Demons Are Forever: Magic and Mayhem Universe

By Marianne Morea

What's a demi-demon to do when the Queen of all Witches decides you're her new it girl?

I'm Linzie Hellborne. A black leather wearing half-demon/half-witch neither side of my DNA wants to claim. I guess that makes me the perfect candidate for a covert mission to Bumfuck Bayou. An armpit in the middle of the swamp where nefarious activities have caught the attention of the Goddess. Or at least that's what the queen of all witches, the Baba Yaga, AKA Carol, believes after she and her buddy Roy Bermangoggleshitz ambushed me at my BFF Tabitha's wedding. My mission? Uncover the source of the shenanigans and report back. Tabitha warned dabbling with my dark side was dangerous. But I don't know which is worse, heading to a swamp to trap an illegal blood ring, or that my cover requires that I wear pastels. Either way, I'm headed to Mosquitoville to catch a different kind of bloodsucker. Care to come along?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Marianne Morea
• Release date: Jun 21, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201167745

Book preview

Chapter One

Is Carol here? Tabitha asked, fanning her underarms. The witch makes me nervous sweat, even on my wedding day.

I peeked through the bride’s tent curtain. Front row and center. Her and some gorgeous ginger guy, and I don’t usually like redheads.

My best friend shot me a look. "Sorry, Tabs. I didn’t mean you, but you know what I meant."

You’re just lucky I speak fluent Linzie. You can hide it all you want, but I think Carol makes you nervous, too.

I smoothed a few stray red hairs back into Tabitha’s ornate braid. I’m a demi-demon. She’s the Baba Yaga—the most powerful witch of all. Of course she makes me jumpy.

Tabs hugged me, before turning me around to peek through the tent again. Keep me occupied. Who else is here?

Looks like Roy is here with Marge.

See? Tabitha gestured toward the tent flap. "He was kind of a demon and now he’s hooked up with Carol’s sister, and she’s second only to Baba when it comes to power."

I snorted. Damn, you’d never know Marge is the Baba Yaga’s sister. She’s stylish as well as gorgeous.

Ugh. Tabs rolled her eyes, fixing the silver combs in her hair. I’m not even going to ask what Baba’s wearing.

I laughed. "Think Dynasty and you’ll get the picture."

Shoulder pads?

Yep. Linebacker sized.

Tabitha’s dad pulled the tent flap back and touched his watch. Get a move on, girls. It’s showtime.

I gave Tab’s shoulders a squeeze, pecking her cheek. Let’s go, witchiepoo.

Tabitha stepped back, dragging in a steadying breath. Hey, you’re half witchiepoo yourself, babe. With a wink, she picked up both our bouquets, holding the smaller one out for me. I couldn’t do this without you, Linz. You know that, right?

Tears threatened in my friend’s eyes, and I wasn’t having it. Not on her wedding day. Tabs, stop. I already told you, I’m NOT going to be your sister wife. Michael’s cool and all, but totally not my type.

Tabitha blinked for a second, and then burst out laughing. I love you, demon-face.

Ugh. Don’t wish that on anyone. Multiple eyes and smelling like shit on a stick will totally ruin my chances at wedding sex.

My friend’s smile reminded me of days we played hooky from school. Full of devil-may-care mischief and hope. How does a demon manage to look so charming and angelic? she asked, angling her head.

I shrugged, lifting my bouquet. I’m a Hellborne. It’s part of the camouflage. Half demon, actually. Half healer witch, as well. My mother had a hook-up with a demon-turned-semi-good-guy, whose reformed status allowed him to assume human form. It’s why my short jet-black hair had unusual highlights that sparkled when they caught the light.

Music swelled outside the bridal tent. It was time. Tabitha’s smile was everything a bride’s smile should be as she stepped out of the tent. Honest. Happy. Honored. But mostly happy.

Was I excited for my BFF? Of course. But for myself, not so much. I’m a demi-demon. Selfless isn’t a natural state for me, despite my half-healer-witch chromosomes. Par for the course when your sperm donor father exits stage left, and your witch of a mother doesn’t fill you in on her half of your genetic makeup. Needless to say, I don’t do well with change. And life was about to change big time.

The reception was in full swing, the atmosphere relaxed as I stood at the bar across from the dance floor. My BFF never looked happier, even when Michael stepped on her two left feet.

Hey, baby. Some wedding, huh.

I turned, hoping I got the voice wrong.

No such luck.

Dallas Crowe, a.k.a. Jackwagon Pony Dong Eater, leaned on the bar just a few feet from where I stood. He was Tabitha’s ex, and I warned her he’d find a way to make trouble. Dallas spent the last month trashing Tabitha and Michael, mostly because he was butthurt. Not because Tabby dumped him. No.

She’d caught him red-handed, sticky fingering her credit card to buy another girl a pack of edible panties. Michael flattened him for it, and I used my dark side, so he’d pony up.

Dallas fingered the damp napkin under his beer. I figure a down and dirty demon-bitch like you would have an itch that needs scratching by now. The leer on his face made my eyes prickle. Not a good sign

The moron lifted a hand to brush knuckles down my bare arm. Seriously. The dude was as dumb as a bag of kitty litter.

My eyeballs stung. A telltale sign my blue eyes had flashed over solid black. The moron’s hand went rigid before clasping his beer. Gaze locked, I watched him fight the compulsion, but nope. He lifted the drink, pouring the entire glass over his own head.

That’s quite a trick.

I jerked around at the coarse, deep voice behind me, only to find Roy Bermangoggleshitz standing a few feet away. It comes in handy, I replied, contemplating adding my whiskey to Dallas’s beer bath.

I’m sure, he countered, leaning in closer. Except, from the black ring lingering around those pretty blue irises, my guess is those tricks are getting harder to control.

I’m fine, Roy.

He nodded. You are…for now. Reaching over the bar, he snagged a drink towel, handing it to me. Release him, Linzie. Before Tabitha notices.

Why? He’s a pig and a gatecrasher. An uninvited guest here to make trouble. He’s lucky I didn’t do worse.

At Roy’s unblinking stare, I exhaled a grumble. Fine. But only for Tabitha’s sake.

Dallas coughed, pushing beer soaked hair from his face as I released him from thrall. What the hell? he sputtered.

"No, what the Hellborne. I shoved the bar towel at his chest. If I were you, I’d leave now before you make me do something I won’t regret. Like make you the main course at a shark feeding frenzy."

Fucking witches!

Not really, but if you slap a capital B on that you’re in the ballpark.

Roy cleared his throat, grabbing my attention.

Fine, I grumbled again. Dallas, you need to leave. You’re outnumbered. One whistle and a pack of wolf-shifters will do the work of removing you for me. Piece by piece.

The idiot turned with a glare, but left the way he came. Huh. I guess the dickwad isn’t as stupid as I thought.

Hmmm.

Roy’s non-reply got under my skin. And why was he still at the bar? Dallas was gone. Mission accomplished.

Tabitha and Michael look good together, don’tcha think? Then again, if Halloween creatures are real then maybe fairytale endings are, too…or maybe it’s just the full moon.

I wouldn’t know, I replied. You’ll have to ask one of the furry and fabu.

He grinned at that. You sound like Zelda.

I didn’t reply. Zelda was Tabitha’s friend. I knew she was a shifter whisperer, or something to that effect, but I had never met her. Tabs was disappointed her magical pokey buddy couldn’t make the wedding, but hey.

You and Marge enjoying yourselves? I asked to be polite, still not knowing why he hung around.

Considering I didn’t arrive in a cloud of acrid green smoke with black snakes writhing around my feet, I’d say so.

No, I replied, following his gaze, just a soft swirl that smells like fresh-baked cookies.

Roy’s eyes slipped to the table where his gorgeous Cookie Witch sat talking with Tabitha’s parents. Marge comes with all kinds of perks. His soft grin reminded me of Michael when he watched Tabitha unawares.

"Why are you here, Roy? And don’t say because you were invited. I mean here, here." I tapped the bar.

He didn’t seem surprised at my question. Call it demon intuition, but I knew he was about to drop something I wasn’t going to like.

Your eyes,