Manticore

By Kate Hill

Martin: I was an outcast. Humiliated and abused, I ran away to carve out a life apart from the Specter family business. Convinced the family magic would never work for me, I was taken by surprise when I met him.

Manticore: Shunned by other manifestations, I lived alone and nameless. Then I found Martin. He gave me a name and his body. Now, we exist as one. We never expected to find a woman who’ll love us, but Daisy Fay is full of surprises. We’ve walked through demonic fire to protect her, and we will have her as our mate.

Daisy Fay: Martin is the sweetest guy I know. Manticore is an enticing beast. I never dreamed they shared a body. It’s a good thing I love them both. We’re in constant danger, though, because their father wants to kill them. They want to keep me safe, but sitting in the sidelines isn’t my style, and they’d better get used to it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Changeling Press
• Release date: Dec 30, 2022

Kate Hill

Kate Hill is a vegetarian New Englander who started writing many years ago for pleasure. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading, watching horror and action movies, working out, and spending time with her family and pets. She also writes under the name Saloni Quinby.

Book preview

Manticore (Confessions 3)

Kate Hill

All rights reserved.

Copyright ©2022 Kate Hill

BIN: 010606-03447

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Publisher:

Changeling Press LLC

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Martinsburg, WV 25404

www.ChangelingPress.com

Editor: Kira Stone

Cover Artist: Bryan Keller

Adult Sexual Content

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Table of Contents

Manticore (Confessions 3)

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Kate Hill

Manticore (Confessions 3)

Kate Hill

Martin: I was an outcast. Humiliated and abused, I ran away to carve out a life apart from the Specter family business. Convinced the family magic would never work for me, I was taken by surprise when I met him.

Manticore: Shunned by other manifestations, I lived alone and nameless. Then I found Martin. He gave me a name and his body. Now, we exist as one. We never expected to find a woman who’ll love us, but Daisy Fay is full of surprises. We’ve walked through demonic fire to protect her, and we will have her as our mate.

Daisy Fay: Martin is the sweetest guy I know. Manticore is an enticing beast. I never dreamed they shared a body. It’s a good thing I love them both. We’re in constant danger, though, because their father wants to kill them. They want to keep me safe, but sitting in the sidelines isn’t my style, and they’d better get used to it.

Chapter One

Daisy Fay

Tall buildings cast shadows on the sunlit city, but no warmth permeates its inhabitants. The stink of lowbred demons mingles with refuse. Sporadic screams, shouts, grunts, roars, and even occasional gunfire are unsettling but not unexpected.

I adjust my favorite floral tote bag on my shoulder and glance around while striding purposefully toward my destination. Since the demon occupation the world is a terrifying place, but I learned quickly that the best way to attract unwanted attention is to look frightened. Showing any kind of weakness is suicidal. I’m not the most intimidating person. Who am I kidding? At five feet two inches with thick glasses and a face that appears far younger than my thirty-two years, I look like a target. The only thing I have going for me is a vast knowledge of magic and the ability to create above average protection spells.

My sparkly canvas sneakers move soundlessly over the pavement. I pause outside the door to the flower shop that fronts my real workplace. Nowadays there isn’t a huge call for flower arrangements, but regular people and even an occasional demon patronize the shop. When I step in, the chimes on the door tinkle softly.

Brandy, the girl who runs the shop, greets me with a smile. Though merely eighteen she’s highly skilled in the art of self-defense, both as a witch and a martial artist.

Hey, lady. Brandy winks. There’s another special delivery today. Martin is waiting to put it right into your hands.

Martin. Just thinking about him makes me smile. He’s such a sweet guy. It still confounds me, how he’s able to locate and obtain such obscure and often dangerous magical texts. The times I’ve asked him about his methods, he’s been evasive. I haven’t pushed him, but curiosity eats me alive.

Thanks, hon. Any customers yet this morning?

No. I’m working on my bonsais, though. Maybe by the time Lucas gets back, I’ll be able to show him a tree or two that’s not completely embarrassing.

Lucas, owner of the Savage Sage club, is a trusted patron. Like us, he’s part of the rebellion against the demon occupation.

I think your trees are very pretty.

Brandy chuckles. You’re too nice. They’re getting better, though. You should go downstairs before Martin has a heart attack waiting to see you.

I laugh. What?

Come on, Daisy Fay. It’s obvious he’s really into you.

My stomach tightens a little and my heart flutters. I can’t say I’ve never considered what it might be like if Martin and I took our friendship to the next level, but it was only a fleeting thought. He’s never come on to me, and I never got the passion vibe from him.

Obvious?

You seriously haven’t noticed?

No, I haven’t. Brandy, I think your imagination is running away with you. Martin and I are friends.

Brandy raises an eyebrow. Okay. If you say so.

I do say so. We like each other’s company, but neither of us have ever been anything but professional.

Sorry. Maybe I’ve been reading too many hot romance novels. I didn’t mean to offend you or --

I’m not offended. I just don’t want you to think there’s something going on between me and Martin.

The girl’s eyes widen and she holds up her hands. I never said that. He just looked, you know -- I totally misread the dude. Sorry.

It’s okay. I smile at her. I didn’t mean to sound defensive.

Don’t worry about it, lady. You better go check on that delivery.

On my way. I stroll past her to the back room and open the door to the basement. At first it looks typical -- small. Dank. Just a place for utilities and storage. I touch a particular place on the wall and a hidden door slides open. I step through, and the door closes behind me. A few steps down a stone corridor and I enter my favorite place in this otherwise grubby world.

The Library of Magical Arts is spacious -- the walls filled with books, scrolls, tablets, and even magical artifacts, some that have existed for thousands of years. They’ve been collected and stored here for safekeeping, since the demon masters have tried to confiscate or destroy all things magical that belong to our world. This collection belongs to the most infuriating and strangely fascinating man I’ve ever had the displeasure of meeting. If I had known when I took the job that I’d be working for him, I probably would have refused.

Who am I kidding? I’d have taken this job anyway. This is at least one way I can preserve Earth’s magical history and even help the rebellion.

Hey. I’ve got something for you.

I turn in the direction of that soft, slightly uncertain voice and smile at Martin, who lingers in the shadow of tall shelves in the vampire history section. He’s rather thin and around average height. His dark, wavy hair is slicked back from his angular, clean-shaven face. Big, forest-green eyes gaze shyly at me through thick, dark glasses.

Hi, Martin. Brandy said you have a special delivery. What is it, and where and how did you get it?

What? It’s a Viking tablet to do with berserkers. Where and how? It’s a trade secret. There’s a glimmer in his eyes that belies his sheepish grin.

Oh, come on, Martin. I teasingly stomp my foot. Give me just one little clue this time.

All right. A cave in a wilderness of snow and ice.

And you got it?

He shrugs and holds out a soft drawstring bag wrapped around something rectangular and solid. I take it eagerly, feeling not only its weight but the throb of magic sealed within it -- alive even after so many centuries. Tingling all over, I draw a deep breath.

You okay? he asks.

It’s just -- powerful. A little scary.

I know. Isn’t it great?

Our gazes lock. Seeing the pupils widen in his pretty green eyes, I tingle again -- this time in a different way. There’s something in his expression that makes me wonder if maybe Brandy is right. Is it possible that he’s interested in me romantically and I’ve just never noticed? Friends have said that sometimes I’m so into magic that I don’t pay attention to anything else.

Can you stay for a while? I ask. I’d like to talk about the tablet.

He stares at me and blinks rapidly a few times. Yeah. I’m free.

Coffee? Tea? Hot chocolate?

A quirky smile plays around his lips. Hot chocolate. That’s rare since the demon occupation.

It was a present from someone who can afford it.

Sounds interesting. Tell me more about this guy.

What makes you think it’s from a guy?

Again, our gazes lock. He lowers his first and shakes his head. Just a guess. I’m wrong?

No. It’s someone you know, actually, or as he put it when we met, a friend.

His brow furrows. A friend of mine?

He owns this place. I didn’t know that until recently, either.

Manticore.

I wrinkle my nose. Yeah. Kind of weird, isn’t he? I turn toward the snack nook -- a cabinet with a coffee maker, microwave oven, and mini fridge. It’s located not too far from a sitting area with a pellet stove, a couch, coffee table, and two comfortable armchairs.

Kind of. He said I’m a friend?

He said you’re more of an acquaintance.

Figures, Martin mutters under his breath.

So, which is it? I can’t really picture you guys hanging out together.

It’s not always easy.

So you’re not friends?

It’s not exactly the word I’d use.

I’m guessing you’ve always known he owns this place? I open the cabinet to remove two mugs and the hot chocolate mix.

You don’t like him much, do you?

Glancing over my shoulder at him, I contemplate his question. I’m not telling you anything I wouldn’t -- and haven’t -- said to his face. He’s arrogant and obnoxious.

Martin looks down again, but there’s no hiding his odd little smile.

Now I’ll tell you something I haven’t said to his face. He’s incredibly brave.

His gaze shoots toward me again. Why wouldn’t you tell him that?

Because he’s egotistical enough already.

This time Martin laughs.

"What do you think of him?"

Martin looks thoughtful for a moment. He folds his arms across his chest. I’m not sure what I’d do without him.

Seriously?

I mean it. Without him, I’m not sure what I’d be doing right now or where I’d be.

You mean because of your job? He pays you to track down all these books and artifacts. Because of him you can do what you love.

He stares at me and smiles, but it’s odd again -- not happy or even amused. Is it possible for a smile to be serious? Something tells me that there’s more going on between Martin and Manticore than he’s letting on. Of course, their relationship, even if it is strictly business, must be strange and even dangerous. Manticore’s past is murky to say the least, and although I enjoy Martin’s company I don’t know all that much about him, except for superficial things -- his taste in music, movies, and food.

You want to hear more about the tablet? he asks, but I get the feeling he’s deliberately changing the subject.

Sure. I’ll work on him later. Sneak in some subtle questions. Turn on the innocence. I might look like a kid, but I’m a grown woman with a good education and a thirst for knowledge.

How strange is it that not only do