Isle of Magic: We Witches Three, #12

By Humphrey Quinn

First full moon and shift as a werewolf--what could go wrong?

Tonight is Lizzy Deane's first full moon and shift, which will finalize her transformation into a werewolf and allow her and Charlie Howard to finish their mating. Unfortunately, tonight is also the night that begins another epic battle over control of the Power Source. And even though the Source has been under the protection of the Howard Witches for generations, it's Riley Deane needed to save the day.

 

Only, no one knows why.

 

What they do know is that whatever is happening at the Source is drawing evil out of the shadows in droves and bringing them all to The Demon Isle. And when it looks like this will be the scariest and deadliest battle of them all, a shocking secret is revealed that will change the Demon Isle, and the entire future of magic, forever.

 

** We Witches Three is part of Demon Isle Witches, the YA/Teen Edition of the Series... 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rachel Daigle
• Release date: Jan 11, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393655244

Humphrey Quinn

Ruby Raine writes steamy supernatural witch mysteries... 

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

An intense weight blanketed The Demon Isle in an unforgiving gloom. Like a storm building and threatening to let loose a torrential force that might forever change the landscape. Or perhaps it was just the area surrounding White Pines and the Power Source, and the people currently guarding it.

Nerves were prickly and on high alert as the Source continued to be in some apparent form of labor—to what end, none of them had any clue. Not even Mathew after returning from conferring with his Elder Guardians.

Stress etched across his features over the fact that the Guardians were worried too. And this fact only ratcheted up everyone's nerves even more, because if Guardians and aged vampires, like William, had no idea what phenomena was happening, this situation did not bode well for any of them. They were walking in virgin territory and that was a frightening thing.

And to confound them even more, Charlie had seen a human hand inside the cocoon-like shell, and they'd seen it a few more times since then, too. But nothing else, just a hand, or sometimes two hands, pressed upwards.

They guessed just one person, not more. But other than a person, they had no clue what was inside the magical cocoon. A normal human? A magical person? Male? Female? Good? Evil? What was their purpose? And why now?

Riley Deane hadn't more than gotten settled in after returning to the Isle from Sorcier, and spent a few hours getting caught up with his brother, Lucas, before his magical gift—feeling—had gotten downright demanding of his presence at the Source that very same day.

He was inside with it now, pacing, sensing this unseen inner clock counting down. But like everyone else, he had no idea to what end, either. Only that he had to be here.

He hoped that like in Sorcier, his gift was going to kick in and show him what his purpose was when the time came. Because him needing to be here made no sense. There were many others far more gifted than him. And far more involved with the Power Source. It was Howard territory really. Always had been. Protecting this thing had been their duty. And heck, his own ancestors had tried to take control of it and started a war.

So why him? Why a Deane?

The irony wasn't lost on any of them, however, none of them were going to argue with magical gifts, and Riley's needed him here. So he was. And the Howards accepted it without question. It was a testament of just how far they'd come really.

But to top off the crazy pile, tonight was the full moon. Which meant Lizzy Deane's first shift and becoming a werewolf—and to say Charlie was a nervous wreck only gave new meaning to the words.

Even the typically cool-minded Lizzy was showing signs of strain. Her own nerves starting to get the best of her, which only got Charlie worked up even more. And there wasn't any hiding it from each other as their new mating bond was getting stronger with each passing day. Partial mating bond, in reality. As Lizzy hadn't yet bitten and claimed Charlie, which she could not do until after she'd shifted at least once and accepted the wolf as part of who she was.

But what it all came down to on this particular evening, was that Charlie was piling his own freaking out on top of Lizzy's, and if he ground his jaw any harder he was going to crack his dang teeth or break his jaw.

The timing of her first shift was tough, but not impossible to deal with—more like, couldn't be impossible because Lizzy's shift was going to happen whether they wanted it to, or not. But it meant Lizzy and Charlie locked up in the safety of the basement cell in the Howard Mansion, and not helping keep watch at the Source.

Not being with his family to protect the Source went against everything in Charlie's very being. It was his duty, his heritage—his job—to protect the Source and The Demon Isle.

But Lizzy was his mate, the love of his life, and the future mother of his children—and therefore, the future of the witch bloodline and future protectors. And he needed to protect and guide her through her first shift, and make sure she didn't hurt anyone during her first time.

And then there was the last part of the mating—where she had to bite him to complete their mating bond. This part, he was looking forward to immensely. And so was Lizzy by the frisky growl she pushed into his mind every time his thoughts wandered to the idea. If she had her way, they'd get a head start on that and practice now.

But too fast reality would slide on home and remind them they were not just two werewolves dealing with a full moon, but also had a duty as witches to fulfill as well. Mostly, that came from everyone else around them in the form of rolling eyes, clearing throats, and annoyed, go-get-a-room smirks.

Somehow, Charlie's parents, and theirs before them, and so on and so on, had managed to fit in both the job and life, and so would he. But this thing with the Source was possibly the biggest moment ever in recent history, maybe even since the war against the Deanes so many years before. It simply felt wrong not to be here and be part of it.

And also, as much as none of them had any clue what was popping out of that cocoon, other than a person of some kind, they all fully expected another attack—whether it be the Feyk, or something else. Because the release of magical energy was inevitably going to draw curious evil closer. Evil that would want to steal whatever was born even if it was meant to serve the side of good.

Or at the least, it might make the Power Source vulnerable and evil was always seeking out an opportunity to seize control, or tap into the power. And the extra magical energy being released because of this birthing event was sure to alert anyone paying attention.

Because one thing was certain: whatever was born would be the most valuable thing in the magical world, possibly ever. Evil would want to make it theirs. So, it was the Howard's job to make sure that did not happen, at any cost.

Well, not any cost. Because Charlie would never put anyone's life at risk during a werewolf shift, especially the first one. Which would be the hardest one because of all the unanswered questions that remained. After tonight, they'd find out if Lizzy would have access to her human mind while shifted. From what they'd read in the notebooks of research provided by his parents, as long as Charlie could connect with her, as her Alpha, she should remain in control of her mind and actions.

But the topic of whether Charlie would have to force his Alpha status to control her wolf, was a hard one. It was an idea he was struggling with because he hated the thought of stripping away any of Lizzy's freedom or independence. She'd suffered enough of that in her long life already.

And even with all the notebooks of research they'd read, they were not completely sure what to expect. And as life had proven over and over again, complications happened. Like the timing. It sucked, but they'd have to make it work.

Inside, with the Source, Riley clutched his chest and winced as footsteps approached. It was Charlie and Mathew coming to check in. Again.

He stopped his pacing as they came into view, the pressure against his chest, intense and blazing with a stark warning—I'm coming soon.

Whatever was inside that cocoon was being born. It wanted out. And its time was approaching, fast. And for whatever messed up reason, it wasn't the Howards, or the Guardians needed when that happened, but a Deane.

Him, to be quite specific. But why? Why? Why?

The question with no answer.

Yes, it was his feeling that had brought him here. To the Isle. And now, to the Source. And it was his feeling telling him he had to be here. But it wasn't his gift that was needed, but him. Which made even less sense. And he might be wrong. His gift might not be telling him why he was here yet. Or what was needed from him.

Or maybe it was going a few days without proper sleep or rest and too much coffee and his mind was playing tricks on him.

Riley had been caught off guard when he'd gone into the manor after arriving back on the island to find visitors there—Emily Morgan and her aunt, Lucy Arnaud. He was still reeling from his run in and break up with Melinda when he'd come across them. However, when he'd seen Mathew not long after...well, that just threw him for a few crazy loops and made him question his own sanity. Because why was his brother's ex here on the Isle? And seemingly aware of the magical world?

Riley had even wondered if maybe he'd left Sorcier only to return to some alternate or wrong version of The Demon Isle that existed in some other plane of existence, or universe, or something crazy like that. But reality got straightened out pretty quick.

Turns out Mathew had been hiding the biggest of secrets: he was a freaking Guardian.

Riley was still having a hard time seeing it as he glanced at Mathew. He was so—wonderfully normal. He had a beautiful energy to him that brightened a room just with his presence. He was a bit shy. A bit awkward. Clumsy and adorably cute—according to Lucas on more than one occasion. But also super smart and quick witted too.

And now, as it turned out, he was once a witch that had lived alongside Lizzy Deane before she'd been ghasted. And become a Guardian after his early death.

Small world. Circle of life. Whatever it all was or meant, the thing that mattered most is that Riley was beyond glad that Mathew and Lucas had mended their rift. Because Lucas had been miserably broody about the whole crappy breakup—even though he outright refused to talk about it,