Two for Joy

By Dawn Ibanez

Everything will fall apart when the crows begin to count…

The Protector

Grayson Fleisher: Earth witch. Playboy. A man with his fair share of secrets… and more than his fair share of power.

The Wind Witch

Damaris Jackson: Wind witch. Half-werewolf. A woman that wants revenge against the man that killed her mo

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nightwhisper Publishing
• Release date: Aug 29, 2018
• ISBN: 9780692183441

Dawn Ibanez

Dawn Ibanez was born and raised on Staten Island, New York. Her love of reading was instilled in her from a young age, but her love of storytelling was something that has taken off since she discovered anime. After moving up and down the east coast at various points in her life, Dawn has found a home in Maryland with her doppelganger of a daughter and their aquarium.

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Copyright © 2018 Dawn Ibanez

All rights reserved.

ISBN-13: 9780692183441

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

There are so many people to thank. Writing this novel has truly been a wild ride and if it hadn’t been for the wonderful, and head-strong people in my life, this wouldn’t have been possible. T.B. Bond, my rock and soundboard. Ivy Quinn, my cheerleader. And Alexandra Christle, the woman that probably wants to hit me with the filter stick. LOL.

Love you all!

And on to the next adventure!

Dawn.

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to the person that has been my joy for longer than I care to admit.

Chloe -Adrianna

I may be the weird mom. It may seem like I only live to torment you, but I love you more than words could ever say.

Prologue

Snow fell on the streets as the townspeople prepared to ring in the new year. The citizens of the small historic town of Eden’s Den gathered together to take part in the traditional bell ringing ceremony. Most of the members of the church gathered together in front of the steps with tables and chairs, everyone ready to celebrate with their close family and friends. To anyone looking in, Eden’s Den looked like the perfect tight-knit community.

Damaris Jackson knew better.

She hadn’t been welcomed in their presence since her powers slipped from her control. Her gaze shifted to the people below her. It was easier to write off the pastor’s daughter as some Satan-worshiping, Hell-bound witch instead of a girl who was simply born with magic.

Simply put, she was a wind witch. Her mother would know. The woman was one herself.

The town hadn’t turned their backs on Jane Jackson, though. Jane had been able to hide what she was. Damaris tied off the color of yarn she was using and turned her attention back to the blanket she had been crocheting. With another row, it would be finished.

Movement from the corner of her eye made her look up. Jane stood at the trap door and motioned toward her ears.

Damaris reached up and pulled out her ear plugs. Noise flooded her. She rubbed at her ears for a moment before turning her full attention to her mother. You need me to do something? she asked.

Jane smiled as she approached her daughter. Sarah is going to love that. She gestured to the blanket over Damaris’s legs. Why don’t you come downstairs with everyone?

Any amusement she tried to fake soon faded. I like my belfry, the teen answered. She glanced at her mother and saw her look of disappointment. Honestly, Momma, the wind already carries their voices. I don’t need to feel their stares, too. Damaris turned to her bag of yarn and found a coordinating green to go with the blue already in the blanket. Daddy said that as long as I don’t cause trouble, I can stay up here, so I do.

Jane sat on the floor next to the mattress Damaris sat on. I wish I could take you away from all this. Her voice was tender and fully of regret.

Damaris had heard that whispered statement before. She looked into brown eyes that matched hers. Then why don’t you? she challenged. When Jane’s head lowered, she continued. For years, all you’ve told me was that I was born this way, and I can’t change that. For years, everyone has called me a freak, and said how I’m destined to go to Hell to repent for sins that I’ve never committed. I’ve been blamed for everything wrong with this stupid little town, and your only defense is that you wish you could take me away. Why?

Jane reached up and touched her daughter’s face. I lived a different life before I had you. She covered Damaris’s hands with hers. I wasn’t always a good person. I was friends with a woman—Olivia—who needed me to do awful things. Over time, it became too much. I went on a mission, and when push came to shove, I couldn’t complete it. Her executioner chased me down, beat me, and nearly killed me. I fell into the water, came downstream, and your father found me. He nursed me back to health, and we found out I was pregnant with you.

She couldn’t have heard right. Damaris jumped to her feet and started to pace. So you’re trying to say that Daddy isn’t my daddy? This had to be a twisted joke. Her mother wasn’t a woman who would fool around. She certainly wasn’t one who would go on dangerous missions. She was a pastor’s wife. She ran the local bake sales.

Jane’s gaze was focused on the incomplete blanket in her hands. No, he’s not. Your biological father is the man who tried to kill me. Jane stood and stepped into Damaris’s path. And if he knew you existed, he and Olivia would be after you. Jane frowned as Damaris shook her head.

I don’t believe you. Damaris would have heard something. Rumors from other children just being mean. The ignorant ramblings of the townspeople who lived here before Jane came to town. There would have been some sort of whispers in the wind.

Jane shook her head. I know what you’re thinking. But remember, you may be powerful, but I learned to control the wind before I was a teenager. And we hid it well. Joseph wasn’t about to turn you over to the likes of Olivia, or your father.

Damaris fought tears as she moved away from the stranger that wore her mother’s face. Joseph Jackson was a pastor who would fight to his last breath for his congregation. But that never included his daughter. Actually, that did make sense. She wasn’t his daughter, so why would he try to protect her?

I got my hands on some information that said Olivia was coming to North Carolina. I thought she was coming for you. So in a way, I traded magics with you.

Traded magics? A chill went down Damaris’s spine. The day her magic went out of control. Since then, her magic steadily grew stronger, while her mother seemed to grow weaker. Damaris looked into her mother’s serious face and swallowed. This was too much information to be given at one time. Her mother rarely spoke about their magic. And even then, it was only on a need-to-know basis. Why are you telling me all of this? she asked.

Because bad things are coming tonight, Baby. And yes, I was stupid for not trusting you with your secrets. But I need for you to be ready when they come.

Everything clicked into place as she looked into Jane’s eyes. The confessions made perfect sense if she thought she was going to die. Tears filled her eyes as Damaris held out her ear plugs. Here. Stay up here and I’ll deal with everyone. I’ll swallow whatever they throw at me tonight and say that you needed to rest. Everything will be fine in the morning.

Jane stepped forward and pressed her lips to Damaris’s forehead. I love you, Baby, she whispered. A werewolf’s bite will change you. Don’t get bitten.

Before Damaris could ask what she meant, the air around her thinned. Jane’s tear-filled eyes were the last thing she saw before everything went black.

Damaris woke gasping for air. The church bell swung above her. The tolls of the bell sent vibrations through her body. Jane replaced her earplugs and left her on the mattress. Thoughts of her mother ran circles in her mind. Damaris looked over the ledge at the town below and gasped in horror.

The town of Eden’s Den was in flames.

People ran everywhere. Cars backed into each other as others piled in and tried to get away. The tables set up for the church’s celebration were all overturned and crushed. But what snared Damaris was the sight of a strange man standing over her mother’s prone body.

The sight registered in her mind, and she screamed. Momma!

The man looked up at her. Damaris snarled before jumping out of the belfry. The wind currents caught her and took her to the man that still had her mother’s blood on his hands. As her feet touched the ground she ran at him. He caught her around the throat and lifted her to his height. She saw his lips moving but didn’t care what he had to say to her. She lifted her leg and added her magic to the kick she landed in his armpit. As he released her, she swung a punch at his face. Damaris fell back on the ground and glared at the man that now moved away from her. A trail of blood went down the side of his face as he continued to talk to her.

Wind magic circled around her. His words were meaningless. All that mattered was that her mother was at his feet. She rushed him again, the wind pushing her faster than she ever dared to move before. As she reached the man, he blocked every punch she threw. She gasped when his leg slammed into her stomach and threw her into a far tree. Damaris fell face first into the cold snow and tried to catch her breath. Before she could move, a heavy weight settled on her back.

The person on her back removed the earplug from one ear. Damaris’s body froze as she was suddenly assaulted by the townspeople’s screams and gunfire. She struggled to push herself up on her arms, only to feel the same hand pull the plug from the other ear. She searched around but whatever was on her was too heavy.

These are actually pretty well made. A woman leaned over Damaris’s shoulder and brushed her dark hair away from her face. Are these to protect your little wolf ears? she asked tracing the outer shell of her ear.

Damaris screamed as she tried to gather wind around her. The weight of the woman on top of her started to lighten. She would find a way to get her hands on the man who killed her mother.

The woman slammed her fist into Damaris’s cheek. The shock of pain dazed her as the woman grabbed a handful of her hair and pulled her to her feet. Don’t try to play with the big dogs, Puppy. You won’t like getting bit. Rage filled her turquoise eyes as shook Damaris.

A breeze caressed Damaris’s cheek, and she stilled. She gathered her magic and commanded the wind to cut her hair. As the woman fell back, Damaris slammed her fist into the woman’s chest. With the force of the wind at her disposal, Damaris threw the woman back to where the man with the brown hair stood. When he caught the woman, Damaris forced herself to move. Both were out of her league. If she fought, her blood would cover the streets by morning. And while part of her wondered how peaceful that would be, a small voice inside of her wanted revenge more.

At least two people walked in the snow behind her. Damaris moved back against the tree but didn’t take her eyes off the pair in front of her. The other pair stepped out of the shadows.

A tall woman with long black hair glanced at Damaris before focusing on the man across the clearing. Your task is done, Vincent. It’s time you take your pack home before I release my hunters.

The man growled low. She’s mine.

Damaris felt like the air was knocked out of her again. This had to be the man her mother tried to tell her about. After all this time, her father came back and finished what he started. Tears spilled from her eyes, and she wiped her face. I don’t belong to you, she said, with a shake of her head.

The strange brunette shrugged. She’s made her choice. You can respect it and go, or you can deal with my men.

Damaris heard movement behind her. She turned and saw more shadowed figures moving toward them. A growl reached her ears, and she brought her attention back to her mother’s killer. She wasn’t strong enough to take him on. Yet. But one day, she would avenge her mother. This isn’t over, she whispered into the wind.

His eyes narrowed for a moment before he gave her a vicious smile. Then come find me, Girl, he replied.

A gentle hand stopped her when she would have moved forward. The brunette kept her gaze trained on the large man and his partner. Leave, Vincent. This is your last warning.

He spat on the ground before he obeyed the order. The woman at his side kept her head lowered as she moved to leave with him. When they passed Jane’s body, Vincent kicked it out of his way.

Damaris didn’t realize she moved. One moment, she was standing next to the brunette, the next she was halfway across the field. Another stranger looked at her with dark eyes. Get out of my way, she yelled.

The stranger shook his head. Your mother wouldn’t want me to do that, he replied. He touched Damaris’s chin and lifted her face to his. You’re not strong enough to take on Vincent.

The brunette woman stepped over to where Damaris stood. Your mother was very respected. Please don’t disgrace her memory by spilling blood on holy ground.

Damaris’s eyes widened as she moved away from the couple. She turned and looked at the church she called home, and fought not to scream. There were nearly a dozen people huddled near the church doors. Closer to the street, her father’s body was prone across the table. Daddy! She ran over to his body and reached out to him with shaking hands. Daddy, she said as she looked at his blood-covered face.

A single dazed brown eye opened and looked at her. Joseph Jackson closed his eye before a single word escaped his lips. Demon.

Damaris lowered her hands as tears filled her eyes. I’ll call for an ambulance and get you help, she said. As she straightened, the brunette stepped in front of her. I need to get help.

The woman nodded. That is why we’re here. She took Damaris’s hand and led her away from her father. I don’t know how much your mother told you about our world. But I’m here to help. My name is Caerwyn Woodbine.

Damaris shook her head. All around her, fires were being put out. People were huddled together in groups. Most still wore expressions of sheer terror on their faces. And her mother’s body was still in the middle of the street. I don’t care who you are. She pulled her hair away from her face. I have to fix this.

Caerwyn touched her shoulders and pulled her close. No child, I will fix this. In turn, you will help me stop my sister Olivia from destroying the world.

Olivia.

The woman her mother tried to warn her about. The one that paired Jane with that man. Damaris couldn’t bring herself to care about Olivia; or the fate of the world. Revenge would be the only thing she had left to focus on. She would do to Vincent what he did to her mother. I’ll help you, she said, with a nod of her head.

Chapter 1

Grayson parked his motorcycle at the outer edge of the parking lot. The town center was decked out for the holidays. A muse escaped him as he wondered what kind of the reaction his sister would have to seeing everything like this. As hard as Harley tried to be, her soft spot was Christmas.

His good mood started to fade when his gaze landed on the one shop that didn’t belong among the various clothing and makeup stores. He needed help looking for Harley. After exhausting his usual means, he would have to find someone outside of his normal circle of associates.

Caerwyn suggested a trip to Sparrow’s Edge. One of her men owned a magic shop there. Grayson had to admit, the idea was genius. In an age of camera phones and live streaming, it was nearly impossible to conduct any real supernatural business in cities. Ethan Hall’s shop, Magical Menagerie, was the perfect hideaway. Most mortals would only see a store trying to cash in on the new trend of selling mystic crystals and phony magic potions.

But those who knew could find almost anything there. And if Ethan didn’t have it, he could find it.

Grayson’s only hope was to obtain a divination crystal to help search for Harley.

He slipped his keys into his back pocket and made his way to the store. Even though shoppers filled the street, he was confident the shop would be empty.

As he reached the sidewalk, a woman also made her way to Magical Menagerie. He couldn’t help himself as he looked over her form. The shoes she wore were low-heeled boots. Dark blue denim encased her legs and traced the curve of her hips as if made for her. Grayson bit the inside of his lip to keep from groaning as he made his way up her legs to her shapely ass. It was like an apple, and if he didn’t need to find his sister, he’d try to take a bite of it.

Grayson snapped out of his trance when she was about to reach for the door to the shop. He darted in front of her and opened the door with a friendly smile. He wanted to see the face of the woman with the ass someone surely wrote a song about. Allow me. Grayson looked at her face and was suddenly dumbstruck.

She was gorgeous. Mocha-colored skin that didn’t have a blemish. Her eyes were the color of smoky quartz, and her lips were the perfect shade of berry. She blinked at him before ducking her head. Thank you, she mumbled before moving to go inside.

Grayson followed her. The owner of the shop, Ethan, was already busy with a pair of teenaged girls. He focused his attention to the trinkets around the shop.

The woman he followed spun on her heel to face him. Can I help you?

He blinked at her. From her clothing, and the way her leather jacket