Council of Magic: New Orleans Magic, #3

By J.L. Hendricks

It caught her by surprise…

…because she never knew her father.

 

What will Kat do now?

 

Being adopted, there's a lot of her family history she doesn't know. Kat didn't believe them at first, but eventually, the truth couldn't be denied. Her father was a shifter and the news shocked her. Why couldn't she shift?

 

Solving that riddle would have to wait.

 

A young woman needs their help.

 

When they find out that it's more than a case of cheating boyfriend, Kat, Jenna, and their friends may be in over their heads. He's not just a monster.

 

The boyfriend is a monster with a secret.

 

This case, in the heart of the Big Easy, will test them more than they know.

 

You'll love this third book in the New Orleans Magic Urban Fantasy series, because Kat has much to learn and one major decision to make.

 

Get it now.

• Language: English
• Publisher: J.L. Hendricks
• Release date: Jul 13, 2017
• ISBN: 9781393958307

J.L. Hendricks

J.L. Hendricks is an independent author who enjoys many genres, as evidenced by her catalogue of available books. She is currently focused on Scifi and Urban Fantasy, but has also written Paranormal and Christmas books. Her latest series which comes out this month is a combination of litRPG and Military Scifi with a few space pirates for fun! Let her know what you think! She is very proud to have served in the US Army before she went to college. Early 2016 she decided to finally write, and finish a book, because of a few friends who encouraged her to do so. She hopes her stories entertain you and can bring a laugh on occasion. Actually, it was her roommate’s cat who talked her into staying at home to be her minion all day long! Pyper truly believes that J.L. is here to serve her alone.

Book preview

Other Books by J.L. Hendricks

Worlds Away Series

Book 0: Worlds Revealed (join my Newsletter to get this exclusive freebie)

Book 1: Worlds Away

Book 2: Worlds Collide

Book 2.5: Worlds Explode

Book 3: Worlds Entwined

A Shifter Christmas Romance Series

Book 0: Santa Meets Mrs. Claus

Book 1: Miss Claus and the Secret Santa

Book 2: Miss Claus under the Mistletoe

Book 3: Miss Claus and the Christmas Wedding

Book 4: Miss Claus and Her Polar Opposite

The FBI Dragon Chronicles

Book 1: A Ritual of Fire

Book 2: A Ritual of Death

Book 3: A Ritual of Conquest

New Orleans Magic Series

Book 1: New Orleans Magic

Book 2: Hurricane of Magic

Book 3: Council of Magic

Chronicles of the Fae Princess – Published by LMBPN Publishing

Book 1: The Portal of Chance

Book 2: The Forbidden Portal

Book 3: The Emerald Portal

See these titles and more at https://www.jlhendricksauthor.com/

Table of Contents

Other Books by J.L. Hendricks

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Keep in Touch

Sneak Peek

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Kat

No. You’re not going without me, Jenna. That’s final. I couldn’t believe she wanted to do this without me. I knew she would be safe, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t be setting herself up for trouble down the road.

Kat, the council only invited me. I don’t know why, but they want one of us to visit them in their chambers. Jenna was too soft, too naïve to understand.

I’m the head of the family. If someone wants to speak with us, I have to be there. No arguing. I know Rico and Joseph will take care of you. However, I’m still going to make sure no one tries to back you into a corner or give you a raw deal. With hands on my hips, I stared hard at Jenna, daring her with my eyes to say no.

Jenna threw her hands in the air. Fine. Come with. I don’t really care. I just wanted to make sure they would tell me whatever it was they had to say. She narrowed her eyes and stuck her finger in my face. You better not get in the way of any deal they want to make.

I promise, I won’t. Unless they want to make a bad deal. I couldn’t stand by and let Jenna get wrapped up in something that would ultimately harm her. Witches couldn’t be trusted.

Since we were little kids, I’d always looked out for her. Even before our adopted parents died, I took care of her and my other two sisters, Indie and Sam. I’m not sure where my motherly instincts came from. Maybe it was because I was the oldest. Whatever the reason, I always took care of my little sisters. My Voodoo Dolls.

Can we get going now? Have you two finished arguing? Joseph, the pack’s alchemist, was a good guy. He was here to take Jenna and me to see the witches.

Yes, we can go. For the record, we weren’t arguing. It was just a family discussion. You haven’t seen us argue, yet. I couldn’t help but laugh.

The last time any of my sisters had argued with me, we’d all ended up drenched. Someone—it might have been me—had picked up a hose when we were out back yelling and screaming at the top of our lungs and hosed our entire group down. The reason I’m not sure if it was me or not is because somehow I was drenched, too. No way in hell would I have turned the hose on myself. It just all happened so fast, it’s hard to say how it really started.

Indie, one of my three adopted sisters, probably instigated it. She does that and then sits back looking like the innocent one. We all got her number years ago and decided to let her think she had her secret. Once in a while we’d call her out, and it was really rather funny to watch her face turn red and listen as she stammered some lame excuse.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my sisters. No one messes with us. Besides the wolf shifter pack who protects us, and a seriously hot vampire who can’t stay away, I’m pretty tough. I’ll fight tooth and nail to protect my family. They’re the same way.

Since Rico, the alpha of the local wolf shifter pack, began to teach us how to defend ourselves against vampires, we’d all become pretty tough. Even shy, quiet Sam could kick some serious butt if she had to. Although, she was more the suffer-in-silence type. Sadly, people could treat her poorly and she just accepted it. If someone tried to come after one of us, though, she turned into a little devil. Seriously, it’s always the quiet ones you have to watch out for.

I’m sure. Let’s get going before we’re late. The council of witches can get testy if they have to sit around waiting on people. Especially non-magical people. Joseph would know. He’d always been the go-between for his pack and the witches’ council when Rico couldn’t make it.

Joseph was also the one who was able to get us a boatload of spells last week when we were fighting the rogue vamps who abducted eight college girls. It was a shame not all of the girls made it out of the storm alive.

What do you think they want? Jenna had been mostly quiet on the way to the council chambers.

I was stuck in my head as well. I’m sure she was doing the same thing I was: thinking about the significance of being called out by the head of the local witches. From what Rico had said, they didn’t interact with humans. Well, other than Joseph.

Joseph was part of the wolf pack, like us. We were all honorary members. When the alpha chose to give you his personal protection, you became a member. As far as I knew, Joseph and my family were the only humans Rico had given his personal protection to.

As an alchemist, Joseph was a real asset to the entire pack. Due to his unique chemistry and alchemy background, the local witches preferred working with him over the wolf shifters. He was able to procure things most of the pack could never get, like spells.

Last week the witches’ council had honored us with a large collection of spells cast in a way we could use them.

Honestly, I don’t know, Jenna, I said. The only thing I can think of is that they want to hear from you exactly what happened with the vamps from last week. I doubt they’ve ever given so many charms or spells to anyone outside their circle of witches. They also might want a specific account of which spell you used and how it worked for you.

We pulled into a nondescript parking lot. It was old, and the blacktop needed to be resurfaced. I doubted it had seen much in the way of maintenance for over five years. You couldn’t even see the white lines between parking spaces. The lot already held ten very expensive cars. I noticed a Lexus, BMW, Range Rover, a few Mercedes, and even a couple Cadillacs.

The witches were definitely rich. So why was their parking lot so worn down?

The building was no different. It looked like an old Victorian home in desperate need of paint and even new siding. The wraparound porch appeared to be in such disrepair, I was actually afraid to walk on it.

Joseph, is it safe to go into that heap of a dump? Jenna said exactly what I was wondering.

Don’t worry, it’s just a façade. There’s a spell to hide the real beauty of this place. Makes it easier to keep away the criminal elements. Although, I don’t know why they bother. Most people have a natural fear of the witches when they get near. Joseph had parked near the front of the house, if you could call it that.

Will we see the real house once we’re inside? I asked. Or will their glamour continue to hide the real house from us? I just want to make sure I don’t step on something I shouldn’t, or walk into an invisible wall. I didn’t have much experience with magic and spells. Certainly didn’t think I’d ever been near a glamour. Or if I had, I hadn’t known it.

Don’t worry. Once you step on the porch, the ugly fades away. There’s something to the spell which can sense your intentions. If you’re here to do harm, the spell will actually throw you back at least ten feet. It knocks most people out. If you don’t harbor any ill intent, you get to see the place for what it is. Joseph locked the car and walked us forward.

It wasn’t like this was the ghetto or Compton. We were in New Orleans. Sure, some areas were better than others, but all nice houses needed to be protected or secured. Since no one actually lived here, I guess it made sense to disguise the place in such a way as to not attract the wrong attention.

They really should’ve disguised the cars, too. If someone thought about it, who would have a parking lot full of fancy, expensive cars and not have something inside worth stealing?

The three of us stepped up onto the porch, and the glamour fell away. Whoa! This place is beautiful. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

It was a white mansion with pillars and a front which reminded me of a small White House. This house looked nothing at all like a Victorian home. I wondered how big the place really was. The stairs leading up to the porch were marble, as were the five columns on the front.

If I didn’t know any better, I would have said we were somewhere else entirely. Before we’d stepped up onto the steps, the city was its normal muggy, sticky atmosphere. Now I felt a cool breeze across my face and smelled lilacs.

Were we transported somewhere else? Jenna looked up at the three-story building with an open mouth and wide eyes.

Maybe—I’ll ask. I hadn’t really thought of it. I just took it to be their glamour washing away. Now that you mention it, I wouldn’t be surprised if we are in some other dimension. It’s always a perfect, breezy day when I come here. Sometimes I smell lilacs, and sometimes it’s jasmine. Joseph shook his head and looked around the front of the building.

Before Joseph could knock on the white door, it opened. A man in a crisp black tuxedo said, Welcome, Master Joseph. The council is waiting for you and your friends. He motioned for us to enter. Can I get you something to drink? Some tea or lemonade, perhaps? The butler opened the door to what could only be described as a large ballroom.

Thank you, Jeeves. I would love a lemonade. Jenna, Kat? Joseph looked to me.

Oh, sure. Sweet tea would be wonderful. I smiled at Jeeves and continued to look at the gold-encrusted room.

Jenna asked for the same.

It was like something out of a Jane Austen novel. The walls were covered in paintings of people I didn’t recognize. They looked like they were from the Victorian era, too. Each painting was sectioned off with fancy, gold-covered trim. I’d never been inside the White House and wondered if the inside of this building looked anything like the real thing.

The floor was a high-shine wood. Not the fake stuff, either. It was real wood. The super-expensive stuff only the finest houses ever used. Now I felt very underdressed in my jean shorts and blue tank top. Joseph should have told us to dress nicer, or at least wear a summer dress instead of shorts.

Ahh, Jenna! At last we meet. I’m Rebecca, head of the witches’ council. An older woman with dark-brown hair and laugh lines around her eyes walked up to Jenna and shook her hand. She looked to me and her smile faded. I see you brought one of your sisters with you.

Jenna’s brow rose when she looked at me. Ah, yes. I hope you don’t mind. Kat is the head of our family. As such, she should have received the invitation, not me.

The way Rebecca looked at me, I could swear she already hated me. I didn’t know how that was possible, since I’d never met her before.

Rebecca ignored me and smiled at Jenna. You’re the face of the Voodoo Dolls. I would prefer to do business with you.

I nodded to Jenna. This wasn’t starting off well, but we needed to know what they wanted, so Jenna could take the lead.

Fine, I guess. I would like for Kat to stay while we discuss whatever it is you called me here for. Jenna gave the head witch her most innocent smile. Those dove eyes of hers could placate the meanest of people.

Please, take a seat. Rebecca motioned for us to sit at their conference table. It could fit twenty-six people, easily. More if they squished in just a bit.

I sat next to Jenna and tried really hard to remember if I had met this woman before. She didn’t really look familiar. I was sure I would have remembered if I’d met a witch, especially the head witch.

Why in the world did she hate me before she ever even met me?

Rebecca and Jenna talked as though I wasn’t even there.

Tell me, Jenna. How long have you been performing in your band? Rebecca asked.

My sisters and I have been performing since we were young. It wasn’t until high school when Kat officially started our band and I came up with the name the Voodoo Dolls. We booked several parties, and our school even let us perform for one of the dances.

Jenna looked at me and smiled. I kept my mouth shut. Once Kat graduated, she was able to get us on a couple floats for Mardi Gras. From there, it just blossomed. As soon as we were all eighteen, we were getting gigs at the local bars.

How long before this witch got around to telling us what she wanted? We had been here for at least fifteen minutes now and I still had no clue what she wanted. Other than she seemed to be a fan. I hoped she wasn’t just wanting an autograph from Jenna.

Rebecca, why did you ask us here? It was like Jenna was channeling my thoughts.

I have a proposition for you and your sisters. First, I wanted to see if you really were as nice and sweet as both Joseph and Rico have said. Rebecca finally looked at me, but she narrowed her eyes.

I almost said something, but Joseph put his hand on my knee. He must have seen my balled-up my fists and pursed lips. If we were going to find out what she wanted, I needed to stay calm and not act on my anger.

Okaaay. Did I pass your test? Jenna scrunched up her nose and sat ramrod straight in her chair. I could tell she was nervous, but also curious as to what was really going on here.

Yes, you did. Rebecca waved Jeeves over and whispered something in his ear.

Jeeves left the room, and Rebecca stayed quiet while we all squirmed in our seats, wondering what would happen next. For all we knew, Jeeves had been ordered to fetch us dinner. Rebecca sat in her chair, sipping her tea and ignoring us.

I whispered to Joseph, What’s going on?

Shh. You’ll see. Rebecca can be a bit dramatic. Joseph picked up his lemonade and took a long gulp.

Jenna and I sat there looking at each other in utter silence, except for the occasional sipping noise coming from Rebecca or the gulping from Joseph.

The quiet was really getting to me. I could hear the tick-tock from the clock on the other side of the room and it was tearing at my already frayed nerves. If something didn’t happen soon, I was going to start asking questions.

I heard something from the other side of the door Jeeves had left through. Was he coming back? Was someone else going to join us? It sounded like shoes scuffling just outside the door.

It sounded like a group of people. She better not have called us here to meet our doom!

Chapter 2

Kat

Even though it felt like forever, it must not have been that long. I could hear the sound of multiple voices coming through the door right before it banged open and a dozen witches poured into the room.

Hahaha. I knew this would work out! laughed one witch dressed in flowing pastel robes.

We should have done it ages ago, another said.

I don’t like it, not one bit, a male witch wearing black slacks and a red button-up shirt said.

Are the men called witches or warlocks?

We were surrounded by witches, with only Joseph to protect us. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end. If Rebecca had called us here to be killed by her council, I swore to myself I would come back as a ghost and haunt them all.

Rebecca scooted her chair back and stood up. Quiet, please. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. They haven’t agreed yet.

Jenna looked at me with wide eyes. She was biting her nails, again. She always did so when she was nervous. I wished she would learn to do something different once in a while. The nail biting was a huge tell.

Everyone, this is Jenna. Rebecca pointed to my sister with a huge smile. And her sister, Kat. She gave me an offhanded wave and wouldn’t even look at me.

Jenna and I looked at everyone and smiled. I waved and said, Hi.

The witches around the table took their seats and, one at a time, almost like it was rehearsed, sat down in perfect harmony.

The woman in flowing pastel robes stood up first. My name is Joanna. We are all on the witches’ council. Both hands fluidly moved to encompass all the witches at the table. She smiled at Jenna and me.

The man next to her stood up. My name is Mikael. I look forward to working with all four of the Voodoo Dolls.

Mikael was a good-looking man, for someone who appeared to be nearing retirement. He was wearing black slacks and a tight blue t-shirt which showed off his toned upper body. I wondered if he had dressed to impress us.

Before he sat down, he winked at me and smiled at Jenna.

All the women took turns introducing themselves. All smiled at me. Not one seemed to harbor any ill-will toward me, not like Rebecca.

The last man to stand—the one I’d noticed earlier—appeared in his late thirties or early forties. His red shirt was unbuttoned a bit far for a council meeting. From what I could see of his chest, it was toned. When he looked at me, I got the feeling he was checking me out.

I am Marco. Pleased to make your acquaintance. He gave a slight bow before sitting down.

His smile to Jenna was nice and polite. Did Rico claim Jenna belonged to him? Was that why the men were flirting with me and being nothing but polite with Jenna? It wouldn’t surprise me.

What would Ivan think about these men flirting with me?

He probably wouldn’t care. I really needed to stop thinking about him.

Strange, every one of these council members were polite to me. I didn’t get one narrowed eye or scowl. Why was Rebecca acting angry toward me? This makes no sense.

Once everyone was seated and a few uncomfortable seconds went by, Joseph cleared his throat and leaned forward. He arched an eyebrow when he caught Rebecca’s attention.

I didn’t invite you here for tea. As you may have guessed, we have a proposition for you. Rebecca took a deep breath and began again. We have all agreed the voodoo shop should become a distribution center for our spells.

Wait, what? Jenna interrupted Rebecca with a confused look on