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WITCHY BALLS, I CAN’T keep my mouth shut sometimes!
“What did you say?” Magnis leaned toward Carmen with a raised brow. Carmen swallowed hard trying to keep her composure. The menacing alpha dragon wasn’t someone you messed with and hearing his name a moment ago made Carmen second guess every word.
“I said you can take your comment and shove it up your ass. I’m not a slut like some of the other witches.” Carmen still remembered the last girl talking about her ‘adventures’ with the alpha. Gag me please, I have way more respect for myself than to be some alpha’s whore for a week.
“You’re a bit of a wild fire, aren’t you?” His green eyes sparkled with delight. His long blond hair waved in the wind, which might have made him attractive to others but not Carmen.
“Yeah, and I’m not some piece of ass you can pick up on your way to see the elders.” Carmen balled up her hands to keep herself from using magic on the alpha dragon. He had the physical edge on her but wouldn't if she started using magic on him.
“Maybe I’ll have to congratulate the elders on their member’s fire and determination to show up the alpha dragon.”
“You do that. The witches aren’t a fan of you using the young females as your personal whore house.” Carmen ground her teeth together.
“Not a whore house miss. Just a lovely group of willing females. You could always try a round.” He winked, making Carmen’s skin crawl.
“I’d rather set fire to your flesh than sleep with you.” Carmen glared at him. In a flash Magnis wrapped his hand around Carmen’s throat making her gasp. His eyes flashed to a deep red.
“Try it little witch and you might not live to see tomorrow.” He growled around his growing teeth. Oh, hell fire!
***
I REALLY HATE BEING stuck in this coven. I wish I had a freakin’ way out.
Carmen pulled at her white shirt and then her black robe, her nerves completely shot as she crossed the threshold. The fear of being in trouble for back chatting the dragon, made her hands tremble as she looked around the room. Almost every witch wore the same attire, white shirt, black slacks, and their black robe. Traditions stood above anything else. Maybe the meeting has nothing to do with me, we do have the Summer Solstice coming up. Her inner voice tried to be reasonable, but Carmen couldn't stop her hands from moving. Her mother, Kira, placed her hand on Carmen's shoulder.
"Stop fidgeting, you don't need to worry," Kira whispered in Carmen's ear.
"Are you a hundred percent certain? The last time you were wrong Kerine took my magic away for a week." Carmen rubbed her arm where they injected the potion to make her magical abilities vanish for weeks at a time. The last incident was a complete misunderstanding, but the elders still blamed her for it. You're the freakin’ scape goat, just get used to it. Carmen snarled at the thought before she managed to stop herself. Her mother gave her a look of worry but Carmen shook her head.
"If everyone could please take a seat. Today's meeting is about the new coven forming a few miles south of us. The UCA wants us to keep an eye on them to make sure they will be participating in the Summer Solstice ritual." Angel’s voice boomed through the hall. The older witch had more patience than Kerine by miles. Angel’s blue eyes were slightly hazy with age and her curly locks completely white.
"They're witches. Why wouldn't they do it?" The notion that a coven wouldn't participate in one of the two mandatory annual rituals baffled Carmen.
"I heard a rumor one didn't even know she was a witch until late last year." Kira shook her long blonde hair. They moved to a bench toward the back as most of the ones up front were taken or being held for the elders.
"That's crazy." Carmen wondered what her life would be like if she hadn’t been born into this coven, if she hadn't known she had magical abilities. The idea both scared and excited her. Carmen was only twenty six but was already a very talented witch. Her mother brushed Carmen's blonde hair to the side. For the longest time, Kira vocalized her hatred for her daughter's choice in hair style. A woman should have long, soft hair especially in case it was needed for a spell. Only then did you cut it, but never as short as Carmen's pixie cut. She kept her bangs a bit longer than a regular pixie cut but Carmen liked it that way.
"Let's begin everyone." Elder Angel waved her hand toward the door and it shut with a bang. Carmen picked at the hem of her shirt again but it brought her no comfort. The locked doors brought back bad memories.
"I first want to apologize for the short notice of this meeting." Angel cleared her throat and scanned the room. At six foot, she was the tallest member of the coven. "Elder Kerine and I have been talking about the upcoming Summer Solstice. We want to make sure the new coven which has formed a few hours away is doing their duty to the UCA."
Carmen trembled at the mention of the United Coven Alliance. They were in charge of every coven residing in the States, including some in Mexico and Canada. There weren't a bunch of rules beside common decency. If a coven started making human sacrifices they stepped in to correct the problem, mostly punishing the ones involved severely.
"We need an ambassador, so to speak, to make sure they are following the simple rules and follow through with the Summer Solstice ritual." Angel paused like she expected someone to jump up at the opportunity. After a long minute, Elder Kerine stood up, her long grey hair swaying as she moved forward.
"We need someone immediately." Kerine was the elder with a temper and didn't teach young witches any longer. After she had become an elder, she levitated a student in the air for interrupting her. Normally it wouldn't be so bad but the little girl had hung upside down above a burning fire pit.
"I can go." A male near the front stood. She didn't know him because he was new to the coven. He was tall but super skinny, and happened to be very close to Kerine. Carmen wondered if there was a relationship between the two of them.
"No. Sit down, Walter." Kerine narrowed her dark brown eyes on the male. He quickly sat. The room continued to stay silent and still. Carmen’s hand rose, surprising even herself. Her mother tried to pull her arm down but Kerine's gaze met hers.
"I will go Elder." Carmen's heart raced in her chest as she stood, making it harder to breathe.
"Come here, Carmen." Kerine's eyes zoned in on her and she motioned her forward.
"What are you doing?" Kira hissed and grabbed her hand but she shook her mother off.
"Don't be mad Mom." Carmen kissed her mother's head then moved toward the elders. The need to get out of this freakin’ coven motivated her to keep moving. Carmen tended to put herself in danger without meaning to. She wanted to prove she had talent like the elders but most of the time she ended up in trouble. Being a talented witch and always putting herself in danger wasn't the smartest thing to do.
"Pack up and be ready to leave in one hour. Then go to Angel’s house for instructions." Kerine narrowed her eyes on Carmen. "If you mess this up," Kerine leaned closer and hissed into Carmen's ear, "I’ll take your powers away for two months." "Yes Elder." Carmen turned around and walked out of the room. Once she cleared the doors, she stopped and leaned her body against the nearest wall.
"Holy shit," Carmen whispered. In an hour, she would be walking away from the only place she knew. Maybe the new coven will be a better fit?
She rubbed her hands over her face and looked around to make sure no one watched her. She needed something new, but she had to go before she completely lost her nerve to leave everything familiar behind.
After she packed enough stuff for a few days, then she drove over to Angel's home. Of course, Angel opened the door before she knocked sending a shiver down her spine.
"Come on in." She waved her hand toward the living room where an old book rested on a table. Her house was clean with loads of old furniture pieces.
"What do you need me to do when I'm there?" Carmen perched on the edge of a silver vintage couch. It was soft and comfortable speaking volumes about the person who owned the piece.
"It's rather simple. You need to take this Grimoire and have them look it over, copying what they need to start their own book. Each coven needs one." Angel handed her a sheet of paper with a list of phone numbers and placed her hand on the book. Carmen could see that the pages were crinkled in a few spots, but considering how worn the leather appeared the inside looked good.
"Anything else?"
"Read over the Summer Solstice page and it will walk you through what you need to know. If you need help, call me or any other Elder in the coven."
"Ok." Carmen moved toward the book but Angel stopped her.
"First, come here." Angel grabbed both of Carmen's hands and led her over to a bowl filled with a dark liquid near the book.
"This is my Grimoire; each Elder has one of their own but mine has a few special spells I would like the new coven to have. We need to seal this book to you, so that it can only be opened when you’re near." Angel grabbed a small dagger and cut her palm, a few drops of blood fell into the bowl and then she handed it to Carmen. Who in turn made a small cut in her own hand. It burned like crazy as the blood fell. Angel started a short chant but Carmen was too focused on the blood falling into the bowl to pay attention. Her hand suddenly weighed more, as if she was holding the book despite the fact that her hand was empty.
"You will have that sensation until you bring it back to me. Make sure they use the first two spells on the actual book so it will be protected." Angel motioned to the book with a smile.
"I’ll be back soon." Carmen grabbed the book and the weight on her hand lifted slightly. She placed it in her shoulder bag and headed out the door. She had a long drive ahead to Austin since she had never left the Crescent Valley.
Crap, I hope my car can make it. Her eyes scanned the twenty-year-old Toyota Supra, she had seen it in a recent movie about street racing. The lead actor, Mr. Diesel, was fucking hot in her opinion. Carmen sighed and climbed into her car. In a few hours, she would meet the new coven. Maybe I can make it my new home. She took a deep breath. This will be a better adventure than being some dragon alpha’s whore.
The car sputtered to life and she was on her way. She glanced at the time while listening to the sound of the thumping engine.
“Please goddess, get me to Austin.”
Each book can be read out of order so pick up any one and fall in love all over again. ;)
Here is the order of the Legend Series.
Celina- https://mckaylaschutt.com/celina-the-legend-series/
Red Eclipse- https://mckaylaschutt.com/red-eclipse-the-legend-series/
Blood Moon- https://mckaylaschutt.com/blood-moon-the-legend-series/
Summer Solstice- https://mckaylaschutt.com/summer-solstice-the-legend-series/
Angie’s New Moon- https://mckaylaschutt.com/angies-new-moon-the-legend-series/
Solar Eclipse- https://mckaylaschutt.com/solar-eclipse-the-legend-series/
Hunter’s Moon- https://mckaylaschutt.com/hunters-moon-the-legend-series/
Jina- https://mckaylaschutt.com/jina-the-legend-series/
Final Eclipse- https://mckaylaschutt.com/final-eclipse-the-legend-series/
Find out more on the whole set here! https://mckaylaschutt.com/the-legend-series/