She let out a huge sigh. “Uncle Lucy, the twins, their mama, probably other people too, but them to start.”

  “It wasn’t bad at the time, Jasmine.” Lucifer stood and walked toward them. “In fact, it was desperately needed and was our only choice at the time.”

  “What did you do, Lucy?” Talon asked as he joined them.

  He sighed. “Look, it was something you asked me to do.” He looked around the tent at all the vampires assembled. “All of you requested this. The one most affected though has requested we attempt to undo what was done.” He turned to Jasmine. “As promised, I will do my best, but none of us can know what will happen next.”

  Jasmine just crossed her arms and glared at him. “Just fix it.”

  He nodded, then disappeared in a rush of flames.

  A couple seconds later, he reappeared with a frame in his hands. He turned and walked toward where the witches were seated. “Elizabeth, would you do me the supreme favor of attempting to remove the spell cast upon this invitation.” He passed the frame to her.

  Silence fell as Elizabeth stared down at the frame, an arrested look on her face.

  She glanced up at Lucifer, who nodded.

  Pushing back her chair, Elizabeth stood, turned the frame over and carefully extracted the paper inside it.

  Seven

  “IT’S HAPPENING,” SORAYA whispered.

  The cats watched as Elizabeth Covington slowly picked her way through the spell she’d cast a decade before.

  Her fingers plucked at the bits of magic clinging to the invitation and slowly began unraveling the entire thing, tiny sparks flaring and dying as she worked.

  What seemed a lifetime later, her eyes flew open and she stared at Lucifer. “Are you certain about this?”

  He glanced at Jasmine, who nodded resolutely.

  “Absolutely.”

  “Please let this work,” Bygul whispered. “Please.”

  Starlight wasn’t sure exactly what was happening.

  All she knew was that Jasmine was adamant something had to be fixed and it involved both Lucifer and the witch named Elizabeth Covington.

  The look on the witch’s face as she stared down at the frame Lucifer had given her made Starlight incredibly curious as to what the invitation inside it said.

  Then, she was too busy watching the witch work her magic, to wonder anymore.

  There were tiny sparks that flickered and died, over and over again, as Elizabeth plucked at nothing but air, the invitation hovering in front of her.

  Finally, it seemed she was done manipulating the air, and opening her eyes, asked Lucifer, “Are you certain about this?”

  When Lucifer looked toward Jasmine for assurance, Starlight wrapped an arm around her daughter from behind, pulling her closer, trying as best as she could to reassure her, hating that she didn’t understand what was going on with her own daughter.

  Jasmine nodded and Lucifer turned back to Elizabeth and gave his approval.

  Spreading her hands, Elizabeth clapped them together right above where the invitation hovered.

  The invitation burst into flames, then magic rolled across everyone in the tent as the flames died, leaving nothing behind.

  Talon gasped, then fell to his knees.

  His father, Lassiter staggered and went down as well.

  “Talon!” Starlight gave Jasmine a reassuring squeeze, then fell to her knees beside him. “Are you okay?”

  He slowly raised his head and stared at her as if he’d never seen her before. “Starlight.” He dragged her into his arms and kissed her, ravenously, desperately. He buried his face into her neck and whispered raggedly, “I missed you so much. Even when I didn’t remember, you were a gaping wound in my heart and soul.” He jerked back suddenly, then turned and stared up at Jasmine who stood beside them, trembling. “Jasmine, my heart.”

  Jasmine hurtled herself into his arms, burrowing between them, arms wrapped around his neck. “Daddy.”

  Starlight jerked and stared at them both.

  Talon’s eyes were closed as he held Jasmine close, tenderness in every line of his body as he lay his head down on hers and wrapped her in his arms. “My precious daughter,” he whispered, tears trickling down his face.

  Starlight was beginning to feel a little panicked, as if something had happened that she’d been left out of, as if everyone, even her own daughter, understood something she did not, as if her entire identity was a mystery, even to herself.

  Lassiter was suddenly there, kneeling beside them, wrapping one arm around his son and the other around Starlight.

  “Talon,” Lassiter spoke quietly. “Starlight needs you. She needs you both.”

  “This is terrible,” Samantha whispered, her head throbbing and her heart hurting even more.

  “I can’t believe we—” Serena looked as stricken as Samantha felt, tears swimming in her eyes.

  “What is it, Samantha?” Jack wrapped an arm around her, no doubt desperate to protect her from something no one could protect her from.

  Elizabeth sighed, looking defeated for the first time in Samantha’s memory. “Listen, girls. I’m so sorry I couldn’t protect you from this.”

  “You did protect us though,” Samantha said. “For ten years, your spell protected us from the truth. That’s what you were doing, right? Unraveling your own spell.”

  Elizabeth nodded. “I didn’t remember it at the time. The spell I cast removed even my own memories. It had to be done though.”

  “I don’t understand,” Serena said. “Was our spell truly that powerful?”

  “We were only twelve!” Samantha exclaimed.

  “Okay, someone needs to explain what the hell is going on,” Neil said.

  “Ten years ago, we were all right here, attending this same celebration,” Samantha said.

  “Mother told us we had to remain behind, but we were curious,” Serena said. “We’d never been to the Hell realm before.”

  “So we followed and had a grand time, exploring and spying and just enjoying ourselves.”

  “But then, we got caught,” Serena whispered. “One of Mother’s witches caught us sneaking slices of cake and so we cast a spell.”

  “Not even really thinking about it,” Samantha said. “We just did it instinctively and then it was too late.”

  “What kind of spell?” Jack asked.

  “A memory spell,” Serena said. “It was supposed to just make the woman forget she’d seen us, but as usual, we lost control of our magic and it wiped out a whole lot more.”

  “Since Starlight and her parents were human,” Elizabeth said, “they were especially susceptible to the twins’ spell. In the end, Starlight was left with no memories of Talon or their love for each other.

  “From that point on, every time she saw Talon, her brain tried to make those connections and remember, but then the spell would reactivate, causing her unspeakable pain,” Elizabeth said. “In the end, all Talon could do was let her go, but then he was going mad without his mate, so I cast a secondary spell to help the Vampire Coven forget Starlight entirely.”

  “You couldn’t just undo the twins’ spell?” Neil asked.

  “Memories are tricky,” Elizabeth said. “Trying to undo someone else’s memory spell could result in worse damage than if we’d just left it alone. And we couldn’t risk Samantha and Serena attempting to reverse it themselves. They were simply too young to have any control of their powers.”

  “Did you know that about memory spells?” Tivali demanded.

  “I didn’t,” Bygul said.

  “So, the only ones who can ever reverse that spell,” Soraya began.

  “Are the chaos twins themselves,” Bygul finished.

  “This is not good news,” Muezza said.

  “Not at all,” Bygul said. “I’m starting to think you were right, Muezza.”

  “About what?”

  “This match is doomed.”

  “That’s why you’ve always resisted your magic,” Jack said to Samantha. “Some part of you must have remembered and internalized that trauma.” He pulled her close and murmured softly in her ear, “I’m so sorry, my love, but you were twelve. A child witch with no control of her magic. Today, you and Serena are powerful witches and if anyone can undo that spell, it’s the two of you.”

  Samantha drew in a deep breath, nodded, then straightened in her chair. “You’re right.” She kissed him quickly, then turned to her sister. “Come along, Serena. We did great harm ten years ago and it’s time to make things right.”

  Serena stood and followed Samantha toward where the Prince of Demons held his mate, Starlight, and their child, Jasmine, in his arms.

  “It’s going to be all right, Starlight,” the Prince was saying quietly when they arrived.

  “Why don’t I remember what everyone else does? Why does even Jasmine understand what I do not?”

  Samantha and Serena both settled on the ground, on either side of the mated couple.

  “It was our fault,” Samantha said quietly. “We didn’t do it on purpose, but ten years ago, a spell we cast removed your memories, Starlight.”

  “If you would allow us to try,” Serena said, “We will do our best to unravel our spell and return your memories.”

  Starlight sat back and looked from Samantha to Serena, who nodded in encouragement. “We can help. I promise.”

  The Demon Prince glared at them. “Are you in control of your magic now or is it still a seething cauldron of chaos?”

  “We’re in control,” Serena assured him. “We won’t let you down.”

  “We promise,” Samantha said.

  When the Prince nodded, they both reached out and grasped Starlight’s hands in theirs.

  “Just relax,” Samantha said. She reached into the well she shared with her sister and tapped into their power, letting it pour through her, then releasing it back into the well.

  She did this several times, sensing Serena doing the same.

  When they were ready, they reached out together with their magic and tracked the spell they had once cast.

  “It’s everywhere, sister,” Samantha murmured.

  “In her heart, in her bloodstream, in her very cells.”

  Their eyes flew open.

  “What is it?” Talon growled.

  “We cannot extract the spell without killing her,” Samantha said.

  “Unbelievable,” Bygul growled. “Who knew a couple twelve-year-old twins could cast such a powerful spell? This is a nightmare.”

  “It’s going to happen again, isn’t it?” Soraya wailed. “They’re going to have to take away their memories because she still doesn’t remember.”

  “Oh, don’t be ridiculous,” Tivali said. “The only reason everyone’s memories were wiped was because Starlight couldn’t even see Talon without crying out in pain. In order to protect her, they had to send her away, which is why Talon started to go mad and why Lucifer had Elizabeth cast the second spell. But look at Starlight now. Sure, she still doesn’t remember, but she’s been with her mate for the last year and hasn’t experienced any pain at all.”

  “She’s right,” Muezza said. “It’s not exactly the purrfect ending we were all hoping for, but if Starlight has to live without her memories, at least she has her mate with her this time and the Prince of Demons has his mate and his daughter.”

  “Right,” Bygul said, struggling to project a bit of cheer in his voice, but finding it dreadfully difficult. “All’s well that ends well, I suppose.”

  “No!” Jasmine cried out. “You can’t kill her!”

  “Don’t worry,” Serena said, trying to understand why her magic kept reaching toward Jasmine. “Is your magic doing what mine is, Samantha?”

  “It is. I think it senses Starlight’s memories all over her daughter.”

  “All over me?” Jasmine asked.

  “She would have been pregnant with you when the spell was cast,” Samantha said, “so perhaps that has something to do with it?”

  “Well, I have been dreaming about my father all my life. In my dreams, he’s dancing with Mom in a grand ballroom, and they’re so happy. It’s how I knew he’d come back into our lives. I just didn’t know when.” She threw a glare at her father. “You took long enough.”

  He chuckled. “I’m so sorry, my sweet Jasmine. Had I known you were waiting for me, I would have torn apart the realms searching for you.”

  “How does Jasmine have my memories when I don’t?” Starlight asked.

  “I don’t have them all,” Jasmine protested. “Only a few.”

  “Because they’re not yours,” Serena said. “A few might trickle through in your dreams, but most would be inaccessible to you, even though they’re there, just like your mother’s genetics are there and so are your father’s.”

  “What I don’t understand is how they survived the memory spell at all,” Samantha said.

  “That was me!” Bygul exclaimed excitedly.

  “What?” The other cats chorused.

  “I was working in the earth realm, checking on an alley cat and her kittens who had just landed on my caseload. Well, I arrived just in time to see two of the earthbound kittens wander through an open portal. Of course, I had to go after them, mostly because I wanted to figure out which idiotic demon left a portal open in the first place.”

  “Demons,” Muezza muttered.

  “They’re so careless sometimes,” Tivali said in disgust.

  “Anyway,” Bygul continued, “the portal led to the Hell realm, but more specifically, to the mating ceremony of Talon and Starlight. I was surprised to find that Kalyn was also in the building, having followed a witch he’d decided would be a good candidate for one of his matches.”

  “Oooh, let me guess!” Soraya exclaimed. “It was Elizabeth Covington.”

  “Exactly. Kalyn always was a moron considering Elizabeth is highly allergic to cats.”

  Muezza snorted. “Figures.”

  “Didn’t he notice the twins following their mother?” Tivali demanded.

  “Of course, he did,” Bygul said. “But you know how Kalyn is.”

  “Chaos is the sweetest of nectars,” the others chorused, quoting Kalyn’s most ridiculous mantra.

  “Well, he got his wish in this case,” Bygul said. “He didn’t stop the twins, but then, neither did I. He was clear across the ballroom and I was standing next to the cake, trying to coax my kittens from under the table, when the twins cast their spell. I realized what was happening too late. I’d sensed the tiny spark of life deep inside Starlight, so I threw some goddess magic at that little spark to protect it. It was all I could do before the spell took on a life of its own.”

  “Your goddess magic must have protected her memories,” Soraya said in awe.

  “That’s high level magic, Bygul,” Tivali said.

  He twitched an ear and said, “Yeah, but she still spent the last decade without her mate.”

  “We can cast a new spell,” Samantha said, excitement rising as she realized what this meant. “One that transfers your memories from Jasmine back to where they belong.”

  “It won’t hurt Jasmine?” Starlight asked.

  “Not at all,” Samantha said. “She might not get anymore dreams, though.”

  “That’s okay,” Jasmine said. “I’d rather my mom have her memories back.”

  “And it won’t hurt Starlight either?” Talon asked.

  “It’s perfectly safe,” Serena said. “A much simpler spell than the one we cast a decade ago. This one just returns what was lost to its rightful owner.”

  “Then let’s do it,” Starlight said. “I’m tired of feeling as if I’ve lost something precious.”

  “Ready, sister?” Samantha asked, holding out her left hand.

  “Ready,” Serena clasped it with her right, then reached for Jasmine’s hand while Samantha reached for Starlight’s.

  Starlight and Jasmine clasped their remaining hands, closing the circle of power between the four of them.

  Samantha reached deep into her well, going through the same cycle of power ebbing and flowing as before, then along with her sister, sent their magic cascading over Jasmine, casting the spell slowly, so that it fell over only Starlight’s memories, then slowly migrated them from daughter to mother, in a sparkling web of power.

  At first, Starlight felt nothing.

  Just her daughter’s hand in hers and the witch’s on the other side.

  Then something began to happen.

  It felt like tiny sparks were raining down upon her, sparks of power and light.

  They settled deep into her bones, into her very marrow, and waited there, sizzling in silence.

  For a long moment, nothing happened, then Samantha let go of her hand and the magic inside exploded in a rush of sound and color and swirls of chaos.

  Talon’s heart pounded as the witches cast a spell over both his mate and daughter.

  He had a terrible moment of fear, wondering if he’d done the right thing, then the magic exploded, making both Starlight and Jasmine gasp, backs arching, then falling backward with a ripple of enormous power.

  Talon caught Starlight in his arms and his father caught Jasmine in his.

  “Starlight?” Talon carefully lowered her to the floor, aware his father was doing the same thing with Jasmine.

  For a long moment, neither responded, then at the same moment, both of their eyes flipped open.

  “Talon!” Starlight hurtled herself up and into his arms, clutching him close. “I remember. Oh, Talon, I remember everything.” She buried her face in his neck and burst into tears.

  For the second time in less than an hour, Talon reached out an arm to his daughter, who threw herself at him, and finally, finally, ten years after he first met the mate of his heart and soul, his world was complete.

  “I owe you an apology, Luc,” Lassiter said quietly.

 

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