We watch her for a moment in silence, Mason’s posture collapsed. Is Mason going to change his mind? Maybe we should go for pizza, and I’ll tell the aunts Mason didn’t want to come. But they were so insistent on him being a part of it. And I am dying to know more about the curse. Seeing Aunt Sage’s letter tumble out from behind the painting had been… honestly, it had been magic. It made me feel like I was part of the Bell family, like my connection to the women was stronger than the tentative line between my mom and me. I’d do almost anything for another one of those moments. Even ask Mason to help me.

I unzip my backpack, then pull out the Book of Shadows. If I’m going to bring him in on this, I’d better bring him all the way in.

Mason watches Emma disappear around a corner, then turns to me. “Ready?” Then his eyes land on the Book of Shadows.

“Actually,” I say, “could you read something first?”

“I knew it! I knew you were related to the mermaid! Didn’t I say you look just like her?”

We’re racing toward the aunts’ house, and I’m not sure if I’m relieved or overwhelmed by Mason’s reaction. The story didn’t seem to rattle him at all. He read it once, his head bent studiously over the text, asked a few questions, then read it again. He even seems open to the aunts’ theory that discovering the truth may be the ticket to making the curse end.

“Sort of related, right? Because she’s my relative’s half sister.”

Mason doesn’t seem interested in semantics. “Remember when I told you that he was a painter? And he imported flowers? I wonder if your aunt and I read the same websites—” He keeps going, but I lose track of his train of thought. Now that he’s excited, it’s almost impossible to keep up with his long stride. I give up on trying to walk quickly and break into a run.

The aunts’ house comes into view and I slow down. The garden is mercifully quiet, and if it weren’t for the witchy paraphernalia it would look like every other house.

Except… there’s a new sign in the window. MARIGOLD’S LOVE SPELLS. APPOINTMENT ONLY.

I hope he’ll miss it, but of course he doesn’t. Once he checks out the Wicked Witch of the East legs, he looks up at the sign, his face opening in surprise. “Love spells?”

The front door flies open. The first to appear is Marigold, who is, mercifully, wearing her kimono and a pair of high-heeled white booties. Next comes Poppy, then Violet, the three of them crowding in the doorway.

For a moment we all stare at each other.

And then they rush him. “The helper!” Violet shrieks.