The Sickened Luna's Last Chance novel Chapter 318

The bottle nearly slipped from my fingers.

Anya wanted me to be her maid of honor at the wedding to the man I loved.

“Are you sure you want me? After everything that happened last night, it might just cause more drama for you.” Anya grinned. “Oh, I’m not worried about that. I want you there. Besides, you’re my only real friend.”

The hope in her eyes made my resolve waver. I really wanted to say no–it was too painful to watch Alexander marry another woman, let alone to be in their wedding as a bystander–but I just couldn’t bring myself to disappoint her.

“Of course,” I found myself saying. “I’d be honored.”

Anya let out a squeal of delight and threw her arms around me. It was nice to see her so happy, but inwardly, I had made my decision.

After the wedding, I would leave the estate.

Three days later, my phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen and saw Liam’s name pop up next to a text that read: “The witch is coming to see me today. Can you come?”

I really didn’t want to go, because frankly, it felt too risky and like a waste of time. But I wasn’t going to deny the wishes of a dying man, especially not when I was the cause of his death, so I told him I would be there in an hour.

Later, I made my way to Liam’s private residence. It was a nice penthouse apartment just outside Stormhollow territory, where he lived when he wasn’t traveling on Alpha Council business–or, as of late, in the hospital. Liam answered the door before I could knock. He looked worse than the last time I’d seen him, but he still smiled when he saw me.

“She’s in the living room,” he said, leading me inside.

The witch wasn’t what I expected. Instead of an old crone with leaves stuck in her hair like I expected, she was a middle–aged woman in jeans and a cardigan.

“You must be Stella,” she said, standing as I entered. “I’m Julie.”

“Julie was just telling me she specializes in death,” Liam said, taking a seat in the armchair beside me with some effort.

The witch nodded. “Indeed. Lately, I’ve been dabbling in the art of being a death doula.”

“A… death doula,” I repeated.

Liam grinned and held up her business card. “If my time comes, Julie is going to guide me. Spiritually. In the same way a doula would guide a child into the world, Julie will prepare me for my exit.”

I wasn’t sure what to say to that. It sounded laughable and horrific and… kind of comforting, in a strange way.

1/2

“So,” Julie said, “Liam explained that you’re dealing with a… unique situation that he can’t get into.”

I glanced at Liam, who nodded encouragingly. We’d agreed beforehand to be vague, but it was still risky territory.

“Something like that,” I said carefully. “It’s complicated. We were hoping you might know something about bloodline afflictions. Specifically ones that might involve…” I hesitated, then managed, “Death and rebirth.”

Julia stared at me for a long moment. I half expected her to laugh and get up and leave, but she didn’t. “Death and rebirth,” she murmured. “Does your family suffer from unexpected deaths?”

My throat went dry. “Sort of.”

She glanced at Liam. “And I take it there are consequences for revealing certain truths?”

I didn’t confirm nor deny it. But my silent stare seemed to be all the answer she needed.

“You may be dealing with a necromantic bloodline affliction.”

“A what?” Liam asked.

The witch sighed heavily. “It’s ancient magic. Dark magic. Perhaps you had an ancestor who dabbled in necromancy. As a result of these dealings with the god of death, your ancestor may have cursed your bloodline.”

Necromancy.

This lady was talking about bringing people back from the dead.

It was a concept that would have made me laugh before, but now it just made me feel ill.