfing.

“It’s basically Valentine’s Day. It’s a fertility holiday.” Piper frowns and lowers her head as soon as the words come out of her mouth. Piper is the quietest of our friends. You’d think she’d be as outgoing as her ruby red hair, but she’s soft-spoken and introverted.

“Hmm…I like the sexy part. Not so sure about the fertility bit.” Ambrose hums.

“One of these days your dick is going to get you into trouble,” Bram says.

“Sounds like fun.” Ambrose laughs.

“It’s also about the transfer of knowledge from one generation to the next.” Odie signs and rolls her eyes.

“Here’s to the new year. We have much to celebrate. May we find much peace and happiness in the new year,” Lucida calls out, essentially dismissing the crowd.

“That’s it?” Bram grumbles. “Did that really require all of us to tromp out into the woods at this fucking early hour?”

“It’s a power play,” I respond, watching the two coven leaders interact with the coven council. “Oh shit.” I spot Jamie, my cheating ex, heading straight for us. With his intern, aka the woman he fucked in our bed, at his side.

I flounder and then dart behind Bram, using his big body as a shield.

“What are you doing?” He looks over his shoulder at me.

“Hiding from my ex,” I hiss.

Bram frowns at me and steps to the side, revealing me.

“Seriously?” I snap at him through gritted teeth. Bram has the audacity to grin at me. This time there’s no question that he has a dimple in his cheek. No, that can’t be right. Bram can’t have a dimple. It’s too sweet and he’s too much of an asshole.

Jamie comes to a stop in front of me, his eyebrows raised in irritation. My heart sinks into my stomach, which is full of acid from this encounter and too many shots last night. He’s looking at me like he has no idea who I am. Probably because he doesn’t.

“Do you mind getting out of the way?” Jamie huffs, speaking in an impatient tone that I’ve heard many times in the last few years.

“Hey, Jamie.” I steal a glimpse at the intern who looks perfectly put together despite the early hour. In contrast, I’m in sweats. There are smudges of mascara under my eyes, and my coat is long enough to double as a cape. If I’m as pale as I was when I glanced in the mirror this morning, then ghosts are tanner than me.

Jamie frowns, cocking his head. His eyes drift down my body and back up again, looking completely unimpressed. “You’re…” He snaps his fingers in a rapid tempo, and then points at me. “You work at the copy place, right?”

“Real memorable relationship, Vandenberg.” Bram leans down to murmur in my ear. His breath is a warm caress over my skin. Shivers cascade down my spine, but they’re quickly dampened by the sick feeling in my stomach.

Piper threads her arm through mine and squeezes. Stellan steps up behind her. “Get the fuck away from my sister.”

Recognition lights Jamie’s face seconds before it leaches all color. He scrambles away, dragging his intern behind him. I don’t even get a second look.

“Forget about him, Ava,” Piper murmurs.

Just like he forgot about me. Because that’s my curse. If I don’t see someone or talk to them for a few weeks, then they forget I ever existed.

Bram watches Jamie run away before his eyes fall on my face. I focus on a lone leaf hanging desperately onto a bare branch. I feel you, leaf. Barely keeping hold of your shit, left all by yourself to live a sad and lonely life.

“I thought he was your ex.” Bram crosses his arms, his narrowed gaze on my face. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Odie violently signing. I’ve been learning sign language, but her hands are moving way too quickly for me to make out what she’s saying. Although it looks like Bram is getting his ass chewed out.

At least one thing made it worth getting out of bed this morning.