Paranormally Yours: A Boxed Set

by Alisha Basso

  I turned to him, flinching a little at his wounded face. I guess I was being kind of a jerk.

  “You did a good thing,” he said as he leaned into me, before his huge arms engulfed me in a crushing bear hug. “Eat with me, then we’ll go home. Sound okay?” He released me, taking a step back and smiled.

  I searched his beautiful eyes and smiled back, he made me feel better and that was the most natural thing in the world.

  We dined. Well, at least it felt like dining. The juice was a beautiful pink color and tasted like sweet berries. We also ate tiny quiches from a silver platter, and strange fruits displayed on cake stands, their juicy pulp perfuming the room.

  I sat across from him; our eyes meeting as I reached for a pear. “This is great, but I must say, I have a real craving for one of your delicious, cheesy omelets. Any chance I’ll ever eat breakfast with you again?”

  His eyes widened. Berry juice spurted out of the corner of his mouth and he coughed, trying to catch his breath. “Are you flirting with me, Gracie?” he asked in a suspicious tone. “Not that I’m complaining, but I know the water no longer has an effect on you.” He lowered his eyes; the look was so young, so innocent. He made my heart swell.

  “No”, I said, “I’m not flirting. I’m stating a fact. I love this healthy stuff, but I need my junk food, I want cholesterol and pasteurized, processed cheeses and foods with words I can never pronounce.”

  “Well,” he said. “Go for it. Why not? Breakfast isn’t abusing your powers, you are what you are. Do what you do. There are no penalties, Grace, no one will think worse of you.” He sat back, regarding me, like, yeah, I was really having a moral dilemma about a few omelets. I just never thought about it. I mean, I’ve been all powerful for less than twenty-four hours… It’s bound to take a while to get used to. I stared at his smug know-it-all face and laughed. How ridiculous!

  The omelets tasted great. Not as good as Lucian’s homemade version, but I did my best.

  We spent the rest of the meal in silence. I was wondering if Ann was coming home with us, or if the enigmatic Tobias had thoroughly enchanted her. Well, there was only one way to find out. I would have to hunt her down.

  I conjured clothing for us, choosing a more casual look for our trip home. For Lucian, a pair of faded jeans, a dark blue sweater over a plain white t-shirt. I added a thin platinum chain with a tiny cross to his neck. The cross was neatly hidden under the collar of the t-shirt. My outfit was equally comfortable, faded jeans and soft V-neck sweater in pale pink.

  “Ready?” I asked. “What?”

  “Don’t I get a say in what I wear, or am I now your doll, to dress as you please?" He left the room in a huff. I followed him, noticing that he had already laid out what he planned to wear home.

  Shit. I wasn’t doing this, was I?

  “Oh, God, Lucian, I’m so sorry. I guess I just pictured you in something I thought you’d look nice in and, zap! You’re all ready to go. It was very rude of me. You’re not mine and I’m sorry I treated you that way. I’ll curb it, unless you ask me otherwise, okay?”

  I made a gesture toward him, intending to reverse what I had done. But when I did, I accidentally thought “remove” not “replace” and that made matters so much worse because, now he was nude. Yes, remarkably, blessedly nude.

  I stood there staring at him, my mouth hanging open and my head spinning. He was too stunned to speak, which I was supremely thankful for. I should fix this, I thought, but I couldn’t form the notion.

  He reached for me. I searched his eyes looking for the anger, the violation, but there was none. I came back to myself and yelled, “I’m sorry. I’ll go,” and ran out of the room at breakneck speed.

  THIRTY SEVEN

  The sprint to the village was refreshing. It didn’t have the same effect as a cold shower, but it helped.

  “Lovely morning,” a young woman called as I passed her domed, little house. She was watering flowers with a wooden pitcher. I waved as I passed, smiling. She smiled back warmly and went on with her chores.

  This really was a paradise. Everywhere I looked there was beauty. People were happy. They lived simply. The grime of city life was hell compared to this. It was the weirdest thing, but even with all of this peace and beauty, I still wanted to go home. I knew I couldn’t live here.

  “Grace!”

  It was Ann. I spun in a circle, trying to locate the direction of her voice. I spotted her. She was leaving the yard of one of the pearly houses. It was pretty sparse compared to the ones around it. Oh, God, she looked remarkable, happier than I had ever seen her. I swallowed my sorrow. It looked like I might be saying goodbye to my best friend today.

  “Ann! Honey, I thought I might have to hunt you down. Have you been with Tobias this whole time?”

  She stopped short, “Holy shit! Your eyes. Cool.”

  “Cool? Well, okay.” I laughed. Such a small reaction! Clearly, she was distracted, all I got was “cool.” Leave it to Ann. I looked into her eyes, “So you’re in love?”

  “You bet your sweet ass, and guess what? He wants to marry me, or the equivalent to marriage, I guess. Can you believe it? He wants to spend the rest of his life with me?”

  I painted on an instant smile. I was happy for her. She’d found love. But Tobias saying he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her was impossible. I knew that he would live a couple hundred years longer than she. Maybe, what he should have said was that he wanted to spend the rest of her life with her. I mentally slapped myself. That was a shitty thing to think.

  She was so giddy. I knew I’d lost her.

  “I’m happy for you, Ann, but are you sure? He’ll want a baby, that’s a guarantee. Are you up for that? What about your home, your life?" She looked stricken, me and my big mouth. I felt like an instant shit. “I’m sorry, sweetie, it’s just hard for me.” I pulled her into a hug. “I’ll miss you like nobody’s business.”

  “I know. I know it’s not like me to take such a big leap, but I’m ready. This is my home. I’ve been given a great opportunity and I won’t pass it up.” She studied my face, “Really, Gracie, don’t worry. Tobias is wonderful. He’s my fantasy, my dream come true. This whole place is.” She spun in a ridiculous circle.

  “Okay,” I sniffed. “I wouldn’t let you go for anyone less worthy.”

  “There’s one other thing, Grace.” she said soberly. “In our world, I’ll be legally dead.”

  Ugh. Yeah, that whole bloody scene at her house.

  “Ann that was pig blood. They’ll know you weren’t murdered in your bed. They’ll be looking for you. You won’t be dead, you’ll just be missing.”

  “Well, that’s where you come in. Could you fix it so that it wasn’t pig blood?”

  I stared, dumbfounded. “What? Why? Don’t you want people to believe you’re still out there? In case you decide to come back?”

  “No, this is a final decision for me. I spoke to Tobias and he agrees. I should be dead to my former world. Not a missing person.”

  I knew it was a huge invasion and I knew I had no right, but I had to make sure, so I took a little peek into her mind. She was in love and she was also pregnant. She didn’t know it yet, but how else would you describe two minds in one body?

  “Okay,” I smiled, “I’ll do it. I’ll change the facts, not the blood, but the results will be the same. According to the State of Nevada, you’ll be the late Miss Anna Amelia Tate.” For God’s sake! It made me ill just saying it. Tears streamed down my face and I felt a shudder of unease.

  “One more teensy thing, Gracie, you’re my beneficiary. You have been for the past five years.”

  My eyes could have fallen out and rolled away, they bulged out so far. “What? Why?” I found myself repeating. “I thought you still had some distant family somewhere.”

  “Nope, how do you think I came into so much wealth? It was my inheritance when my folks died, and since I won’t need it here, I want you to have it now. My death will be my gift to you.”
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  “Ann, don’t ever say that again.” I sat on the ground. She was really sending me over the edge. “I don’t know what to say. Five years? I don’t understand.”

  She smiled as she plopped down beside me. “You’re a good person. Maybe a little goofy and bumbling at times, but a genuinely good person. I recognized that a long time ago. I love you, Grace, and besides, I knew you were the one when you refused to take any of the money I offered you so many times before. I knew I’d never marry. Well, not any of those doorknobs I latched onto. The money is yours. Live well, honey.”

  I watched her as if from a million miles away while she hugged me and kissed my cheek goodbye. She stood, beaming. “Come back to visit, or maybe we’ll come to see you. I don’t really know how, but after all, my best friend is a Madea.” And with that, she skipped away. Her body disappearing into the white orb she would now call home.

  I sat on the warm ground. My brain was swimming with the reality of life without Ann. She was my one true friend. She was always there for me. She was the one I turned to when things went bad, or when I needed to vent. She was the one constant in my life and now she’d be gone. To the world, I’d have to say that Ann was dead. Could I do that?

  “You look like you could use a friend.”

  I jumped. The sound of Lucian’s voice startled me. I watched him as he approached. Funny, my embarrassment was long gone. I guess my body had room for only one emotion right now, and it was grief.

  “Hey, sorry about that clothing thing. I didn’t mean it, really.” I tried to look sincere, but I was too depressed.

  “That’s okay. Many women have tried to get me naked. You just went about it better.” He sat beside me and nudged me with his shoulder. I had to laugh at his smiling eyes. He was screwing with me. What a sweet man.

  “You know, if I wanted you naked, I would have just asked.” I nudged him back. Amazing how he could make me feel better; maybe I had more friends than I thought.

  “Gavyn wants to see us before we leave for home. Are you excited?”

  “Yeah, more than you know. But I have a feeling it’s going to be a pretty big roller coaster ride when we get there.” I saw the question forming. “’I’ll brief you later. Let’s say farewell to the beautiful people and skedaddle.”

  We walked close together, exchanging some meaningless small talk, the kind only close friends can share. I was feeling better with every step, and Lucian seemed to be enjoying my company as well.

  The Great Hall was filling fast. “I hope we aren’t interrupting another meeting. Should we wait outside?”

  Gavyn shouldered his way through the crowd and jogged toward us.

  “It seems word has spread about your departure. The people wish to see you off.” He placed his arms behind Lucian and me and ushered us toward to door.

  Once we entered the hall, Gavyn began to speak to the gathered crowd. “We owe a great debt to Grace. She is leaving us now to return to her world.” He turned to me and gently grasped my hands in his. “We have gathered to thank you. We hope that you feel our sincere gratitude. You have saved us. We will never forget you.” Shouts and well wishes rang out all over. I was speechless, Lucian looked weepy.

  I had to say something, and, for a change I knew just what it was. “Thank you all,” I began. “It was my honor to be able to help you. I’ve never had the pleasure of knowing so many kind and wonderful people. I will miss you. I hope to come back and see all of your beautiful children. I hold this land and everyone here close to my heart. Thank you for allowing me into your lives.”

  I was still so sad. I thought of Ann and looked around for her. She was all the way in the back, her face red and puffy as she waved frantically. I blew her a kiss and turned to Lucian. “Are you ready?”

  He grasped my hand and held it tightly. “As I’ll ever be.”

  “Goodbye, and thank you again,” I called. I felt such sadness. My heart was breaking over the loss of Ann and my tears began to flow freely. I didn’t want Ann to see me cry, so I conjured a thick mist to conceal our departure. It filled the room and Lucian and I faded from their sight.

  THIRTY EIGHT

  I’d been home for two months before the paperwork to Ann’s estate was finalized. I was staying with Lucian, totally platonically, I’m almost sad to say. I just couldn’t bring myself to go home, not with so many people pestering me about Ann. Mostly well-wishers - wishing to help me invest her millions out of the kindness of their hearts. It was disgusting.

  I was using Lucian’s house as a sort of home base slash hide-out. I‘d go home after the excitement of my inheritance blew over. I knew I’d have to look for a new place to live.

  Ann dropped me a letter, don’t ask me how, to tell me the date of her wedding. I was so happy for her, I only cried for an hour. I really missed her. Lucian tries to fill in the gaps, and he does a great job. I’m lucky to have him.

  I haven’t heard from Seth or the Council. He hasn’t once entered my dreams, not since being reunited with the ring. I haven’t taken it off yet, even though I know it’s powerless.

  So far, being a Madea hasn’t changed my life much, except now I’m unemployed. Apparently, Mr. Norris was a little more than pissed at my disappearing act. I got a letter from him along with a bill from the towing company. I didn’t dispute it or beg for my job back. Being independently wealthy has definite advantages.

  Epilogue

  The hum of Ann’s Lexus was almost as effective as a lullaby. I stayed up packing and chatting with Lucian ‘til the wee hours of the morning and was certainly feeling it.

  He kept trying to convince me that I was going home too soon. Don’t get me wrong, I really wanted to stay with him, but it was getting harder and harder to resist him. He was my friend, and despite what he thought, sex would ruin what we have. I knew he would miss me; I would miss him too, but it was time to move on. I had to quit hiding and get my act together. I’d been staying with him for six months and I was anxious to see my home again.

  I pulled the elegant sedan into the lot behind my tiny cottage and sat for a moment. I smiled at the landscaping. The weeds were surprisingly absent and the lawn was mown. My landlord must have felt bighearted after getting my rent check that covered the next year.

  I got out and fished the keys from my purse. Being home was wonderful. The door opened with a squeak. Man, I missed that sound. I entered the house and flicked on the light switch.

  Then I swallowed my gum.

  Roses.

  A chill raced along my skin as dread settled like a rock in my stomach. The kitchen was filled with vase after vase of roses. The floor was strewn with petals, so dark red they were almost black. Something on the table glittered in the candlelight.

  “Hello, Sweet.”

  This Curse, book 2 of the Grace Allen series!

  When the line between friends and enemies is blurred, is there anyone left to trust? As visions of doom assault her, Grace Allen is forced to hunt for the answers.

  Even now, filled with all the magic of the Madea, Grace finds that her troubles are far from over. Werewolves and demons come right to her doorstep forcing her out of her human disguise and into the path of an ancient and unrelenting evil. One that will put her soul to the test and leave her marked for life.

  Will Grace Surrender to the most malevolent force the world has ever known or will she find the strength to bend him to her will?

  About the Author

  Alisha Basso lives in Reno with her husband and children. When she is not writing her novels she is busy wrangling lots of children or tending to her garden.

  Books by Alisha Basso

  This Blood - The Grace Allen Series Book 1

  This Curse- The Grace Allen Series Book 2

  This Time - The Grace Allen Series Book 3

  This Night - The Final Installment of The Grace Allen Series - Coming Soon!

  Writing as Alisha Henson

  Wet - A Mermaids on Land Novella

  Wild - A Mermaids
on Land Novella book 2

  Waves - Coming Soon!

  Connect with Alisha Online

  Website:

  http://www.alishabasso.com/

  Facebook:

  https://www.facebook.com/alisha.basso

  The Starbuck Chronicles

  AFTERLIFE

  By

  Zoe Dawson

  The fine thread between reality and the fantastical has snapped. The mortal and supernatural must learn to co-exist in post-reality Minneapolis/St. Paul where video games leak monsters into the night, demons roam, thirsting for more than just blood, people are not who or what they seem and a diabolical evil plots and plans to devour the world.

  In this world gone mad......Lily’s biggest challenge is to survive.

  Lily Starbuck, kick-ass witch caterer, knows that a day that starts with blood on the horizon is a terrible omen. The day goes downhill from there when a grumpy werewolf refuses to pay his catering bill, her partner cleaned out their bank accounts, and Lily finds her murdered in their kitchen. To make matters worse, the Fairy Dust Administration (FDA) is sniffing around. Fae dust hounds hot on her partner’s trail for dealing in illegal dust now turn their attention to her. Their sexy Fae leader takes a particular interest in her and is hard to shake.

  Heartbroken, flat broke and with her very livelihood in jeopardy, she discovers that the formidable Otherworlder Security (OS) is being tampered with. With no active investigation and a missing body, she has no choice but to discover who killed her partner. Her only backup is a cantankerous gnome who delights in going invisible on her. Clues lead her to an open case being investigated by a tough OS warden shapeshifter. It seems a rogue mage has created a video game that is unwarded and game monsters are being released to terrorize the human and supernatural citizens of Minneapolis/St. Paul. Trouble is Lily has reason to believe that this mage killed her partner. Looks like Lily will have to make a deal with a vamp devil and battle wits with the Twin Cities most powerful leader all in the name of justice.