Page 56 of Fallen Court

“In case you’re wondering, the bona fides spell is finally stable,” Ciara announced. “Every creature in the city has taken the pledge or left town.”

Cate’s throat slid as she digested this information. “And that will keep the Hunt out?”

“‘Bona fides’ literally means in good faith. No one who won’t swear the oath in good faith to the Nether Court can set foot in New Orleans. The Wild Hunt belongs to no court. They’ll never swear an oath of loyalty,” Roark told her. “So they can’t step foot inside city limits.”

Cate nodded, looking a little dazed. “You got every creature in New Orleans to swear an oath of loyalty?”

“Most of them already had,” I said as casually as possible. “It’s considered to be bad manners if you’re in the city without permission. Now it’s just impossible.”

“What about the tourists?”

“Humans can come and go,” Ciara said with a wave of her hand. “None of them stands a chance against us. But if any creature, fae or otherwise, tries to set foot inside city limits, they’ll find that they can’t.”

Cate stayed silent for a moment before she finally nodded. “It’s actually genius.”

“It’s a Band-Aid,” Roark said quietly. Cate’s eyes flashed to me for confirmation.

“It worked,” Ciara reminded him.

“For now. It bought us time to get this curse removed and keep the Hunt—and Oberon—out of New Orleans.” He crossed his arms and leveled a serious stare in her direction. Things had been tense between them since I’d returned, and it seemed to be getting worse every day. “And you know what will happen if he can’t return to the Otherworld.”

“He can’t return to the Otherworld?” Cate asked slowly.

“The spell is powered by the covens. It won’t work in our world.” Ciara shook her head, her nose wrinkling in frustration.

Cate stared at me. “You can’t return to the Nether Court?”

I nodded.

“But Fiona and Romy are going to look for a long-term solution,” Ciara said. “They’ll find a way to take care of this.”

Cate blinked with surprise and looked at Fiona.

“Believe it or not, I don’t want my brother dead,” Fiona drawled. “Well, at least, I don’t want him dead most of the time.”

“Please don’t start,” Ciara said through gritted teeth. “We’re together for now.”

“Not for long,” Fiona informed her. “We heard back from the Astral Court. They’ll let us use their labs.”

Cate sat up a little straighter, looking happier than she’d been since our talk. “You’re going to see Sirius?”

“Yes,” Romy said. “He’s willing to analyze a sample of Lach’s blood to see how the memento mori curse works, and there are covens in Prague with grimoires that date back further than my family’s. We’re going to find a way around this.” She squeezed my sister’s shoulder, but Fiona’s sour expression didn’t change.

I suspected Fiona cared more about getting away from New Orleans than finding a loophole to remove the death mark on my neck.

Cate bit her lip, eyeing Romy. “Do you know anything about the Belle Mère?”

“Yes.” Romy held up her hand to show the triple-moon tattoo inked on her skin. “She is the patroness of my coven.”

“The witches who helped me escape said I should seek out their sisters.” Cate glanced around the room, hesitating on Fiona, like she’d rather not admit this vulnerability in front of my icy sister.

“We’re leaving today,” Fiona said. “You will have to find someone else.”

Cate didn’t shrink from her glare.

“My sister, Willow Broussard, might be able to help. She tends to be a bit of an outsider. You can trust her.”

Like Romy.