Magick's Bounty

By S. A. Stone

Terra has spent her life living from day to day. As a bounty hunter, Terra faces death on a daily basis, and really doesn't care. Since growing up on the streets, she considers herself damaged goods.
Lon is the son of the most powerful witch in the world. He's spent his life dodging status-seeking and power-hungry women who don't even care who he really is. When he sees Terra, is it love at first sight? Can he care for a human? Could she survive in his world?
The World of The Moonlight Coven is a world of adventure and power different from the world we all know. The Moonlight Coven is the most powerful non-human witch covens in the world. After centuries of hiding, the coven reveals itself to save thousands of people from certain death. Revealing their existence causes fear and panic among the human populations of the world. Politics aside, everyday life will never be the same in a world where magick is a part of everyday life.
But human fear still remains. Magick's Bounty begins when Terra is discovered to be the first human totally immune to the magicks of witches. Can this unconventional and ill-mannered young woman become the leader in law enforcement for non-humans? And why is Eris, the Greek Goddess of Discord and Chaos suddenly creating problems between humans and witches?
This book is a mature action adventure romance novel. The story is told in present tense from the point of view of the main character, whose dry sarcastic wit and tongue in cheek approach to life gives everything a unique perspective

From the book:
I limp towards the alley, my worn back stooped, and my hands throbbing from the weight of the grocery bags. I have to keep going, he’s behind me, and he’s going to kill me...
Right. Good melodrama, but he doesn't have a chance. You see, I'm not the stooped little old lady he thinks he sees; I'm a bounty hunter. My name is Terra, and I'm here to catch him and kick his ass. Actually, I’m only officially here to catch him. The ass kicking part is just something I really want to do. You see this guy beats up old ladies and robs them. He jumped bail, left town and started doing the same thing here. It took me a month to track him down to this hellhole of a city. Now, here I am, disguised as an old lady, trying to be a target. I've been walking around this area every night for a week, just asking for it. So far I've been assaulted seventeen times. This place really is disgusting. I can’t wait to get home to New York City, where I feel safe again.

I feel a hand on my shoulder, and I act surprised.
"Hey granny," his harsh voice growls, "Where ya’ goin’?"
I make my voice a little higher and waver it just a bit. "I ain't your granny, sonny."
"Hey, don' be like that," he says as he turns me roughly. "I'm bein' nice here. I coulda' just hit ya’ and been done with it."
"So you're goin’ to rob an old woman of her groceries and twenny seben dollars?"
"Yeah," he says, as his face shows the sick thoughts in his head. "But first we party."
"Nah," I say. "I don't think so." I straighten up and drop the bags. I let my voice return to normal. "I think I'll just take you in for the bounty."
I twist around and grab his thumb off my shoulder. A twist of my wrist and a second hand on his fingers and he goes down to his knees. He's in pain, but its not enough. I let him go and step back. I need to hurt him, and hurt him bad.
I stand in an offensive kata and wait for him to get up. He curses at me and pulls his switchblade. I smile and shift to my back foot. Now on the defensive, I wait for him to get closer. He lunges for me. My first kick hits his knife hand, and the blade flies away, clattering against the concrete. My second kick hits the side of his head, knocking him to the alley wall. My third kick hits him in the nuts. Okay, he was already going down, but I really wanted to do that. I mean really, beating up old ladies for fun?

• Language: English
• Publisher: S. A. Stone
• Release date: Oct 5, 2011
• ISBN: 9780985233518

S. A. Stone

S.A. Stone and Anitra Morgan are the pen names for Steven Stone writing with his wife Anitra editing. Our main web page is at www.sastoneromance.com Steve started writing romances after seeing too many sad endings in wildlife rescue. The need for happy endings made him shift his focus from nonfiction to gritty fiction with an ultimate good at the end. Steve has been writing since the 1970's. He's had several articles, poems, and stories published in newspapers, magazines and local publications. He has also written nonfiction and text books. Now Steve has concentrated his writing on romance and paranormal romance. Steve is a wildlife caretaker and educator, and the pastor of an alternative religion church. He is often in the news for either animal rescues, educational programs, or some sort of charity works. Steve and his wife Anitra live in Raleigh, North Carolina were they care for an eagle named Beanca and several other animals including owls, hawks, falcons, a vulture named Snoopy, a pair of turtles, and dog

Book preview

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Epilog

Author Bio

Preview of Magick’s Finest

Chapter 1

I limp towards the alley, my worn back stooped, and my hands throbbing from the weight of the grocery bags. I have to keep going, he’s behind me, and he’s going to kill me...

Right. Good melodrama, but he doesn't have a chance. You see, I'm not the stooped little old lady he thinks he sees; I'm a bounty hunter. My name is Terra, and I'm here to catch him and kick his ass. Actually, I’m only officially here to catch him. The ass kicking part is just something I really want to do. You see this guy beats up old ladies and robs them. He jumped bail, left town and started doing the same thing here. It took me a month to track him down to this hellhole of a city. Now, here I am, disguised as an old lady, trying to be a target. I've been walking around this area every night for a week, just asking for it. So far I've been assaulted seventeen times. This place really is disgusting. I can’t wait to get home to New York City, where I feel safe again.

I feel a hand on my shoulder, and I act surprised.

Hey granny, his harsh voice growls, Where ya’ goin’?

I make my voice a little higher and waver it just a bit. I ain't your granny, sonny.

Hey, don' be like that, he says as he turns me roughly. I'm bein' nice here. I coulda' just hit ya’ and been done with it.

So you're goin’ to rob an old woman of her groceries and twenny seben dollars?

Yeah, he says, as his face shows the sick thoughts in his head. But first we party.

Nah, I say. I don't think so. I straighten up and drop the bags. I let my voice return to normal. I think I'll just take you in for the bounty.

I twist around and grab his thumb off my shoulder. A twist of my wrist and a second hand on his fingers and he goes down to his knees. He's in pain, but its not enough. I let him go and step back. I need to hurt him, and hurt him bad.

I stand in an offensive kata and wait for him to get up. He curses at me and pulls his switchblade. I smile and shift to my back foot. Now on the defensive, I wait for him to get closer. He lunges for me. My first kick hits his knife hand, and the blade flies away, clattering against the concrete. My second kick hits the side of his head, knocking him to the alley wall. My third kick hits him in the nuts. Okay, he was already going down, but I really wanted to do that. I mean really, beating up old ladies for fun?

I cuff his hands and feet and go to get my wheel cart. I'm not stupid enough to try to carry a two hundred and fifty pound thug. I'm also smart enough to make sure he can't just knock me over and run off. Yeah, I can fight, but he outweighs me by more than a hundred pounds. Besides, there’s something satisfying about strapping a crook to your truck and driving him to the cops.

I roll him onto the cart. It's really what they call an appliance dolly. The dolly has this great strap that tightens across his chest just when he starts yelling.With a grunt, he stops the noise. I guess a tight strap across the chest is one way to shut him up. I roll him over to the pickup and dump him into the back, dolly and all.

It takes me all night to get all the paperwork done and get my check. I hate doing out of town gigs. I haven't been home in over a week, and I'm really tired of it. I return the rental truck and start hoofing it towards home. It's only about a mile, not worth the hassle of a taxi.

I'm about a block from home when I feel a sledgehammer hit my chest. It's not really a sledgehammer, it’s really a bullet. The bullet burns as it slams against me. Fiery pain radiates out from the impact. I barely feel my body as it is lifted and hurled back into the wall behind me. The building behind me is solid, more solid than me. I feel my body slide down the bricks and crumple boneless to the ground. My breath is gone and the pain in my chest has radiated outward to cover my entire body.

So there, Bitch! a punk I recognize as a gang-banger named Skinner says. He's standing there, just glowing in triumph over my prone form. I guess you're not so tough after all. All it took was me and my nine. Now I'm the toughest one around!

I finally catch a breath. It isn't much of a breath, but it's progress. I inhale my second breath as he pulls a machete from its sheath. Now to collect the evidence for the guild. He grabs my hair and lifts me up by it. I keep my eyes squinted closed. I still feel like a hit and run victim, but I know I have to do something.

He holds me up by my hair, my face even with his waist. As he draws back the machete to cut my head off, I swing my elbow upward with all my might to the junction of his legs. Whatever I hit has a major effect. He loses the machete, my hair, and his lunch. While he's bent over holding his crotch and emptying his stomach, I manage to stand up. I pick up the machete and turned it sharp edge up. I used the back of its blade to beat the crap out of him. He'll live, but it won't be pretty. As he lay there unconscious, I grab his gun and take off his pants and his Scooby-Doo underwear. Then I drag him to the edge of the street and leave him there.

I walk the final block to my place and nearly collapse inside. I lock the door, hit the security code on the alarm system and crawl to the couch.

I sit on the floor in front of my couch and pull off my flannel shirt. I pull open the Velcro straps of my Kevlar vest. It hurts like hell to lift the heavy vest over my head, but after three tries, I do it. So here I am, on the floor of my living room with a blood soaked t-shirt and a bloody hole in my chest.

A nine-millimeter bullet at point blank range gets slowed down, but not totally stopped by a standard Kevlar vest. The blood from the top of my left breast still oozed. I look at the ragged hole in my chest and the room tilts. What was that stupid movie where the hero digs something out of his body to show how tough he is? Not me. I reach for the phone and dial for help.

My roommate, Maya, is a witch. She is also one hell of a doctor. I always kid her about being a witch doctor, but she's really the only one I trust.

Dr. Novak's office, May I help you? Her assistant Nikki answers. Great. I see this coming. I hate talking to Nikki. She always knows things that I don't want anyone to know.

I take in a deep breath and start to talk, hoping that I can actually say what's wrong before the panic train starts rumbling down the track. Yeah Nikki, it's me. I need Maya.

Ouch! Nikki's voice filters over the telephone line, Terra, what happened to your chest?

Nikki! I snap, If you feel the pain of everyone you talk to, why the hell do you work in a doctor's office?

I don't feel the pain of everyone, she said like she was talking to an errant child. I can't sense injuries in strangers, I only connect to people I know...like you.

Right, I sigh. I need Maya's help.

What happened?

I took a bullet.

Oh My God! Nikki yelled. Maya! Terra's been shot! It's a chest wound!"

Nikki! I tried to reassure her, it's not that bad! I hear Maya's even-tempered voice in the background saying something.

The air around me crackles with energy, and I know I'm too late. With a clap of thunder I feel myself fall into nothingness. A second thunderclap and I'm in Maya's office. Damn, I hate teleportation spells. They always make my ears pop. Then I start puking up my guts and I remember the other effect teleportation spells have on humans. Three exits no waiting, Ick!

Now I'm sitting on Maya's office floor, bleeding puking and messing my pants. And I thought this day couldn't get any worse!

Nikki grabs me and lifts me like I weigh nothing. I thank her by turning my face towards her and spitting up some of the chili I had for lunch. Nikki is a small woman, but she is in no way human. She looks like a short but overweight woman, but she has the strength of a gorilla. Somehow she also has this ability to feel other people's pain. She says it's called empathy, but it doesn't make sense to me.

Nikki won't tell me what she is, and according to the law she doesn't have to. The Equality of Humans and Non-Humans Act changed everything. When the witches coven of New York managed to hold up the towers long enough to get the survivors out, it exposed an entire secret world within our society. Witches became important to have around. I'm not talking about humans that practice Wicca, I'm talking about real honest-to-Hecate non-human beings that throw around enough power to light up a city every day of their lives. At first there was a big witch-hunt mentality, but after a couple of weeks, the Pagans and the Secular Humanists did something they don't usually do. They spoke up. Most people think that that majority of the citizens in this country are religious fundamentalists. Sorry, but no. They are just the most outspoken. Suddenly millions of people were registering to vote and many of them were pressuring Congress to create safeguards against witch-hunts.

Bottom line; witches were exposed, but they were not allowed to be discriminated against for their ‘race.’ Soon, other types of non-humans came out. Many places adopted a don't ask, don't tell policy.

So, now, here I am being carried to an exam room by a non-human to be examined by a witch.

At least I stopped puking. Maya is standing there chanting something, and the air around me turns suddenly very cold. My clothes vanish. Okay, so now I'm naked in the arms of a woman. My horoscope said that I should have stayed home today.

Nikki places me on the exam table, and my butt sticks to the paper cover. I really hate that. At least everything that came out of me vanished with my clothes, so I'm relatively clean now.

A heavy hand on my shoulder lays me down on the cold paper-covered exam table. I look up into Maya's deep brown face and relax a little. Her dark eyes show concern as she runs her hands over my wounded chest.

Damn, that must have hurt, she says, looking at the wound. It's not that bad, but I want to x-ray your chest and see if it broke any bones. She shines the light on my less than ample chest. Do you want a pain killer while I take out the bullet?"

No, I say sarcastically. Just go ahead and rip it out, I'm tough.

Okay, Maya said, and proceeds to do just that!

Wait! I snap as she starts to put something long and metal into the bullet hole. I was kidding! Knock me out, dope me up, give me something!

Maya looks at me with a frown as she backs away. She shakes her head. Maya never grew up around humans, so she lacks a bit of social understanding. I honestly forget that she doesn't understand sarcasm. Unfortunately, I live on sarcasm. It can create problems.

Are you sure this time?

Yeah, I'm sure. I do NOT like pain, I assure her.

Then why did you ask Johnnie to be rougher with you?

My face reddens. Our apartment walls are pretty thin, and our bedrooms share a wall. Johnnie is my ex. He's a nice enough guy, but he's too shy and gentle for me. I never thought about the things I used to say to encourage him until Maya started asking me about them. Apparently privacy about sex and nudity are not big issues with witches.

It's not the same Maya, and you know it!

She smiles and gives a half laugh. Its then I remember that Maya had her own sense of humor, and I often miss it. I sigh and lay my head back and close my eyes.

I'm muttering complaints about nothing when a deep toned voice near my ear says Shush, now. Everything will be fine. Dr. Novak is and excellent physician. My eyes snap open and I look into the brightest blue eyes I had ever seen. His face is out of a comic book. He has a strong jaw, masculine nose, full brows and rugged dark hair. I'm looking at Superman come to life.

Wow, I say. You're cute.

Why, thank you, he says as he hands Maya a syringe. I feel a hand on my shoulder again and a slight pinch above my wound. I look into his deep blue eyes and slowly the pain dissipates. I hadn't realized how much pain I was in until it stopped.

So, who are you? I ask Clark Kent.

I'm Lon, he says. I look him over. His medical scrubs are clean. He wears a name tag that says Lon Donaldson, RN.

Glad to meet you, Lon, I say lifting my right hand towards him.

No moving, Maya mutters. I glance at the other side of me and see her with some sort of metal thing sticking in the hole in my chest. I don't feel a thing. How surreal is that? I see Lon shifting the light for her, staring down at my chest; my naked chest. The one attached to my naked body. The naked body that this dark haired Adonis is getting an eye full of. I think my whole body starts blushing.

I'm in my starkers being stared at by a walking wet dream. Okay, list of bad day stuff can end any time now.

Lon, you need to go outside. Have Nikki come in to assist me, Maya says.

You're sexually stimulating Terra, and I can't have her move or her pulse rapidly change while I'm doing this.

Okay, kill me now. No shyness towards sex is one thing, but to tell a man that the naked woman lying on the bed in front of him is horny for him has to be a breach of doctor-patient privilege.

Yes, Dr. Novak, he says with his warm deep voice. There went another pulse spike. He leaves the room with a real you-know-what-eating grin on his face.

Remind me later to kill you for that, I say to Maya.

Maya looks up at my face and blinks a few times. What?

I said remind me to kill you later for exposing me like that.

I had to get rid of your clothing to clean you up and check your wounds, Maya says, totally not getting it.

That's not what I mean, M. You deliberately told him that I had the hots for him! OW!

I told you to keep still. Now you're bleeding again, she snaps. Suddenly Nikki's hands are holding me down again. I didn't even notice her come back in. Now keep still, Terra.

Besides, she says, He was so blown away by you that he couldn't function anyway."

I do a double take. What?

Maya smiles as she works. I feel a tugging as she sews up my wound. Double ick! He's only worked for me for two weeks, but this is the first time that I ever saw him fumble an instrument. Face it, Terra, you ‘blew him away.’

Really? I ask, Clark Kent liked me?

Maya frowns and stops sewing. Clark Kent? I'm sorry Ter; I didn't know you were taken. I would never have told Lon... When did you start seeing this Clark?

Maya, you're falling behind here, I said. Clark is Lon.

You mean you already know Lon? Did he lie about his name?

I sigh. No, Maya. It's the sarcasm thing again. I called him that because he looks like Clark Kent, you know, Superman in the comic books?

Oh, she says, and finishes her sewing. She snips the thread and washes the wound again.

Hey, I ask, What did you mean when you said if I was taken you would never have told Lon.

Oh, she says as she tapes down a bandage over my chest. If you were part of a permanent couple, it would be improper for me to say anything about your physical needs to anyone except your mate.

Well then, from now on consider me part of a couple, I say with a sigh. Nikki hands me a scrub shirt and slacks. I would get into them in seconds except my left arm seems to be on vacation.

You should be fine once the shot wears off. Your pectoral muscle is damaged. Be careful with your left arm. It will be weak while the muscle heals. If I thought for a minute you would wear it, I would give you a sling. But I know you, Ter.

Now, Maya says, While Nikki helps you dress, I'll go and let Lon know that you and he are a couple so he can announce it to the coven. She leaves the room before I realize what she had said.

Oh, shit! No! I yell, Maya, get back in here! I try to run for the door, but Nikki stops me. She starts working the shirt over my head.

You've got to let me stop Maya! I beg. Nikki ignores me. She makes me get fully dressed before she would do anything. By the time I have the pants on and tied tight enough they won't fall off, the door opens. Maya and Lon come in.

Chapter 2

The look in Lon's eyes is predatory. Now I know what a mouse sees when a hawk grabs it! Without a word, he steps over to me and pulls me to him. His lips settle over mine as he pulls me into him. Whoa! Superman is right. Over six foot of solid muscle with arms of steel wraps around me. One hand holds the back of my head while the other pulls my body tight with his. His lips are warm and soft on mine, but the power in the kiss is unbelievable! I feel like I'd just licked a light socket. I swear my hair must be standing on end, because there is something amazing to this. I realize that my right arm is wrapped around his neck and is pulling him closer. Not that he could get any closer, but I want him to. My left arm still isn't moving, but if it could, I think it would be wrapping around him too.

I feel pain in my right hand. The palm feels like its being poked with a flaming stick. I yelp and pull away. I look at my palm to see what's happened. I have a burn in the shape of a pentagram. The burn shows in my palm, but as I watch it seems to heal and become a scar. It looks like an old burn, and it no longer hurts. The back of my hand looks like it has a tattoo of the same shape on it. Holy shit, I've been branded!

Lon stares at me with one of his shit eating grins. He holds up his hand and shows that the same sign is branded into his right palm.

This is an amazing commitment you’ve made, Terra, his soft voice says, I will try to make sure that you don't regret your decision. I know it is rare for a human to accept a lifebond, but I am assured we are destined to be together.

I just stare at my hand and at his. Okay, I know a little about witches from having one for a roommate, but I've never heard of a lifebond.

He kisses me again, and looks at Maya. I need to tell the coven's elders, he says, can the office do without me for the rest of the day?

Maya nods and asks, Will you be home by ten?

Barring any complications, I should. See you you then.He turned to me, gave one last smile, and left.

Home? I ask. As in our home?

Of course. You are the initiator of the couple. It's his duty to alter his life around yours.

As he leaves, I grab Maya's arm. Maya, what the hell just happened?

What do you mean?

"I