The Light Calling

By Juliana Haygert

Sadie, a clueless witch, finds out there's more to her magic when a group of witch hunters come for her--and a brooding warrior saves her.

 

A Rite World Story

 

***

 

WECOME TO THE RITE WORLD:

 

Novella:

The Vampire Hunt

 

Rite World:

The Vampire Heir (Book 1)

The Witch Queen (Book 2)

The Immortal Vow (Book 3)

The Warlock Lord (Book 4)

The Wolf Consort (Book 5)

The Crystal Rose (Book 6)

The Wolf Forsaken (Book 7)

The Fae Bound (Book 8)

The Blood Pact (Book 9)

 

Rite World: Blackthorn Hunters Academy

The Demons Kiss (Book 1)

The Hunter Secret (Book 2)

The Soul Bond (Book 3)

The Shadow Trials (Book 4)

The Immortal Vow (Book 5)

 

And more to come!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Juliana Haygert
• Release date: Mar 28, 2021
• ISBN: 9781386047865

Book preview

1

In the early mornings and evenings, the inside of the coffee shop looked like a rainbow—each person shining a different color, a different shade, and forever changing. But now, fifteen minutes to closing time, there were only a handful of auras inside the dimly lit place.

I saw a guy shining green and the girl with him hinting at a pink, an older man glinting a soft blue, and behind the counter, Piper shining a bright yellow.

She caught my eye and smiled at me before returning to work. She often worked night shifts at this shitty coffee shop in this shitty town in the middle of nowhere Mississippi, and as her best friend and roommate, I came to stay with her. Even though she had a car to drive herself across town back to campus, I didn’t like to leave her in this shady neighborhood alone.

As usual, I had taken a side booth from where I could see the front door and the back counter, and had my books spread over the table. I took advantage of this time to work on my school projects and study.

I saw the glow of her aura approaching me before I actually saw her. Smiling, Piper rested a tray with a caramel latte in front of me and took the seat across the table.

It’s decaf, she said.

The corner of my lips curled up. Thank you. I picked up the mug with both hands and brought it to my face, inhaling the sweet scent deeply. Caramel and I had a problem. I was addicted to anything caramel.

She chuckled. One could say that mug is your boyfriend.

It might as well be, I said, losing my smile. I was twenty years old and had only kissed a guy once—and I had been eighteen then. I had gone out on dates with two other guys since, but nothing had come of it.

Because I wouldn’t allow it to become more.

I couldn’t.

Sadie, Piper snapped, reprimand in her tone. Whenever she pretended to be mad at me, it was actually really funny. Piper was a beautiful brunette with thick eyebrows and full hair that went down to her shoulders and in perfect coils. She looked tough, but she was actually the sweetest person I had ever met. Not that I had gotten close to many people. You’re beautiful. You could get any guy you want. She leaned over the table and glanced at the couple on the other side of the coffee shop. Whenever she’s not looking, that guy keeps stealing glances at you, she whispered.

What? He did not.

I’m telling you!

But … his aura was green, the color of jealousy, among other things. By the way he seemed upset, I thought he was jealous of his girlfriend. Unless I was misreading the color …

I wasn’t blind. I knew I wasn’t ugly, though I sure wasn’t the most beautiful out there as Piper made it sound. My long, light-brown hair was too frizzy and often messy, my fair skin made me look like a ghost most of the time, and the many freckles across my thin nose bothered me sometimes.

But whether I was beautiful or not wasn’t the problem. The problem was much bigger than that. And this problem was actually a secret I kept hidden all my life. A secret I wanted to share with Piper, but I was afraid of her reaction.

I was sure she would call me a freak, like others had, and avoid me. Or worse.

I glanced at my phone over the table. Only ten more minutes, I said.

If they ever leave. I knew she meant the couple and the older man.

We’ll make them leave.

She smiled. I would like to see that. She sighed and stood. Time to go back to work. Or pretend at least.

Piper went back to the bar, grabbed a rag, and began wiping the counters again. I didn’t understand why she worked here, in this hole on the wall. There were so many coffee shops and restaurants near campus, I was sure she could find a job there, but she insisted on staying here. Despite the time it took to drive here, it didn’t pay much more than those other jobs would. She could save on time and gas, but she always said the same thing: a sweet, old woman owned the coffeeshop and Piper felt bad for her. The woman always sent her home with leftovers, which were delicious, or some extra money, and treated Piper like a dear granddaughter.

Still, she would have to leave someday, even if it was only after graduation.

Finally, five minutes later, the couple and the older man left. And a minute later, a man entered the coffee shop, his aura a mix of brown and gray.

I frowned as he walked past my table, bumped into the booth across the corridor, knocked the caddy with napkins and plastic utensils over, and kept walking as if nothing had happened.

On instinct, magic ran down my arm and my hand shot out. The caddy froze mid-air. Panic rushed through me as I realized what I had done, and quickly picked up the thing and placed it over the table. I scanned around, but apparently Piper and the man hadn’t seen anything.

My heart racing, I sat back down on my booth.

I tried focusing on my books, but the gleam of the man’s aura caught my eye. As he talked to Piper, who smiled at him like she always did with all customers, it was gradually darkening.

I didn’t like that.

His words came out in a rush, a mix of groans and snarls I couldn’t quite make out. His aura darkened some more. Piper’s smile faded, and her aura gained a few blue sparks.

I rose to my feet just as he pulled a gun from the inside of his jacket and pointed it at Piper. My heart lurched into my throat as Piper froze, her face going pale, and her aura turning dark blue—fear.

Now! he yelled, pushing the gun to her face. Piper didn’t move and her aura pulsated with her fear. Do it, or I’ll shoot!

The man pulled the safety and cocked the gun. His aura was pitch black now.

He was going to shoot.

He was going to kill Piper.

Time slowed and I saw as his finger flexed over the trigger. Magic coursed through my body, filling me with pure power, more power than I had ever