Easy Bake Coven

by Liz Schulte

  “Then perhaps it’s time you trust my ability to make my own decisions.”

  “How can I when you do things like this? You choose her over your own people—”

  “Stop right there,” I cut him off. “Last time I left, how did Cheney handle it? Was everything sunshine and roses from that day forward?” The king looked away from me. “Our souls are bound and nothing will undo it. You don’t like me, but I swear I’m a nice person if you get to know me. I’m not a full elf, and for that I’m not sorry. I know you see humans as flawed—”

  “Flaws you, yourself, demonstrate.”

  I took a deep breath. “And what would those be?”

  “Oh, where to begin? You are a power-hungry, backstabbing, user—”

  “No, that couldn’t be further from the truth. I don’t care for power at all. I would be happy if Cheney and I could peacefully live our lives without the interference of this world. As for backstabbing, I have made some poor decisions in the past, but I’d like to make up for them now. And finally … I’m not using your son,” I swallowed hard, “I love him.”

  I glanced at Cheney and he winked at me. “But what I can see that you seem to be blind toward are the flaws of the elf. You are prideful to the point of stupidity, cold to the point of isolation, and so arrogant you have alienated every ally you may have had, making yourself vulnerable to attack. The world is changing and you have to change with it. I want to offer a truce. Consider it the first step in a very necessary change if you expect to survive this coming war.”

  The king said nothing and refused to look in my direction. I shrugged. I couldn’t reach him. I had failed.

  “Selene is right, Father.” Cheney’s voice was no longer as cold as it had been. “She’s not the only one who thinks so. There are others. We have to make changes now or we’ll lose.”

  The king looked to him and nodded. “Yes, changes have to be made.” He stood and walked to the door. As we followed him back to the throne room, the quiet murmuring buzz of the audience dissipated and all eyes were again on us.

  “My son informed me that he spoke the truth earlier,” the king said, addressing the people. “The half-elf, Selene, is his wife, despite my laws and advice. He is in love.” His tone was mocking. “He told me change is before us, and I must comply or we will lose this war that she has started.” He pointed at me. “As much as it pains me to do, Cheney knew the rules. He is forthwith stripped of this crown and is no longer of my family.”

  There was a collective gasp from the audience.

  Cheney stepped forward. “Thank you, Father, for proving my point. A war is coming and we’re woefully underprepared. Under your rule the elves have grown complacent. We have allowed ourselves to forget how it was before the fae were united. We were selected to rule—not because we are better or superior. But now the very people who selected us to protect them fear us. I have stood idly by too long and will do so no longer. Selene didn’t start this war. Your prejudice did. I am the only hope the elves have left. You are no longer fit to lead our people. It is time for you to step aside.”

  As he spoke the words ”step aside,” our allies separated themselves from the audience falling in a V formation behind the two of us. Goose bumps covered my entire body as the room filled with tension.

  “You have a choice,” Cheney continued, speaking to the room. “Stand with me and succeed, or stand against me and fall. But make your choice now.”

  Elves in fancy robes across the front of the room stirred. Several of them moved behind the king, but more of them stayed where they were. A few moments later, people began to trickle behind Cheney. Our number grew to outnumber the support of the king.

  “Step down, Father. Do not create a rift between our people.” The king looked past Cheney to his still increasing numbers. “They have chosen me.”

  “You are responsible for this,” the king said to me. “Guards,” he yelled. A line of heavily armored men filed into the room, weapons drawn. Someone in the audience screamed and chaos ensued.

  Instincts took over. I focused my energy and threw it in the guards’ general direction, knocking three of them against the wall as I sprinted toward the melee without another thought on my mind, adrenaline pumping through my veins.

  “Selene!” I glanced over and Cheney threw me a sword.

  I twirled the weapon in my hand with natural ease. Hello, my old friend, I thought, impaling the first guard I came across. I felt something hit the air behind me. I turned to see a very shocked woman who couldn’t get her sword through my shield. An eerie calm and almost glee took over as the battle came to me. My mind was silent and my body moved in a fluid motion as if it always knew what to do. Somewhere deep inside I was horrified at my own violence, but the louder part just felt free.

  Cheney moved in fury of motion, slicing through the guards. Sebastian stayed close to my friends, protecting them as they cast protection spells on the people with us. The other members of our small company held their own.

  “We do not want to fight,” Cheney shouted. “You do not have to follow my father’s directives. If you stop now, you can join us. My father’s time is through.”

  The guard I was fighting stepped back and dropped his sword. I struggled to stay my weapon. With gritted teeth I managed to force my arms down and nod to him, and he nodded back. Slowly all the guards surrendered, were subdued, or were slain, and the reality of what happened sank in, making my hands shake. The nobles who stood against Cheney had escaped during the chaos, and I couldn’t find the Erlking either. I shook my head. It didn’t matter. We won the day. I released a breath and searched for Cheney. As I spotted him talking to Sebastian, a sharp point pressed against my back.

  Cheney was in front of me in an instant, eyes glistening. “Do not make me do this, Father.”

  “How could you have chosen her?”

  “I love her.”

  “She has bewitched you.” The sword pressed harder against my back, making me gasp. “Admit it.”

  “If you hurt her, I will kill you.”

  “I’d rather be dead than allow my son to be made a fool of.”

  The tip of his sword sank into my flesh and I cried out. Suddenly, the pressure eased and he was gone. I whirled around, a hand pressed to the sticky, wet spot on my lower back. Sy had the king in a headlock, his dagger over the king’s heart.

  “I’ll take him,” Cheney said, walking up to them.

  “Selene?” Sy asked, ignoring him.

  Part of me wanted to tell him to end this now. With the king dead, everything would be easier. I looked at Cheney, his eyes were cautious as he gazed back at me. I looked at the Erlking, struggling uselessly against Sy.

  “You tried to have me killed. Why should I show you mercy?”

  “I don’t ask for mercy,” he spat at me. “Kill me now and show my son who you really are.”

  I drew my hand from my back, looking at the blood on my fingers. “Let him go,” I said quietly.

  Sy shoved the king to Cheney and came to me. “Turn around.” He lifted my shirt and looked at my spine. “Superficial. You’ll be okay.” He hugged me. “That was close, coz.”

  When everyone was calmed and the king had been taken out of the room, Adan handed Cheney the crown. Cheney closed his eyes for moment, then looked to the door his father had just departed from. The crown was a thick, silver ring with silver ruins carved around it. Cheney came back to me and scooped me into his arms.

  “This was all for you. Now we can be together without running,” he whispered in my ear. Nervousness clenched my throat so I hugged him back. He released me and took my hand. We walked back to the front of the room.

  Cheney’s voice rose above the excited clamor of the room. “All bounties on Selene are henceforth revoked. She is not an enemy of our people.”

  All of the robed elves who remained in the room came one by one to acknowledge Cheney as the new king. My eyes strayed to the back of the room where I met a familiar face, but in a b
link it was gone. I refocused on the people shaking my hand as I smiled down at them. When everyone had finally made it through the receiving line, the tension was replaced with excitement. Change was on the horizon. I noticed my friends hovering in the back, looking as uncomfortable as I felt. I let go of Cheney’s hand.

  “I’m going to talk to the girls,” I told him. He smiled and I walked through the crowd, shaking hands as I went. It was the strangest sensation. When I finally made it back to them, I was engulfed in a hug.

  “Where’s Gram?” I asked.

  “She’s over there harassing Adan,” Katrina said. “And holy crap, I’m going to start calling you Buffy, slayer.”

  I knew she was joking, but I didn’t know how I felt about it. I had taken lives and felt nothing. I would have never thought that was possible.

  “How are you, sweetie?” Devin asked, hugging me. “This was a traumatic day in more ways than one.”

  I hugged her back, wanting to cry, but the tears refused to fall. Devin stiffened, squeezing me hard like she felt something. But before she could say anything there was a tap on my shoulder. I let go of her and looked back. Sy stood behind me. “Can we talk for a moment?”

  I went with him to the back of the room behind the crowd. He took me to a shadowed corner. Femi stepped out with the familiar man I saw earlier.

  Something about the slight smile on his full lips was just out of my grasp. I knew him but couldn’t quite place how. He was really tall and his shoulders were broad and thick. His dark hair moved back from his face in curling waves and a well-kept beard shaded his jaw. The gray eyes smiled at me though his face was serious.

  “It’s been a long time,” was all he said.

  I shook my head helplessly, biting my lip.

  He glanced toward Cheney. “Now is not a good time, I know. Femi insisted I come with her. Everything is going as planned. We’ll talk soon.”

  I looked back at him, my heart thudding. “As planned?” I asked weakly.

  He smiled and my hand reached toward him until I stopped myself. “I always knew you would pull it off.”

  “Pull it off?”

  “Oh, I forgot you don’t remember. We started the revolution. Everything has gone exactly as you said it would.”

  “No. It started before me.” That was what Cheney said. He said I joined them. How did this guy know I couldn’t remember? What had I done?

  “It started with you, Selene, not before you.”

  “You’re lying—and you’ve been trying to kill me.” I clung to what Cheney had told me—what I needed to be true.

  Jaron gave me a half smile. “Why would I want to kill you? You’ve done everything we discussed. You’re wonderful.”

  “No,” I said louder than I meant to. I covered my mouth and glanced around, hoping I hadn’t drawn attention. “The old Selene may have been on your side, but I’m with Cheney. You people need to leave me alone.”

  “That’s just it. I didn’t know phase two had started until Femi found me. We were never after you. We’ve been waiting for you to initiate the next phase.”

  “It was just the king from the start?” Sy said, crossing his arms over his chest. “What’s the next phase?”

  “The prince taking the crown. I’ll explain everything soon.” He reached for me, but I backed away.

  Sy caught his arm. “We’ll be in touch.”

  “Selene?” Cheney called from the front of the room.

  “You have to go.” I shook my head and went toward the sound of Cheney’s voice, my thoughts shocked into silence. Worry and doubt filled me. Had I made a horrible mistake? Sy was right. I should have waited until I remembered.

  Cheney held out his hand. I hesitated, then took it, trusting the feeling of comfort that came with my skin touching his, even though it was a product of the bond. I let Cheney lead me to the front and I stood by his side.

  “We have won the battle, but the trials before us are still great. My wife and I will work to mend the bridges that have been destroyed by prejudice,” Cheney’s voice rang out.

  My eyes met Jaron’s before Femi pulled him back into the shadows. He touched his fingers to his forehead in a salute before he disappeared. Suddenly a memory of kissing him in the soft morning light came to life behind my eyes.

  I couldn’t hear any more of the words Cheney spoke. My ears roared with the sound of my own blood. Cheney squeezed my hand and my heart stilled. I looked into his beautiful, wild eyes and a smile touched my mouth. Cheney smiled back and kissed the back of my hand. I had to trust someone. Jaron was a stranger. I wouldn’t let him come between us. We would figure everything out. Cheney didn’t need to know until I understood everything better.

  There was a new day before us and I refused to allow the sins of the past to destroy the future.

  Other Paranormal Books You May Enjoy…

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  By Liz Schulte

  GUARDIAN Trilogy

  Secrets

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  THE ELLA REYNOLDS Series

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  By C. G. Powell

  Spell Checked

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  I always worry I will forget someone on the acknowledgements so bear with me as I try to remember everyone.

  First, there are the people who helped me get the book publishing ready; my editors, Ev Bishop and Michelle Reed at I’m A Book Shark, my fantastic formatter, Julie Titus, and my fellow authors and beta readers, Mandie Stevens, Olivia Hardin, Tawdra Kandle and Amanda Long. I would like to give a special thanks to Stephanie Nelson to creating this beautiful cover and for also being a fantastic beta reader.

  Next I have to thank Promotional Book Tours for always hosting the best release day blasts and contests for my readers. You guys are the best!

  I want to thank my friends and family for all their love and support. Especially my mom, Kim Lammers, and my besties from the third floor, you know who you are.

  Above all, I want to thank you the readers for making this job so much fun. I really do love hearing from you!

  Many authors claim to have known their calling from a young age. Liz Schulte, however, didn’t always want to be an author. In fact, she had no clue. Liz wanted to be a veterinarian, then she wanted to be a lawyer, then she wanted to be a criminal profiler. In a valiant effort to keep from becoming Walter Mitty, Liz put pen to paper and began writing her first novel. It was at that moment she realized this is what she was meant to do. As a scribe she could be all of those things and so much more.

  When Liz isn’t writing or on social networks she is inflicting movie quotes and trivia on people, reading, traveling, and hanging out with friends and family. Liz is a Midwest girl through and through, though she would be perfectly happy never having to shovel her driveway again. She has a love for all things spooky, supernatural, and snarky. Her favorite authors range from Edgar Allen Poe to Joseph Heller to Jane Austen to Jim Butcher and everything in between.

  Books by Liz Schulte:

  Secrets (The Guardian Trilogy Book 1)

  Choices (The Guardian Trilogy Book 2)

  Consequences (The Guardian Trilogy Book 3)

  Dark Corners (Ella Reynolds Series Book 1)


  Dark Passing (Ella Reynolds Series Book 2)

  Anthologies

  Cupid Painted Blind

  Once Upon a Midnight Dreary

  Upcoming Releases

  Hungry, Hungry, Hoodoo (Easy Bake Coven Series Book 2) – Coming 2013

  Pickup Styx (Easy Bake Coven Series Book 3) – Coming 2013

  The Ninth Floor – Coming 2013

  Ember (The Jinn Trilogy)— Coming 2013

  Inferno (The Jinn Trilogy— Coming) 2014

  Vestige (The Jinn Trilogy)— Coming 2014

  Dead Inside – Coming 2014

  Frost’s Kiss – Coming 2014

  Learn more about Liz and her books at www.lizschulte.com, like her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLizSchulte, or follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/LizSchulte

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty