Her Shadowed Destiny

By Rowena Aiello

They didn't want to let her into their world.

Now, she might just be their only hope.

It takes a lot of guts to be a practicing witch in Lilaville. It takes even more guts to tell people about it, which is why only Reine's best friend encourages her to do magic. Reine's mom only worries about what the neighbors will think.

Then Aurora shows up, and Reine's best friend goes missing at her house party.

Except no one else is worried about this. No one else even cares. And no one, not even Aurora, will give her a straight answer about where she might have gone.

So Reine starts digging.

It turns out, her best friend's part of a world she never even knew existed. In fact, her friend's expected to take her place as the heir of a secret vampire society…

…but someone Aurora used to know very well has something else in mind. Someone who wants to turn the vampire world upside down.

Now Reine's powers might be the only thing keeping everyone safe. Without them, the true danger ahead of them can't be stopped, and Reine could lose her best friend—forever.

She just hopes her magic will be strong enough to protect them…

• Language: English
• Publisher: M Publishing
• Release date: Apr 4, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215178928

Rowena Aiello

Rowena Aiello's love of fantasy and romance stories began when she was reading Twilight fanfiction in high school—because where else was she going to find anyone who would make sure Bella/Jacob would be endgame? After years of fruitless searches in mossy woods, snowy mountaintops, and gorgeous mansions revealed no trace of hidden vampires, werewolves, or any other such creatures, she took to creating her own versions. She now lives in a definitely-haunted house with her wonderful but sparkle-free family.

Book preview

HER

SHADOWED

DESTINY

Rowena Aiello

Copyright © 2023 Rowena Aiello

All Rights Reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Image resource: Depositphotos. This article has been designed using images from depositphotos.com

1

REINE COULDN’T TEAR her eyes away from the strange woman going from stall to stall at the Lilaville farmer’s market.

She was the kind of beautiful that Reine had always longed for herself to be: tall, curvy in all the right places, with glossy hair and a charming smile. It was even more striking to see, given the woman wore ripped jeans and a grody t-shirt. She looked like someone the jocks in her college dorm were hooting themselves hoarse over right before summer break started a month ago.

Whenever she wore those types of clothes, her mom called her underprepared.

Making her way casually off to the side of the path, Reine tried to tuck herself between two stalls. One had a line of hanging baskets and strings of chilis. The other had a display of rose bouquets. It looked like the perfect place for her to hover so she could spy on the stranger.

Anything was better than this open-mouthed staring she was currently doing.

The woman pulled a crumpled pamphlet from her back pocket. She handed it to the stall owner she was talking to, a woman who was partially obscured by a sign about honey from local bees. Reine caught the words house party and new in town, before someone sidled up to the stall behind her, and started asking for a jar of hot sauce in the loudest possible voice.

The stranger moved away from the honey stall, closing in on where Reine was standing. The moment her back was turned, both the stall owner and the new customer stared after her, eyes wide and bright with wonder.

They leaned closer to each other, whispering. She watched their lips form the questions: who is that woman? Do you know her? And then: no, but she seems wonderful!

After a moment, Reine realized her friend, Maeve, was now at least five people ahead of her, and also talking a mile a minute.

She was looking at the hot sauce stand, though, so Reine couldn’t tell if Maeve was talking to her, or to the elderly owner now glaring at her friend from across the table. It made Reine feel less awful for ogling the random woman making her way down the path.

That less-awful feeling went away when Maeve turned to her, eyes wide with a question, and asked, Well?

It came out so loudly that the owners of the stall beside this one turned to look at them. Then her friend blinked, realizing Reine wasn’t there, and started spinning around in search of her.

Reine jumped out from her hiding place, her cheeks burning. Normally, she didn’t mind Maeve’s bold way of talking. Now she hated how called-out she felt…and how obvious it was that she hadn’t been listening.

Reine shuffled her hands, juggling the veggies and jars of homemade sauces she’d been sent here to get for her mom. I—um…

Maeve’s expression fell. She put a hand on her cocked-out hip, looking like a modern, dark-haired version of Marilyn Monroe without even trying. C’mon, dude. Were you even listening to me? she asked, an edge of impatience to her voice.

Reine dropped her gaze. No. I’m sorry.

Maeve waited a beat before nudging Reine’s elbow. It’s okay, she said softly, when Reine met her gaze again. A shadow crossed her expression that hadn’t been there before. I’m just so sick of not being heard, she said at last.

Reine let out a long breath. I know. Has your mom—

Maeve’s eye roll stopped that question before it even left Reine’s mouth. She’s impossible, dude. She barely let me leave the house like this, she said, waving an arm at her outfit. The white tube top fairly glowed in the late summer sun, and the fraying booty shorts left little to the imagination.

But by all means, Maeve looked like nearly every other college-aged girl still wandering around Lilaville, Massachusetts.

I don’t think she wants me to grow up, honestly, Maeve said, wandering away from the stall and leading Reine in the opposite direction of the beautiful woman she’d been ogling. As Maeve spoke, her volume dropped lower, and her whole body tensed up. She smacked one tightly clenched fist against the palm of her other hand.

"I think she wants me to stay her silly little girl, who she can control for the rest of her goddamn life—"

The more she talked, the more the air went crackly with energy. As Maeve continued to pummel her fist into her palm, the crackling intensified. It felt like the onset of a tiny thunderstorm.

Reine’s heart fell. She tensed, bracing herself and looking around for where it would manifest.

Oh no, not again, she thought, right before it happened.

Beside them, a basket of fresh flowers exploded. Her friend shrieked with surprise. Their hands flew up, trying to protect themselves from flying basket shards. Screams from both of the nearby stalls filled the air.

With barely a second thought, Reine dove in front of Maeve. She threw her arms out, trying to block her from sight with a hasty, discreet invisibility spell that tingled around her fingers, ready for launching. Unlike the last couple of times this had happened, though, she connected with a wall of energy leftover from the blast.

It hit her square in the chest.

She fell backwards, stumbling so hard over her own feet that she hit the stall across the way. Her hand reached out for purchase, grabbing the tent pole. It immediately caved in, pulled by her weight as her head bounced off the corner of the merchant’s table. A high-pitched voice behind her screamed about their pickles toppling over.

Breathing hard, Reine lifted her head to find Maeve across from her, hands over her mouth, staring right back at her friend.

Oh my god, are you okay? she asked, rushing in. At the same time, the stall owners from the other tables filled Reine’s vision, all reaching to help her up.

The woman from the honey stall was one of them. She had a strong grip on Reine’s arm.

Are you okay? Her voice was lyrical, her gaze sharp and strong on Reine’s. She pulled Reine up with what felt like no effort. The people around them seemed to fade away into the background.

Y-yeah. Thanks, Reine whispered. She could barely find or feel her tongue to respond. She was still amazed that this woman was staring at her, talking to her. Where had she even come from?!

Around them, the other patrons were moving away. The older gentleman who’d been talking about hot sauce announced that she was fine to the rest of the shoppers. Someone else, who Reine recognized as her neighbor, clapped her on the shoulder.

Maeve was pushing her way over to where Reine now stood on shaking legs. At the sight of them, Maeve shook her head. Her dark, glossy curls danced on her bare shoulders, and she tucked her phone into the sad excuse for a pocket of her shorts.

I’m so sorry, she said, taking Reine’s free arm and brushing off some grass Reine hadn’t seen.

It’s okay, Reine said, and nodded to the woman. And thank you for…you know. Stepping in.

The woman, who’d backed up at the sight of Maeve, smiled. No problem. But aren’t you all a little young for— She waved her hand, indicating the rest of the market. The only teens I’ve seen here are the ones forced to work the stalls.

Maeve scoffed and put a hand on her hip. Excuse me, but we’re twenty years old.

Reine tried not to blush as she collected her goods. Yeah, and we’re forced to go shopping, she said, holding up her basket.

The woman laughed, a sound that seemed forced to Reine. Okay, that makes a little bit more sense. Well, does this mean you all are too young to come to a house party later tonight? she asked, pulling a freshly folded flyer from her back pocket. Reine barely recognized the address printed across the front.

Maeve grabbed it almost instantly. Please. Parties are what we do, right, Reine? she asked.

The woman’s eyebrows nearly hit her hairline, but she smiled, looking Maeve over like she was surprised to hear the words coming out of the girl’s mouth. When she glanced at Reine, though, Reine was quick to nod.

The woman looked back at Maeve with something like a new appreciation, her gaze lingering just a little too long.

Wonder what that’s about, Reine couldn’t help thinking.

Great! My name’s Aurora. If you have trouble getting there, you can call the number on the back, she said.

She hadn’t finished speaking when another woman, with red hair and wearing only a slightly less grungy outfit, appeared behind her. Without a glance at Reine or Maeve, she started tapping Aurora on the shoulder.

Aurora froze, bending her head to listen. The second woman mumbled in her ear, and Reine found herself leaning forward. She only caught the words gotta run, it’s Diana, before Aurora nodded and straightened back up.

I’ll see you then, she said, holding Reine’s and Maeve’s eyes as she waved and followed the second woman away from the market. Something about the entire place seemed to get dimmer and dingier as she did.

Reine waved back before she could stop herself. The moment they were gone, Maeve slid in close, eyes wide as she stared after them.

Whoa, she whispered. What the hell was that?

I don’t know, Reine whispered back, trying to breathe.

I’ve never seen someone who looked that good before. Maeve rounded on her, the color leeching from her cheeks. Did you feel that, too? When she was over here? It was like…I don’t know. Something— She waved a hand in the air, searching for the word.

Something warm, Reine said, nodding hard. She felt like her head was spinning.

Maeve let out a relieved breath. Oh thank god, I thought it was just me. I was like, ‘if the witch doesn’t feel this’—

Shh, Reine whispered, grabbing her arm and moving her away from the area. She glanced around, trying to see if anyone had heard. Not so loud. I have neighbors here.

Maeve scoffed. Please. Five years and they still don’t know? She pointed to Reine’s outfit.

It’s not like I advertise. Besides, my mom’s boutique is on the line. You know how snooty Lilavillians are. My mom still thinks that, if they get wind of what I do, they’ll never shop at her store again, and we’ll be homeless, Reine said between her teeth.

Once they were back at the entrance to the market, she sighed and let go of her friend’s arm. But yes. I felt that, too. It’s the first time I’ve felt anything like that.

She made a face. Honestly, it’s the first time I’ve had anything weird happen.

Maeve’s eyes went wide and she rounded on Reine fast enough to get whiplash. Do you think you conjured this? she asked. There was a note both of terror, and excitement, in her tone as she asked the very question Reine had secretly been wondering.

Reine shook her head fast, thinking of the cauldron and glass bottles she kept in a box under her bed. "I don’t actually conjure anything. I—make potions. Food. Charms. Stuff that’s innocuous. Stuff that