The Witch Singer: Magic and Mayhem Universe: The Witch Singer, #1

By Heather Long

Curses. Vampires. Skunks. The life of a Witch Singer shouldn't be this complicated.

 

After years spent paying off an old debt by working for the vampires, Bridget the Witch Singer receives the opportunity of the lifetime. Solve one vampire's oops—he turned the wrong person—and she's a free witch. Desperate to win her freedom, she heads to Assjacket to find the solution to the vampire's problem and everything goes wrong along the way, including a flat tire, getting sprayed by a skunk and the road trip from hell. 

 

Unfortunately, Martin is no ordinary skunk and his spray is a nervous tick. She does her best to save the beast when her scream accidentally wounds him and springs him from his curse. Good news for Martin, not so good for Bridget who can't get rid of him. Once in Assjacket, she's tasked by the BabaYoMama to unite at least two couples and sing at their weddings in order to gain the cure she needs for her freedom. 

No problem, right?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Heather Long
• Release date: Aug 27, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386009207

Heather Long

National bestselling author, Heather Long, likes long walks in the park, science fiction, superheroes, Marines, and men who aren’t douche bags. Her books are filled with heroes and heroines tangled in romance as hot as Texas summertime. From paranormal historical westerns to contemporary military romance, Heather might switch genres, but one thing is true in all of her stories—her characters drive the books. When she’s not wrangling her menagerie of animals, she devotes her time to family and friends she considers family. She believes if you like your heroes so real you could lick the grit off their chest, and your heroines so likable, you’re sure you’ve been friends with women just like them, you’ll enjoy her worlds as much as she does.

Book preview

Chapter One

You know how, when you’re young, you dream of how your life will go? Sometimes, the crap you watch on TV influences you. You always think they have it better—I mean, who wouldn’t want to be an invulnerable superhero who makes it at the last minute and saves the day? If you were a superhero, did it really matter if you were vulnerable to a bit of meteor rock? The last time I was afraid of a rock collection was, like, never. Too bad I hadn’t been born on another planet then jettisoned to Earth when my planet was destroyed. No matter how ridiculous, I had dreams. Big dreams. I always thought I would be a star. If not of the stage or screen, then at least at every backwater pub, club, and high school dance where someone let me hold a microphone. Hecate knows, I’m a damn karaoke expert.

But nope. No, I have a problem. A wicked temper, salted by way too much sarcasm. I got up on a stage and strutted my stuff. Okay, I was drunk, and it was a dare, but how was I supposed to know that half the audience in that club that night was there as hors d’oeuvres for the local vampire enclave? Did they have a sign out front? No. No, they did not. So there I was, doing my best Sandra Dee impression and rocking out to Summer Lovin’ with this really good looking guy when some jackass in the audience boos us.

Booed.

Okay, he got up, turned around and farted in tune to the song. Not just offensive, but really profane. It really threw me off my game, so much so that when we got to the part about the true love vow, I said cow. My gift, it’s got some serious kick, and all the mortals in the place—including Mr. Farts-A-Long—were moo-ved along.

Yep, I said moo-ved, ‘cause I crack myself up.

Anyway, long story short, the vampires in the bar were pissed. Beyond pissed. Like metric-nuclear-to-the-max-you-wouldn’t-like-me-when-I’m-angry furious. Fortunately, or maybe not so fortunately, they saw me as asset to be co-opted rather than feasted upon. Of course, it could also have something to do with the fact that the potent herbal teas I drink to protect my very valuable throat also makes my blood taste like ass. Or so I’ve heard.

For the last few years, I’ve been the local enclave’s version of a jukebox. They want jazz? Well, I’m their girl. They want blues? Yep, there I am. Bubblegum rock? Just crank Bridget up and press play.

It’s so effing boring. I got hauled across town in the dead of night, while in my pajamas, my hair is standing straight up—not to mention I lost one of my favorite slippers when Goon One and Goon Two hustled me into the car. If only I didn’t have to wear the stupid choker. If my voice went even a fraction of a decibel above normal conversation, it zapped me.

I tested it once. My hair didn’t comb straight for a week. Not even with product and a flat iron. Again, I digress, the point being… if I could have shattered the vampires’ eardrums, I would have but nope. I ended up standing in the too-plush living room of one Alistair Hethrington Nasty-Face.

Yes, I know. It wasn’t his real name. Good morning, Mr. Nasty-Face, what can I do for you today? Keeping them on their toes required a lot more coffee than they’d provided. Please tell me you want me to take off the collar so I can sing you a lullaby to permanent sleep?

Sit down. Shut up. Listen. Awww, he was in a foul mood.

Did Mr. Nasty-Face not get a good day’s sleep? Flopping onto the sofa, I folded my arms and put my feet on his really nice table. Since I was missing a slipper, I’d likely leave a mark on the wood.

Bridget… He growled my name. It was pretty sexy, if one discounted his rather disgusting penchant for feeding on blood, his need for dominance, and the overwhelming arrogance in his silk black power suit. We have an issue.

Didn’t do it. Holding my hand up, palm forward in a show of surrender, I did my best to keep my expression empty of doubt or at least not sneering. I’ve been home all night. Bridezillas marathon.  Awesome cat fights, too. The whole brides turning into monsters the closer their wedding day came served as a fervent reminder what a crapfest love could be.

Mr. Nasty-Face sighed then pinched the bridge of his nose. I’m shocked no one has ripped your throat out yet…or at least your tongue.

Pity I need both to do your dirty work, isn’t it? Mom used to accuse me of being too confident. On the one hand, I suppose I see her point. I mean why else would I have let the word ‘cow’ slip into my lyrics? I knew what would happen. Then again, the vampires didn’t kill me and, while working for them sucked, it certainly beat the alternative.

Most of the time.

With a baleful look, he stared at me. He might as well have had shut up stamped on his forehead or maybe he wanted to stamp it on mine. Either way, I mimed zipping my lips closed then waited.

I wasn’t going to give him long, a fact he seemed to grasp. I have a job for you, a difficult task to which I believe you are uniquely qualified.

Peachy. I flashed him a view of my pearly whites. Then stopped. I hadn’t actually had a chance to brush my teeth before they dragged me to his house. What’s the job?

Always straight to the point with you. The vampire sighed then cut his hand through the air. Fine. I don’t care. Here’s the task. Montague turned a succubus.

The fuck you say. Thank Hecate I didn’t have coffee in hand. I might have choked on it. You can’t turn other species.

Not typically, no. Mr. Nasty-Face strode across the room, retrieved a file then carried it to me and dropped it on the coffee table. The folder opened to a photograph of a very messy bedroom. Blood stained the sheets, the walls, and something dark and sticky seemed splashed liberally over the carpet. At no point in my existence did I possess a desire to be a crime scene tech or in any way attached to a crime scene.

Gross. I flipped the folder closed. Clearing my throat, I gave myself a minute so I didn’t hurl. How does a nasty photograph tell you a vampire turned a succubus?

Hands curling into fists, Nasty-Face stalked away to the bar and poured himself a drink. The agitation within him made for short, jerky motions. He slammed the crystal decanter down with enough force, I thought it might shatter. The amber liquid sloshed out of the glass onto the cherry