Lucy’s Wish

By Mona Hanna

Lucy Bluebell is a quiet young witch working in a magic shop in her busy town, trying to keep it running after her parents retired. She keeps to herself, avoiding most people after an unkind warlock broke her heart. She has a wish, however: to meet a kind, caring man, who’ll always love and cherish her. Someone she can love with her whole heart. Someone safe who she can rely on.

Warren Lewiston is embroiled in a dark plan and needs Lucy’s help, even though he knows he’s putting her in danger. His goal is to save his friend Sarah; his enemy Saxton will release her only if the plan goes off without a hitch. Warren has to work with Saxton, doing what he asks, or Sarah will never be free.

But then things get messy. Lucy and Warren become hunted. Saxton becomes more threatening. Warren realizes he may lose his friend while endangering a woman he’s falling for. Lucy thinks she’s falling in love with a man who loves another. No one knows who will survive.

In the end Lucy doesn’t know if she’ll ever get her wish.

This is a NOVELLA of approximately 35,000 words.

• Language: English
• Publisher: M. Hanna
• Release date: Sep 24, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370568499

Mona Hanna

Mona Hanna is an author of fantasy/romance books. She enjoys writing about love, magic, conflict, trials and the joy of overcoming them. Mona enjoys reading, movies, chocolate, and adores cats. She hopes to release many more fantasy books in the years to come.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Lucy laid the piece of paper before her, taking a deep breath. She sat at the desk in her bedroom, wondering if she should do this. She felt it was be foolish to write her thoughts down—she would be so embarrassed if someone found her note—but maybe if her dream was in writing, it would come true. She dipped her quill in ink, put her hand to her heart, and began to write.

My wish

Let him be sweet and kind, with a warm, tender heart.

Let him be gentle, never brash nor loud, never desperately seeking attention.

Let him see the good in people, the good that others never see. Let him be someone who knows there’s more to people than what you first see. More than what others judge you by.

Let him be intelligent and wise.

Let him be quiet, softly spoken, and sensitive.

Let him be someone who’ll always love me, always stand by me, no matter what.

Let him be someone who’ll always love me.

Let him exist.

She put down the quill, feeling slightly like a fool. But she’d had her heart broken so badly, been so desperately in love with the wrong man, that she just wanted things to go right next time. She wasn’t going to seek love, but if it came to her, let him be like she wished. And she would love him with her whole heart.

She placed the paper in the top drawer of her dark wooden desk, then turned and walked down the stairs of her large home. The house was far too big for just her, but her parents had left it to her when they retired, along with the magic shop. They had decided to travel, see the world, and they left everything to her. Lucy was tired—she had to make dinner, then work on the accounting books for the shop. Running the shop had exhausted her since she had taken it over last year when she turned twenty-one. But her life was just work. Maybe one day, it would be work, and him.

***

Two weeks later Lucy was in the magic shop, organizing the shelves of potions. The medium-sized place was warm and comforting, always smelling of lavender from the scented candles. The shelves, the tables, and the wooden counter where she served customers were made of a warm brown wood, weathered with age. A large maroon rug covered the floor, and thin rose-colored curtains were always drawn across the windows. To the left of the shop were shelves full of magic books, their contents carefully filled by dutiful scribes, and to the right, shelves of potions, powders, crystals, and stones. Tables throughout the center of the shop held colored scarves, handkerchiefs, and trinkets of no magical value, designed to entice visitors who weren’t warlocks or witches. People without magic visited her shop, also. Lucy was happy for any customers.

Towards the end of a quiet day, she was getting ready to close up when the bell at the door chimed, indicating a visitor. Lucy turned and saw a tall young man with brown hair walk in. He looked around for a moment, then immediately went to the shelves of powders.

Lucy stayed still for a short while, a little nervous, and then she moved to his side. Can I help you? she asked quietly, moving her long, wavy brown hair over her shoulder.

He just frowned, not looking at her. Where is the Merlon powder? Don’t tell me you don’t have any.

Lucy reached up to the second to the top shelf and retrieved a paper packet of the dark-red powder.

The man snatched it out of her hand. Is this all? I need twice this much. Don’t you have more?

She pursed her lips, hating customers like this. It’s not as if she was going out of her way to make his life difficult. I have more out the back. Just wait here.

The man sighed loudly. Fine. But hurry. I need to get moving.

Lucy turned and walked to the door leading to the store room, rolling her eyes. Idiot. She was gone a short while, having to move aside some items to retrieve more of the powder. When she walked back into the shop, the man was leaning on the wooden counter, staring at her. She swallowed nervously, then walked up to him. How much...

I’ll take all of it. Saves me coming back.

She looked into his dark eyes, wondering what was wrong with him. To her displeasure she found him very handsome—soft brown hair curling at his nape, perfectly straight nose, full lips. The man’s arrogance, however, lessened her attraction. The sooner he was out of there, the better.

She told the man the price of the powder, and he handed her a silver coin, putting the paper packets in his satchel. Lucy fumbled with his change, handing him a few coins. He pocketed them, then straightened. She looked up at him—she was of average height but barely reached his shoulders.

He stared at her, frowning. To her surprise he leaned forward. You look far too young to be responsible for such an important business. Are you even an adult?

Lucy gritted her teeth, not wanting to yell at him. She could never yell at a customer—it broke all her rules. She took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. I’m twenty-two. I’m more than responsible enough to look after this shop, and have been managing it fine for nearly a year. It’s time for me to close up—if you don’t mind.

She gestured towards the door, and he turned. For a split second, she thought she saw a smile touch his lips. He opened the door briskly, then walked out, but before the door swung shut, he turned and held it open with his hand. Lucy looked at him from behind the counter. He gazed at her for a moment, then walked away.

She sighed loudly. Arrogant warlocks were the worst of all arrogant men. She knew. She’d fallen in love with one. But never again.

***

A week passed with some busy days and some quiet days. Lucy worked well, selling a lot of items, keeping the shop going. She filled her nights with reading or more work, taking papers home with her. She felt a loneliness deep in her heart but tried to ignore it with busyness. It was better than nothing.

Near the end of one day, Lucy heard the bell at the door chime, and looked up to see the same man who had been rude to her a week ago. She took in her breath—she was surprised to find her heart starting to beat faster and her body filled with nervousness. Damn. Thoughts of the man had entered her mind since she’d last seen him, but she had always cast them out. She had told herself not to think of him. But there he was, right in front of her.

He walked in, this time going straight up to the counter. He leaned on it again, his elbow resting on the smooth surface, and waited for her to move behind it.

She bit her lip, standing before him. What would you like this time? she asked quietly. He smiled, but Lucy didn’t like it. She sensed she was going to say something she didn’t want to hear.

I’m after something you’re not going to have here. It’s something rare, hard to find. You’ve heard of Smyten crystals?

Lucy let out a gasp, not believing what she was hearing. She looked at her hands, busying them by sorting out some papers before her. This was bad. I can’t obtain those for you, and you know it, she said nervously. I’d be imprisoned for having them, and you’d be imprisoned for buying them from me. I don’t deal with dark magic. I’m sorry, but you’ll have to go somewhere else.

There was a horrible pause where she felt he might become angry with her. Someone who wanted those crystals could only want to cast a dark, dark spell. She kept looking down, then met his gaze.

He was looking at her with sadness in his eyes. Lucy, it’s not what you think, he said quietly. And believe me, I’ve gone everywhere else. You’re my last hope. I promise you, we won’t get in trouble. I’ll be careful, but I really need this. Please.

She chewed on her lip, wondering many things, not the least of which how he knew her name. But that wasn’t the most pertinent question.

What’s your name? Who are you? What kind of spell do you want to cast?

He looked down. I can’t tell you that. Not yet. Can you at least look into buying the crystals? I’ll come back in three days—you can tell me then whether or not you’ll help me. Then I’ll tell you what you need to know. But I swear, I’m not trying to hurt anyone. I’m not that kind of man.

She took in her breath, butterflies swirling in her stomach. He seemed... different from last week. But it didn’t please her—he scared her a little. And made her heart race.

I’ll—I’ll think about it. That’s all I can say, she said. But I won’t get a thing for you until I know who you are.

He smiled at her, his dark eyes crinkling at the sides. He straightened, his expression becoming softer. I’ll tell you in three days. Remember, find out where you can get the crystals. I’ll need at least ten. It’ll mean a lot to me. He turned and walked towards the door, again pausing as he held it open. He looked at her, and she wondered what was going on. He stared at her quietly for a moment, then walked out.

Lucy let out a huge breath, the man affecting her more than she liked. She didn’t want anything to do with him—he was strange, confrontational and involved in something ugly. He was exactly who she should avoid.

But she couldn’t help but be filled with excitement at the thought of seeing him again. He would be back soon. Was she going to help him? Would she do this for him? She knew she shouldn’t. Deep down, she knew she shouldn’t.

But oh, her heart. She had to nip this in the bud. There was no way she was letting him in. At least, not if she could help it...

***