What A Witch Needs: Magic and Mayhem Universe: What A Witch, #2

By Monette Michaels

A witch on the run…

All Gloriana Anora St.John wants is to serve the annulment decree on her never-really-a-husband. She didn't expect to barge in on a blood sacrifice. After rescuing a young girl, Gloriana and her familiar are cornered by the coven of dark warlocks. It's no wonder her hasty transport spell—and why hadn't she practiced the damn spells when she was supposed to?—lands her in the middle of nowhere West Virginia.

A lonely bear Shifter with issues…

Former Marine and bear Shifter Liam Hardisty is minding his own business, popping a thieving honey badger and fishing for his breakfast. Before he can even snag a fish, a turquoise-colored transport cloud dumps a witch and her familiar practically at his paws. One sniff and Liam knows he's found his mate. Her name is Glory.

Gloriana just rid herself of one male. Plus, she has a dark warlock in hot pursuit. She has more than enough man trouble—she doesn't need a mate, even one a delicious-smelling hunk like Liam.

Liam knows he's working on a short clock and has a lot to do before he can give Glory his mating bite—he needs to gain Glory's trust, prove he's what she needs in her life, and then protect her from the evil asshat warlock.

What a witch needs isn't always what she thinks she needs—sometimes, it's better.

 

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Monette Michaels
• Release date: Oct 22, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386069416

Monette Michaels

A Hoosier born and raised, Monette still lives in the heartland near Indianapolis, Indiana. Married to her college sweetheart and soul mate, she has one son. After many years of practicing law, Monette found that all the clients, opposing counsel, and the problems she handled ignited the need to write fiction. So she started writing – first, romantic suspense/thrillers, then adding a touch of paranormal and scifi and, eventually, a sexier side (as Rae Morgan). Monette (and Rae) loves to hear from her fans. E-mail her at [e-mail]. Visit her web site: http://monettemichaels.com Follow her at: FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/authormonettemichaels Twitter:  https://twitter.com/MonetteMichaels Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/monettemichaels/

Book preview

A witch on the run...

All Gloriana Anora St.John wants is to serve the annulment decree on her never-really-a-husband. She didn’t expect to barge in on a blood sacrifice. After rescuing a young girl, Gloriana and her familiar are cornered by the coven of dark warlocks. It’s no wonder her hasty transport spell—and why hadn’t she practiced the damn spells when she was supposed to?—lands her in the middle of nowhere West Virginia.

A lonely bear Shifter with issues...

Former Marine and bear Shifter Liam Hardisty is minding his own business, popping a thieving honey badger and fishing for his breakfast. Before he can even snag a fish, a turquoise-colored transport cloud dumps a witch and her familiar practically at his paws. One sniff and Liam knows he’s found his mate. Her name is Glory.

Gloriana just rid herself of one male. Plus, she has a dark warlock in hot pursuit. She has more than enough man trouble—she doesn’t need a mate, even one a delicious-smelling hunk like Liam.

Liam knows he’s working on a short clock and has a lot to do before he can give Glory his mating bite—he needs to gain Glory’s trust, prove he’s what she needs in her life, and then protect her from the evil asshat warlock.

What a witch needs isn’t always what she thinks she needs—sometimes, it’s better.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Robyn Peterman for making it such a blast to write in her Magic and Mayhem Universe. She is a Goddess, and I am honored that she is my friend.

As always, thanks to my critique buddy Cherise Sinclair for pushing me to be the best writer I can be. Her need for feels always makes my books better.

Thanks Kay Layton Sisk for beta-reading and Ezra Solomon for an early copy edit.

And last, but definitely not least, thanks to April Martinez for another wonderful cover. You brought Liam, Glory, and Priss (the cat) to life.

Foreword

Blast Off with us into the Magic and Mayhem Universe!

I’m Robyn Peterman, the creator of the Magic and Mayhem Series and I’d like to invite you to my Magic and Mayhem Universe.

What is the Magic and Mayhem Universe, you may ask?

Well, let me explain...

It’s basically authorized fan fiction written by some amazing authors that I stalked and blackmailed! KIDDING! I was lucky and blessed to have some brilliant authors say yes! They have written brand new stories using my world and some of my characters. And let me tell you...the results are hilarious!

So here it is! Blast off with us into the hilarious Magic and Mayhem Universe. Side splitting books by fantabulous authors! Check out each and every one. You will laugh your way to a magical HEA!

For all the stories, go to https://magicandmayhemuniverse.com/. Grab your copy today!

Prologue

St. John Estate, Arse-on-Wharfe, England

Gloriana Anora St. John, why aren’t you ready yet?

Turning away from the full-length mirror in her bedroom, Gloriana looked at her mother, Mildred St. John.

As always, Mildred had dressed perfectly for her role as the mother of the bride—ivory Chanel suit, malted-milk-ball-size pearls at her ears and throat, and low-heeled pumps died to match her suit.

But I am ready, Mildred.

But she wasn’t, not really.

Gloriana’s stomach churned and her mouth was bone dry. She couldn’t quite catch a full breath and, as a result, was light-headed. Her gut shouted to run. Her sister Amethyst had urged that very thing every day since the Honorable Percival Smythe, a warlock from a powerful and wealthy family, had proposed to her several months ago.

But here she was, dressed like a fairy tale princess in pearl-and-diamond-covered silk, getting ready to wed.

In less than thirty minutes, she’d marry a man she didn’t love—didn’t even really know.

Look at you, you useless girl. Mildred swept her with a scornful glance. Your hair is a rat’s nest. Her mother pulled off the tiara holding the veil on Gloriana’s head and then pulled out the pearl and diamond pins that secured her hair in a French twist. Percy likes your hair down.

He did? Gloriana couldn’t recall Percy ever making a comment on her hair, on her looks, at all. Mostly he talked about himself and his expensive lifestyle.

Where’s your brush?

Though used to her mother’s criticism, it still pained Gloriana when she did so.

Could living with Percy be any worse than living with Mildred? At least, Gloriana would have her own household to manage and eventually the family she’d always wanted. Amethyst might’ve urged her to run, but Gloriana wasn’t as brave, magically talented, or smart as her sister who had an actual career that allowed her to travel the world and escape Mildred’s constant harping.

Goddess knows— Mildred ruthlessly pulled the brush through Gloriana’s long, curly hair, uncaring the pain she caused. You are lucky Percival and his family agreed to the marriage.

Well, that proved Amethyst had been correct when she’d alluded one time that the marriage had all been Mildred’s idea. Percy probably had been as brow-beaten as Gloriana into accepting what would turn out to be a union of two powerful magical families. Maybe love would come after the marriage?

Mildred nattered on, "...all you have going for you is your beauty. Goddess knows, your magic is an absolute disgrace. Whoever heard of a healer witch who could only heal plants and animal spirits? You can barely heal your own scratches. Mildred tossed the brush on the dressing table and picked up the tiara and veil and arranged them on Gloriana’s hair. You will give Percy beautiful babies. Maybe my grandbabies will have more powerful magic."

Yes, Mildred. What other answer was there? Mildred only heard what she wanted to hear, and had always been that way, even before Gloriana’s beloved father had died.

Mildred turned her toward the full-length mirror. There, isn’t that better? Let’s go. No more dilly-dallying.

Silently, Gloriana turned as her mother pulled her toward the door for the walk to the St. John chapel and her marriage to a virtual stranger.

Goddess forgive her, she hated Mildred with every fiber of her being. Marriage to Percy had to be better than living under the vicious thumb of a woman who’d never loved her, nor been a true mother, right?

Chapter 1

Three months later

Boar’s Head Tavern, Wetherby, England

Her marriage had been a disaster.

Gloriana sat on the single bed in one of the rooms-to-let over a small tavern in the market town of Wetherby, several miles from Arse-on Wharfe. No one would ever think of looking for her here, or at least, she hoped so. She needed to remain close to the court where she filed the annulment proceedings to end her travesty of a marriage.

Grounds? Non-consummation.

Percy, it’d turned out, was gay. He also liked young boys. And to top it all off, he was a member of a cult-like coven that practiced dark magic.

Having fled in the dark of night with the clothes on her back and one small suitcase, she’d laid low and managed not to be recaptured by either Percy or Mildred for a whole week. She’d worried each day they’d find her and take her back.

She’d die first.

"No need to die, chica."

What? Gloriana turned. The speaker standing in the now open—she could’ve sworn she double-locked it—doorway of her room was dressed like an 80s diva—big blonde hair, dark lips, lots of jewelry, and a white silk jumpsuit and matching lace-up ankle boots that would’ve looked right at home in a disco. Baba Yaga? What are you doing here?

Making your day. The most powerful witch in the world winked. Oh, and delivering your new familiar, Miss Priss.

Hey there, doll.

Gloriana looked down at a fluffy black cat with glittering green-gold eyes. A familiar? She couldn’t take on the responsibility of a familiar. Mildred had killed her last one when Gloriana was five years old. Mildred had then threatened to kill any cat either she or Amethyst might adopt. Their mother hated cats, mostly she hated her daughters to have anything that made them happy.

I can’t. Gloriana swallowed past the remembered horror and grief at finding her beloved Buttons’ body in the fish pond on their estate. It’s too dangerous for her to be around me.

Miss Priss muttered, I’ll take the risk, at the same time Baba Yaga said, Horse feathers. You forgot the making-your-day part of my visit. The cat is a bonus.

What do you mean? Was the witch going to help her?

Well, of course, I’ll help you. After all, I helped Amethyst find her mate in Assjacket, West Virginia, U.S.A. He’s a bobcat Shifter, and they are Goddess-blessed mates.

Gloriana smiled, a warm glow suffused her body at the news her sister had found happiness. Then she frowned. So, Mildred didn’t catch up to Amethyst?

Oh, Milly-vanilli did, but I slapped her dark magic practicing ass in witch prison. She’ll be there for the rest of her long life. So, you’re now the sole owner of the St. John estate. Amethyst doesn’t want anything to do with it now that I moved the Magical Artifacts Library to Assjacket. 

But I can’t go back home, Baba Yaga. Even with Mildred out of the picture, Percy will drag me back to the Smythe estate. His parents don’t know he’s gay. He needs me to hide his proclivities.

And that brings me to the final part of making your day. Baba Yaga waved her hand, green sparkles followed her motion, and in a flash of blinding green light a piece of paper appeared. Baba Yaga plucked it out of mid-air and handed it to Gloriana. Your annulment decree. I pulled some judicial strings.

But ... but how? Doesn’t there have to be a hearing? Percy was served. He’ll oppose it ... I don’t know... Her words trailed off, not sure what to believe.

What’s to know, doll? You just shed a husband, and you won’t even have to change the monograms on the linens. Miss Priss jumped on the bed and rubbed her warm body against Gloriana’s arm, nudging until Gloriana pulled the cat onto her lap and began to pet her. The motion was calming and Gloriana’s tension eased a bit.

See? You two were made for each other. Nothing like a cat for soothing frazzled nerves. Baba Yaga smiled. "As for the legalities? The judge was very receptive to your medical proof. And Percy’s counsel filed an agreement to the annulment, making it uncontested. So, no need for a