Of the Cursed

By Jeanette Lynn

Dark magicks beckon. Permelia is finding it harder to resist. How much longer can she ignore the call? There’s something amiss, a hole, a gaping void. The darkness wishes to fill the void. Time is running out for the cursed Enchantress.

Visions aren’t all they’re cracked up to be, and sometimes more confusing than insightful. But, Brushe has seen just enough of a potential future he can’t ignore. It was perfect, it was everything, he won’t stop until it becomes reality. And he’ll do whatever it takes to save his mate and make sure she gets the happy ending she deserves. He won’t let his little buddy down.

One night, a million regrets. Some king of the sea Seidon was. Reluctant at first or not, he’s thought of nothing but the shared moments he’d walked out on, the woman he’d basically rejected. He could have had everything and he knew it, turning his back on his own chance at a happily ever after with the woman he’s felt tied to since the moment they met.
Fate was a fickle beast. Mer-dwyns, apparently, even more so. But Seidon has seen the light. Hopefully, it’s not too late for him.

Brine’s thought of nothing but the woman that mesmerizes and torments his every waking thoughts. He’s haunted by visions of the beauty that transforms into a cursed beast. Can he get past his fear of her cursed form? His hangups on sharing mates? How much longer can one fight their destiny?

Will Theseus and Morgan wake up already?
Are they destined to tiptoe around each other?
Does Sr find his one?

Their own kind of epic sagas unraveling, the magick and mayhem continues in the next installment of the Tales of Mordenne

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jeanette Lynn
• Release date: Feb 14, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005939021

Jeanette Lynn

Jeanette Lynn lives with her Neanderthal, beyond awesome kiddlens, mini-dino water-ninja (turtle), slightly eccentric terrier mix, and hobbit pup. She enjoys creating quirky, offbeat characters in out of this world stories. And, of course, a good happy ending.Quirky, offbeat characters in out of this world stories. Finding love in unexpected places.Paranormal, contemporary, fantasy, sci fi, shifters, aliens, magic and matchmaking mayhem, there's a little bit of everything.

Book preview

This is a monster book series.

Monster finds mate romance.

It can border on a bit of horror, as it was intended. Dub con here and there. This particular story is one woman and the males she finds love with.

This was never meant to be some insanely sweet through and through fluffy bit of cotton candy with perfect characters that always do everything right. It can get rough in places.

If ya want pure sugar, this may not be the book for you.

There’s cursing and not everyone does everything right. They’re not perfect. They’re human. They screw up.

But, there’s always a Happily Ever After.

Of the Cursed

The magick and mayhem continues in the next installment of the Tales of Mordenne

Dark magicks beckon. Permelia is finding it harder to resist. How much longer can she ignore the call? There’s something amiss, a hole, a gaping void. The darkness wishes to fill the void. Time is running out for the cursed Enchantress.

Visions aren’t all they’re cracked up to be, and sometimes more confusing than insightful. But, Brushe has seen just enough of a potential future he can’t ignore. It was perfect, it was everything, he won’t stop until it becomes reality. And he’ll do whatever it takes to save his mate and make sure she gets the happy ending she deserves. He won’t let his little buddy down.

One night, a million regrets. Some king of the sea Seidon was. Reluctant at first or not, he’s thought of nothing but the shared moments he’d walked out on, the woman he’d basically rejected. He could have had everything and he knew it, turning his back on his own chance at a happily ever after with the woman he’s felt tied to since the moment they met.

Fate was a fickle beast. Mer-dwyns, apparently, even more so. But Seidon has seen the light. Hopefully, it’s not too late for him.

Brine’s thought of nothing but the woman that mesmerizes and torments his every waking thoughts. He’s haunted by visions of the beauty that transforms into a cursed beast. Can he get past his fear of her cursed form? His hangups on sharing mates? How much longer can one fight their destiny?

Will Theseus and Morgan wake up already?

Are they destined to tiptoe around each other?

Does Sr find his one?

Their own kind of epic sagas unraveling, these stories continue in Of the Cursed.

Chapter 1

‘Bout to burst

Permelia

Permelia, wait, Seidon called after me, as I scrambled through the thick double doors and down the long hall.

It was an accident! I said I was sorry! I called out.

Bumping into who I thought was Sr in my rush, I jerked back, mumbling apologies as I righted myself and rushed past, and then ran faster.

It’ll heal! I called out on a semi-shriek.

My legs started to give, trembling so hard with an impending shift a small, sharp cry left me. No-no-no. Not now. Please, not now.

The room I shared with Brushe was close enough I could maybe crawl there. Shrugging out of my black button up sweater, I threw it over my legs. Don’t look at me, I nearly sobbed out. I couldn’t stand it when people looked at me shifted. I knew what I was, what they saw. Freak. Monster. They all thought I looked like her. I was nothing like Sula. I never would be.

It was an accident, I mumbled miserably.

Thankfully, it was just Sr and soon to be Seidon in the hall, and otherwise blessedly empty.

I would have loved to have been able to call out for my mate and have his assistance, but my babe-a-licious boy toy was out with Dax and his father picking up…

Shit.

Freezing on the spot, hearts pounding so hard the fear of just who exactly, I realized belatedly, I’d just ran into, and was still freaking standing there from the shuffling sounds of his feet, witnessing this horror show in the hall as it unfolded, was actually.

Don’t look at me! I cried out in abject horror. My voice deepened, the sound I made inhuman.

This was like a nightmare realized. I’d dreamed of scenarios just like this since my first shift, since he’d taken one look at me and panicked, jumping out of the car to take off. I was a monster to him. In that moment, all I’d thought I’d moved past, I hated myself. Misery filled me.

Ducking my head, avoiding his gaze, glad I could hide my hideous features in my hair as it tumbled loosely around me, I’d crawl to get away from him if I had to.

Slick as I was, my now tentacled body sounded like someone was scuffing their sneakers down the long, thank god it was tiled, hall. Light, I was not. My tentacles writhed around me, a life all their own. I’d considered hacking a few of them off, but, one, I could feel that shit, and, two, what if more grew back in place of the ones removed, kind of a three more for every one lopped off kinda thing?

My arms strained as I worked to drag myself that much closer to our rooms. I could hide out in there in relative safety until Brushe got back. Brushe would help me. Brushe always helped me. A small whimper of a noise left me. I wanted my mate! I needed my goofball, loveable, big buddy.

Guilt filled me lately when I thought of the demands I must put on him. He wasn’t just my male but my caretaker. My sudden shifts and unpredictable magick bull was just getting worse. It was so bad, he couldn’t really help me hide it anymore, not with shifted bursts like this. And my moods… That male deserved a medal.

As Seidon began barking down the hall, my arms, trembling and half gone to jelly, finally gave out.

I just… I need a minute, I burst out. I could do this. I could.

The nausea that came with all this was so bad I was glad I hadn’t been able to eat anything yet this morning. That was technically rule number one in Seidon’s, who was tutoring me in water magicks, rule book: Don’t skip meals.

The amount of energy needed to channel magicks was insane. But I’d needed a… release. The magicks inside me, the darkness filled me to the point I thought I might burst. And then, well, I had. Luckily, Seidon is really great at ducking and nobody really liked that stupid statue in the garden anyway. I was out of control. I felt as out of control as the magicks I’d unleashed. The taint of them was like ash in my mouth.

The totem around my neck felt like a heavy weight, yet another thing that should have helped me but wasn’t. I was getting better control of some of my magicks, yes, but lately it felt like my darker magicks were building, brewing. The idea of growing stronger with darker magicks terrified me.

I’d insist someone put me down, but the last time I tried that Brushe wouldn't talk to me for weeks. Weeks! It had been bad enough I’d upset a very pregnant Cinnia, my bestie, and her mate for making her cry, but my mate had shunned me too.

I’m good, I insisted, voice growing to a faint mumble, right as I grew lightheaded and my face kissed the floor with a slick sounding clap of a slap. I’m fine, I mumble-grumbled into the floor, just sneed a minbit. Or two… Or forty and a sandwich. Argh, I garbled out, as strong arms slid beneath me, rolling me to my side, and scooped me up. Did that not simply say it all?

Chapter 2

Fish sticks in the morning

Seidon

My shoulder was still a little smoky from where that wily Enchantress had nearly taken my head off. Thank the oceans, she’d missed. The ugly statue in their poor excuse for a garden, not so much. Harpy, indeed. All I’d told her was she was out of control, her concentration shot, and she’d- Well, she’d finally reacted. After all these weeks of pecking at her and goading her with nothing more than a nod, shrug, or long sigh or muffled curses from her in response, to my two seconds and delight followed by moments of panic, then misery at the look on her face, I’d gotten my wish. I’d been pushing her, more than I knew I should but, damn it, I wanted the melancholy mood she’d slipped into, the mask she wore to hide all that plagued her, covering it all up with that banal look, to stop.

I did not feel nearly so fulfilled as all that harassment came to fruition. Actually, I’d been feeling so empty of late, our little private sessions in the back garden area had become the highlight of my day. I missed sharpening my teeth on the typically mouthy, sarcastic female and getting it right back. Her odd, shuttered attitude had taken all the fun right out of getting mine in while she just stood there woodenly. I wanted to grab her up and give her a good shake, wake her up, change the tide.

With Cin taking time off from her lessons to be with her mate and their newly born young, Beaux, not that she needed the lessons so much anymore to control her powers as to merely keep up, practice, and get better than she already was, I was so selfish I’d been thrilled it was just me and the sorceress.

This morning I’d been feeling unusually off, unease worming its way into my gut. I’d been panicked out of the blue, an anxious burning that ate at me, then she’d come striding in, looking more tragically glum yet beautiful as always, I’d spent five minutes snipping and sniping at her, to her suddenly fuming annoyance as that mask finally cracked. I’d gotten a true reaction from the female after waiting, wanting, for so long it made me want to jump and clack my heels like that demented young woman in that musical movie I’d been forced to watch so many nights back.

Why did the green fleshed wench melt?! Why did it revolve around women vying for shoes? No one had an answer for me and yet they’d all laughed at my comments. It was absurd. And yet, I found myself humming the songs from that colorful picture without thought. It was like an eel lodged in my ear. I’d even taken to calling Permelia a munchkin, in one of my last ditch efforts to rile her. I’d thought she was going to brain me, but I’d never thought I’d be so excited by the possibility of her bludgeoning me.

I’d bungled this whole thing up with her that night we’d come together and then I’d walked out. I’ve regretted it ever since, no matter how much I’ve tried to convince myself otherwise. I had no idea how to come back from that. I kept asking myself if I even wanted to. I’d almost convince myself it was for the best, but then we’d have a lesson, she’d show up with several waters and, always, no matter what I said or did, left one behind for me, and I wanted to approach her, speak on these things, and then, every time, I wouldn’t.

All the same, I was caught. She could string me up and gut me and there was a possibility I’d just smile and let her if she showed me an ounce of what she once had. Who else did she leave the water there for, giving me a pointed look before stomping off? Me! Even mad or annoyed, she was taking care of me. It was a mate’s gesture.

I didn’t deserve it, or her kindness.

It was a simple but meaningful gesture that had come to mean so much to me, yet I couldn’t seem to put it to words. Did she even know, any of it?

Her mate knew. The fat headed idiot enjoyed smirking at me over it and trying to steal MY water. It was MINE.

There was no water for me today but my shoulder was nice and slightly crispy. I supposed it was something, a souvenir of sorts...? Rolling my shoulder as I stalked after her, I let out a long sigh, preparing to bellow after her. It was nothing a shift wouldn't take care of. That wasn’t the real matter at hand.

Per was slipping. The garden statue decimation proved it. The shock on her face and the tears instant in her eyes, Permelia had meant to nip me with magicks, not blast me into the next life.

Per needed help.

Her powers were growing. Her dark powers. This was far worse than I’d ever contemplated. She’d been masking it, hiding it so well, no doubt with the help of her enabling, bumbling oaf of a male. Had his car really blown up, I wondered now. I had to grit my teeth whenever I thought of Brushe doing all he must have been to keep her secret. If I hadn’t been faster, I doubted I’d be standing here. What else has fallen prey to her increasingly uncontrollable dark side?

I hated to admit it, but I admired the oaf, even for all of his idiocy and ridiculousness, he would literally do anything for his female. Loyalty. He had it in spades. He hadn’t left. He’d stayed through it all. In fact, he rarely, with the exception of today, has left his harpy’s, as he liked to call her, side at all since their joining.

Masking. I should have known she’d be capable of something like this, and to this extent. The expenditure of that alone, the tax on her, her powers were probably the only thing keeping her upright even as she exhausted herself using them. I was too caught up in my own misery to note how little she carried any scent at all but her own, and that perfume she loved so much. She’s been dousing herself in the stuff. The very perfume I’d stolen a bottle of from her just so I could smell it and feel close to her. Argh, I grumbled in disgust. I was pathetic. And I knew it. There was a reason no one was allowed in my lodgings. My sleeping area was nearly a shrine to the woman, who had a horrible habit of setting things down and forgetting them, to her misfortune and my sudden increasing hoarding issue.

Proud king of the sea, I was. Chicken of the sea, like that ridiculous green haired, rune shaking bubble brain of this outfit was always taunting me. Fish sticks, indeed.

My hands tightened into fists as I gritted my teeth past the seething hiss I wanted to let out. He really loved to rub things in. Five minutes with that male, me, him, both shifted, in the water. All I was askin’ for.

Permelia! I bellowed as I slammed through the thick double doors. My voice came out louder and gruffer than I’d intended. I couldn’t help it. The dam had been broken and everything was just pouring out. The sound of the thick, heavy doors slamming echoed behind me as I stomped down the hall calling after my wayward charge.

The smell of dark magicks was thick on the air, but that wasn’t what caught my immediate attention.

That useless Brine, her prime choice out of all the males she could have picked—the vain toad, as Cin called him—stood motionless. Mouth agape, paler than normal, he looked equally scared and petrified.

Following where his gaze was stuck, his back flush to the wall like he wanted to scoot away, I got one look at what had him silently sputtering like an imbecile and a snarl tore from my throat. Of all the… Get out of my way! I bellowed, slamming him into the wall as I rushed up and passed. You’re useless!

Dropping down to kneel before Per, her name rolling off the tongue like the sound that wanted to rumble out of me whenever she graced someone with one of her positively devilish smiles—purr—I rolled her to her side and cursed. I supposed I wasn’t any better than the useless Brine. Her lips moved. She was mumbling incoherently, her words slurred.

In her full shift, she carried so many of Sula’s traits, it was no wonder she warred so much with it, why it tormented her so. The urge to cringe was strong at first glimpse when I’d been absent from it for so long.

She wasn’t hideous, though. She was dangerously beautiful, alluringly so. I’d never found myself so drawn to another in my entire existence. I wanted to reach out and touch her, kiss her, soothe, comfort. The urge to be near her grew as her scent, unfettered by masking or any such thing, surrounded me. My knees felt weak. The hold she had over me threatened to overwhelm me.

Sliding my hands beneath her, scooping her up, she inhaled deeply, eyes fluttering beneath her shuttered lids, and absently pressed her face into my singed shirt. She felt so good in my arms. Why had I been denying myself this? My grip tightened.

Hefting her up to stand, I adjusted my hold on her, the action bringing her that much closer to my face. I caught it then.

Blinking, leaning in, tipping her body in my arms until her head fell to the side, exposing her slender neck, I couldn't have stopped myself if I’d tried. One deep inhale as my nose ran along her flesh, then another later, my eyes slowly closing as I took that part of her being, her essence into me, and my eyes shot open wide in shock.

MINE. That single thought was clear as a bell, settling as something shifted inside of me. I didn’t deny it. I was done fighting it. And she wasn’t just mine, she was so much more.

Hey, what the fuck, dick fish? Get off of her, you freak! Brine barked, glaring at me as if he thought he had some right to. Chest puffing up, skin tingeing a semishifted blue, he began to growl softly.

Oh, now he wished to act protective of the female? Now?

Don’t go getting any creepy ideas. Washed up king of the sea or not, she’s not your plaything. Brine was livid, and a little fearful if I was scenting him right. Fucker. Get your jollies off rubbing up on unconscious women?

You think to defend her now, you piss of an excuse for a hybrid, or however you and your kind claim someone is of no use. The corner of my mouth lifted and I sneered at him. My hold on Permelia tightened even more. And the damage you’ve done to her, you feel you are any better than I?

I had no room to talk, but I highly doubted the genetically washed up dunce was aware. And, yes, I was cocky enough to lord whatever I could over him, breeding, powers, lineage, whatever made me feel superior to this bag of… of… piss! I believed I was saying that right.

Brushe had been offering me Human-ing lessons, until I’d forsaken their offer of a triad relationship, taking off right after the fun was over. Now he just fucked with me, as I was learning was the proper phrasing. That left me with Dax for any kind of friendly companionship, who hated me for having kissed his Cinnia when I’d turned her, and useless Brine, and then Brine’s sire. Birne, also known more commonly as Sr, was helpful in many things, but treated me as one of his boys. It was demeaning! I was older than the male by hundreds of years! Hundreds! He was a mere child in comparison. He made me feel... silly.

I would admit, however, that had I a choice in a sire, I’d have chosen the male in a heartbeat. His love for his children was something to envy. And there was something rather nice about feeling taken under one’s fin.

The only creep here, Birnepholous II, I spat at him, using Brine’s birthing name, is the one who left Permelia to fall faint in the hall, you neglectful... ass of a face!

Brine paused, blinked. Did you… Whuh?

Bastard? I tried again, but it came out sounding more like a question. Twat falafel. Tatted waffle… An asshole! You know what I mean, and I’m glad you don’t touch her! You’d taint her with your disgusting... stink! I bellowed at him. Spittle sprayed his face. I wasn’t thinking clearly. Irrational, that was me. I could have torn him to shreds with words alone, yet I fumbled, tongue tied.

She’d picked him first, out of all of her choices, this stupid… argh. She’d gone for the insensitive idiot with no brain. And then I’d joined and left her—the second idiot. No wonder she acted as if Brushe hung the moon. She’d traded the good looking ones for loyalty and his mindless, googly eyed, silly drivel. And I supposed Brushe was alright, looks wise, if one found bumbling, mocking oafs attractive… I supposed. He wasn’t goblin shark oddly proportioned.

As if my thoughts had roused her, Per mumbled, Brushe? and then she was shivering, teeth chattering loudly.

What- what’s wrong with her? Brine followed after as I pushed past him. Is she- She’s going to be okay, right?

Does she look okay to you? I snapped.

Hey, fuck you, he snapped back.

Glancing towards him, taking his measure, I raised a single brown eyebrow. You’ve moved on. She meant nothing to you. What do you care? Had he not been having dinners with some Selkie Kelpie chit of late? People talked. I had excellent hearing.

That doesn’t mean I don’t care, Brine barked defensively. His hand lifted as his gaze dropped, a guilty look on his face. I just…

You just are, as your sibling calls you to your face, and everyone else, myself included, behind your back, a giant pussy. There, fucking finally. About time I said something right.

Fuck you, dick. I am not a pussy! Brine’s face