Ghastly Intentions: Three Crones Inn, #3

By Aurelia Skye

Chayse's good intentions lead to bad, bad things…

Chayse just wants everyone to be happy. Her first attempt to make that happen ends with a botched spell to bind true lovers and calls forth an unexpected visitor from Augusta's past instead of Gemini's former lover, as the girls had intended. It also weakens the membrane and brings forth a ghost Hunter and Meredith must hunt and exorcise. Someone in Crowder is harboring it, but whom?

 

Now that her daughter knows about the necromancy magic in their line, Chayse invites Tilly to the inn, sure she can convince her grandmother Meredith isn't crazy. Meredith knows there's no changing her mother's opinion, and when Tilly arrives with Dirk, she just might lose her mind for real this time. What possible reason could he have for coming to the inn and bringing his pregnant girlfriend? It can't be good, for certain.

 

At least the entity is still trapped far away, though he's coming closer each day. Amidst all the unpleasant surprises, can something wonderful happen?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Amourisa Press
• Release date: Sep 25, 2022
• ISBN: 9798223939306

Aurelia Skye

Aurelia Skye is the pen name USA Today bestselling author Kit Tunstall uses when writing science fiction and/or paranormal romance. It’s simply a way to separate the myriad types of stories she writes so readers know what to expect with each “author.” Join Kit's Mailing List to keep up with her new releases across all pen names and receive free books: http://kittunstall.com/newsletter (You can also opt to receive just notifications for Aurelia Skye when signing up.)

Book preview

Blurb

Chayse’s good intentions lead to bad, bad things...

CHAYSE JUST WANTS EVERYONE to be happy. Her first attempt to make that happen ends with a botched spell to bind true lovers and calls forth an unexpected visitor from Augusta’s past instead of Gemini’s former lover, as the girls had intended. It also weakens the membrane and brings forth a ghost Hunter and Meredith must hunt and exorcise. Someone in Crowder is harboring it, but whom?

Now that her daughter knows about the necromancy magic in their line, Chayse invites Tilly to the inn, sure she can convince her grandmother Meredith isn’t crazy. Meredith knows there’s no changing her mother’s opinion, and when Tilly arrives with Dirk, she just might lose her mind for real this time. What possible reason could he have for coming to the inn and bringing his pregnant girlfriend? It can’t be good, for certain.

At least the entity is still trapped far away, though he’s coming closer each day. Amidst all the unpleasant surprises, can something wonderful happen?

Chapter One

MEREDITH WOKE FROM a sound sleep to a state of alertness so abruptly that her heart was racing. For a second, she couldn’t identify what had woken her, but as she turned over on her side to look at Hunter, a fierce wave of love filled her. She was completely drawn to him, and it felt like her usual feelings had been amplified by at least a thousand times. She put her hand to his face, cupping his cheek as his eyes opened as well. His love reflected back at her in his eyes when she moved closer. Her plan was to kiss him.

Hunter withdrew slightly. I feel strange.

I think it’s love. She giggled as she said that, sounding less than half her forty-seven years.

Aye, but it feels unnaturally intense.

She opened her mouth to protest, starting to feel offended, but she spent a moment analyzing the situation. Reluctantly, she reached the conclusion he was correct. It felt somehow induced. Not that it wasn’t genuine, because she truly cared about Hunter, but this was artificially augmented.

Somebody’s up to something. As he said that, Hunter rolled out of bed.

Meredith followed him, getting out on her side. Part of her wanted to sink into the sensations filling her, but the other part of her needed to know what was happening. She was curious, borderline worried, about what was going on. If it was magic, it was likely to involve one of their children. She was concerned that Chayse or Brett had done something that could cause repercussions for all of them.

She and Hunter left her room a short time later, both wearing robes. Duncan padded behind them, his claws clicking on the wood tile in the hallway. She knocked on Chayse’s door, drawn there instinctively by the surge of power. Without waiting for permission to enter, she turned the knob and pushed open the door, relieved it wasn’t locked.

She stared at what was in front of her for a moment, trying to discern Chayse’s intent. She sat at a small table with a collection of items arranged around it. They were all magical in origin, and Gemini sat across from her. Her hands hovered above Chayse’s, though she wasn’t actually touching her. Obviously, during the couple of weeks Chayse had been staying there, she had become accustomed to Gemini’s presence enough not to feel the chill.

What’s going on in here?

Gemini looked startled, and Chayse let out a little yeep of surprise. She clasped her hand to her chest and stared at Meredith. You scared the heck out of me, Mom.

What are you doing?

Her daughter smiled sanguinely. We’re conducting a séance after I cast a spell to bolster and find true love. Gemini really wants to see Solomon again.

This is a terrible idea. You have to... She trailed off as a surge of light flashed from the crystal ball on the table. She doubted Chayse was using the ball to summon anyone. Rather, it was probably to focus her own magic and translated in a way her daughter could understand, since she was just barely learning magic. Considering Meredith wasn’t that far ahead of Chayse, she was worried how she was going to guide her through this.

As the smoke started to clear and the light faded, she expected to see Solomon standing before them. She’d recognize his picture from the paper, she was sure, since she had looked up that information for Gemini in the past.

The figure standing there most certainly wasn’t a young black man from the nineteen-twenties. He wore the gray of a Civil War uniform, though it was muted, as was he from being semi-translucent. She recognized it more from documentaries than from actually being able to see color and detail.

There was a gaping wound on the outside of his thigh, and though it had taken on translucency from being a ghost, it was still gruesome. She quickly looked away, certain that had been the cause of his death. Whomever he was, he was a Confederate Civil War soldier, but how could he have been summoned there?

What is going on? asked the soldier. He straightened his shoulders as he stared at the three of them, particularly Gemini. What are these livings doing?

I’m afraid they’ve inadvertently summoned you, said Meredith instead of Gemini. There was obviously a mistake somewhere in their spell work, but we’ll see if we can get you released as soon as possible.

Madam, I have no intention of returning to Purgatory, I assure you. I do not know what brought me here, but I consider the circumstances beneficial. He nodded to Gemini and Chayse, who were staring right at him. For liberating me, you have my thanks. He frowned then. The question is, why have you liberated me?

There was a fluttering in the air as Augusta floated up through the floor, her head appearing a scant second before the rest of her body skyrocketed into the room. She clamped a hand over her mouth and looked like she might faint. To Meredith’s knowledge, fainting wasn’t an inability ghosts possessed, but her friend looked like she might do it at any moment.

She was almost hyperventilating as she shook her head, as though rejecting what her eyes were seeing. Aubrey, what are you doing here?

That’s my fault, said Chayse, looking sheepish as she answered Augusta. I meant to summon Solomon for Gemini, but somehow, I called this gentleman instead.

This gentleman is my sister’s husband. Augusta looked pale even for a ghost. I do not understand how this could be.

I cast a binding spell that would find and amplify true love and then conducted a séance. I found the information in Lucy’s books. Chayse slanted an uneasy glance at her mother, as though she expected Meredith to declare the spell room and library off limits.

Meredith was briefly tempted, but an untrained necromancer was worse than a trained one, for certain. I don’t know what possessed you to do this. You obviously don’t have enough experience yet.

Gemini’s lower lip was wobbled. It was my fault. Today is my anniversary with Solomon. It was our first date almost one hundred years ago. I really wanted to see him, and she saw how unhappy I was. She agreed to help, but I pestered her into it.

You didn’t pester me. I was willing to help you, and I wanted to see if we could do it. Chayse looked embarrassed when she made the admission. Obviously, we couldn’t.

It still doesn’t explain how this soldier came to be here with us, said Meredith as she gestured to Aubrey. Do you know why you’re here, sir?

He looked mystified. I do not. I just experienced a sudden wave of longing and intense emotion, which is not unaccustomed. Being in Purgatory, there is little time to do anything but think. I think about her often, although I must admit it was far stronger than usual this time.

That must have been the spell, but I’m not sure why you’re here instead of with Susanna.

Augusta suddenly burst into tears and made a whooshing sound as she disappeared through the wall. Meredith watched her go, confused as she walked over to Chayse to look over her shoulder at the light blue journal her daughter currently had opened. She read the description and realized it wasn’t just to amplify true love. It was also used to increase the bond between two lovers and allow one to cross over to the other’s dimension in conjunction with drawing from the other’s side.

She started to ask Aubrey why he had been drawn to this dimension when Susanna wasn’t around, but the ghost was gone. She realized he must’ve followed Augusta, so she went in search of both of them.

She used her senses to follow the ghosts, find it easy enough to connect with their lifeforces to track them in the house. They seemed to be in Lucy’s study, and she hurried downstairs, aware of Hunter following behind her. He’d been mostly silent, obviously observing the latest drama though he couldn’t see the ghosts, but she was still reassured to have his presence behind her.

When she reached the library, Aubrey was floating outside the door, clearly trying to speak to Augusta through the wood. She must’ve closeted herself inside the spell room.

She moved closer and frowned at Aubrey. You know you can go through solid objects like doors, right?

The soldier shuddered. I shall not enter a witch’s spell room, madam. It might not be safe.

I see. She had no time for his reluctance, so she opened the door and stepped past him into the spell room. She was surprised to see Augusta hovering in the corner as though sitting on the floor. She’d drawn up her legs against her chest, and she had her arms wrapped around herself. She looked like the very picture of abject misery as Meredith got closer.

There was a slight whooshing sound behind her as Lottie and Gemini joined them, and they knelt on the floor near Augusta, though Meredith’s knees were the only ones that made any impression on the dusty corner of the floor, which needed a quick sweep. Tell me what’s wrong, Augusta?

I can’t. It’s far too shameful.

We’re friends, and we aren’t going to judge you, said Lottie in a gentle tone.

That’s right, said Gemini. This seems like my fault somehow, so you have to tell me what happened. Maybe I can fix it.

There is no fixing this disaster, said Augusta with a hint of doom in her tone. I suppose I knew my sin would always come back to haunt me. It’s part of why I refused to cross over. How could I have ended up in Heaven after what I had done?

Meredith exchanged puzzled glances with the other ghosts before refocusing on Augusta. What is it you did?

I fell in love with my sister’s husband, and even worse, he loved me as well.

Meredith gasped, shocked at the idea. Augusta seemed like such a prim and proper spinster that it was almost impossible to imagine her making such a misstep. You must feel devastated, but that was a long time ago. Even if you cheated with your sister’s husband, I imagine she would have forgiven you by now. Meredith wasn’t entirely certain of that, for ghosts tended to hold grudges. So far, there was no sign of Susanna, but that didn’t mean the ghost wouldn’t pop up at any moment.

"We never cheated... Exactly. It was all emotional, and mostly in the