The Buried and the Bound (The Buried and the Bound Trilogy Book 1)

by Rochelle Hassan

For those of you fighting battles and facing monsters of your own. May you be victorious.

Dedication

bought information from the pixies with their preferred currency: colorful hard candies and rainbow sequins.

That was how you made a place your home: You put work into it. You carved out a role for yourself. You made yourself belong even if you weren’t sure you did.

He didn’t miss this house or the way he’d felt when he lived here, but the simple notion of a bed and a roof and a door you could lock … the presence of unnecessary things, like tailored curtains and the landscape painting on the wall … it all seemed unbearably luxurious to him now.

“Meryl,” she said, “I’m an antisocial virgin who’s obsessed with witchcraft. How much trouble can I really get into?”

I found a Wiccan group online—” Aziza stifled a laugh. He gave her an exasperated look. “They’re very nice people!” “I’m not laughing at the Wiccans.”

the Ash Witch,

Amusing, having The Honey Witch recently.

“One of us has to be positive, and we both know it’s not going to be you.”

“I don’t see the point in thinking anything,” he said. “I’ll find out soon enough, won’t I? The only thing I believe in, habibi, is doing right in this life. I believe in family. You and me.” He’d kissed the top of her head. “You are the answer to every question that matters.”

Jiddo’s peaceful acceptance of the unknown had comforted her. She didn’t need to be afraid of death if he wasn’t.

He hung up.

Y’all would make better decisions if you’d sleep, ffs.

It should’ve been impossible to hurt this much and not bleed.

“I said tell me your terms, not tell me shit I already know.”

“YOUR MOM BURNED one of the Fair Folk alive,” Aziza said. “Your mom bottled up a hag like leftover wine,” he reminded her wearily.

“Whoever has her sealskin must have ordered her to leave.

Is it grandpa?