Snow Magic

By Bianca D'Arc

Evie has been a lone wolf since the disappearance of her mate, Sir Rayburne, a fey knight from another realm. Left all alone with a young son to raise, Evie has become stronger than she ever was. But now her son is grown and suddenly Ray is back.

Ray never meant to leave Evie all those years ago but he’s been caught in a magical trap, slowly being drained of magic all this time. Freed at last, he whisks Evie to the only place he knows in the mortal realm where they were happy and safe—the rustic cabin in the midst of a North Dakota winter where they had been newlyweds. He’s used the last of his magic to get there and until he recovers a bit, they’re stuck in the middle of nowhere with a blizzard coming and bad guys on their trail.

Can they pick up where they left off and rekindle the magic between them, or has it been extinguished forever?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bianca D'Arc
• Release date: Nov 7, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370508662

Bianca D'Arc

Bianca D’Arc lives on Long Island, in New York. She is the daughter of a Dutch immigrant to the U.S. and a materials scientist who worked on America's space program, including such projects as the lunar module, space shuttle and most of the Apollo missions. She earned a university degree in chemistry, and later, graduate degrees in library science and law. Forsaking the corporate world soon after the terrible events of 9/11/01, she began her writing career in earnest in late 2005. She focuses on the paranormal, sci fi and fantasy genres of romance, and loves creating happy-ever-afters for her characters.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

North Dakota

Snow was falling and the wind was howling as the female wolf padded across the frozen landscape toward her den. It was a lonely den now, and had been that way ever since her pup—the only one she would ever bear—had left on his own quest for truth. She’d known he couldn’t stay forever. Just as his sire hadn’t been able to stay for very long, but oh, how she had enjoyed the short time she’d had with her mate.

He’d simply gone out one day and had never come back. That had been more than twenty years ago now, but she’d had her pup, beautiful Joshua, who had grown into a powerful young man, to keep her company. At first, she’d been the protector, but as he’d grown, the roles had reversed, and he’d been the one to set her up in this fancy, more secure den on the edge of town, backing onto the wilderness that called to her wild nature.

Evie McCann had been young, even by shifter standards, when she’d met her mate. He hadn’t been one of her people, but a man of intense magic from another realm. Faerie. That’s what they called his place in the universe, but she’d just thought of him as hers.

They’d had only a few short months together before he’d disappeared, and he’d never seen his son. Evie’s heart had broken at the loss of her mate, and if not for Joshua, she probably wouldn’t have made it, but the little boy had his father’s magic in his soul and the wild heart of the wolf that had sustained her. They’d lived rough, but they’d made it. Both of them.

And now, her son had found a mate of his own.

He’d suffered a crisis earlier in the year when unexpected magic had made him a target for evil. He’d made sure Evie was set up in a secure location before he’d gone into the wild, leading trouble away from her. It had been one of the hardest things she’d ever done—parting with her son—but there had been no other way. She was only a shifter, of low rank in the Pack that she’d left all those years ago to be with her fey mate. She wasn’t strong enough to face the kind of danger that was hunting her son, much as it pained her to admit it.

She’d had to let go. The months since had been hard. She’d shifted to her furry form more and more, trying to escape her loneliness, but it didn’t really help. She was very much afraid that, one day, she’d go out into the wilds and just…never come back. Never reclaim her human form. Her human life.

It was a possibility that she still feared, which she guessed was a healthy attitude. When she got around to embracing the idea, then she’d know she was really in trouble.

Things had turned around a bit recently, though. Her son had defeated those who had been hunting him and then mated with a lovely young woman who owned a farm in the Amish country of Pennsylvania. While it was a long distance from the rolling foothills of Pennsylvania to the wilds of North Dakota, they were able to talk by phone as much as they wanted, and tomorrow, Evie would get on a plane and travel to visit them, to meet her new daughter-in-law for the first time in person. She couldn’t wait.

*

Pennsylvania

The flight to Philadelphia’s busy airport was uneventful, though Evie’s wolf half didn’t like being cramped up in a metal tube with so many strange smells. Still, the reward of seeing her son again would be worth it all in the end.

Joshua was there, waiting for her, when she exited the secure zone in the airport. She hugged him hard, stifling the tears that wanted to flow at seeing her precious boy again. Even though he was well over six feet tall and mated now, to her, he would always be her little boy.

You look happy, she told him when she finally stepped back, out of his embrace.

He smiled as if sharing a secret. That’s because I am happy.

The truth ringing in his words made her heart fill with joy. She wanted only the best for her son, including a true mate that brought this kind of sparkle to his eyes.

Well, where is she? Evie teased.

Deena sends her apologies for not making the trip, but she couldn’t leave the animals on their own. The little calf she took in had a problem last night, and she’s been sitting with him all morning, coaxing him back from the brink. If she’d left, he probably would have died, and I have to admit, I’m kind of attached to the little fella now.

A calf? Evie had to laugh as Joshua took her rolling bag and started walking toward the exit.

You’ll understand when you get to the farm. It’s the oddest conglomeration of critters you ever saw, but somehow, they’ve formed a little barn house family. He was shaking his head now, even as he smiled.

And they aren’t afraid of you? She didn’t have to say why. One didn’t talk about being a werewolf out in public where any passerby might hear.

Not anymore. I’m not sure why they’ve accepted me, but they have. I almost feel like the trusty old sheepdog sometimes, but I don’t mind. It would’ve been hard on Deena if I didn’t get along with her animal family.

Evie loved the way Joshua talked about his mate. His words demonstrated the kind of consideration Evie expected of a true mating, and it was good to hear.

Then, there’s all the wedding prep going on. Deena’s been doing it all on her own, but I think things will kick into high gear when her family starts arriving in a few days.

Haven’t you been helping? Evie asked her son, frowning. I never had an actual wedding, but I know such things can’t be done all on one’s own. I would think the least you could do was help your mate set things up.

Josh put his arm around her shoulders and squeezed her to his side. Her son was so tall and broad of shoulder. As big as his father now that he was grown. He made her feel petite, though at five-foot-nine, she wasn’t at all short by human standards.

Don’t worry, Mom. I’m helping. I’ve already done more furniture moving, laundry hauling and floor mopping than I care to admit. Deena is putting everybody up on the farm, and she wanted the house cleaned top to bottom before you got here. We also had to clear out some junk that had piled up in the guest rooms and other parts of the house where we can stash guests. I even enlisted some help from the Amish neighbors to help me build a few more wooden bed frames.

Evie smiled at the idea of her handsome son working alongside a bunch of Amish men. She didn’t doubt that Josh could accomplish anything he set his mind to, but he’d never really been big into carpentry. Oh, he’d done the odd repair job around the house, but he hadn’t ever built furniture from scratch.

Sounds like you’ve been busy, she said with approval of his industriousness. She knew her son would be a good mate, but the way he’d sounded before, she’d been concerned. Deena sounded lovely on the phone, but Evie intended to be a good mother-in-law and make sure Deena got what she needed from her shifter mate.

Deena was a priestess. Human. And part fey, apparently. That’s why their magic had meshed so well. When Josh had finally discovered his fey side—the magic inheritance from his father—he’d sought help, and that had set him on the path that had eventually led him to Deena.

Evie was glad. She hadn’t told Josh much about his father because it hurt to talk about Ray. He’d disappeared before Josh was even born, and he’d taken half of Evie’s heart with him…wherever he’d gone.

Maybe it hadn’t been right to never discuss Ray with Josh, but it had never really been an issue until the wild magic appeared. At that point, things were so crazy, she didn’t know how to bring up the topic before Josh left her to draw trouble away from her. Even so, she hadn’t readily recognized the cause of Josh’s sudden problem. She’d always just assumed that if fey traits were going to show up in Josh, they would have from the very beginning.

Apparently, she’d been wrong about that. She felt terrible about it now, of course, but Josh had forgiven her, and it had all worked out. Josh and Deena both tried to tell Evie that they thought it had all been part of some divine plan, but Evie still wasn’t sure. She felt guilty and embarrassed that her heartbreak had prevented her from even speaking Ray’s name to his son for so long.

She intended to fix all that on this extended vacation with her son and his new mate. She had brought the few things of Ray’s that she still had. She would give them to Josh now, and tell him as much as she could remember about his father. They’d have time…and it was about time, too.

Did you bring luggage? Josh asked as they rode an escalator down to a lower level.

Well, I had to put the presents somewhere, she replied, grinning at him.

They stopped at the luggage carousel corresponding to her flight number and picked up her bags before they left the airport. The ride was long, but not really all that bad. Evie marveled at the little bit of the city she got to see from the truck’s windows before they ended up on a more rural route.

She was enchanted by the lushness of it all. Pennsylvania was a lot greener than North Dakota, even in winter. They passed through little towns and then got on a highway that buzzed past more little towns and lots of farmland that was fallow for the winter. Corrals with horses and cows could be seen from the road, and some areas had a light dusting of snow over everything.

The snow had already been falling back home for months, but here, it was only just starting to get really cold. The temperature was balmy compared to home, and the sun was shining brightly as they made their way deeper into the farmland.

Eventually, Joshua pulled up to a pretty farmhouse that was just as Evie had imagined it. White clapboard siding with a wide front porch and sprawling sort of architecture, the house had to be quite old. Perhaps a hundred years or more. It was a house with firm foundations and a storied history, she’d bet. A house full of love.

When a petite woman who had to be Deena walked out of the barn with a little black and white calf following at her heels, Evie formed an instant liking. No wonder Josh had fallen for the young priestess. She was both pretty and shy in a way that Evie knew sucked men in like flies to honey, and her aura reeked of power. Evie could feel it across the distance that separated them.

Evie met Deena’s eyes as she got out of the truck, and Deena smiled. Just like that, Evie knew this young woman was a perfect match for her son. They both had that near-oppressive heaviness about them that spoke of energy and strong will. Many Alpha wolves had that kind of presence, which could be felt by their subordinates. It was what kept order in the Pack. Knowing who was strongest was essential for an orderly hierarchy.

Evie supposed it must be that way among magic users, too, though she hadn’t mixed with many Others, besides her ill-fated mating with a fey warrior two decades before. Her son had that sense of strong fey magic around him now, just like Ray. And Deena had a similar sort of magic around her. Thankfully, both Josh and Deena’s energies were tempered with a purity of heart and goodness of soul that prevented them from using their immense power for anything bad.

Josh would have made a strong Pack Alpha, if that had been his destiny, but when the magic rose in him, that path had been closed. Evie was thankful it had all worked out for the best. Not only had her son found allies in his quest to stay alive and gain control over his magic, but he’d also found his mate.

And now, Evie was meeting her new daughter-in-law for the first time, face to face. She took a deep breath and stepped forward.

The calf made a bleating sound of distress and halted in its tracks. Evie felt her cheeks blush.

I’m sorry. It probably senses my wolf, Evie said, embarrassed.

Deena bent down to pat the little calf on its side and then sent it off to two fluffy puffs of fur with long necks that were hovering in the near distance. Alpacas? Evie marveled as the furry adults welcomed the little calf of a different species and herded it back into the barn.

It’s no problem. They took a while to get used to Josh too. The priestess strode forward, wiping her hands on the faded legs of her worn jeans then holding one out to Evie. I’m Deena. Her smile was as bright as her spirit, and Evie couldn’t help but respond in kind.

They grasped hands, but Evie pulled the younger woman in for a hug. Thank you for helping my boy, she whispered to Deena as they shared the first embrace of being family. Evie stepped back after a moment and just looked at Deena, smiling. I’m so happy he found you, Evie said finally, noticing the way Deena blushed. She really was a charming young woman with no artifice.

I am too, Deena admitted. They both turned to greet Josh. He’d finished unloading the truck and had already put Evie’s cases in the house. I made some refreshments, Deena said, sounding a little nervous, still. How was your flight?

They made small talk until they were in the house and seated around a big, homey kitchen table. They ate the fruit and cheese that Deena had prepared as a light snack before dinner, which would be in a couple of hours, after they’d caught each other up on events.

Josh had been able to talk with his mother as much as he wanted by phone, but it just wasn’t the same as talking in person. He wasn’t altogether comfortable talking on the phone, as a general rule, so there hadn’t been too many phone calls. Just enough so that his mother wouldn’t worry. She had sacrificed so much for him, she deserved that much consideration.

And now… He had a bomb to drop. There was no way around it. He and Deena had talked it over at length, and they had decided to wait until his mother was here, in their home, to tell her the news that was still as shocking to him as he knew it would be to his mother.

Uh…Mom? Josh began hesitantly when there was a natural lull in the conversation. Evie looked at him expectantly. "Have you ever heard of something called a Chevalier de la Lumiere?"

A Knight of the Light? Evie whispered. Yes, I’ve heard the term. But where did you?

Well…I am one.

What?

Josh watched his mother’s reaction closely. This wasn’t the biggest news he had for her, but it was something that he wouldn’t tell just anyone. In fact, he wouldn’t have even told his mother if what he had to say next didn’t depend on her full knowledge. But first, he had to see how she took this news. So far, she just looked stunned, but then, he saw tears gather in her eyes.

Aw, shit. Were they happy tears or sad ones? Or a mix of both? He didn’t like making women cry. In fact, that was right up on the top of his list of things not to do in his lifetime.

He moved his chair closer to his mother. She was such a little thing compared to him. When he’d been growing up, she’d been his fierce protector. She still was, only he was taller than she was now, and a lot stronger. Things had turned around. He would protect her if he could, but some things…like the news he had yet to share…he couldn’t keep from her.

"Josh, when did this happen? How did this happen?" His mother spoke rapidly, clutching his arm as he put the other around her shoulders, resting it on the wooden chair back.

Shifters needed touch—especially when they were upset. And they needed family. Josh and his mom had been a team for so many years while he’d been growing up. She’d been his anchor, and he would be there for her, he vowed, now that he was grown. As much as he could.

I told you about my rough journey to Deena’s door. Josh had filled his mother in as he journeyed from North Dakota to points all around the United States as he sought help in controlling the magic that had suddenly flared to life in him months ago. I landed in New York City and was told to seek a man named Duncan, who, it turned out, was house sitting for a vampire friend of his. He saw his mother’s eyebrows rise at that announcement but went on with his story. Duncan is a fey warrior. A fellow Knight, though I didn’t know it, then. He brought me to Deena. I think you probably noticed that her power is also like mine—fey in nature. Her grandmother many times removed is fey, and I think you met her once. Do you remember telling me that you once encountered the High Priestess Bettina?

Evie’s mouth opened in shock as she looked from Josh to Deena and back again. Then, her gaze zeroed in on Deena again, and Josh saw recognition in her eyes.

No wonder you’re so petite, Evie said to Deena. And you have her eyes. She was a lovely woman. So kind and pure of heart. She told me… Evie looked back at Josh again. She told me you would grow to be a fierce warrior on the side of the Light. And she said we would both find happiness again, eventually. I’m glad to see her predictions have come true for you, Joshua. His mother moved closer, kissing his cheek. He was glad she was happy, and a little surprised by what she’d just revealed about the High Priestess’s prophecy, but he still had more to tell her.

"Well…Deena and I had some problems with some bad