Do You Believe In Magic: a Land of Enchantment Short Story: The Land of Enchantment, #2

By Kathlena L. Contreras

An unexpected new career. A hunky new boyfriend. Two flirtatious neighbors. A block party that spins out of control. How much more complicated can things get?

For Amethyst Rey, a lot more complicated. She's just discovered she's a wizard, and her boyfriend is her familiar. And if the gorgeous babe next door doesn't quit hitting on him, she's going to have to take drastic action. Just as soon she figures out how to fix the spell she put on her pit bull before the whole neighborhood-- not to mention her best friend-- finds out she's not the ordinary stained glass artist she seems to be.

 

Haven't read the rest of The Land of Enchantment series? No problem! Each Land of Enchantment book is a stand-alone story with a continuing cast of characters. Dive in anywhere you want! But if you'd like to read them in order, they are:

1. Familiar Magic
2. Do You Believe in Magic (short story)
3. Crooked Magic
4. This Magic Moment (short story)
5. Could It Be Magic - a Land of Enchantment romance
6. Fated Magic - a Land of Enchantment novel

• Language: English
• Publisher: Flying Tiger Press
• Release date: Nov 26, 2016
• ISBN: 9781540146700

Kathlena L. Contreras

I have a thing for dark lords, dark heroes and antiheroes. I tend to root for villains, because they're usually a lot more interesting than heroes. But they have to be complex, nuanced villains who have good reasons for their villainy. I love variations on the Beauty and the Beast story, awkward courtships and slow-burn romances.  If want to take a look at my other fiction (usually featuring dark wizards), you can find me at FlyingTigerPress.com. I have a Tumbr account I don't know how to use at kathyswizards and one on Facebook I do at Kathlena L. Contreras. Come say hi! Visit flyingtigerpress.com Flying Tiger Press on Pinterest Kathlena L. Contreras on Facebook

Book preview

Do You Believe In Magic

The hardest thing about being a wizard was telling your best friend. Amethyst Rey still hadn’t managed it. Sooner or later, she’d have to figure out a way to splice the unbelievable and the ordinary parts of her life together. Just not right now.

Melodie Jarret, the best friend in question, took a bite of her huevos rancheros and chewed thoughtfully. Speaking of Talys...

It seemed like the clear Albuquerque sunlight should hang quivering, that everyone dining on the patio should pause, forks and glasses halfway to their mouths, breathlessly awaiting the rest.

Of course, people just kept eating and talking, their dogs lying under the mesh patio tables waiting for whatever tidbits might come their way.

Amethyst sighed and slipped Caramela, her pit bull, a chunk of home-fried potato from her plate. Go on.

Don’t take this wrong, Melodie said. But aren’t you moving a little fast? I mean, how long have you known the guy?

A sparrow dropped from the shade lathe onto the abandoned plates on a nearby table, clearly familiar with making feasts of toast crusts and bits of potato. Caramela looked up, her wide, pink mouth open in a pit bull grin.

Whose side are you on, anyway? Amethyst wanted to ask her.

Amethyst mentally scanned her notes for the story she’d prepared when the subject came up—as she’d known it inevitably would. She’d been having to make up enough stories over the last few months, since magic became part of her life. It should be getting easier. It wasn’t.

I’ve known him a while. I met him while all that stalker stuff was going on.

Perfectly true. Except the stalker had been Talys. And what he’d been doing wasn’t stalking. Well, not exactly. But try explaining that to anybody.

Melodie reached across the table, suddenly serious. You went through a lot, Wiz. Melodie’s nickname for her since their UNM days. Short for ‘whiz kid’ then, but Melodie had no idea how appropriate it was now. But... She hesitated. Do you really think it’s a good idea to have him move in with you?

She shrugged. We get along. Mostly. And he’s been there for me when I needed it.

Melodie’s brows climbed. She could see Melodie processing that. That was the bad thing about having a computer geek for a best friend: you couldn’t sneak any flaws in logic past her. Like, Funny how you never mentioned him, then.

He was just a friend for a long time, Amethyst said quickly. Things only got serious recently.

Don’t get me wrong, Melodie said. He’s seems like a nice guy. And damn, Wiz. She