The Witch They Bullied Is the Secret Curse QueenChapter 1

I was the most useless witch in Ravenwood Coven.

Other witches raised cats that could kill.

Elder Rowan’s silver cat could smell poison through a stone wall. Aunt Mira’s red-eyed tom could leave a curse in a man’s blood with one scratch. The twins next door had a pair of black cats that could track a thief across three counties.

Mine?

Mine made liars keep their promises.

The whole coven called me boy-crazy.

My father called me a disgrace to witchcraft.

“Mara Vale!”

The storage-room door flew open so hard that dust rained from the rafters.

I nearly dropped the porcelain bowl in my hands.

On the table, my cat Oath lifted her head from a saucer of honeyed milk. She was small, black, and perfectly ordinary-looking except for the thin crimson ring around her golden pupils.

Father pointed at her.

“Put that cat away.”

“She has a name.”

“I know.”

“Then use it.”

His jaw tightened.

“Oath.”

The cat purred.

I smiled. “She likes you.”

“She made Tobias Miller follow you through three villages last summer.”

“He lied to me.”

“He said you looked pretty.”

“And clearly he meant it.”

Father’s eye twitched.

“And the year before that?”

I went quiet.

He pointed toward the courtyard. “The rooster.”

“That was an accident.”

“It spent two weeks trying to marry the blacksmith’s hound.”

“That only proves Oath doesn’t discriminate.”

Father took a long breath, lifted Oath by the middle, and carried her to the iron cabinet in the corner.

“Your sister is getting married today.”

“I know.”

“There will be outsiders everywhere.”

“I know.”

“You are not using that cat on anyone.”

“I wasn’t planning to.”

He stared at me.

I stared back.

“…Probably.”

“Mara.”

I threw up my hands. “Fine. But I still don’t understand why everyone praises witches who raise cats that poison people.”

“Because poison is useful.”

“So is love.”

“Your cat does not create love.”

“Details.”

Father locked the cabinet and slipped the key into his belt.

I folded my arms.

“What is so impressive about killing a man anyway?”

He closed his eyes.

I lifted my chin. “Making a faithless man crawl back and keep every sweet promise he ever made? Now that takes talent.”

“Go help your sister.”

He pointed to the door.

“And stay away from the cat.”

I muttered as I left, “One day, all of you are going to appreciate my work.”

I had no idea that day would come before sunset.

My sister Elena sat before a copper mirror while I adjusted the silver branches woven through her dark hair.

Her wedding gown was embroidered with moon-vines, the old symbol of House Vale.

She caught my hand.

“Mara.”

Her fingers were cold.

“I’m afraid.”

“Of what?”

“I don’t know.”

She gave a nervous laugh. “Maybe everything.”

“Elena, Lucian Voss is handsome, rich, and brought ten chests of gold as a bride gift.”

I straightened one of the moonstones in her veil.

“If he turns out terrible, we throw him off the mountain.”

She laughed despite herself.

“You don’t like him.”

“I don’t judge men by their faces.”

“What do you judge them by?”

I leaned closer.

“How much money they’re willing to spend on me.”

She tapped my forehead.

“You are going to suffer terribly because of a man one day.”

“Impossible.”

“Why?”

“I’m too expensive.”

The wedding bells began to ring outside.

Lucian entered Ravenwood’s ceremonial hall beneath an arch of white winter roses.

He wore black velvet embroidered with silver thread and looked exactly like the kind of man women made bad decisions for.

Even Father seemed pleased.

He stepped forward and clasped Lucian’s shoulder.

“Take care of my daughter.”

Lucian did not answer.

Instead, his steward approached carrying a narrow wooden box.

Something in my stomach tightened.

The box opened.

Inside lay a parchment sealed with blood.

Father’s smile disappeared.

“What is that?”

Lucian unfolded it.

“Elena’s marriage contract.”

My sister went still.

“I already signed the marriage agreement.”

“Yes.”

Lucian smiled.

“You did.”

He turned the parchment so everyone could see the blood seal at the bottom.

Elena’s blood seal.

“According to the contract, the moment our marriage is completed, Moonshade Grove becomes the property of House Voss.”

Nobody spoke.

Moonshade Grove.

Three hundred acres of enchanted woodland.

Our herbs.

Our potion crops.

Our medicine.

The land that fed every family in Ravenwood.

Elena tore the veil from her face.

“What?”

She seized the contract from him.

Her eyes ran across the lines.

Then all the color drained from her face.

“No.”

Lucian smiled.

“You should have read before you signed.”

“I thought it was our marriage license.”

“You thought wrong.”

Father grabbed him by the collar.

“You tricked her.”

Lucian did not even flinch.

“A blood seal does not care whether a woman reads carefully.”

Elena’s eyes filled with tears.

“I won’t marry you.”

Lucian calmly adjusted his collar.

“That is your choice.”

He pointed toward another clause.

“If the bride breaks the engagement, the Vale family owes three times the bride gift.”

Father’s jaw tightened.

“And if we refuse?”

Lucian smiled.

“Moonshade Grove settles the debt.”

The hall fell silent.

Elder Rowan and the others crowded around the parchment.

They tried cleansing charms.

Fire.

Truth salt.

A blood-eating spell.

Nothing touched the contract.

At last Elder Rowan lowered his hands.

His face had gone gray.

“The seal is binding.”

Father looked at him.

“There must be a way.”

“There is.”

Everyone turned.

The elder looked at Lucian.

“The man who created the contract can destroy it willingly.”

Lucian laughed.

“Then I suppose you have a problem.”

Around me, witches who had spent their lives mastering curses and poisons stood helpless.

My sister began to cry.

Father’s hands shook.

And suddenly I heard myself say:

“Why are all of you trying to break the contract?”

Every head turned toward me.

Father closed his eyes.

“Mara.”

I stepped forward.

“If the contract disappears when he tears it up himself…”

I pointed at Lucian.

“Then make him tear it up.”

Nobody spoke.

I smiled.

“My cat can do that.”