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  “You can’t kill Nalusa Falaya. Not completely. All you can do is contain his power.” Tallulah pumped a fist in the air. “And we’ve done it!”

  Tombi held up a hand and silenced the cheers. A hush settled over the bayou, as profound as the windless calm before a hurricane. Tombi jerked on the rope and led Nalusa forward; the hunters fell in behind the two.

  “C’mon,” Tallulah urged.

  Mystified, Annie tagged along.

  Tombi broke out in song. His rich, deep baritone formed Choctaw words she couldn’t understand. He’d sing a chorus or two, and then the hunters would repeat the same lyric back, like a church reading.

  All singing stopped abruptly as Tombi approached a gigantic oak that looked as eternal as the land itself. The circumference of the tree must have been at least six feet, and its trunk and branches seemed to extend forever to the sky.

  “Please, let me go,” Nalusa whined like a toddler. “I promise to be good. Really. I won’t cause any more trouble.” His voice was high-pitched and scratchy.

  Tombi shook his head. “You cannot be trusted. Time to return to your home.” He picked up Nalusa and stuffed him into the large hollowed-out hole in the tree.

  Nalusa screamed and kicked, but he was no match for Tombi. He disappeared into the hole with a long wail that lingered and echoed through the bayou.

  A single coral ray from the rising sun cracked open the sky, and birds began chirping.

  Real birds, normal birds. Not the piercing shrieks of the ishkitini. Their voices were like a blessing and benediction, nature’s omen of the triumph of good over evil. A great weariness settled in Annie’s bones as the pump of adrenaline crashed, recognizing Tombi was out of danger and her work was done.

  Tombi retrieved the ancient flute from his jeans pocket and blew on it three times—short, staccato bursts. He raised both arms, lifting the flute skyward. “Let peace return to Bayou La Siryna. May Nalusa Falaya and his power over the shadow beings be forever constrained to this ancient tree until the end of time. May our ancestors look upon us now with favor, and may the sun’s warming shine bless our work here today. We ask in the name of all that is holy and right and just.”

  “Ikahli. Amen,” Tallulah muttered at Annie’s side.

  Tombi lowered his arms and placed the flute inside the hollowed oak and turned to them. “It’s over,” he said simply. “Finally. Thank you, my friends.” He nodded at his sister. “I see we are all one again.” A shadow crossed his face. “Except for Bo.”

  Tallulah spoke up. “Bo’s spirit was released tonight. He’s at peace.” Her voice broke slightly at the end, and Chulah made his way to her, encircling her waist with an arm.

  Annie smiled at his act of caring. Surely one day Tallulah would recognize he loved her, and she could move on from her grief.

  “But there is still one thing left to do,” Tombi declared.

  The hunters looked at one another quizzically.

  Tombi marched to where Annie stood and took her hands in hers. “I owe you my life. We owe you our lives. Without you, this wouldn’t have been possible. At last, I can tell you what is in my heart.”

  He dropped to one knee, and Annie gasped.

  “I love you, Annie Matthews. Will you marry me?”

  CHAPTER 20

  “The Blood Moon of October is a-comin’ tonight. Yer life will never be the same,” Tia Henrietta announced, sprinkling herbs and roots into a mojo bag. Despite the dour words, a broad smile chased away the deep hollows in her face. “Bet you won’t be burnin’ no slips of paper at midnight, prayin’ for the Good Lord to remove yer hearin’ gift.”

  “I have everything I want.” Annie patted her grandma’s hand, still frail from her recent ordeal, but once again adorned with rings in an explosion of crystal colors. “It’s good to have you home again. You concentrate on getting your strength back.”

  Tia sniffed. “I’m fine now I’m back home. And I intend to be around a long, long time.”

  “Your heart—”

  “Is fine,” Tia interrupted. A flush darkened her cheeks, and she dropped her gaze to the mojo bag. “Never nuthin’ wrong with it in the first place.”

  “Wh-what are you saying?” Annie stammered.

  “Now, don’t you be givin’ me that look. I had to get you down here and to visit longer than a few weeks. A little fib never hurt nobody.”

  “Little fib?” Her spine stiffened, and she took a step back. “How could you lie to me like that? I was worried sick about you.”

  Tia Henrietta grabbed Annie’s hand. “Don’t get yer dander up. I had a vision you were needed in Bayou La Siryna and that you would learn to appreciate yer special gift.” Tia’s lips trembled. “Yer all I have in the world.”

  Annie softened at the admission. It wasn’t easy for her grandma to swallow her pride. And until a few weeks ago, Grandma Tia was all she truly had in the world, as well. How could she be angry when this morning she was right where she was meant to be, surrounded by love? She bent down and kissed the top of Tia’s head. “I’m glad you’re all right. But no more secrets between us. Okay?”

  “Deal.” Tia resumed her work, and the ethereal scent of crushed rose petals filled the den. “I intend to be around to see my great-grandchildren one day.”

  Annie rolled her eyes. “We’re not in any hurry for that. I’m going to the kitchen to see if Tallulah needs any help.”

  Cozy kitchen smells replaced the herbal scents from the den. She watched Tallulah transfer hoecakes from an iron skillet to a plate on the counter, and marched over.

  “Mmm.” Annie spread butter on a cake and bit in. Creamy sweetness melded with the crispy fried corn bread in an explosion of awesomeness.

  Tallulah shot her a sideways glance, a smile tugging her lips. “Heard y’all wouldn’t be doing one of your witchy ceremonies tonight at the full moon. Good thing my brother will be keeping you busy until dawn.”

  Warmth flooded Annie’s cheeks, and she almost choked on a bit of hoecake. Hastily, she poured a glass of sweet tea and took a long swallow.

  A sharp ping bounced against the front door.

  Annie grinned. “Is that—”

  “It is.”

  Annie put down her glass and turned toward the front door.

  “Not so fast.” Tallulah tugged at her sleeve. “Our custom is to make the groom wait. He can’t think you’re too eager.”

  Annie groaned. “Really? Or is this some sibling thing where you take any opportunity to tease and torment each other?”

  “He’s too arrogant for his own good,” she said, laughing. “I try to take him down a notch when the opportunity arises.”

  A barrage of thuds assaulted the door.

  “What’s all that racket?” Tia called from the den.

  “Don’t worry, I’ve got it,” Annie said, rushing to the front porch. She jerked open the door and blinked. Tombi stood on the steps—tall and dark and long black hair glistening in the sun. In honor of the occasion, he wore a colorfully beaded leather vest and had two narrow braids by the sides of his face with crow and eagle feathers woven in the plaits.

  Every time she saw him, her heart rang to know that this magnificent man was hers. Crazy Annie had struck gold.

  “About time,” he muttered.

  Tallulah smiled as she walked up. “Impatient, Tombi?”

  “Very,” he answered shortly.

  The heat from his eyes warmed Annie to the core. He longed to make love again as much as she did, to spend the night together and wake up in the same bed come morning. Ever since Grandma Tia had returned from the hospital three weeks ago, she’d insisted her granddaughter return to the cottage. Arguing about her old-fashioned notions of living together before marriage had been fruitless.

  Annie gave him a quick hug.