“I need you to leave,” he says.
“Like hell,” I snap.
I tense my body, searching for more magic to reach.
He growls again.
I turn my attention from the door to him. “Listen,” I say, “just because I let you bite me doesn’t mean I’m going to let you do all the work. I can fight for myself, you know.”
“Trust me, I’m well-aware of that fact,” he says, “but you also need to know that you don’t have to do everything by yourself.”
“I’m not leaving,” I tell him.
He clenches his teeth together. “Fine, we’ll –“
Before he can finish, the door to the bedroom is blasted open and a woman I don’t recognize stands there, white light shooting from her fingertips. Her face is pinched, snarled, and she looks at me like she hates me, like I’m the worst person she’s ever laid eyes on.
“You,” she snarls.
“Me,” I say back.
I look over at Rex to see if maybe he knows her, but he’s focused on how to take her out. I can tell by the way his teeth are showing, how his brow is furrowed low and hangs over his eyes. He doesn’t recognize her. I doubt he’d care if he did. Rex sees her as a threat first and foremost.
“Do you know who I am?” she asks.
“Should I?”
For a moment, nothing happens. The light fizzles from her fingertips so shadows consume the room once more. Everything is silent. And then –
She starts laughing. She laughs like it’s the funniest thing she’s ever heard.
I look over at Rex again. There’s a glimmer of confusion on his face, but other than that, he’s stony and silent. He’s still tense, as though he’s waiting for the other shoe to drop, so to speak. He doesn’t let up.
I look for my magic and I feel it, but I’m not sure what to do with it. Can I really attack someone I don’t know? How would I even go about doing that?
“Of course you don’t know,” she says, shaking her head. “Why would they tell you?”
“Tell me what?” I demand to know. Magic cackles through my body. I’m tired of the games. I just want answers.
“Your family killed my family,” she says.
Even though I don’t want to believe it, I can tell that she does. She’s already past the point of reasoning with her.
“Why would they do that?” I ask instead. I don’t know this person. I’ve never heard of her. My grandmother said nothing of her when I went to visit her, except… “You sent the men after me.”
“I had to know if you had powers,” she says. “I had to see if they finally manifested. And knowing they had, I realized I couldn’t trust them to do anything with you. I had to get to you myself. I would put you down, no one else.”
“Why would my family kill yours?” I ask again.
“So they can control the town, you silly little fool,” she says as though it’s obvious. “My family has had control for years until your grandmother took it from us and gave it to the people.”
Realization dawns on me. “She saved the people,” I say. “She made it so everything was fair and just.”
“And killing my family is fair and just?” she screeches.
Without warning, Rex lunges. She blasts him with magic and he falls. He grunts, however, and relief courses through me, but he has trouble getting up.
“And now to finish what I came for,” she says, lifting her hand. Magic flares.
I brace myself. I have no idea how I’m going to get out of this unless my magic listens to me. And I don’t know how that’s going to happen because I barely realized I had powers in the first place.
Chapter Ten
I barely manage to duck out of the way. My heart is jagged edges, slicing into my chest.
I’m scared. I’m not supposed to be scared. I’m supposed to be confident, powerful. I’m supposed to know exactly what I want and go after it, especially with these powers. But I’m not. I’m the same Andrea, I just have magic buzzing in me that I don’t even know how to use.
This person, this witch – Marcy – knows what she’s doing. I have no idea how I’m going to survive this, let alone fight back.
My breathing is ragged. I don’t dare turn and look at Rex. I know she’d take advantage of my distraction. More than that, there’s a good chance that she may use him against me. She already knows I care about him. There’s no doubt about that. But right now, her focus is on me and I want to keep it that way. I just have to make sure to keep my head above water.
“It’d be easier if you just die,” Marcy says. She holds up a hand and I can see a ball of light form just above it. It’s energy. Something in me knows she’s drawing on energy in order to power her magic.
“Not gonna happen,” I grit through my teeth. “I’m sorry for what’s happened to you. I am. But there’s nothing I can do about it.”
Without warning, she winds up like she’s pitching on the mound of Yankee Stadium and shoots the energy ball directly for me. There’s no way I can avoid it. It’s too fast. Rex grabs my ankle and knocks me down just in time. I fall flat on the wood floor. My head shoots up with pain but I don’t care.
It’s too close.
I don’t have time to reach up and cradle my forehead. Instead, I reach for the floor and pick myself up. I grunt. Magic tickles my fingers and I’m glad. I didn’t know if I’d be able to hold it the way I had before she started shooting her magic at me. As long as I focus on it, I can feel it.
I catch my breath and stand up. I don’t wait to collect myself in a standing position before I push out my hand in her direction. My magic is unrestrained, uncontrolled, and it surrounds her like a brick wall. She’s thrown back until she hits the wall of my living room.
I roll my shoulders back, breathless again. I don’t realize the toll magic takes on the body while using it. I’m surprised I’m even able to stand. All I want to do is crawl into my bed and sleep for the next twenty-four hours.
“You think she’s out?” Rex asks me from where he stands. From my peripheral, I can see cuts on his body. The blood is slight and his shifter abilities already have them healing.
“I don’t know.” I manage to hoist a tendril of magic deep from the depths of my body. Just in case she’s not as out as she seems.
I step closer to her, wary.
“Careful,” Rex says.
I nod, but don’t reply. I continue in silence until I reach her body. I kneel down to try and find some sort of heart beat. At that moment, her hand grips my throat and squeezes.
“Your family took the only person I loved,” she seethed. It’s not just her fingers pressing into my flesh, but her magic. I can barely breathe. I reach for her, but her body is positioned too far away to touch. “And I’m going to do the same to you.”
With her second hand, she reaches out and faces her palm in Rex’s direction. I know what she’s going to do. I can see the magic build up. She’s going to kill Rex, and I refuse to let that happen.
Suddenly, a shot of adrenaline courses through my body. It’s not like the magic I know, it’s something different, animalistic. A roar emerges from the bowels of my throat and I unleash it. The force of it thrusts the witch’s hand from my throat. As fast as I’m able, I pull on the magic from before and channel it into her chest. I don’t let up until I know she’s gone.
“Andrea,” Rex says from behind me. “Andrea.”
I blink. This time, when I look at the witch, I know she’s dead. And she’s dead because of me.
“Oh, my god,” I say, yanking my hand from her body and bringing both to my mouth. “I didn’t mean –“
“Hey.” Rex steps closer to me and wraps his arms around me. “Hey. It’s over. It’s okay.”
“It’s not okay,” I tell him. “Rex, I killed someone.” I look down at my hands. “I don’t even know how I did it. It’s like this animal was inside of me, taking control of me. I don’t know how to explain it.”
“It’s your wolf,” he
says, looking down at me. “It saved you.”
I swallow. Fated mates protects me, and in that way, I protect myself.
Without warning, I wrap my arms around him and I kiss him. He is just trying to protect me by letting me protect myself.
“I love you,” I tell him.
“I love you too,” he says. “Let’s call your grandmother. I’m sure she’ll know what to do about her.”
I nod. Warmth spreads through me. I know it’s going to be a hard road of learning, but I also know, with Rex by my side, I’ll figure this out.
No matter what.
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About the Author
Sapphire Winters is a new steamy paranormal romance author with a love for shifters! Her heroines are strong and sassy fighters who don't give up, and her stories provide an escape where readers can leave their world behind.
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In The Cards by Ariel Dawn
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Copyright Ariel Dawn 2020
Edited by Katie Reeves, Fair Crack Of The Whip Editing
Acknowledgements
I could not have written this book without the help of some amazing individuals. I want to express my sincere thanks to my awesome proofreaders Michelle, and Dani, my amazing alphas and betas Kate, Niki, and Faith, and my amazing editor Katie who all helped me bring this story to life. I’d also like to mention a big thank you to my friends and family for supporting me and my dream. And last, but not least, I have to thank my mother, Laurie, for instilling in me a love of reading and writing, an interest in tarot cards, and a healthy obsession with magic and the paranormal.
About In The Cards
A family curse, a powerful warlock bound by love, and a woman bewitched.
Psychic Ember Stone has been dreaming of a blue-eyed, dark-haired man for as long as she can remember. When a man named Derek shows up as her next client, she’s shocked to see he resembles the man in her dreams. Who is Derek, and why does she feel drawn to him?
As secrets emerge and answers come to light, Ember’s feelings for Derek intensify. But on Halloween, a centuries old curse will change everything, requiring a sacrifice neither of them can bear.
Follow Ember, Derek, and their strange connection through the ages as they navigate the haunting secrets that will either bring them together or tear them apart.
Chapter One
Don't miss your opportunity to get a F*R*E*E book from Ariel when you reach the end of this collection. Watch for the Reader Magnets links!
Ember shuffled the cards between her fingers and looked out the entrance of her tent into the October sunset. The air was crisp and cool, mingling with the pungent scent of burning sage. Soon the gates to Scare Fest would open, and everyone would flood in with a mixture of awe and disdain. Times were changing, and every year the haunted houses were attracting fewer and fewer visitors than the year before. It seemed people just didn’t scare as easily anymore. The amber light of the setting sun cast sienna shadows outside the canvas tent; leaves danced in tiny gusts of wind against the throb of bass that brought ScareFest to life.
Ember set the cards on the purple velvet tablecloth laid out before her, and a voice behind her made her jump.
“Can I interest you in some toxic deliciousness?” the voice said through a mouthful of food. Ember would know that mumble anywhere. Ava Crowley.
“That depends on what kind of poison you’ve brought me,” Ember said as she turned in her chair toward her friend. Ava popped open the Styrofoam container to reveal a pile of grease-laden sticks that must have passed as potatoes hidden under bright orange goo that must have at some point passed as a cheese sauce. Amid the scent of sage, oil, and mud the smell was anything but appetizing. Ember held up her hand. “No thanks, I think I’ll just stick to my liquid diet.” She reached beside her for her pumpkin spice latte. Ava rolled her eyes as she pulled the container back out of Ember’s sight. “Fine then. Be basic. More for me.”
Ember set her coffee down and drew a card - The Tower, in the upright position. As she took a deep breath, words representing the card’s meaning filled her brain: upheaval, profound change, something foreboding on the horizon. She drew another card. The World, in the reverse position. Symbolizing disillusionment with the culmination of something big. Combined with the previous card, it gave Ember an ominous feeling. She closed her eyes and drew one last card.
The Ten of Cups, reversed. Ember stared at the card, concentrating on it before laying it down with the others. Behind her, she could hear Ava setting up her podium at the front of the tent.
“What do the cards say today?” Ava asked.
“The world’s going to end,” Ember said as seriously as she could.
Ava guffawed.
“Nice try, Miss Cleo. What did they actually say?” She shoved the Styrofoam box on the shelf set in the back of the podium.
“That I’m going to suffer a profound change, and chances are I’m not going to like the outcome, but as usual the damn Ten of Cups showed up at the last minute and says I’m going to live happily ever after with ten kids.” Ember swiftly swept her hand over the cards, filing them back into the deck. Ava adjusted the lantern lights among the canvas entrance to the tent. Amber light filled the room, emanating from the fairy lights, salt lamps, and flickering candles dancing in their marbled glass holders. Ember stole one last sip of lukewarm coffee, her lush red hair falling in waves over her shoulder.
Ava smirked. “Well, ten kids are quite an adjustment for someone who doesn’t even like children.”
Ember rolled her eyes.
“You know I don’t really take my own readings seriously. It’s just a way to get my juices flowing, like stretching before a run.” She shuffled and cut the deck.
“Yet you’ve always been quite accurate.” Ava adjusted the lantern lights on the other side of the opening, standing on her tiptoes.
“Things only have power if you give it to them.” Ember drew a card.
The Tower. In the upright position.
“Thank God I’m the one who books you because with that attitude no one would believe you are the real deal.” Ava pulled at the canvas flap, her hands quickly tying it back to create a doorway entrance. She smoothed her hands over her dark wash jeans and checked her watch.
The sound of metal and rock music were suddenly louder, and in the distance, the screeching of chainsaws and high-pitched screams came to life. “It’s showtime,” Ava declared as she stood behind her podium.
Ember swept her hand over the remaining cards. The World reversed and The Ten of Cups, reversed.
She didn’t even remember drawing them.
***
Ava leaned against the podium, her back to Ember. The music still blared but the people were starting to dwindle as they prepared to make their way home. Ember turned her phone over in her lap. It was only 10:30. They still had half an hour left before ScareFest closed for the night.
Ember broke the eerie silence. “If you want a break, I can cover you, you know.”
Ava turned to face her, her short brown hair swaying with the movement. “I don’t need a break,” she said, almost too quickly.
Ember cocked an eyebrow. “It’s been far too long since your last junk food binge,” she replied as she bent over the side of her chair. It took her a moment to pillage through the oversized tote bag she called a purse. She waved a small wad of cash in the air.
“Go. Feed your Frankenstein, Miss Crowley.” Ava’s eyes fixated on the money.
“Is this a trick?” she asked skeptically.
“It’s been at least a good twent
y minutes since anyone’s even ventured over to this side of the festival, and it’s almost closing time. If you hurry, I’m sure you can find a vendor who isn’t closed yet.” Ember leaned closer to the table.
Ava made her way over, stopping before Ember.
With her studded, black leather jacket, dark wash jeans, and short hair, Ava looked more like a modern-day witch than Ember. She looked like she belonged at every haunted house, rock festival, and bachelorette party they worked. Ember, in comparison, with her voluminous red hair, ivory skin, a smattering of freckles and penchant for vintage clothes, looked less like a fortune teller and more like a telethon guest from the 1960s.
Ava snatched up the bills and pointed a finger at Ember.
“All right, fine. You want anything before the vendors close? Funnel cake, corn dog, fries?”
“I’m ok, but thanks.”
Ava shrugged.
“Ok then. I promise I’ll be quick. 10 minutes.” Ava slid the cash into her back pocket and smiled gratefully.
“Thanks, Em,” she said, and with a turn of her heel, she was gone.
Ember pushed herself away from the table and stretched her arms and legs. It really had been a slow night, no more than 10 or 15 individuals had dropped in for a reading.
She stopped in front of the ‘waiting room’, as Ava called it- a small set-up of butterfly chairs, woven rugs, outdoor poufs, and ferns growing in decorated pots. The table set in the middle of the set-up boasted a crystal grid and an essential oil diffuser. Upon inspection, Ember noticed the stones were not centered properly on the grid. Softly, she guided the shiny, smooth amethyst stone back in place before fluffing the poufs.
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