A Magical Shift: A Hot Paranormal Fantasy Saga with Witches, Werewolves, and Werebears (Weres and Witches of Silver Lake Book 1)

by Vella Day

  ‡

  The next morning, Rye had to be up bright and early, and as much as Izzy wanted to sleep in, Rye needed a ride into work as he’d returned his dad’s car to him. Rye told her he’d pick up his vehicle after work.

  Still a bit sleepy, Izzy hauled herself out of bed, threw on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, and hopped into the driver’s seat. She turned the engine over and sighed. “I’m glad I have today off. I don’t think I’d be very effective working on clients.”

  Rye ran a hand down her arm. “I’m sorry the family tired you out. We can be rather loud and crazy.”

  She glanced over at him. “I think it was all the sex beforehand that did it.”

  He chuckled and then puffed out his chest. “If you plan to stay with me baby, you better get used to it.”

  Oh, boy, he made her laugh at his sex-driven mind. “Truthfully, your family’s carefree nature was what I liked the best. Wait until you’re at one of my family affairs. They’re rather sedate.”

  “I’m sure they’re not that bad.”

  “You’d be surprised,” she said. When he smiled, his lively eyes boosted her energy.

  “What are your plans for the day?” While his tone came out light, there was an undertone of concern.

  “Don’t worry. I won’t go anywhere. There’s plenty of food in the house, so I won’t need to go out. I might take a walk around the lake, but that’s all.”

  He’d previously told her that if Owen Chancellor entered their community, his powers would be diminished, though she had no idea why. She suspected it had something to do with a pact made long ago with Naliana or James.

  “If no fires break out, I’ll be home for dinner. Maybe we could watch a movie, and this time I promise not to fall asleep.”

  He really seemed to want to do things together and she liked that. “I’ll reserve judgment until after the movie is over.”

  When she pulled in front of the firehouse, Rye leaned over and kissed her. Whether it was the casual way his lips pressed against hers or his cheerful attitude, Izzy really wanted to turn the car around and take him back to bed—again. “See you tonight.”

  As soon as Rye disappeared into the station, a wave of depression descended, and Izzy wasn’t quite sure how to handle the novel feeling. Her whole life, she’d been brought up to deal with issues head on, but love had never been in the mix.

  Love. That was a word she never thought she’d have to deal with. What she had with Rye was different from anything she’d ever experienced. She thought about him all the time and wanted to be with him, so perhaps she was in love.

  His house appeared all too quickly, but she was pleased that she’d arrived safely. Needing to be closer to Rye’s energy, she decided to visit their rock. It seemed to bring Rye solace when he was growing up, so perhaps it would hold some magic for her as well.

  The walk down the path in the fresh air and the bright sunshine, along with the rustling of leaves and the singing of birds, helped renew her spirit. When she came to the path that cut into the lake, she hurried along it. Something about this body of water drew her in like no other. She’d heard tales about its magic, but no one had ever told her what it entailed. She’d have to ask Rye about it tonight.

  When she reached the rock, she climbed on top and let the tension in her shoulders release. Rye might be at work, but it sure felt as if his aura was there with her.

  “Hello,” said a voice from behind, startling her.

  Izzy slapped a hand on her chest as her insides squeezed. Ready to throw some fire at the newcomer, she twisted around and immediately sagged when she saw it was James.

  “You scared me.”

  “I’m sorry. May I?” He motioned to the spot next to her.

  “Sure.” She scooted over to give him room.

  James climbed next to her, and once more, she marveled at how youthful he looked and how fluidly he moved. “You have something on your mind I see.”

  His insightful comment kind of creeped her out. After all, he was only a human—who just happened to be able to live forever. “What do you mean?”

  He smiled. “Rye always came here when he had something on his mind. I sensed the same feeling from you.”

  Perhaps this was what others experienced when they saw her magic—that sense of how was it possible? Best if she didn’t dissect James’s abilities too closely. “What do you know about humans being able to shift after they mate?”

  He leaned back on his elbows and nodded. “You want to know if the ability to shift will interfere with your extensive powers.”

  “Yes.”

  “And perhaps more importantly, how will it affect your children?”

  “We haven’t discussed kids yet, but yes, I have wondered about that. Do you think an offspring would have my powers as well as Rye’s?” She wasn’t sure she wanted to do that to a child. It was hard enough to hide her talents let alone be a shifter too. Then there were the issues of belonging to two different groups of people.

  “I wish I could give you a definitive answer. It’s been a long time since a Wendayan mated with a wolf. I do recall that the Wendayan’s powers were nothing like yours though.”

  This conversation was only depressing her more. “Given that I can manipulate the elements, if I try to shift, can you guess the consequences?”

  He picked up her hand, and his warmth and comfort surprised her. “I believe you will lose some of your powers after you shift, though not right away.”

  That wasn’t what she wanted to hear. “Thank you for your honesty.”

  James nodded. As quickly as he came, he slipped off the rock and disappeared back into the forest.

  Izzy lay on her back and studied the clouds morphing into different shapes as they passed overhead. While she appreciated the chance to speak with James, she was more confused than ever. It wasn’t just about what she wanted, Rye’s opinion counted equally.

  Her mom would tell her not to even think about agreeing to shift if it meant losing her powers. What if James was wrong and her magic disappeared completely? She might not even be a Wendayan anymore. After all, a Wendayan was a human with magical powers. Mrs. McKinnon would probably tell her to do what was in her heart because her wonderful son would deal with the consequences.

  Hell, Izzy wasn’t even certain what she wanted to do. The sad thing was that she hadn’t paid any attention to the phases of the moon and had no idea when the white moon would appear again. Whenever it was, she needed to be ready to make her decision—assuming it was up to her.

  Moving tended to help her think more clearly, so she walked back to the path to continue her stroll around the lake. She’d never been around the entire perimeter and she figured there was no time like the present. Part of her allure to Rye, she believed, was her ability to perform magic. When he became the Alpha, she believed his people would respect her more if she had her powers. On the other hand, if she were a shifter, she’d be more like the rest of the Clan. Ugh. In the end, she needed to work this out with her mate.

  After she finished her loop, she returned to his house. Izzy wasn’t used to being cooped up for any length of time, but she understood why she needed to stay put. If she were at her house, she’d either be gardening or practicing her skills. With nothing to do, she searched the cabinets for a meal she could prepare. If she’d felt a bit more comfortable, she would have called his mom to find out what his favorite foods were.

  This only highlighted how much she didn’t know about him, but then she recalled that her parents had only known each other a few months before marrying. Her mother said the moment she set eyes on her dad, she knew he was the one. Izzy had to admit she felt the same way about Rye.

  Around five, her cell rang. Her luck, she was in the middle of folding the eggs into the ground beef and quickly rinsed her hands. Putting the call on speaker, she answered. It was Rye.

  “Hey there, did you get your car?”

  “I did, but I’m afraid I was called back in to work

. Two of the men on the next shift took sick, and I have to fill in for them.”

  Oh, crap. There was so much she wanted to discuss with him. “I was making meatloaf for you.” That sounded so petty. Here Rye might have to work for twenty-four hours straight. “Never mind. I know it’s your job.”

  He groaned. “I am so sorry. Don’t wait up for me. I promise I’ll make it up to you tomorrow.”

  “I’ll be counting on it,” she said in her most cheerful tone. Shouts sounded in the background. “Sounds like you need to go. Come to bed naked.”

  “You are a true witch. See you later.”

  After she hung up, Izzy’s energy had improved just hearing Rye’s voice.

  *

  Izzy vaguely remembered Rye returning last night, but then fell back asleep to the soothing sound of running water. When her alarm went off, his arms were entwined around her, and he smelled of lemon soap. Her mate looked so cute with his rough beard and messed up hair, and the soft snoring was more like a sleeping puppy than a big burly man.

  So as not to wake him, Izzy slowly eased out from under his arms. He grunted a few times but didn’t wake. Poor guy. Working so many hours straight had to be hard on the body. Just thinking about going into work today made her drag. She should be checking out teaching opportunities at the local schools since summer would be over before she knew it. Since both schools were a few miles outside of town, she decided it might be wiser to stay near the spa until after that Chancellor creep was caught.

  If he did try to capture her again, he’d be in for a big surprise when he found her powers had returned. Rye had reminded her that the black witch who’d provided the spell might have told Chancellor its effects only lasted two days. In which case, Izzy really did have to be careful.

  As she was dressing, she thought about one additional consequence of learning to shift. If her powers faded or disappeared at all, she might have to look over her shoulder for the rest of her life. On the other hand, if she became a shifter, she’d be able to sense when another shifter was near.

  Izzy lightly kissed a sleeping Rye goodbye. “See you later,” she whispered.

  He snorted but didn’t wake. When she arrived at the spa, Missy was getting things ready in front, and she could hear Teagan in the back. “Is Mom here?” Izzy asked.

  “She had some errands to run first. We have three scheduled massages and that’s all for today. The three of us can handle that.” Missy headed off to the back.

  Izzy hadn’t had the chance to talk with Teagan yet after she had poked her head out of the back door and called for help. She snapped her fingers. Izzy had to remember to return the robe that Teagan had lent Rye.

  The last few days had been a total whirlwind of activity, and she couldn’t focus on more than one thing at a time.

  Teagan emerged from the back and hugged her. “Hey, I haven’t seen you since that terrible man grabbed you. Missy filled me in, but I want to hear how you’re doing.”

  “I’m so sorry I didn’t call and let you know, but I’ve been so caught up being with Rye and meeting his family. I’m fine, really.”

  “I heard you’re staying with him. How’s that going?”

  “Different. Exciting and a bit challenging at times.” That led to a host of questions that she answered with care.

  “So you two are mated, for real?” Her cousin’s eyes shone.

  “For real.”

  “I’m so happy for you.”

  “Thanks. I do have a question for you,” Izzy said.

  “Shoot.”

  “Was it pure luck that you looked out the back door when you did?”

  Teagan pressed her lips together and shook her head. “No. I was in the back room lighting some incense when my head started to pound.”

  “You had a premonition?”

  “A really strong one; I saw a black cloud descend on the alley in the back. I wasn’t sure what it meant, but I did know it was happening right then. I don’t recall ever receiving an image that strong before. Usually, my premonitions are for the future—as in days or weeks. This was so intense I nearly vomited from the pain.”

  Izzy clasped her shoulder and rubbed it. “I’m so sorry.”

  She shook her head. “It’s not your fault.”

  “It was in a way. I was the one being attacked.”

  “Don’t be silly. I had to look out back. When I spotted that man with his hand over your mouth, all I could do was scream. I dialed 911 right away and then called Uncle Len. I figured since he was closer he might be able to stop that man.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I just wished someone could have caught the guy.”

  Izzy nodded. “They will.”

  The door opened and the chime sounded, though Izzy didn’t recognize the woman. Missy stepped from the back room. After greeting the newcomer, her sister led her to one of the rooms they used for massages. Teagan moved closer. “Something’s troubling you. Can I help?”

  Izzy almost chuckled. “I know you have premonitions, but can you read people’s minds now too?”

  “No, but you are my cousin, and you seem preoccupied.”

  Teagan had always been sensible and quite serious. Normally, Izzy would have gone to Elana with her concern, but it would have been too hard for a human with no powers to truly understand what it would mean to give up her identity.

  “I would like to talk.”

  Teagan smiled. “I’m all ears.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  ‡

  A few minutes before lunch, Izzy’s cell rang, and she hoped it was Rye asking if she wanted to go to lunch. After she retrieved her cell and swiped the screen to answer, she sighed then smiled answering, “Hey, Elana.”

  A trickle of guilt surfaced. Izzy had texted Elana telling her that Rye was back to normal after one day’s rest but nothing about that walk along Silver Lake. Mostly it was because Izzy didn’t want to whine about possibly losing her powers when Elana didn’t have any to begin with.

  “I was wondering if you wanted to go to lunch?” asked Elana. “We were interrupted the other day if you recall.”

  Getting away would be awesome. “I’d love to as long as it’s Nate’s Pizzeria or the Silver Lake Café. I don’t want to be wandering about for too long. No telling who might be lurking.”

  “That’s smart. How about Silver Lake Café in thirty minutes? I have to run a few errands first.”

  “I can’t wait. See you there!”

  Missy came up behind her. “Hot date with Rye?”

  “That was Elana. She asked me to lunch, and I said yes. Rye doesn’t want me to leave his compound, and Mom doesn’t want me to leave the store, so I’m going stir-crazy.”

  Missy tilted her head in her typical sympathetic manner. “Your stalker is getting to you, isn’t he?”

  “Every once in a while, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.”

  Just as Missy opened her mouth, the conversation was cut short when two elderly women wandered in wearing I Love Tennessee T-shirts. “I got this,” she told Missy. “May I help you, ladies?” Izzy asked.

  “Why yes.” They were curious about the purpose of the pretty crystals in the storefront window. One of the ladies then wanted to know if there was a candle scent to help with her headaches. By the time Izzy explained what each crystal was used for, along with the benefits of aromatherapy, the ladies had taken up twenty of her thirty-minute window, setting her nerves on edge. They’d purchased two candles apiece, and once she rang them up, she only had five minutes to reach the café. Teagan was with a client, so Izzy told Missy she’d be back in an hour.

  “Have fun.”

  Being late grated on her, but she couldn’t leave her customers in the middle of a transaction. Izzy snatched her purse and rushed out. Silver Lake Café was on the same street as the spa and only two and a half blocks away. As much as she wanted to enjoy the clear, balmy day, Izzy didn’t want to keep her friend waiting. Elana had a flower shop to run.

  Just as she passed Thomas’s Hardware, someone stepped out from the between the buildings. So focused on reaching the café in time, she hadn’t checked to see if the alleyway was clear.

  He pressed something hard into her back. “Don’t scream, lass, or I’ll shoot ’cha.”

  Bile rose to her throat. Owen Chancellor had found her, and he had a gun. Shit. Think. Think. Do something.

  Izzy could lift her hand and shoot fire behind her, but that might catch her on fire as well. Being on the sidewalk, she couldn’t make a plant grow to ensnare him, but there had to be something she could do that wouldn’t attract too much attention. Creating a windstorm might distract him, but it wouldn’t stop a bullet.

  With his left hand, he grabbed her arm and told her to walk down Oak Avenue. Her mind spun. Except for an older gentleman across the street using a cane, the road was devoid of traffic.

  He nudged her back. “Open that car door and get in.”

  If she could move far enough away from him, she might be able to use her magic to thwart him. Feeling confident there would be a window of opportunity to take him down, Izzy complied. As he rushed over to the driver’s side, she considered jumping out and running, but she believed her stalker when he said he’d shoot.

  He started the car then pulled onto the road, thankfully not insisting she fasten her seatbelt. Izzy wanted to be able to escape if he stopped. He hadn’t blindfolded her either, which was another stroke of luck. She’d be able to tell when it was safe to use her magic.

  Chancellor headed north out of town on Pine View Avenue. As soon as he turned on Grand Peak Drive, taking them into the mountains, dread pooled in her stomach. This was Changeling territory.

  “Where are you taking me?” she demanded.

  “We’re going to have a little ceremony.”

  Her blood ran cold. What kind of ceremony? Marriage, sacrificial, or some other demonic torture? The big question was whether he needed her alive.

  Without warning, Chancellor jerked the car down a dirt road that seemed to lead nowhere. The jarring caused her to hit her head on the roof twice. He then stopped.

  -->