Magic of Blood and Ash - Paperback*

Returning to Moonfell wasn’t part of my plan, and it completely altered my life.

New house. New friends. And reuniting with my eccentric aunt brought some joy back into my soul. I even managed to crack a smile every now and then.

Just when I thought things couldn’t get any more complicated, I find myself caught between my duty as an investigator and my growing feelings for the enigmatic Dash—the not-werecat. He saved us from the threat known as The Forsaken. And now I have to turn him in to the county sheriff.

Or do I?

A string of lifeless bodies haunt the streets of Moonfell, each one more gruesome than the last. Werewolf gone mad? Possibly. But as the bodies pile up, doubt creeps in. Something about this feels off, and I can’t help but wonder if something more sinister is at play.

While I try to unravel the mysteries surrounding Moonfell’s recent deaths, Dash continues to weave in and out of my life with his own secrets and agendas.

As the body count rises, a threat looms over my life, and I can’t help but feel like I am walking through a minefield with no way out. Every step is a reminder that someone or something is out there, waiting to kill me.

I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE.

I flipped the card between my fingers. No matter how many times I did that, it always said the same five words. And only those words. Nothing else. No name. No address. Nothing. Nothing that could help me identify who sent it.

The card had fallen on the front porch this morning when I was on my way to do some errands. Someone had stuck it in the doorframe late last night or early this morning.

If the owner of the card’s sole purpose was to rattle me, they succeeded.

My said errands were to pick up a few herbs and ingredients for my Aunt Luna.

“Don’t forget lizard’s tail!” she’d hollered at me on my way out. “I’m taking a dip in my cauldron tonight.”

No idea if she meant that literally—the dip or the lizard’s tail. I didn’t want to know.

But my first stop was supposed to have been to Dash’s place. I hadn’t been able to make sense of what had happened two days ago. The unanswered questions and raw emotions were like a tangled mess within me, leaving me unsure of how to approach him. I’d spied on Dash yesterday afternoon, sitting in my Jeep. I hadn’t been ready to confront him yet.

Now I was.

My mind was consumed with questions, each one pulling me in a different direction. Did he truly have ties to The Forsaken? And if so, why did he betray them to help us? Were they responsible for erasing his memory?

But despite all these doubts and uncertainties, a part of me couldn’t bring myself to turn him over to Blake, the county sheriff. It went against my instincts, but I couldn’t shake off the feeling that there was more to this situation than met the eye.

Normally, I would have no hesitation in providing the sheriff with all the information he needed to make an arrest. After all, it was my job and duty as an investigator.

But this time was different. Dash had played a crucial role in helping us defeat The Forsaken, and I couldn’t just turn him over. I needed answers from him, and I couldn’t let him go until I had them.

Dash was a mystery I couldn’t solve, and turning him in would mean losing my chance to figure out his secrets.

And the sheriff? Blake was pissed at me, and I didn’t blame him. If I were in his shoes, knowing someone had information that could potentially solve the deaths of Tim and Samuel, as well as the attempt on Emma’s life and the summoning of a demon king, I’d be angry too. And unfortunately, I was part of that group harboring secrets.

Yeah, I’d hate me too.

Sykes, my father’s assistant, had been the ringleader, from what I could tell. Although he was dead, many of The Forsaken members had escaped. Not to mention I had a feeling there were a lot more of them, more than at the ritual two nights ago. If they’d been here as long as my aunt had suggested, like centuries, I feared Moonfell was infested with The Forsaken.

And still, questions remained. Was Dash an excommunicated member, like Eli? Was he spelled not to reveal the members’ names? Possibly.

What I did know was that perhaps we had stopped the ritual, but we hadn’t stopped the group. If I wanted to rid the darkness from Moonfell, I needed to destroy every single member. I just didn’t know who they were or how many.

With Dash being the only one left alive that I knew of, I couldn’t shake off the uneasiness of Blake’s impending discovery. He was getting closer to figuring out the truth.

I could feel my heart clench every time I thought about the tall, alluring not-werecat.

That was the other thing. What the hell was Dash?

I’d been on the Merlin database all last night, trying to figure out what kind of shifter he was. From what I’d read, most of the time, shifters and weres could only shift into one specific creature or beast. Not three as Dash had done.

I’d made up my mind this morning to confront him. I had it all planned out in my head, my words rehearsed. Only, I hadn’t expected to be interrupted by that lovely note.

I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE.

If that were true, whoever sent the note knew more about me than I did.

And now, finding this card kind of threw me off my course for a moment.

“More coffee?”

My gaze lifted to meet the face of a strong, muscular Black man. He stood in front of me like a towering mountain—sturdy and unmovable. His skin, the color of rich ebony, glistened under the light. I couldn’t help but feel small and insignificant in his presence. The coffeepot looked like it was about to shatter into a million pieces in his thick hand.

“Sure.” I watched as the owner of The Blue Demon poured steaming hot coffee into my mug. The sounds of the busy restaurant with the morning crew were just hitting me now.

“So, I heard your Aunt Luna’s risen from the dead.” Kolton turned and placed the coffeepot back on the burner.

“News travels fast.” I knew faking her own death and attending her own funeral—because she was eccentric in that way—would eventually bite her in the ass.

Kolton leaned his beefy forearms on the counter, a smile curling his lips. “Secrets in Moonfell never stay buried for long. It’s a small community. People love to talk.”

An unfortunate occurrence for my aunt. But I did tell her that sooner or later, her faux-dead scheme would be found out. Guess she was hoping she still had a few more years.

I took a sip of my steaming coffee. “You make it sound like everyone in this town has secrets.”

“They do,” said the large werewolf. “We all have secrets.”

Well, he wasn’t wrong. I was the queen of secrets. But that statement did make me curious about his secrets.

“I hear you’re going to stick around for a while,” continued the werewolf. “Help get that house back into shape.”

I nodded and took another drink of coffee. “That’s the plan. It might take a few years with my salary. Maybe a decade.”

Kolton laughed, a hearty, deep sort of laugh that you couldn’t help but smile at. “What about your better half? Will they be joining you?”

I gave a mock laugh. “What better half? He’s better off without me.”

“I seriously doubt that.” Kolton’s expression grew serious. “There’s a story here. What happened?”

I realized this was a very personal question, but I still found myself opening up to the big werewolf. Something about him made me feel at ease. His voice was soothing like a shrink’s.

“We grew apart,” I told him. “He wasn’t a bad man. He didn’t cheat on me or anything like that. And if it’s anyone’s fault, it was mine. I didn’t let him in.” Just like I never let anyone in. “I pushed him away, and he finally left.” My stomach churned with the guilt I still felt.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I hear he’s remarried and happy. He should be. And I’m happy for him.”

“How very mature of you.”

I gave him a smile and took another gulp of coffee. “This coffee is amazing.” I wanted to steer this conversation elsewhere fast.

Kolton straightened proudly. “It’s Colombian. A werewolf pack down there ships it to me. Only the best in my restaurant.”

I tapped my coffee mug with my fingertips. “I hope you pay them well.”

The werewolf grinned. “I do.”

“Kolton!”

A woman’s sharp voice pulled me around. Her short stature was accentuated by her petite frame, her fiery red hair pulled back tightly into a ponytail. Middle-aged, her pretty face was set with high cheekbones and a delicate nose. The apron around her waist was small and stained with various cooking ingredients, but the words The Blue Demon were sewn into it in bold, black letters. A tray hung in her right hand, and on her left was a piece of paper.

“Have you seen Jessie? She’s late for her shift.” The waitress slapped the paper on the counter. “I’m up to my eyeballs with customers. And now I have to take on hers too? I don’t get paid enough for this.”

She pulled the elastic of her ponytail. The scent of dog reached my nose, and the energies that wafted from her were all werewolf.

Kolton pulled out his phone. “I’ll call her.”

“Call Maggie too,” said the waitress. “I don’t want to be stuck here all day on my own.”

“I’ll take care of it, Sela,” said Kolton, his phone on his ear.

“I’ve got babies to feed, you know,” continued Sela. “A family to take care of since my baby daddy died.”

Damn.

“And now I’ll be exhausted by the time I get home,” she kept going. Her posture suddenly changed, and she was bent and leaning heavily on the counter. “How am I supposed to take care of my babies when I’m dead tired? My babies need their mommy. I’m all they have.”

“You’ll get double pay today, Sela,” said the werewolf.

Sela’s demeanor changed as she stood straight and flashed a quick smile. “Good.”

She caught me staring at her smile. Then she glared at me as though I was somehow responsible for Jessie not showing up, before spinning around and heading for the kitchen.

“You do realize she just played you?”

The way Sela was quick on her feet told me she wasn’t tired at all, and she had the stamina of a teen in a forty-year-old body. Werewolves.

Kolton shrugged, his deep voice reverberating around the bar as he spoke to someone over the phone. The words “shift” and “late” were all I could make out.

I reached over and grabbed the paper just as the werewolf pocketed his phone. “The Annual Pumpkin Carving Festival?” I read. “Is that really a thing?” I couldn’t remember if there had been one back when I was living here as a young person.

“It has been for the last four years,” answered Kolton. “As long as Helen’s been mayor. She takes the competition a little too seriously. She’s a competitive little werefox.”

I’d only met the mayor of Moonfell briefly a few times, but she exuded a nervous energy that seemed to be constantly propelling her forward.

“I’m not surprised.” I placed the paper back on the bar’s counter. “I bet Dash wins every year.” Shit. I cringed as the words just flew out of my mouth. I didn’t want to talk about Dash, not until I’d had a conversation with him.

Kolton dried a cup with a dish towel. “I don’t remember him ever competing. Why’d you think Dash would win?”

Because he’s an amazing artist. “Because he’s got very talented fingers.” Damn. Now that sounded dirty.

Kolton laughed, and I felt a rush of heat rocket over my face. “I wouldn’t know.”

I totally walked into that one. I cleared my throat. “What I meant to say is that he’s a talented artist. His work is amazing. His barn is filled with intricate furniture and beautiful wood carvings. He’s truly gifted.”

The werewolf placed the cup under the bar. “He’s doing better? I haven’t seen him lately. And the last time we spoke about him, you said he was in a bad way.”

True. Kolton didn’t know that Dash was part of The Forsaken or that he’d saved all our asses two nights ago. Kolton just thought he was a loner-type guy because he kept to himself.

And now it all made sense why.

“He is,” I answered and then took a large gulp of my coffee. “He’d lost his memory, but it’s back now.”

An image of him flashed in my mind’s eye just as he’d finished drinking my aunt’s counter-curse. How disturbed he’d looked, like a person who hated himself.

“Glad to hear it,” said Kolton. “No one should go around not remembering who they are. It’s not right. More like a nightmare.”

But some people wished they hadn’t gotten them back. Like Dash.

My stomach squirmed at the thought of seeing him again. I had so many questions for Dash. As an investigator working on behalf of the Merlin Group, what I should have done was hand him over to Blake and been done with him.

But I couldn’t. Not when he’d saved us. Not when I knew deep down there was good in him. Or at least, that’s what I told myself.

And if I didn’t do this now, today, I’d never confront him.

Determined, I slipped off my stool, reached for my bag, and yanked out my wallet. “How much for the coffee?”

Kolton shook his head. “Your money’s not good here,” said the handsome werewolf.

My mouth parted. “Why’s that?”

Kolton’s dark eyes bore into mine. “When you save one of our own, I consider that a debt that we owe you.”

My heart swelled at the sincerity in the tone of his words. I wasn’t used to this sort of kindness. Hell. I’ve never gotten any.

But here, in this supernatural town—where werewolves and witches coexisted, the town where I’d sworn I’d never return—was a glimmer of hope. Kolton’s words resonated with me, reminding me that not everyone was driven by self-interest. Maybe there were more allies than enemies in this fight against darkness.

With gratitude filling my heart, I smiled at Kolton. “Thank you,” I said sincerely. “But you really don’t need to. I can afford coffee.” For now, at least.

“At the rate you’re drinking it, I’m not so sure.” The werewolf smiled.

I stared at the large, now-empty, mug. I’d drunk two cups of coffee in under fifteen minutes. What did that say about me?

That any moment now, I’d get the coffee shakes.

A high-pitched scream interrupted my thoughts.

“That came from outside.” I hurried toward the kitchen, the direction of the scream. Kolton, being a werewolf, had leaped over the counter and was already out the kitchen’s back door just as I reached it. Yup. Werewolves and their supernatural speed. Even in their human forms, they excelled in physical abilities and endurance.

I hit the back door with my shoulder, pushed it open, and stepped outside.

Sela’s tear-stricken face turned at the sound of our approach. Her eyes were round and wild, and she ran to bury her head in Kolton’s chest.

I moved past them, and the cool October air rolled over my cheeks.

That’s when I spotted the body.

At first, I mistook it for a black garbage bag carelessly tossed next to the metal bins. But as I got closer, the stench of blood and innards hit me, and I realized it was the crumpled and torn remains of a human being. The body was in a horrifying state, lying in a pool of its own blood and guts, with shreds of clothing strewn around. I could make out where the head was, but most of the face was torn off. From what was left, I could see she was female. Barely. The sunlight glinted off the exposed rib cage, revealing deep bite marks that could easily crunch through bone. Only something with incredibly strong jaws could have caused such extensive damage to a human body.

The air was thick with the stench of blood and guts, overpowering any other scents like pine trees, earth, or wet dog that I typically associated with werewolves. Instead, a curious mix of sweet candy canes and butterscotch lingered in the air, tainted by a hint of sulfur.

She’s a fae. Correction. She had been a fae.

“She’s dead! Oh my god, she’s dead!” Sela wailed, her voice reaching a state of hysteria. “They killed her!”

“I know. I know.” Kolton pulled Sela into a tight embrace, surprising me with his gentleness despite his large stature. I wasn’t sure if he was an alpha or pack leader, but he definitely acted like one. After letting go of Sela, he instructed her to call Blake as he held on to her shoulders tightly. “Hurry and get inside.”

The waitress nodded silently, wiping her tears away before disappearing through the back door.

My eyes fell back on the body. “You know who she is?” By the amount of blood loss and the discoloration of her skin, she’d been dead for a while. Probably killed sometime during the night.

Kolton’s jaw twitched, his eyes on the body. “It’s Jessie.”

Ah, hell.