The Fae Effect: Some Like it Haunted

By P. Stormcrow

FROM POPULAR ROMANCE AUTHOR P. STORMCROW

From the Some Like it Haunted collection

A faery prince and a human savior... Keenan must dare to believe or pay the price and lose them both.

As a diehard science nut, Keenan O'Brien's passion is debunking legends for her YouTube channel. So when her friend dares her to sleep in a fairy mound on All Hallows' Eve, she jumps at the chance to prove that faeries don't exist.

Or so she thought.

There, she meets Aegnus, a gorgeous silver-haired musician, who offers proof otherwise. Unable to resist, she follows him to the rave of a lifetime. But once there, her skepticism lands her in a heap of inexplicable trouble with a so-called faery queen.

To survive, Keenan must set aside her disbelief to accept the help of Liam, the hot and dominant human cop who claims responsibility in caring for those who have tangled with the Fae. But his own family has a secret, one that can only worsen her plight. Now, with some help from the faery prince who had drawn her there in the first place, the two must race against time to free her from the queen's hold. Because they find that once Faerie has claimed someone, it does not like to let go.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing
• Release date: Oct 27, 2020
• ISBN: 9781839434464

P. Stormcrow

Award-winning author P. Stormcrow has always been an avid reader across the fantasy and sci fi genres but early on, found herself always looking for the love story in each book. Coming to terms with her love for love later in life, she now writes steamy romances that examine social norms and challenge conventional tropes of the genre, usually on her phone. And yes, she has walked into walls and poles doing so. When she’s not reading or writing (or even when she is), she enjoys copious amounts of tea, way too much sugary treats, one too many sci fi / fantasy / paranormal TV shows (team Dean all the way) and every otome game she can possibly find.

Book preview

Author

Totally Bound Publishing books by P. Stormcrow

The Playgrounds

The Words to Bind

Collections

Rules of Summer: The Knots that Hold

Some Like it Haunted

THE FAE EFFECT

P. STORMCROW

The Fae Effect

ISBN # 978-1-83943-446-4

©Copyright P. Stormcrow 2020

Cover Art by Claire Siemaszkiewicz ©Copyright October 2020

Interior text design by Claire Siemaszkiewicz

Totally Bound Publishing

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

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The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2020 by Totally Bound Publishing, United Kingdom.

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Some Like it Haunted

A faery prince and a human savior… Keenan must dare to believe or pay the price and lose them both.

As a diehard science nut, Keenan O’Brien’s passion is debunking legends for her YouTube channel. So when her friend dares her to sleep in a fairy mound on All Hallows’ Eve, she jumps at the chance to prove that faeries don’t exist.

Or so she thought.

There, she meets Aegnus, a gorgeous silver-haired musician, who offers proof otherwise. Unable to resist, she follows him to the rave of a lifetime. But once there, her skepticism lands her in a heap of inexplicable trouble with a so-called faery queen.

To survive, Keenan must set aside her disbelief to accept the help of Liam, the hot and dominant human cop who claims responsibility in caring for those who have tangled with the Fae. But his own family has a secret, one that can only worsen her plight. Now, with some help from the faery prince who had drawn her there in the first place, the two must race against time to free her from the queen’s hold. Because they find that once Faerie has claimed someone, it does not like to let go.

Dedication

To those who believe.

Trademark Acknowledgements

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

YouTube: Google Inc.

Twitter: Twitter Inc.

Candid Camera: Allen Funt, CBS Enterprises

Chapter One

The old-style English pub was the little university town’s best kept secret, and tonight, it was filled with sexy witches, grotesque murderers, charming devils and not-so-innocent angels. After all, it was the Saturday night before Halloween, when most parties were taking place. No one wanted to risk a ‘hangover Monday’ in the middle of midterm season.

In contrast, Keenan, a grad student in the Department of Computer Science, and three of her friends, all in normal attire, sat at a round table in the back, observing the revelry with amused smiles.

Is that one of the jock babies over there in a chugging contest? Keenan whispered to Aisha, the raven-haired woman beside her.

It was what Keenan and her fellow grad school friends called the group of undergrad jocks they’d had to teach this year. The university had admitted most of them based more on their athletic merit than their academic abilities, and it showed in their reluctance to learn.

Oof. Yeah. I think you’re right. Aren’t you TA-ing his class this semester?

Keenan winced as the third-year frat boy by the bar slammed his pint glass onto the bartop, threw his head back and howled—never mind that it was rather appropriate, considering he was dressed like a werewolf in a flannel shirt. I’m not looking forward to marking whatever he ends up handing in on Monday.

Forget about that, Dale waved at the two women for attention and leaned forward, his eyes flashing with excitement. His freckles were growing more prominent with the flushing of his normally pale cheeks. Tell us, Kee… What do you have planned for your Halloween episode?

Keenan grinned. She wasn’t too proud to admit that she loved talking about her passion project. It had turned into a full side gig. She even had fans! Well, a couple of weeks ago, I was covering this urban legend about peeling an apple at midnight. I figured I could air that one on the channel tomorrow.

An apple? Aisha shivered and wrapped her arms around herself.

Yeah, there’s an urban legend that says if you peel an apple in front of a mirror at midnight, you’ll see an image of the one you’ll marry one day. And every time the peel breaks, a scar will appear on their face and you would have cursed your future spouse with that scar.

Aisha gasped, her eyes round with fear.

At her friend’s look, Keenan laughed and patted her back. Relax. I did not see my future husband and there were no scars. It’s just a myth, obviously.

Luckily. I still think you’re crazy, doing what you do. Aisha pursed her lips and shook her head.

But brave. Jonathan pushed his glasses up the ridge of his nose then grabbed the pitcher sitting right next to a bowl of peanuts to refill everyone’s glasses. Besides, all this stuff has no basis in science. I think what Kee’s doing with her YouTube channel, debunking these myths and legends, is doing the world a service.

Here’s to scientific inquiry. Keenan lifted her beer.

Hear, hear! Her three friends mirrored her gesture and they all took long, satisfying gulps from their respective pints.

"That said, I think you should do something different on Halloween. I mean…it being that time of the year." Dale was often her source of inspiration for her episodes.

What do you suggest? Keenan tucked a stray red curl back behind her ear then folded her arms on the table.

Local rumor has it that the hill behind the old Donovan property is a fairy mound. You know what they say…

That they’re really fairy forts and, on All Hallows Eve, you can see fairies dancing there? A familiar thrum of excitement coursed through Keenan’s body. Dale was on to something.

I dare you, Keenan O’Brien, to spend Halloween night at the fairy mound. Dale smirked.

Ah, he planned this all along. The sneaky bastard!

To be fair, however, Keenan had already been planning in her head what to pack before he’d even dared her. I’ll need to shoot on my phone to livestream, so that means an extra battery pack. And a sleeping bag. Oh, and I better tweet out an announcement. It’ll be touch and go with such short notice.

Earth to Keenan. Jonathan waved a hand in front of her face.

She’s off in planning land. You can see it in her eyes. Aisha’s voice drifted back to her attention.

Her friends knew her too well. I’m here. I’m here!

So, you going to do it? Dale asked, affecting his most innocent smile.

Ha! If he’s innocent, then fairies are real.

You knew I was going to do it as soon as you opened your mouth. Keenan mock-glared at him but failed to hold it for long.

Dale only widened his grin as Aisha stared at the two of