A King's Witch Episode Two

By Odette C. Bell

Melinda and Archie can’t stop now. Not when they’re this close to discovering Mrs. Windley’s killers. But as one secret unravels, more follow.
Soon, it becomes impossible for Melinda to hide her identity and harder for Archie to keep his past buried.
But the truth brings light. Shine it correctly, and it’ll guide your path forward. Make a mistake, and you’ll topple into Hell.
...
A King’s Witch follows a feisty witch and a duke in disguise fighting for their kingdom. If you love your historical fantasies with action, heart, and a splash of romance, grab A King’s Witch Episode Two today and soar free with an Odette C. Bell series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Odette C. Bell
• Release date: May 14, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005929206

Book preview

Chapter 1

Melinda

It had been a week. A full week.

Despite Archie’s tantalizing proposition that they would use the spell core to track down whoever was after him, he kept putting off coming to see her. He’d left messages with Celine, and she was none too pleased that Melinda had contracted herself to someone else.

A fact that was proven as she shot Melinda one of those atrocious snarls only she was capable of. Melinda had just walked into the store for her morning’s duties. She grabbed the apron, wincing as she pulled it on. No, she was no longer injured. Her bruises had healed fabulously. With the correct application of a little magic and a lot of herbs, you couldn’t tell that a week ago, she’d endured the day of her life. And that ever since, her mind had been tying itself up in knots.

Knots that centered around a certain Archibald Windley. If one’s thoughts could consume something like calcification to block off what was within, then hopefully that’s what Melinda’s mind was trying to do. Because the alternative – that she was indeed obsessed with him – was not one she wanted to face.

What time do you call this?

The beginning of my shift, Melinda tried.

I am not looking for a curt response. You should’ve been here earlier. You know the shop girls are sick.

Of you, Melinda finished the thought in her mind, but she daren’t add it out loud.

She walked along the polished counter then grabbed up the duster. She intended to dust the shelves with their expensive high heels and dress shoes for gentlemen. But Celine raced over. She crossed her arms in front of her chest and frowned even more severely. It was the kind of move that sent chills racing up Melinda’s back. Her lips puckered to the side. Yes?

You know he’s abandoned you, hasn’t he? I can’t see why someone of his standing would ever pick someone like you as a witch contract. You can barely cast. If you could, I would’ve contracted you long ago.

Melinda stared dead ahead. She tried to work her lips into something that could be classed as a smile. The best she managed was a twitching line. Several days ago, she would’ve snapped back at Celine that she had no choice in the matter. Archibald had done what he wanted to. Because that was exactly what his explosive personality did.

Now, as the days ticked by and he failed to contact her, Melinda’s defenses were slipping.

She’d done a good job, hadn’t she? Or perhaps she’d done too good a job. Maybe he was busy talking to the King about her or tracking down her secret. Maybe—

Quick, get behind the counter. It’s the Dame.

To be fair, there were many dames in this city. As the capital city of the kingdom, it was where most of the aristocrats lived. But there was only one that everyone referred to as the Dame. Marlene Kilkenny embodied every single bad attribute you had ever heard of when it came to the rich. And as she sauntered through the shop door now, her contracted witch darted in behind her like an embarrassed minnow.

One that suddenly locked eyes with Melinda. This wasn’t the first time they’d looked at one another. It was customary for one witch to recognize that another had walked in front of them. But Melinda could tell that her gaze had demonstrably changed since the last time they’d met.

… Stories hadn’t started to spread about Melinda, had they? She’d only followed Archie around for a day.

Just before she could slip back into paranoia, the Dame walked straight over to her. Melinda still had the feather duster in her hand.

Drop it, Celine muttered.

Melinda whipped it around her back, but before she could, the Dame leaned over and snatched up her wrist.

Fear shot through Melinda. It was as quick as an uncontrolled horse bolting from its master. Ah—

So good to see that you’re healthy and that you managed to get out of his clutches, you poor dear.

… His clutches?

Seven days ago, after Archie had walked her home, after he’d tantalizingly told her that they would soon track down the clue but not that night, she’d believed her life would change for good. Because it certainly had felt as if she was stuck in his clutches. Now, with the rogue duke nowhere to be seen, she was stuck precisely back where she’d started.

She knew the importance of being polite around the Dame, but her lips still twitched a little too hard.

Trust her, the Dame’s twitched harder. He’s abandoned you, hasn’t he? Found somebody far more powerful to spend his time with, has he? You know, I didn’t know you were a powerful witch to begin with.

The Dame still held Melinda’s hand. I’m not, she stammered quickly.

I’m sure it doesn’t matter. I could always do with another contract. This one is so wishy-washy. She dismissively indicated her own witch with a flick of her hand.

You know, after all these years of the Dame coming to the shoe shop practically weekly, Melinda still didn’t know the witch’s name. Because that was not a priority. She was nothing more than an adornment – like one of the Dame’s rings. Perhaps a poisonous one.

And if Melinda was stupid enough to ever make a contract with the Dame, she would become the same.

Do not read the rules to me, child – I’m well aware of them. But when Archie finally cancels the contract, you will come to me. Her voice was hard – her grip even harder.

Melinda wanted to yank her hand back, but the cost would be too high.

She made the mistake of looking at the Dame’s witch. The woman’s expression was dour. It was clear she was used to hiding her feelings. But if Melinda ever came under the Dame’s control, that witch would not hide her beatings.

I—

Celine snarled quietly. She didn’t have to say it for Melinda to know what she wanted. Because what Celine wanted was whatever the Dame wanted. And if the Dame wanted Melinda, she would have to give herself freely—

What do you say? The Dame brought her face close.

Her rather iridescent red-gray hair actually touched Melinda’s cheek. She couldn’t recede back far enough. I—

She’s contracted to me. She will remain contracted to me, and, one would think, considering your status, you would know better than this, Marlene Kilkenny, a baritone voice coming from a broad chest rumbled through the door just as it opened.

How Archie had heard all of that out on the street, Melinda didn’t know, and she didn’t care.

She whipped her head toward him so fast, she didn’t draw a curtain over her expression in time. She let all her feelings show, and trust her, there were so many to be had. If you’d made the mistake of stabbing her in the heart, she would’ve flooded the very room with them.

But the feelings quickly turned into questions, and they, as always, warped into anger.

If he’d always intended to come to get her and had no intention of breaking the contract, why on earth had he waited a week?

He looked at her once, his lips pressing into the faintest smile. It mightn’t be much, but that would deny the effect it had on her. Give her even a glimmer of his attention right now, and her overactive imagination would build it into a fabulous castle of affection.

Archie walked over. He stared at the Dame pointedly. Then he reached in and grabbed her hand – regardless of her status – and lightly pulled it off Melinda’s wrist.

As soon as Melinda was free, she jolted backward. She pushed behind the counter, hoping it would offer her some protection. Though perhaps she should’ve moved behind Archie instead.

The Dame slowly looked up at his hand. Do you mind?

No, I’m just emphasizing my point. Please do not take what is not yours. You are old enough to know that is not the done thing. He finally dropped her hand.

The Dame looked like she was about to explode. Steam should’ve issued from her lips and smoke should’ve pulsed out of her ears. How dare—

He looked at her once. Finish your sentence. He dropped that like the threat it was. A threat that, you would think, considering their comparative social status, he shouldn’t dare to make.

Melinda swore the air became icy cold. Why crystals didn’t start gathering over the counter and floor underneath them, she didn’t know.

The Dame cleared her throat. She looked at her witch. There are no shoes I wish to buy here today. The company is awful. She picked up her skirts and hurried out of the door.

What did you do, you stupid witch? Celine snarled.

Archibald slowly turned on her. It seemed that he wasn’t done transforming the air to ice. What, in the intervening week, had he forgotten how to move quickly? Had he become practically glacial?

She could think that humorously, but she soon froze on the inside. What if he’d been terribly sick? He’d been so injured. What about the wound to his hip and the one to his chest?

She went to reach toward him, but his eyes slid toward her once more. It was like he was telling her that could come later.

Right now he had something to do. He faced Celine. You have something to say to my witch? Because, please understand, that interaction had nothing to do with you. The Dame was making a request for her services as a witch – not a shop assistant. And, his voice deepened, you do not have any say in this matter.

Celine straightened. It was clear she didn’t like that he’d corrected her. It was just as clear that she didn’t want to try her luck further.

She didn’t treat him as cautiously as the