Witches and Demons

By Saloni Quinby

Ghosts, demons, curses, and a passion that may destroy them all…

Dark Before Dawn (Witches and Demons 1): In one night two strangers share a lifetime of passion. Once a year, evil haunts the woods on Sam’s ancestral land. Sam uses his magic to keep it under control, but this year he’s recovering from an accident and his magic is weak. His powers can be strengthened through sex, but his partner has abandoned him. Only with Aaron’s help can they survive the dark before dawn.

Accursed (Witches and Demons 2): The first-born sons in actor Ian Northhill’s family have all died on their thirty-fourth birthday, and Ian’s is just around the corner. The problem is, he doesn’t believe in ghosts, demons or curses. When Ian and Medium Maxim Thomas meet, they’re overwhelmed by lust. Will Ian trust Maxim enough to allow his lover to save him from the family curse?

Warriors of Sir Guy (Witches and Demons 3): For eight hundred years The Warriors of Sir Guy have tracked the half-demon child of their founder, vowing not to rest until the creature is destroyed. Only Robin sees the good in him. When he warns Robin that demons have infiltrated the Warriors of Sir Guy, the lovers are thrust into a battle that might destroy them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Changeling Press
• Release date: Jul 25, 2020

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Witches and Demons

Saloni Quinby

All rights reserved.

Copyright ©2020 Saloni Quinby

BIN: 009454-03063

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Publisher:

Changeling Press LLC

315 N. Centre St.

Martinsburg, WV 25404

www.ChangelingPress.com

Editor: Sheri Ross Fogarty

Cover Artist: Bryan Keller

Adult Sexual Content

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Table of Contents

Witches and Demons

Dark Before Dawn (Witches and Demons 1)

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Epilogue

Accursed (Witches and Demons 2)

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Epilogue

Warriors of Sir Guy (Witches and Demons 3)

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Saloni Quinby

Witches and Demons

Saloni Quinby

Ghosts, demons, curses, and a passion that may destroy them all…

Dark Before Dawn (Witches and Demons 1): In one night two strangers share a lifetime of passion. Once a year, evil haunts the woods on Sam’s ancestral land. Sam uses his magic to keep it under control, but this year he’s recovering from an accident and his magic is weak. His powers can be strengthened through sex, but his partner has abandoned him. Only with Aaron’s help can they survive the dark before dawn.

Accursed (Witches and Demons 2): The first-born sons in actor Ian Northhill’s family have all died on their thirty-fourth birthday, and Ian’s is just around the corner. The problem is, he doesn’t believe in ghosts, demons or curses. When Ian and Medium Maxim Thomas meet, they’re overwhelmed by lust. Will Ian trust Maxim enough to allow his lover to save him from the family curse?

Warriors of Sir Guy (Witches and Demons 3): For eight hundred years the Warriors of Sir Guy have tracked the half-demon child of their founder, vowing not to rest until the creature is destroyed. Only Robin sees the good in him. When he warns Robin that demons have infiltrated the Warriors of Sir Guy, the lovers are thrust into a battle that might destroy them.

Dark Before Dawn (Witches and Demons 1)

Saloni Quinby

A lifetime of passion in a single night…

Aaron’s car breaks down on a rural road. Tired from traveling and with his cell phone dead, he decides to wait until morning before searching for help.

When a man wakes him, banging on his car window, Aaron thinks he’s crazy until they’re attacked by forces of evil that defy logic and usher Aaron into a world of horrors he never dreamed existed.

Once a year, evil haunts the woods on Sam’s ancestral land. Sam uses his magic to keep it under control, but this year he’s recovering from an accident and his magic is weak. It can be strengthened through sex, but his partner, fearing the sinister forces in the woods, has abandoned Sam. Only with Aaron’s help can Sam control an ancient evil and allow them to survive the dark before dawn.

Prologue

Massachusetts, 1640

Musket shots and a man’s bellow of pain tore through the woods. From where she stood in the doorway of her cabin, Sarah Brook watched her husband fall in the rocky path several feet away.

Townsfolk carrying weapons and torches didn’t slow their pace, but trampled his body on their way toward the cabin.

Sarah stood, trembling with rage and hate. Raising her arms, she screamed to the full moon, summoning the demonic spirits that inhabited the woods to stand with her one last time.

Good and evil spirits were everywhere, but most people were too stupid and fearful to manipulate them.

Sarah had never been afraid.

These self-righteous folk thought they would drive her and her kin from their home and they might succeed, but they would suffer for it. Suffer for eternity. Sarah would see to it.

The townsfolk hurled the torches at the cabin. It caught fire, but to Sarah it no longer mattered.

The spirit filled her. Its power strengthened her. The bullets ripped through her mortal flesh. She screamed in pain and the demon inside her shrieked with rage.

Be gone, vile demon! shouted Reverend Foster.

Sarah laughed -- a deep, haunting sound that made the townsfolk step back.

He might be their religious leader, but he didn’t have the knowledge or the strength to fight the evil lurking in this forest -- evil that Sarah knew intimately. The only people who might have saved them had been driven off, just like they were driving off Sarah and her people now.

She truly hadn’t expected them to attack, not after they’d seen what she could do, but somehow they’d found the courage.

Still it wouldn’t be enough.

She flew at them, her fingers curved like claws. The demon longed for the taste of human flesh. The townsfolk might kill her, but she’d take as many of them as she could with her. By destroying her, they would make her stronger than they ever imagined.

More shots tore through the night, but Sarah kept running into the crowd. William Evans, a trapper, reloaded his musket and Sarah lunged at him. Clinging to him, she sank her teeth deep into his neck. His flesh and blood filled her mouth.

William shouted and struggled, his thick fingers squeezing her arms so hard that he nearly snapped bone.

Someone stabbed her from behind with a pitchfork, and she dropped her hold on William. Her body arched and she screamed in pain.

The demon fled.

Sarah lay on her stomach, weakening by the second, now that her satanic partner had abandoned her. Or had he?

The townsfolk gathered around.

She’s not dead, Grace Goodwin said, turning away from Sarah’s body in horror. Someone finish her.

I finish you, Sarah rasped. Her vision faded, but her fist tightened in the roots and dirt on the ground where she lay. My blood, the blood of my kin, will never let you forget. I curse you and I curse this ground.

With a final gurgling breath, she descended into blackness.

* * *

You’re truly going back there? Hanna stared at her lover, Owen, as he packed his worn leather bag for travel.

They stood in the cabin he’d built for them, deep in the woods. He’d made all the furniture. She’d sewn the quilts that covered the bed as well as the clothes they wore. Everything in this house they’d made together. Now he wanted to leave it and risk his life for people who had tried to destroy them.

I have to go, Owen said, his voice deep and quiet. How many nights had that beloved voice spoken close to her ear? This man had literally saved her from death. With her family gone after a bought of fever, she’d survived for a while, selling her body and destroying her soul.

Then Owen had taken her in, shared his food and his forest cabin and given her time to restore her health. He had asked for nothing in return -- neither repayment nor sexual favors. When she gave herself to him, it had been purely her choice, because she loved him. He loved her as well and had proven it countless times. They had a meeting of hearts and souls and Owen understood her in a way no one else could.

Owen knew how it felt to be an outcast. At first, she thought he’d been ostracized by others because they considered him, with his quiet ways, little more than an idiot. All brawn. No intelligence.

How wrong they had been.

Owen’s power wasn’t just in his tall, strong body, but in the inexplicable magic that flowed through him.

He alone possessed the power to save a cursed little town from evil -- evil they had, at least partially, brought upon themselves.

They massacred the Brook family, Hanna said. Maybe Sarah has a right to revenge. Those people brought her curse upon themselves.

Owen turned and stared at her with calm but penetrating green eyes. You don’t mean that, Hanna. You have a kind heart.

I do mean it. If it comes between them and you, I choose you. She grasped his muscular arm and held his gaze. "It’s not your duty to protect the townsfolk from Sarah Brook’s curse. They blamed us for that family’s evil. If we hadn’t fled, they would have killed us, just like they killed them."

And if we turn our backs on evil, we’ll be as much to blame as Sarah herself. We’ll be as bad as the people who blamed us. Owen turned to her. Gently grasping her upper arms, he stared at her with his soul-stealing green eyes. If we let Sarah’s curse run wild, it won’t simply destroy one town, but many. I can stop it.

You mean you can contain it.

It’s better than ignoring it.

Hanna sighed and lowered her gaze in defeat. Owen was right, but he was a good man. She’d known that from the first. It was in his nature to help those who couldn’t help themselves.

If you go, then I’m going with you.

Hanna, no. I won’t put you at risk.

You have powers, Owen, but you know our love re-enforces them. You need me tonight.

You have no idea how much, he murmured and kissed her deeply.

When the kiss broke, she said, Make love to me. Take what you need from me and let me go with you so when you fight the evil, I’ll be there to fortify you.

He kissed her again even more deeply than before. Hanna wove her fingers through his dark hair and caressed his bearded face.

She tugged his shirt from his breeches and slid her hands underneath to caress the expanse of his muscular, hair-dusted chest.

Hanna, he murmured, nuzzling her neck.

She pulled his shirt up higher and he lifted it over his head and tossed it aside. Hanna covered his magnificent chest with kisses. She gently bit his nipple and trailed her tongue down his stomach. Her lips hovered over scars on his ribs.

She loved everything about this man -- the sound of his voice, his rugged looks, his quiet manner, his courage and most of all his heart.

Sinking to her knees, she pulled down his breeches, freeing his cock. It was already semi-erect and rose from a thick nest of dark, curling hair. Closing her eyes, she rubbed her cheek against the curly thatch and kissed the base of his cock. She lapped the shaft, sucked the crown and used the tip of her tongue to tease the sensitive underside.

Hanna, he breathed, caressing her hair. It feels so good.

Though she loved pleasuring him, she knew this kind of stimulation wouldn’t help him tonight. He needed to absorb her strength. It would empower him and help him fight the evil spirits that awaited him.

She leaned back, staring up at him while he quickly discarded his breeches and boots. Then he bent and swept her into his arms. He kissed her again, his tongue mingling with hers. Hanna clung to him and moaned.

He placed her on the bed and broke the kiss only to gaze into her eyes. She saw his love for her, but also his willingness to sacrifice his happiness, even his life, to defend the world from evil.

Owen was right. They couldn’t let the malicious spirits run loose.

I love you, Hanna, he said in a husky voice.

I love you too.

He undressed her slowly and with the utmost tenderness. When she was naked, he caressed her breasts and bent to capture a nipple between his lips. Hanna closed her eyes and arched toward him, every swipe of his tongue on her nipple sent a thrill of desire through her. Hanna’s clit ached so much that when his big hand cupped her soft mound, she nearly came just from the contact.

Owen covered her body with his. Hanna’s heart pounded and she could scarcely wait for him to fill her. The tip of his cock slid into her drenched pussy and she moaned again, clinging to him. She loved how he felt inside her.

He kissed her and thrust his tongue into her mouth to the same rhythm as his cock pumped into her quivering body. Locking her legs around him, Hannah panted his name.

Her pleasure built until it finally overwhelmed her and she came hard, thrashing beneath him.

Again Owen kissed her, absorbing her moans and cries of rapture as his body absorbed her energy…

Chapter One

Three Hundred Seventy-Two Years Later

Night fell upon the longest stretch of lonely road Aaron had ever traveled. He’d stopped about an hour ago to ask directions from an elderly man walking a wolf-dog. Aaron generally wasn’t afraid of animals, but the way this canine had snarled and growled, its eyes blazing and fangs flashing, Aaron had been wary. Unfortunately the old man hadn’t been much friendlier than the dog, but he’d given Aaron curt directions to the nearest highway. At least he’d told Aaron it was the fastest route. About ten minutes ago he’d turned down a dirt road, past an iron gate the old man had described. Now he wasn’t so sure the directions were accurate. Maybe the old dude had decided to play a trick on an obvious city guy. Aaron looked like he belonged deep in the country about as much as the wolf-dog belonged in a city park.

The night grew darker and Aaron started to worry. He was nearly out of gas and the car was making a strange grating sound, not to mention the check engine light had turned on seconds ago. He’d been driving since six o’clock in the morning and that was after a measly four hours of sleep. If the car didn’t die first, Aaron might end up falling asleep behind the wheel. He was torn between pulling over to get some rest and continuing a little farther to see if the turnoff for the highway was nearby after all. Then fate made the decision for him. The damn car choked and died.

Cursing, Aaron tried to start it, but it refused to move. Finally he sighed, folded his arms on the wheel and rested his head on them. He closed his eyes.

I’ll only relax for a minute, he said. He’d just started zoning out when he jumped awake.

Was he crazy?

He couldn’t sit here in the middle of a dark road. If someone happened to drive by, they’d crash into him.

Groaning, he stepped out of the car and pushed it to a safer position along the side of the road. By now it was so dark that his hazards were the only light in the area.

He wished he’d charged his cell phone battery before leaving the hotel. At least then he could call for help. Before leaving on his business trip, he’d accidentally left his car phone charger in his second vehicle. An hour into his journey he realized he’d forgotten it, but he’d decided not to turn back for it. Now he wished he had. An hour of inconvenience would have saved him hours, maybe even a night, in the woods of northeast USA. Even better, why hadn’t he simply flown?

Seated behind the wheel, he set his chair to a full recline position and, using his black sports jacket as a blanket, settled down to rest.

Aaron felt like he’d just drifted off when banging on his window roused him.

He jumped up, his heart pounding, and stared at a slim, dark-haired man standing near his car.

Hey, the guy shouted, his voice muffled through the closed window. You can’t stay here.

His brow furrowed, Aaron opened the window partway and said, I don’t have much choice. My car died and my cell is out of batteries. Do you have a phone by any chance?

The guy closed his eyes and shook his head. I don’t believe this. This is private property.

You own the road? Aaron asked, raising a suspicious eyebrow.

Road? Mister, this is my driveway. Didn’t you see the gate at the end?

Yeah.

So you just opened it and drove on through? the guy asked, a harsh edge to his voice.

Curling his lip, Aaron said, No. It was wide open.

Open?

Yeah, so I didn’t realize it was private property. Aaron sighed and shook his head. Besides the old guy with the wolf dog said this would take me to the highway.

Old guy with the wolf dog? That’s Mr. Seymour. He’s a little nuts. I wouldn’t doubt it if he opened the damn gate.

I’m sorry for trespassing, but --

Any other time I wouldn’t care if you parked all night. Just not tonight.

I told you --

I know. I know. Well, you can’t stay here. It’s not safe.

Now Aaron became suspicious. What was this guy up to?

Why? he asked.

There’s a private hunting party going on. You might get hurt and I don’t want to be responsible.

Then how about either letting me use a phone or calling a ride for me?

The man stared at him for a long moment. The flashing hazard lights cast eerie shadows on his face, but he seemed to be quite handsome with fabulous cheekbones, a long, slender nose and wide set eyes. Aaron couldn’t tell exactly what color they were, but they looked light.

All right, the guy said. My cabin isn’t far. You can come with me.

Trusting anyone on a dark, lonely road was stupid, but Aaron didn’t relish the thought of spending the night here. Besides, he was about half a foot taller than this guy and outweighed him by at least thirty pounds.

But what if he had weapons? Or a houseful of unfriendly friends?

His attractive young host glanced sharply behind him, then turned back to Aaron. Come on. I don’t want to be out here either.

If this is your property, why are you letting a bunch of trigger-happy assholes hunt on it?

Tradition.

Aaron raised an eyebrow.

After another moment’s hesitation, he slung his overnight bag over his shoulder, unlocked the car and stepped out. His host took off at a brisk walk and Aaron fell into step beside him.

What’s your name? Aaron asked.

Sam.

I’m Aaron. Thanks for the help.

Sam glanced at him as if to say he didn’t have much choice.

They made their way down a rocky path. The trees thickened, completely blocking out the faint light from the new moon.

Hey, wait a second, Aaron said. He flicked on the penlight on his keychain.

Don’t do that! Sam snapped, clamping a hand over the light and switching it off.

What the hell is your problem? Maybe you’ve got eyes like a cat, dude, but I’m freakin’ blind right now.

We’re almost there, Sam said, grasping Aaron’s forearm and tugging him down the path.

You said that ten minutes ago. Now Aaron really started to wonder if he’d made the wrong decision.

Then they made a turn and a moment later, he saw the soft glow of firelight through the window of a rather large cabin.

Something rustled in the trees behind them. Aaron tried to look over his shoulder, but Sam pulled him toward the cabin at a jog.

What the hell are you doing? Aaron demanded.

It’s creepy out here at night, Sam said, hurrying to insert his key into the lock on the cabin door. He pushed it open and practically dragged Aaron inside before closing the door behind them. At that moment something slammed against it from outside.

Aaron curled his lip. What was that? Sounded like an animal.

Probably a bat.

No. I thought I heard something on the trail behind us.

Could be anything. Sam shrugged. "Lynx. Rabid fox. Maybe even