Practical Rules for Cursed Witches by Kayla Cottingham

Author:Kayla Cottingham [Cottingham, Kayla]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Young Adult
ISBN: 9780593813973
Amazon: 0593813979
Barnesnoble: 0593813979
Goodreads: 205181255
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Published: 2024-08-26T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Rule #8: Anything can be a weapon if you think outside the box.

Delilah’s world ground to a halt.

She’d never had any particular interest in meeting her father. Well, aside from some fantasies of berating him for abandoning her and her mother without so much as a birthday card for seventeen years. That might feel good. But she certainly hadn’t thought about asking him for a favor, much less one that could decide whether or not she kept her magic and potentially saved her friends’ lives.

This is gonna be a nightmare.

“He lives in Gellingham,” Ash continued, clearly not noticing that Delilah had begun to spiral. “But he’s been out of town for a couple of weeks on a…what was the term Aniera used…spiritual retreat with a group called the Moondew Coven. They’re a huge nomadic group of witches that travels around Celdwyn and neighboring countries.”

Delilah didn’t hear much of the last of Ash’s statement, as she was a bit busy seething. He paused and asked, “You okay, Delilah?”

“I guess since we’re all sharing, I might as well.” She squared her shoulders and let out a breath through her nose. “Klaus Hammond is my father. Never met him, but he is.”

Ash reeled back. “What? How—do you know for sure it’s him?”

“Believe me when I say my mother paints a very…colorful picture of the night of my conception,” Delilah said, wincing as she remembered how many times Charlotte had told that story to friends and travelers at the pub. In retrospect, it was surprising no one had come looking for Delilah before Kieran. “It would be hard to make that up.”

“Well—maybe that will make things even easier if it’s Klaus’s daughter asking for access to the vault.” Ash nodded. “The Moondew witches will pass through in a week for one of their traveling-market stops in the Pinwhistle Forest. We should be able to track him down there, since it’s just outside the city. I also don’t know what sort of progress you’ve made on breaking your curse, but at the same time you might be able to ask the witches if they know of any panaceas for it. If, of course, you’re interested. I can’t force you to—”

“I’m interested,” Kieran piped up. When Delilah raised her eyebrows, he amended, “Er, we’re interested. Yes.”

Delilah glanced at Briar, waiting for the girl to shoot her another what’s up with him? look, but suddenly her face had gone pale. Her shoulders were tensed, her jaw working as she stared into her teacup.

“Briar?” Delilah asked, her voice barely more than a whisper.

She shook her head, not meeting Delilah’s eyes. “It’s nothing. Never mind.”

Meanwhile, not having noticed the exchange, Ash aimed a small smile at Kieran. “Wonderful. Well, thank you for hearing me out and offering to help. I know trusting strangers isn’t the most comforting prospect. But I think we can make this partnership work to our advantage.”

“I’m really looking forward to being your partner,” Kieran sputtered. He rubbed the back of his neck. “Or—um, I feel good about this.

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