Page 49 of Born Reckless

A man I’m not supposed to catch feelings for.

“I met Malcolm,” I say, changing the direction of the conversation. “He’s something to look at.”

There’s something that reminds me of a panther when Sigrid smiles. This is a powerful woman. Something in me instinctually knows she doesn’t just create magical tracking maps of Chicago. “He’s difficult to ignore, isn’t he?”

I smile too, wondering if she gets the same thrill being with Malcolm that I get being with Mason. “He certainly isn’t boring.”

Sigrid tucks her legs up under her, and there’s something endearing about this conversation. We don’t know each other yet, but I feel comfortable in her presence, and her posture makes me think she feels the same. “You came to ask me something.”

I nod. “Malcolm told me the names of my parents. I never knew them. My mother was killed by someone you apparently know.”

“Archer King,” she answers immediately.

I nod. “Did Malcolm tell you what my mother was?” I ask the question hesitantly because Malcolm said that I need to be careful, that I need to protect myself.

But I trust Sigrid, even though I hardly know her.

“He did not tell me,” she says. The look in her eyes is dark, serious. “But I know she must have been a curse weaver.”

Goosebumps flash over my arms. “And how could you know that?”

She doesn’t answer immediately. Her gaze wanders over me, almost like she’s reading something off of my skin. “Because you have a curse on you. And it’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. It was a curse bestowed in love.”

I blink once. Twice. Three times. “Curse. I…”

Sigrid shakes her head. “What that curse is, I cannot tell. But I can feel it on you. It’s a strong one. One of the strongest I’ve ever encountered.”

My mouth opens once, but no words come out, so I close it again.

My own mother cursed me?

A curse bestowed in love?

Maybe this isn’t so surprising. My entire life has felt cursed. There’s no other way one person can have such bad fortune. But how was that bestowed in love?

“She also cursed my father,” I say, choosing to move on because I don’t know what to say or think about this new information. “That he couldn’t find her. She knew Archer King was after her and she was afraid he would kill my father. I guess I wanted to ask if you knew either of my parents. My father’s name is Jon Bonny.”

I appreciate that she actually takes the time to think it through. Her eyes shift to the side and she’s quiet for a long moment. “I cannot think of anyone that I have encountered of that name. But I will ask around, if you would like.”

“I would,” I say. “And my mother, her name was Ingrid Eriksen. Malcolm said she was from Norway.”

Sigrid smiles, that knowing, cunning smile. “And he also told you that is where I am from.”

I just nod.

“Eriksen was the name of my great-great-great grandmother,” Sigrid continues. “It is a common name in Norway. But considering our shared abilities…”

“Wait,” I say as I shake my head. “So, I’m cursed and gifted? And a vampire? How… how is one person supposed to deal with all of that?”

Sigrid shakes her head. “Dear Juliet, I knew you were more than just a vampire from the moment you walked into that council chamber. After working with so many gifted individuals, they have become almost easy to spot. But yes, you are unique. Do not look at yourself as anything less than a miracle.”

“You wouldn’t say that if you knew anything about my life,” I say with the shake of my head. “I’ve never felt particularly gifted at anything. Unless you count making stupid decisions and getting into trouble. Which maybe is the curse.”

Sigrid lays a hand on my arm. “We each come into ourselves in our own time. Your gifts are unlikely to be the same as your mother’s. They are unlikely to be the same as mine. In time, when you need it most, you will find that hidden part of yourself.”

Just a few weeks ago I would have said she sounded like a crazy person. Talking about magical gifts and heritage and curses. I probably would have laughed at her and told her to wander back onto the set of whatever movie she was deep-methoding her way into.

But my entire world has shifted perspective.