Enchanted Souls (A Saint's Grove Novel)

By Tia Silverthorne Bach

A rare occurrence brings the planets into alignment, causing the seals that separate the universes to break. Lost souls search for home while two hearts that were shattered try to find their missing pieces.
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When Alyxandria Duvall meets Micah, sparks fly, and their hearts burst into flames. They welcome their daughter not long after; then Micah goes missing under mysterious circumstances, leaving a path of heartache, death, and destruction in his wake. Still, Fate has more in store for them.
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Galactic anomalies are propelling their lives toward their destinies. Light years separate them, but their souls gravitate toward one another. Can love overpower the universe’s boundaries?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tia Silverthorne Bach
• Release date: Oct 21, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370385263

Tia Silverthorne Bach

Tia Silverthorne Bach has been married to her college sweetheart for twenty years, has three beautiful girls, and adores living in the breathtaking state of Colorado. Her daughters were born in Chicago, San Diego, and Baltimore; and she feels fortunate to have called many places home. She believes in fairy tales and happy endings and is an avid reader and rabid grammar hound. She is an award-winning, multi-genre author and an Editor for Indie Books Gone Wild. From an early age, she escaped into books and believes they can be the source of healing and strength. If she’s not writing, you can find her on the tennis court, at the movies, reading a good book, or spooning Jif peanut butter right out of the jar.

Book preview

Freeze!

Although it was instinct to throw the word out, it rarely did any good. I could always hope.

A spiky tale whipped around the desk I crouched behind. I kicked it with every ounce of force I could muster and took a shot—even though I knew my pistol might not be the best weapon against whatever creature had commandeered the station. Saint’s Grove seemed to be a beacon for the paranormal, and most of the citizens turned a blind eye, putting a lot of hope in their town’s finest.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I envisioned the room and slowed my breathing. I’d been in that room nearly every day for most of my life, and the layout was seared into my brain. My gut told me to go to the left around the desk, as if a director just off the scene plotted my movements. I stood, and the creature whirled toward me, its tail clipping a chair that ripped across the floor, hitting the opposite wall with a deafening thud.

Sheriff, it hissed through fanged teeth. Ah, I face the mighty Alyx.

Why do these creatures love to talk? I raised my arm and put a bullet between the thing’s eyes. Its head jerked backward but then slowly rose, the hole in its forehead closing as the bullet was pushed back out, falling to the ground.

Bullets might not have stopped the tailed-beast, but they slowed it down. As soon as I pulled the trigger again, aiming for its mouth—if nothing else it would shut the beast up for a bit—I moved toward my office where the special lockbox with non-standard police tools waited. Since the academy never covered what to do when a bullet between the eyes only caused a delay in the attack, I mentally thanked Dad for all his wisdom as I raced to the box, brushed my fingertip over the pad on the side, and waited for the lid to pop open as I tried to calm my pulse.

Officer Dylan, my longtime friend and partner, rushed into the room.

Toss me something! he yelled as glass shattered and a tail swung through the space.

I chucked a sword at him, hilt first, and he caught it and swung, narrowly missing.

Nice try, you piece of shit. The creature sent Dylan flying across the room with one flip of the spiked appendage.

Springing into action, I grabbed my bow and arrows, pumping three into the creature’s chest before it could react. I had to get to the sword, so I ran to Dylan, who seemed to have a sense for what I needed—like he always did—and kicked the weapon to me.

Watch out! he screamed.

But I already knew how close the creature was; in fact, I counted on it. I threw the bow to the floor, bent to pick up the sword, and pivoted on the ball of my back foot to face the beast. Its clawed feet scraped the ground with each movement toward me.

How cute. She has a sword, it said.

An image of my daughter filtered into my brain, and that meant one thing: she was nearby. Just then, I felt my phone vibrate in my back pocket. I knew she’d be there any moment. We had an intense connection, much more than the typical mother-daughter bond.

Whatever the son-of-a-bitch creature in front of me was, it had to die before my daughter arrived. I could feel Dylan’s fear, in sharp contrast to the creature’s anticipation, flooding my senses as I let the vile thing get close enough to bend over me.

Where’s that pretty daughter of yours? Drool slid out of its mouth as it spoke.

I let my hand slip down to my thigh and then eased it toward my back pocket. Don’t talk about my daughter, I said through gritted teeth.

What are you gonna—

With a swift movement, I yanked the dagger from my back pocket and flung it into one of the nasty thing’s eyes. As it snarled and threw its hand over the wound, I stood and tossed the sword from my left to my right hand for better accuracy. One fluid movement later, the beast’s head fell to the ground with a thump.

Dylan was by my side in seconds. Are you all right?

Before I could answer, I saw the blood spreading on his uniform top. I reached over, laid a hand over the area, and looked up to meet his eyes. The better question is… are you?

He nodded. "Just a flesh wound. Damned tail. It just had to have spikes."

His humor was one of his best qualities. I couldn’t help but grin. Right? If you’re sure you’re okay, could you please run to the front door and head off Val? Don’t let her see this, I said. I’ll call Bobby to help me clean up. Can you tell her I was detained and take her for some ice cream or something?

I couldn’t let her see the gore. She’d witnessed too much in her life as it was.

My dad’s with her, I’m sure, so he’ll know what you’re doing and go along with it.

Dylan hesitated, taking my hand in his. I’m sure your dad can handle this if you want me to stay, but you know Val won’t buy it.

But she’ll go. We both understood my daughter and her abilities—at least what she’d figured out up to that point. I knew, deep down, we hadn’t realized their scope. I’ve got this. I broke eye contact after the first word and moved toward my evidence collection kit to begin the process of cataloging—although never officially with anything non-human—the creature. I made the call to Bobby because I knew he’d help me with details both as the official county coroner and as another lifelong friend.

Although I didn’t hear Dylan leave, I knew he would. He’d been in my life as long as Micah, being his best friend throughout high school. Dylan wanted to be more than I could ever allow another man to be. Nobody would ever be Micah, and I couldn’t break anyone’s heart like mine had been broken.

Damn, it’s not the time for thoughts of him. It had been ten years. One of the few cold cases I hadn’t solved. His and my mother’s. One missing, one dead. No! I slammed my fist on the desk. I had to focus.

Ooh. This one made you mad, Bobby said as he entered the room.

Startled, I threw my hand to my chest. Dammit, Bobby, don’t sneak up on me.

Sorry. I didn’t even think it was possible. He chuckled.

Truth be told… I didn’t either. Thoughts of Micah had clouded my abilities, and I couldn’t afford to be off guard. Something was building. Not to steal from Star Wars, but there was a disturbance in the force. I’d been feeling it for days.

So, what do we have here? Bobby asked as he slipped on his medical gloves and bent to get a closer look.

Not sure. Haven’t seen one like this before. Is it me, or are the creatures getting creepier and more frequent? I asked, pacing the room as I spoke. I’d taken out a vampire and two were-things the week before, one a panther and another a cheetah. Usually, I only saw a few paranormal cases a year.

Halloween’s only about a week away, so maybe the freaks are coming out early.

Then we’re going to be busier than normal, I said.

It was my sworn duty to protect the citizens of Saint’s Grove, and in doing so, I had to keep the freakish creatures of people’s nightmares out of the local paper or, God forbid, even bigger news outlets.

Bobby went about his procedures taking blood, skin, and tissue samples. He’d send them off to a buddy in the FBI who knew how to keep things quiet. They kept their findings to a very small group—most of whom grew up in Saint’s Grove and were like family. Once, that had included Micah.

I had to shake off thoughts of him again. When will it stop being a daily occurrence?

*****

Staring at the horizon, I tried to prepare myself for another long day of political maneuvering, wondering if the unrest would ever end. It wouldn’t if my father had anything to say about it. A peaceful nation might threaten his power, something he would never allow. His machinations ensured some sect of his world was in a constant struggle, one that would require his assistance or a pact of some kind.

Everything about my birthplace felt foreign. Earth was my true home, where my wife and daughter still resided. And my adoptive parents, who’d been much more of a real family to me than anyone in Zion. Except for Aunt Desa.

Where are your thoughts? she asked, as if my thinking of her drew her to my room. One glance from me in her direction, and she had her answer. With your family. I understand.

She came over and put her hand on mine. You shall be reunited soon. I believe that. You must, too. It’s only a few days now.

Worried someone might overhear our conversation, I took her hand and led her farther into my lavish room. Red velvet draped each chair, a dark cherry wood lined the floors, and intricate fabrics covered the walls. Of course, in my mind, I still described everything in Earth-like ways.

I dropped my aunt’s hand and walked over to close the tall wood doors. No one must know.

Of course. I swear on my sister’s soul.

Before I was sent to Earth, a necessity to protect the future ruler of Zion, my sister and mother had been killed in a coup. I saw it all through flashbacks my aunt shared with me upon my return. She’d laid her hand on mine and asked me to close my eyes, transferring to my memories everything from that day. Although I was only two when it happened, afterward, the memory lived in vivid detail in my mind thanks to her shared images.

This has to work. It’s my only chance, I said.

It is. I won’t lie to you, as I have never lied to you. You have one shot. Your father burned up a lot of my family’s magic—and other clans’ magic—when he took you to Earth, and then even more when he returned to retrieve you. This tear in the universe… it’s a divine gift.

But in order to take the chance, I had to align with my father, pretend to be the doting son. It took all my willpower—aided by the dreams of my beautiful wife and child—to do so. Planning meetings took over hours of my days, plotting with my father and his trusted few to go back to Earth and take my daughter. Return her to her rightful place, according to a prophecy my father clung to.

Over my dead body.

My father tore me from the loves of my life and killed my mother-in-law in the process. Their features were as etched in my thoughts, and on my heart, as my father-in-law’s face when he saw me cradling his wife’s dead body. He didn’t know what happened. And I could only pray he’d believe me when I told him. If I ever got the chance.

I see you’re still deep in your thoughts, Aunt Desa said.

I wish you could know my wife and child. My only regret in leaving this place is losing you. Will you reconsider coming with me? With my eyes, I pleaded further with her, or at least I tried to.

She placed a hand on my cheek. My dear boy. I’ve loved you like a mother would love her child. When you leave, I’ll have a hole in my heart as big as you’ve had in yours all these years, and it will remain there until I take my last breath. I regret I won’t meet your Lexi and your sweet daughter.

Hearing my nickname for my wife—I was the only one who called her that—sent a jolt of sadness through my body, leaving an intense ache in my heart.

But this is my home, and I want to have a hand in bringing it back to its glory, she said.

Glory seemed a funny word. Humans would see Zion as Hell, something straight from their horror movies. A land where everyone had gifts and powers, where normal was Earth’s paranormal. Every creature they’d ever imagined, and many they hadn’t, roamed our land. And those from other nearby planes often visited us. Many gods also frequented our kingdom. Or, at least, gods as defined by humans.

I’ll miss you.

A loud crash boomed behind me, and I turned to see the door flung against the wall and my father standing there.

We’ll only be gone a few days at most, my son, he said.

My Lord. Aunt Desa bowed.

You are dismissed. Don’t you have duties to attend to?

That I do. She left with her head held high, a posture befitting a council member.

That woman has always bothered me. Your mother got the best genes in their family—and the most power, he said.

My mother and aunt came from the Ubria coven of witches, the most powerful in our land. My grandfather brokered a deal with them to join forces via the marriage of their most powerful woman and his son, to maintain power when our family’s longtime rule was challenged, years before I was born. Before that, my great-grandfather had taken power from the vampires and handed down the throne from there. Few denied our claim to supremacy because of our angel lineage.

So, everything seems to be ready. I have men who will be stationed at the memorial to your mother to make sure no other creatures get through. Father’s voice penetrated my wandering mind. Even with all our precautions, I don’t trust that no one else knows of our plans and the portal. There are just too many wildcards throughout our land.

As I often did around my father, I nodded. He didn’t want my counsel. I knew that from trying to sway his leadership style in the early years.

Your daughter will ensure we stay in power for years to come. A necessity for the safety of our world.

I squelched the impulse to roll my eyes. He repeated the mantra daily, as if he thought pure repetition would make everyone buy it.

Anything for Zion. I’d come up with the response to appear dutiful but also to avoid too much verbal interaction with him.

And I won’t forget my promise to you, especially as it was one of your most definitive requests as the future king. Alyxandria may come back and serve as your queen. I’m sure it will make things easier for Valkyrie. We wouldn’t want her influenced by the wrong people in some state of pre-teen rebellion. If she’s anything like her father…

I stood erect and unfaltering in my eye contact. All the while, behind my back, my fingernails pierced the palm of my hand thanks to my clenched fists. He’d only known me since the age of twenty-two when he’d ripped my heart from my body in forcing me back to Zion. When I first returned, I fought him. But as a result, I lost years of my life to a dungeon where my dreams of happiness tormented me and all hope faded.

Until I found out about the rift, about the universe’s gift to me, I was a wreck. I only had to bite my tongue a few more days.

An explosion tore my thoughts back to the present, and