Coven Wives

By Hargrove Perth

Coventry Place, Pennsylvania....

What appears to be a quaint, little tourist town is anything but, as Kennedy Nash soon discovers when she inherits her aunt's home. Mayhem quickly erupts when Kennedy refuses to be part of their plan, and uses her powers as a witch to craft a new life, and one for the other young women destined to become.... Coven Wives. Witchcraft will never be the same.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hargrove Perth
• Release date: Jun 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201902544

Hargrove Perth

A perpetual night-owl and lover of all things paranormal related, Hargrove spends a great deal of time researching the larger than life characters of history to formulate characters unforgettable and strangely adored. She writes horror, dark romance, fantasy, and paranormal in the Adult, New Adult, and YA categories. When asked why paranormal, she said, "I'm the girl who cries at the end when Frankenstein is misunderstood, who wants Dracula to keep Mina in his arms forever... I see the humanity in them that others cannot." 2014 Author of the Year by Double Decker Books in Historical/Horror Dark Days Remy Broulette. DDBA 2015 Author of the Year YA Fantasy Miss Crabtree's School for Unnaturals, DDBA 2015 Nominee YA Fantasy Chronicle:Dark Sea Triad, and DDBA 2015 Author of the Year Horror (comedic) Coven Wives.

Book preview

Dedication

For Amy Wenzel Davison who understands my humor and said absolutely when told about the concept, and for my beloved who continues to support me through each and every book...

This book is dedicated to every woman who has ever believed a little bit of magic is needed to survive and who has ever embraced their inner witch.

To tourists and outsiders, the residents of Coventry Place seemed normal...just another sleepy Pennsylvania town full of old houses, antiques, and old money. To the residents of the quaint little town, Coventry Place was something else; a refuge for the elite of the elite of witches, their familiars, and their husbands. That was until a young, dark haired beauty arrived and turned their world, and their lives, upside down when she unleashes her own brand of magic on the town’s inhabitants. Nothing will ever be the same, not if Kennedy Nash had anything to say about it!

Chapter One

The Bequeath

KENNEDY SLAMMED HER suitcase shut in disgust.

Who the hell was Aunt Lillian anyway? she asked her mother while cradling the phone against her shoulder.

She was like a mother to me, Kennedy. You could be grateful and show a bit of respect for the dead. It is not wise to speak ill of the deceased.

Her eyes rolled at her mother’s statement.

And stop rolling your eyes, her mother replied.

I have never met this woman. Why would she leave me her house? Really!

She was very good to me, Kennedy. Lillian loved me and wanted to do something nice for me at her passing. When she knew her time was approaching, I received a letter in the mail asking what, if anything, I wanted from the estate, not that I did.

What the hell mom. Did you ask her to leave the house to me?

No, I didn’t but Lillian felt a strong connection to you from the moment you were born. Be grateful Kennedy. Coventry Place is a rather exclusive community. The homes there are passed from one generation to the next and have been since the town’s inception.

Great, Kennedy mumbled. I will call you when I get there. Love you mom.

Kennedy flopped onto her bed and looked out the window. She was successful, well-liked, and moving her way up the corporate ladder. She loved living in the city. Downtown Pittsburgh had become her home unlike how she felt growing up in suburbs. Having to deal with selling a house on the far northern border of the state was the last thing she wanted to do.

Why me? she asked aloud, covering eyes with her hands. Why me?

Her plane was due to leave in a little over two hours. The closest airport to Coventry Place was over an hour away from the town. Her only option was to fly from Pittsburgh to Harrisburg then take a puddle jumper to Scranton and rent a car. Flying did not bother Kennedy, but she despised commuter flights or ‘puddle jumpers’ as she called them. They were noisy, cramped, and uncomfortable.

Her house, a row house just outside of Pittsburgh, was nearly finished being renovated. Part of the work she had done herself. Part of it had been contracted out to her best friend’s fiancé. Kennedy had hoped to throw an enormous Halloween Party to celebrate the completion. Now it appeared her entire life was on hold. She reached for her cell phone while lay on the bed and called for a cab. With all the new security in place, she knew arriving at the airport early would be better than late. With the call made, her bags in hand, and her security alarm set, Kennedy closed the door praying the journey would be a short one.

The airport was crowded as usual. She barely retrieved her luggage from the cab before the driver sped off to pick up his next fare. Rushing through the airport was nothing new to Kennedy. Countless business trips, last minute deadlines, and negotiation of settlements had become her forte. As they called last board for Flight 3230, Kennedy hoped she could find a real estate agent close to Coventry Place and begin the sale of her unwanted inheritance.

Wait, she shouted waving at airport security. The plan wasn’t supposed to leave for another 20 minutes, she exclaimed half breathless before handing her driver’s license and boarding pass to the woman outside the gate.

There’s a bad storm on its way. You do know you are supposed to arrive 45 minutes early, don’t you?

Kennedy could barely refrain from rolling her eyes.

Yes, ma’am, I do. I was unexpectedly delayed in traffic. It was a blatant lie, but Kennedy didn’t really care - so long as she made her flight and was on her way to Harrisburg that was all that mattered right at that moment.

You are clear to go to the security checkpoint. Step through the gate, remove your shoes, and empty your belongings into the bins. You can place your carry-on in one of the crates also since it’s not too large.

She smiled, taking the boarding pass and driver’s license from the woman, and hastily ran to the next security check. Kennedy tossed her bag, the contents of her pockets, and her shoes onto the scanner and stepped back.

You are clear to board, the elderly gentleman at the end of the conveyor belt said.

Thank you, Kennedy replied before snatching all her belongings into her hands and running down the hall barefoot. Once onboard, she quickly located her seat, stowed her bag, and sat down.

The clouds looked ominous, nearly frightening, as she peered out the window.

Just get me there in one piece, she whispered and closed her eyes. Five minutes later the plane was taxiing down the runway bound for Harrisburg.

The flight was uneventful and short. Touchdown was smooth and uncomplicated. She was even fortunate enough to exit the plane at the same location needed to board her next flight. It all seemed too easy, and it troubled her. Even arranging for a rental car at the Scranton Hertz went smoothly.

With her bags in the backseat, Kennedy slipped her keys into the ignition of the Ford Escape, started the engine, and programed the address into the navigation system. Coventry Place was approximately an hour and a half away from Scranton. It seemed more like an eternity.

The drive was beautiful, peaceful, and the perfect temperature to drive with the windows down. Fall foliage was in its full regalia with bright hues of reds, oranges, and yellows creating a picturesque backdrop on the winding, two lane road. Most of the drive was forested with a few farms popping up here and there, mostly Amish she assumed as she passed them by since no