6. A Coven’s Pledge

7. Something’s Afoot

8. A Devoted Student

9. Samhain

10. Bad Impressions

11. A Mother’s Confession

12. Pranksters Will Play

13. Misguided Affections

14. A Safe Harbor

15. A Mother’s Intuition

16. A Protector’s Gift

17. Untimely Regrets

18. Unconditional Love

19. An Unexpected Miracle

20. Freedom Is Overrated

21. Puzzling Intuition

22. Baby Prep

23. A Protector’s Promise

24. Hindsight Sucks

25. Faulty Intuition

26. To Catch a Fairy

27. Councilwoman Exposed

28. To Save the Children

29. Change Is Easy

30. An Uncertain Future

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Other Books

Chapter oneA Fresh Start

The gray-skinned monster takes two steps toward me, muscles bulging, dark, shoulder-length hair swaying with every movement. His gargantuan boots squish into the muddy soil. A whiff of musty earth and rank BO enters my nostrils. I flinch and pinch my nose. When a moonbeam strikes the giant being’s scarred face, he turns his head, capturing my gaze with one shiny coal-black eye—the other permanently closed, disfigured. My body stiffens as I clutch my chest, struggling to fill my lungs. A faint voice calls my name. “Ms. Crowther? Gwynedd Crowther—”

“Ms. Crowther?” a woman shouts.

I flinch in the dermatologist’s waiting room chair and rub the kink in my neck as I raise my head. The vision I had in June still haunts my dreams, but nothing new has revealed itself. Without using a crystal grid, the premonition will take months or years to develop. Despite my impatience to discover the truth, I’ve come to accept the future reveals itself when it’s good and ready—it's either that or fry my brain with a crystal grid. I peer up at the receptionist.

“The doctor says you may go back now.” She gestures toward the doorway.

I swing my purse over my shoulder as I stand, adjusting my jeans and long-sleeved shirt. As I move toward the door, I read the close captioning on the TV screen—breaking news out of Philadelphia. The reporter announces another kidnapping has occurred, and the FBI is on the case. How awful.

A nurse directs me to exam room four. When the door swings in, my attention immediately shifts to my boyfriend Archie’s toned butt, shining bright red with frosty-white blisters full of discolored ink. The doctor spreads a jelly-like healing ointment over the treated area. Archie turns his head toward me, smiling, his icy-blue eyes glinting under the ceiling lights.

“Dr. Cockburn says he needs your approval. Does it pass your test?” He smiles as he gathers bandages to cover the wound.

I wrinkle my nose. “How would I know? I hope it looks better than that after it heals.”

“It will take about four to eight weeks,” Archie says in his soft Scottish accent. “Aren’t you happy the tattoo is gone?”

“Sure I am, but I didn’t ask you to remove it.” I glance at the dermatologist. “It was all his idea.”

“So Dr. Cockburn said.” Dr. Patel snickers as he finishes dressing the area. “Call me if it becomes infected. You can schedule a follow-up appointment for six weeks. One more session should remove any remaining ink.” He exits the room, suppressing a smile.

After the door shuts, Archie sits up carefully and pulls on his boxer briefs. My inquisition begins.

“Did you tell him why you wanted the tattoo removed?” I ask.

My lover grimaces. “Aye. He asked. He was curious.”

“Well, no one forced you to.” I roll my hazel eyes. “He appeared amused.”

Archie chuckles. “You have to admit. It’s humorous thinking back on the incident.”

“Funny for you. I had a slight heart attack when I opened the door and caught you screwing Courtney Davies. Of course, I didn’t know it was you…or her. I hadn’t met either of you formally yet.” The image of his butt as he screwed the young, obsessed grad student from behind lingers in my memories like a splinter embedded beneath my skin.

“Which is precisely why I had the tat removed.” He pulls on his sweatpants, sliding the elastic slowly over the bandage. “Every time you stare at my arse, you think of her. Don’t bloody tell me you don’t.”

“Well, it’s kind of hard not to. That Horned God tattoo is—was—both unique and prominent on your bum.”

He bends over and kisses me, his goatee tickling my chin. “Are you saying you’re going to miss it, my love?”

“Not a fucking chance,” I say, patting his other butt cheek. “I wonder what Courtney is doing now.”