Council of Magic

by J. L. Hendricks

  “Frozen? Really? Don’t let Indie see you using those.” I laughed and wished all of my sisters were here right then.

  “I know, right? She and Sam are keeping an eye on the store. A couple of the pack members are helping as well. Just to make sure everything is cool. No one knows how many acolytes or other humans were faithful to the rogues. I doubt anyone is still in town who supported the false king.” Jenna started cooking up the bacon in a skillet.

  It was already starting to smell so good my stomach rumbled.

  I poured myself a glass of orange juice and downed it, then poured another. “I’m so thirsty. Was it like this for you too?”

  “Yup, which is why I’m the one who gets to stay here with you for the next few days.” She then started the frozen hash browns.

  I hoped she liked them. Damien had made them for me before. They didn’t have nearly as much flavor as fresh ones did.

  “Kat! It’s so good to see you up!” Damien came in and gave me a tight hug.

  “How are you feeling?” He looked me up and down and tilted my head to look into my eyes. His exam reminded me of a doctor.

  “Like I need a shower. But I need food more. So, shower will wait until I fill my belly.” I chuckled, hoping I didn’t stink too badly.

  “I’m just glad you’re awake. A lot has happened while you were sleeping.”

  I laughed thinking of the romance movie with Sandra Bullock. I needed to watch it now. “Thanks, Damien. How about you tell me all about it over breakfast?”

  “Sure thing. The most important thing to know is the leader of the rebellion escaped. He had some vamps who were spies in the Queen’s court, so he took about twenty soldiers with him and attacked her while we were busy fighting in the field.”

  “Seriously? How many vamps supported the wanna-be vampire king?” I couldn’t believe it. How could any of them turn from the queen?

  “There were over one hundred and fifty in the field on the full moon. He had another twenty with him, and we think there were at least another forty to fifty spies in the queen’s circle. So, over two hundred. Not to mention the dozen werewolves they had already created.” Damien ran his hands through his hair and sighed.

  I did miss a lot.

  “What happened to the queen?” I hoped she survived. Not because I liked her. Just because when there is a missing leader, it always creates more friction. There’s enough friction with the vamps as it is.

  “She was fine. Rebecca had visited her a week before the attack and gave her a protection amulet, like yours.” If what Damien said was true, maybe she wanted to help after all.

  “So, maybe Rebecca isn’t so bad? What happened with Jeeves and the rest of those who helped us?” I hoped Jeeves was alright, and Marco too.

  “No, she’s bad. If it had been anyone else, they would be dead. There is something about Jeeves and the house. She can’t touch him. The rest of the witches would burn her alive if she harmed a hair on his head, Marco’s words not mine.” Damien rubbed his face with both hands.

  “So I missed a lot of stress from the sounds of it. The rest of our helpers, they’re fine too? How about our pack? How bad was it?” I knew we had to have lost at least five or six of our own, not to mention the other packs.

  “We were very lucky. Only two warriors died from our pack, two from John’s and one from Paco’s. It would have been much worse, if the witches didn’t all have healing powers.” Damien couldn’t have given me any better news!

  “Thank the good Lord! I was so worried we had lost more. I mean it sucks to have lost five, but when you think about how bad it could have been... Someone was looking out for us.” I made a mental note to pray and thank the Lord above for His deliverance.

  I wasn’t really someone who went to church or prayed regularly. However, I think in this situation, it might be a good idea. There was no good reason for us to have done so well.

  “Breakfast is served.” Jenna laid a plate down in front of me filled with cheesie scrambled eggs, toast, jam, hash browns, and my favorite – bacon. She gave me six slices too!

  “Thank you, Jenna! You are wonderful. One day someone is going to be very lucky to have you as their wife.” I took a huge bite of bacon as I moaned over how good it was.

  “Mmm, do I smell bacon?” Rico walked into the kitchen, and Jenna’s cheeks reddened. He had to have heard what I said. If he was smart, he would be the lucky husband one day.

  We all sat down together for a wonderful breakfast. It took two huge platefuls to settle my stomach.

  It took me a few more days of rest, and watching movies, before all of my strength returned. It was totally worth it all.

  Marco and Jeeves both chided me for using so much magical energy. I didn’t care. If I hadn’t, who knows who else would have died? Probably both Jose and Luke. I would take a week as sleeping beauty if it meant keeping my friends alive.

  Life went back to normal, somewhat. There were still the occasional rogue paranormals coming through town. Since I had magic and my sisters could wield spells and charms created by the witches, we helped Rico and his pack solve the paranormal craziness around us. Unfortunately, things for Rebecca didn’t end well, and I still can’t talk about it.

  The End

  Sneak- Miss Claus and The Secret Santa

  Santa Claus isn't who, or what, you think he is!

  Santa Claus is an Arctic Wolf Shifter, and the mantle has always passed down to his sons. But this Santa didn't have any boys, he has 4 girls!

  His eldest daughter is supposed to marry the son of the pack's Beta wolf, Rock. But she has refused. Lizzy wants to marry for love, not pack standing.

  When Lizzy is pulled to Los Angeles looking for adventure and possibly her future Santa, what she finds instead shocks her and her family.

  If you like clean, shifter romance, then you will love this newest book by J.L. Hendricks. She merges her favorite season, Christmas, with a popular genre, Shifter Paranormal Romance. Come and see how these Arctic Wolf shifters celebrate Christmas.

  If this sounds like a fun-filled adventure the whole family can read, that's because it is! It might even help to convince your unbelieving teens that Santa really does exist! And maybe you will come away believing as well.

  "Have fun with this book - it is a fine new look at Santa Claus, very modern and paranormal and sort of what we need at this time in the world!" - Grady Harp, December 16 Amazon top 100 reviewer

  This was the worst day of my life! My mother just told me I had to marry Rock! Of all people, Rock! Please, what kind of name is that? Had I been born a guy, I would have a choosing ceremony this year. Where I pick my future spouse, instead of being told who I am to marry! This just sucks! I always thought I would marry for love, not convenience.

  “OW!” I felt a thump to the back of my head as I walked toward my house. I put my hand to the back of my head and felt the wet, slushy snow that was slowly making its way down my hair.

  My younger sister had thrown a hard-packed snowball at me. Normally, I would have played with her. Snow fights were one of my favorite things to do around here. But not today. All I wanted to do was hide in my room and figure out a way to get away from Rock.

  “Mandy, not now,” I said as I walked away.

  “Why not? I thought you loved snowball fights. We could get Rock and his brothers to join us,” Mandy suggested a little too enthusiastically.

  “How did you know? I just found out myself!” I huffed out as I took my knitted cap off my head and smoothed down my hair. As she mumbled, my eyes narrowed, and I tapped my foot. “I can’t hear you when you do that. Speak up.”

  “I don’t know what you are talking about. What did you find out?” She couldn’t make eye contact so I knew she was hiding something. Her hands were behind her back, and she was slowly trying to walk away from me.

  “Mandy, what are you trying to keep from me? You know I will find out so just tell me.” As the future Mrs. Claus, the Christmas Magic had always been st
rong within me. I tried not to misuse my abilities, but I could read minds when I tried hard. In case you didn’t know, my dad is Santa Claus.

  “I heard Dad say that we were going away for Thanksgiving this year. He wants us all to go with him to visit the European and Russian packs for a couple weeks.”

  “Really? Who all is supposed to go with us?” My jaw clenched as I wondered about this bit of news my mother left out of our talk today.

  “Rock and his parents and a couple of the enforcers…”

  “I KNEW IT! No wonder Mom didn’t tell me! I bet she was going to wait until the last minute to tell me.” My breathing picked up speed as I stewed over her plan to get me and Rock together. I wouldn’t do it. There was no way I was going on that trip.

  “When did they say we were leaving, Mandy?” I crossed my arms over my chest as I seethed.

  “Um, in like, two days?” She shrugged her shoulders and scooted away from me even more. “I thought you would like to hang out with Rock and some of the other guys. You have always played with them.”

  “That doesn’t mean I want to marry them!” I blew out a heavy breath and shoved my bangs out of my eyes.

  “Who said marry? We are just going with our parents to check on problem packs. That’s all. What are you talking about?” She stopped inching away from me and stood in place with a confused look on her face.

  “Mom just told me I have to marry Rock in January! In two months, I have to marry a guy as stupid as a boulder! He won’t make a good Santa!” I kicked a mound of snow at my feet and turned to go inside.

  Mandy put a hand on my shoulder. “He isn’t stupid as a boulder. Wait! Lizzie, Mom said you have to marry Rock? Our Beta’s son? The one I have been in love with since I could tell the difference between a boy wolf and a girl wolf?” She narrowed one eye at me and pursed her lips.

  “Oh, Mandy. I’m so sorry! I forgot for a minute how you would feel. You’re right. Yesterday, I would have said he was pretty smart. But now? Shoot, I can’t marry him!”

  Glancing at Mandy, I saw tears glistening in the girl’s eyes. I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “What are we going to do? Mom said I have to marry him since he is the next Beta. Because she never gave birth to a boy, I have to marry the next most powerful wolf in the pack.”

  The title of Santa always went from father to son. We have never had a generation without a male heir. Of course it would be me who broke the tradition.

  If this had happened forty years ago, then Alphas and Betas all over would have fought dad for the position. But after what happened to his brother over twenty years ago, no one is allowed to challenge the sitting Santa or his heir. So now I have to marry the strongest male to take his place.

  “I don’t see why you can’t be Santa. This is the 21st century after all. Women can do anything! Why not be Santa?” Mandy exclaimed.

  “I have made that same argument since I was ten. Christmas Magic has even given me extra abilities. I bet it does want me to become the next Santa! These past three years, I have gone out with dad each Christmas Eve and helped. I only made one mistake in three years as an apprentice! But they won’t hear of it.” I shook my head.

  Christmas Magic is what surrounds us. It protects us from the outside world finding us, and it gives Santa and his family extra powers. They aren’t always the same. However, Mrs. Claus usually has the same powers of healing, just at different levels. The powers I am experiencing are more than any other Mrs. Claus in our history, that I could find. This Magic appears to have a conscience, or at least a plan for what it wants my family to do.

  “But, can’t you choose another strong male? Or the son of an Alpha from another pack?” She looked up at me wringing her hands and scrunching her brows.

  “No, I tried that, too. They won’t hear of it. Dad has made his mind up. He already told Rock’s dad that we are going to be married.” The thought of marrying him was making me sick. Literally! My stomach felt like it had boulders in it rubbing up against every spot in my belly.

  “Is there anything you can do?” Mandy’s face was turning a bit green to go with my stomach.

  “Yes, there is one thing. On this trip help me to find an Alpha I can marry. Even if he is a bit older, I could marry someone else. Well, I at least need some attraction to him. Can you help me?” I bit my nails as she considered my request.

  I turned twenty this year, which meant it was time I married. If I was honest with myself, I was ready to marry. However, I didn’t want to marry some guy who knows all of my flaws and who I used to beat up when we were pups. Sure, Rock was strong, but as pups he was a bit of a runt. Plus, I don’t feel any extra Christmas Magic coming off him. How can he be the next Santa?

  Santa always has the most Christmas Magic. Since I am chock full of the Magic, my husband needs to have a serious dose. If he doesn’t naturally have it, then the Magic must choose him. Like with my mom. She was never supposed to be Santa’s wife because my dad wasn’t supposed to be Santa. When the time came, the Christmas Magic knew this, and it chose her before even my dad knew what was going on. That is what it should be like for my future husband.

  “Maybe I can get close to Rock too? If he doesn’t want you, maybe he will be happy with me and then tell his dad he wants to marry me instead?”

  I laughed. “Yeah, let’s try that as well. Anything to keep him away from me.” I seriously doubted Rock would go for her. She was three years younger than us, and he had always thought she was a pest and never wanted her around.

  I left her outside wondering how she was going to win Rock’s heart and went inside to figure out what I was going to do. I skipped dinner that night. While Arctic Wolves had hearty appetites, we could also go quite some time without food, even in human form. Although, if I shifted and stayed as a wolf, I could last longer without food. Even a couple of days without food in human form was doable. I should know, I had done it many times while throwing temper tantrums as a kid.

  As I sat in my room that night, I came up with a plan. I was going to run away if I couldn’t meet any wolves in Europe that would make a good Santa. He didn’t have to be great, just good. I doubted any would be as good as my dad anyway.

  Then decided running away was childish and immature. So I researched what I could about the different packs we were going to see. Not one of the pack Alphas had single sons my age, or even close enough for me to consider marrying. This looked to be tougher than I imagined.

  My dad and I had a great relationship. Normally, I would talk to him about something this serious. Right now, he didn’t have the answers I was seeking. Sure, I was mad at him, but he really was a great Santa!

  Once a week, during the Christmas season, he would find his way to a human mall and get dressed up as their version of Santa Claus to meet kids. He always knew their names and what they wanted for Christmas. It amazed me each and every time he did it. When my uncle died, Christmas Magic gave my dad an extra dose of power. I think it might have wanted to make sure that no one could kill him too.

  It was the Russian wolves that wanted my family exterminated. In the past twenty-three years since Uncle Kris’ death, my father and the rest of the North American packs have worked hard to make sure that the Russians who were responsible for his death were dealt with. Dad once told me that there was a faction in Europe that wanted him gone. They didn’t want to get rid of Christmas, they just wanted to rule Christmas themselves.

  This trip was going to be extremely important to see if there was still an issue with the European wolves. I had to come up with some plan before we returned from this trip. While I sat alone in my room contemplating my options, of which there weren’t many, I felt a pull. Something was calling to me from the south. I couldn’t pinpoint it, but it felt like something my dad had told me about before.

  When something super important was going on in the world, he would get a tug in his heart to go there. It could take a while before he knew where “there” was, but he always knew when the Mag
ic was calling him. I wondered if it was calling me somewhere, or if I just hoped it was.

  You can find Miss Claus and The Secret Santa on Amazon: http://books2read.com/u/mlKzXv

  Sneak Peek- Worlds Away

  Slavery, or mate to an Alien Commander? Which would you choose?

  Paris had lost her parents at a young age and instead of going into the foster system, she ended up on the streets. Sure, life was tough for a 17-year-old girl with no one to turn to, but she made her way on the streets of Los Angeles for years. That is, until one day when she was no longer on the streets.

  Commander Venay of the V’Zenian Empire was a man on a mission. It was his responsibility to ensure a good lot of human slaves made it back to his planet each year. But this time it was different, he saw her across a field and knew he had to have her, at all costs.

  The choice was simple, Paris could be a slave on the V’Zenian home world, or she could become Venay's mate and provide him with the offspring his people so desperately needed! Until the V’Zenian's most venomous rival, the Zateelians, attacked Venay’s ship and forced them to crash land on a distant planet. Paris had a new choice to make: save herself or help Venay exterminate aliens who have a sinister plan for the humans.

  The claxon bells were going off all over the ship, and the crew rushed to and fro as they took their duty stations to prepare for the inevitable. “Rotna, get off the comm with your mate. NOW is the time to focus on the ship, not some female.” the Commander yelled as he gave Rotna a stern frown and pointed to the weapons console.

  Rotna usually manned the weapons console during battles. However it has been a few years since this crew had seen any battles. All had been calm during these trips until this one.

  “I must go now, stay safe and know that I love you!” Rotna ended his comm with his mate and focused back on the weapons console, but he was too late. A charged torpedo hit the side of the ship where Rotna was stationed. The console discharged an energy blast that threw him against the metallic desk that housed the science scanners behind him. His back hit the hard surface, and he fell to the ground unconscious.