Ghosts and Garlands: A Charmed and Dangerous Holiday Special

By Morgan Vale

We wish you a ghostly Christmas…

It's winter in Haven, and Kat has her hands full. A quiet evening with her best friend turns spooky when they encounter a ghost in her basement. Not just any ghost, though—the town's storied founder herself.

Now Kat, Pepper, and her snarky familiar Albus have a job to do. A grieving neighbor needs their help, and it wouldn't be a holiday without a little ghostly intervention, right?

And a witchy New Year!

 

Ghosts and Garlands is a short story set in the Charmed and Dangerous universe. It can be read as a standalone, but you'll have even more fun with Kat and friends in the main series starting with Potions and Predicaments.

If you like humorous paranormal mysteries with a small-town feel and a touch of magic, you'll love Ghosts and Garlands. Curl up with your hot cocoa and sink into this festive read!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Morgan Vale
• Release date: Jul 9, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393774969

Book preview

Chapter One

Y our gingerbread house looks more like a… gingerbread pile. Pepper snickered over my sorry attempt at edible architecture. Hers, on the other hand, stood straight and tall with clean lines and perfect seams. 

How did she do that?

So gingerbread houses aren’t exactly my forte. I drained my glass of mulled wine and threw my hands up in the air. Who would live in these things, anyway? Starving pixies?

You’re both ridiculous. My long-suffering black cat Albus leaped off my lap and padded away to lick himself in the corner.

I laughed and my best friend joined in. Not that we weren’t silly on a regular day, but the mulled wine was doing its job. 

I never really understood why people loved eggnog so much. I knew it was a festive seasonal drink, but anything with the word egg in it is bound to be gross. Mulled wine, on the other hand? Sign me up.

Pepper wiped her hands on a towel and stood up from the table, admiring her work. "Well if there are any small folk out there, they’re gonna choose my house instead of yours!"

I stuck out my tongue and blew a raspberry at her. I know, so mature. Mine tastes better, and that’s what counts. To make my point I plucked a gumdrop off the already-sagging roof and popped it into my mouth. 

Pepper crossed her arms, ready to retort. I’ll have you know—

A distant crash cut off her words and froze us in place. What was that? I asked.  

Dunno, Pepper said. She left the table and approached the hallway where the sound came from. Sounded like it was in the house, though.

Oh no, I joked. It’s those hungry pixies. They’ve found us at last! I was still chuckling to myself as I followed Pepper down the hall, but that smile fell right off my face when I saw her concerned expression.

Pep? I took another step forward. She froze near the door leading to the basement, her ear pressed to the wood. What’s wrong? 

She glanced at me, her eyes wide. I hear something, she hissed.

A chill ran down my spine so quick I shuddered. What do you mean, something? Like an intruder? 

At that, Albus bolted to my side, ears pinned back and alert. She’s right,