by Paige Stone
MEMORIES OF MAGIC
A Paranormal Romance Novella
By Paige Stone
The High Priestess Trilogy, Book 1
Copyright © 2012 by Paige Stone
All rights reserved.
This ebook is may not be re-sold. No part of this book may be used, reproduced or transmitted by any means without written permission of the author.
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places, incidents and dialogue are the product of the author’s imagination or used fictiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
CHAPTER ONE
It was her first big conference so her expectations were pretty high. That was her first mistake. Emily had been looking forward to the convention for weeks, but the International Code of Conduct for Witches was turning out to be just as boring as its title. She just didn’t know how it was possible to have so many speakers telling everyone how to behave.
Emily knew there had been several incidents recently. She also knew that some of them had to do with the protests against the High Priestess and her handling of one particular coven found practicing black magic. There were some who saw the High Priestess’ leniency as weak while others saw it as compassionate. Regardless of anyone’s view, a big enough rift had been created that now required several lectures on how to conduct ourselves.
Emily tried to mind her own business. It was already difficult enough to be taken seriously as an independent witch, but with her aunt being the High Priestess governing the entire region, it was next to impossible. However, the closer Emily got to thirty, the more she wanted to make a name for herself, to prove her worthiness. She figured the convention would be a good place to branch out.
With every possible description of witch in attendance, Emily fell well into the conservative side of this crowd. Dressed in a light, flowing skirt and white tunic, Emily had decided to let her long blonde hair hang straight, hoping that it made her look more serious.
She smiled easily as she mingled during the fifteen minute break between speakers. When the conversation shifted to the High Priestess and her handling of the black magic coven, Emily quietly excused herself. Many didn’t know about her relationship to the High Priestess and she wanted to keep it that way.
Unfortunately Emily left one heated conversation and inadvertently stepped right into the middle of another one. She wasn’t even part of this discussion, she was just simply walking by; and now she found herself wishing she could erase the words she’d just heard. The discussion seemed more than just heated, it sounded dangerous.
She had entered the grand ballroom and was meandering back to her table when she overheard the two witches talking about a new breed of creature called a Mowart. All Emily heard for sure were the words vampire and chimera, neither of which sounded good.
Wanting nothing more than a non-political discussion and a stiff drink, Emily tried to act nonchalant as she weaved between tables in an effort to quickly find her seat. But alarm bells screamed through her mind when she heard the two men discussing ways of creating an army of these new creatures to overthrow Isisa, the High Priestess. Her Aunt.
She felt the blood drain from her body. Emily desperately hoped the shock of their words didn’t register on her face.
What the hell? Just stop talking! She screamed the words in her mind. She slapped a plastic smile on her face and continued to walk away but the tiny hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. They know. Of course they know. Emily had no doubt that the young witches knew she’d overhead them; their eyes were burning holes into her back.
She picked up her pace, left the grand ballroom and turned into the closest meeting room she could find. That’s when she ran directly into the solid chest of Jake Wheeler.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry.” Emily pushed her hands against his rock hard chest to steady her balance and immediately felt the electrical surge of energy shoot through her.
Jake reached out and grabbed her shoulders to keep her from toppling over. “In a mad rush to listen to the next speaker?” The sizzling current he experienced from touching her skin was instant and almost singed his fingertips.
Once he was sure she was steady on her feet, he released his grip, but even that couldn’t stop the powerful energy from coursing through him. The look on her face was all the confirmation he needed; he wasn’t the only one who had felt the connection.
His touch was electric and her body’s response was immediate. Emily was shocked by the onslaught of longing that rushed through her veins, by the desire that had been ignited by a single touch. She glanced up to respond to his question, but his eyes swallowed her up. For just a moment her bearings vanished; she was lost in the depth of his deep brown eyes.
“I was um...” Emily took a step back hoping that little bit of distance would help to clear her mind.
“I was just getting back to my table.” She managed to finish the sentence, but not before she felt the presence of the two men behind her still burrowing holes into her back. Great, they followed me from the ballroom. That’s just great.
Jake pulled his gaze away from Emily and looked directly at the two men clad in black. One wore a heavy cloak that almost touched the floor while the other was dressed in black leather. Regardless of their attire, Jake could sense their hostility from several feet away.
“Friends of yours?” He asked but never broke eye contact with the younger of the two men. There was something deeply sinister in his eyes. Jake maintained his hardened stare until both men sneered, then turned and left the room.
“Definitely not.” Emily shook her head. For some reason she found herself wanting to tell this stranger what she had just overheard. She felt an overwhelming desire to tell someone, but quickly realized that this ridiculously handsome man might think she was losing her mind. A new breed of creature? Who would actually believe that?
“Thank you.” Her words were barely more than a whisper. “Thank you for staying with me until they left.” She braved another look into his eyes. “I just…had a really terrible feeling about them.” Emily felt comfortable at least admitting that.
“Yeah, they were giving off some negative energy alright,” he agreed. “Are you sure you’re okay?” Jake knew he was trying to linger longer.
“By the way, I’m Jake.” He offered his hand, hoping to feel the spark again.
She smiled and her blue eyes lit up when their hands connected. The heat from his skin was immediate. The electrifying jolt didn’t come as a complete surprise; it only deepened her smile...and her longing.
“Emily,” she introduced herself while the fierce currents continued their crusade through her body.
“Can I escort you back to your table? Or perhaps I could tempt you to join me for a drink?” Jake hoped she agreed to a drink, he wasn’t ready for her to leave, especially with those two hellions he knew were still lingering nearby.
Emily let go of the deep breath she hadn’t even been aware she’d been holding. “A drink would be fantastic.” It was true and she could really use one, “but some fresh air would be even better.” She just wanted to get out of the hotel, even if only for a few minutes.
“It’s as if you read my mind.” Jake offered Emily his arm and escorted her out of the meeting room, through the lobby and into the brightly lit streets of Santa Monica.
They briskly crossed the street then slowly walked along the sidewalk towards the pier; the lights of the Ferris Wheel were a natural draw. Emily closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She found the sound of the waves lapping against the shore to be almost hypnotic.
�
�It’s a beautiful night.” She moved closer to Jake as she spoke. Although the temperature was still mild, the light breeze was a little cooler than she’d expected.
“Breathtaking,” Jake agreed, but his eyes were fixed on the beautiful woman beside him, not the lights or the waves, not even the invitation of the sandy beach.
“So what’s the story behind those two back there?” He hoped Emily would open up because he sensed there was something dark lurking behind their penetrating stares.
“Oh, I think it was just a misunderstanding.” She couldn’t bring herself to share the information she had overheard. Honestly, who would believe it? Except maybe Isisa. But Emily did find herself anxious to learn more about these mowarts and warm Isisa about them. Was it even possible to create a new breed? To build a private army?
As much as she wanted to share what she had accidentally heard, she knew the person she most needed to talk with was her aunt. However, at this moment Emily was far more interested in the hard chest of the man beside her than she was in mowarts. She knew, for tonight at least, that her aunt could take care of herself.
Emily wanted to plant her hands on that solid chest one more time. Just the thought of it had her tingling with anticipation so she tried to think about something else.
“Do you mind?” Emily stopped to take off her shoes. “I’d just love to walk in the sand for a bit,” she tilted her head as she studied his obscenely handsome chiseled features, “give my feet a bit of a break.”
“Of course.” Jake held his arm out so she could balance herself.
Emily walked barefoot in the sand, carrying her shoes, inching her way closer to the magnetically charged man beside her. “So are you from here?”
“No.” He draped his light jacket over her shoulders after watching her shiver from the light wind. He left his arm around her shoulder. “I’m actually from San Francisco. But I love this area of California as well.”
“Me too!” Emily’s heart leapt in her chest. “I mean the San Fran part. It is the best city.”
“You live in San Francisco too?” Jake should have been shocked, but he wasn’t. His life had a way of being filled with serendipitous events, just like tonight.
“Unbelievable.” He grinned and tried to ignore the obvious electricity that flowed between them. It was a palpable thing and his body was responding accordingly.
Emily reached around his waist, felt the heat of his skin through his shirt and almost exploded with need. It wasn’t just because she hadn’t had a date in...forever, it was more than that. She honestly felt some crazy connection with Jake, some wild physical or electrical connection with this handsome stranger.
They made their way toward the pier. It was so bright and lively she found it breathtaking. Emily listened to all of the activity as they walked to end of the pier, taking in the scenery and the people. She leaned over the wooden railing to soak up more of the ocean’s call.
Jake angled closer to her, allowing the flow of sizzling electricity to run through them. It was exhilarating. He ran his fingers over her shoulder. Even through the fabric of his jacket the sensation was intoxicating.
The light ocean breeze swept her blonde hair from her face as he gently spun Emily around to face him. He touched her cheek then traced a gentle finger along her jaw. She was magnificent. There was an energy surrounding her that he couldn’t describe. He just knew that he wanted – no needed – her close.
He lowered his head, the heat of this breath whispered over her lips. Emily felt sure she’d melt from the fire he’d ignited in her. In breathless anticipation she found herself shocked that there only two things she knew about this man: his name was Jake, and he lived in San Francisco.
Her lips parted with expectation. She was not disappointed. He covered her mouth with his; the contact was heady and left her feeling weak. She couldn’t feel her toes, she couldn’t even think straight. Emily knew one more thing...she’d never been kissed like that!
Jake pulled away; he needed to catch his breath. “Let’s keep walking. I think standing here is a dangerous proposition with you.” The words were sprinkled with humor, but they were filled with truth. “Will you walk with me?” He held out his hand, urging her to follow.
She silently reached out, allowing his fingers to connect with hers. Her hand was shaky; her body still reeling from the kiss. They walked down the pier in a comfortable silence as they made their way back to the boardwalk. Emily gave her head a little shake. She was so completely and utterly caught up in the magic of the evening, she had to remind herself it wasn’t a dream. Although her feet were in the sand, her mind was filled with possibility.
“Look at the full moon.” She stopped in her tracks and stared up at the clear night sky.
Jake shared the view then pulled Emily close. “Sit with me.” He whispered the words in her ear as he pointed to an intimate spot that was tucked away yet still offered a spectacular panoramic view.
She eyed him suspiciously imagining sand in places she really didn’t want sand to be. But then she thought about the kiss and decided that sitting on the beach with Jake would be more than worth it. Sand and all.
She lowered herself to the fine sand and leaned into Jake’s embrace. They both looked up to enjoy the perfect evening while Emily pulled her knees up closer, rubbing them against his thigh.
The physical contact created a storm surge in Jake, the likes of which he had never experienced. “Emily,” he barely got her name out before his lips devoured hers. In one perfect sweeping motion he gently laid her back on the sand, his jacket falling from her shoulders. “What are you doing to me?”
She pulled herself closer to his chest and draped one leg over his thigh, deepening the kiss. She felt consumed with need as his tongue probed her mouth. The heat from his touch ran the length of her as his soft fingers fluttered across her skin.
Emily felt her skirt creep its way up her thigh as she moved her leg higher on his. She just needed to get closer. That’s when she felt the vibration shoot up her leg. Filled with heat and desire, the sudden rush of cool air between them caught her off guard when he unexpectedly pulled away.
CHAPTER TWO
“I am so sorry.” His words were punctuated with a sigh. When he sat up Emily felt the vibration against her thigh once again. “For the love of . . .”
The list of people Jake would allow to come between him and Emily at this moment was very small. Unfortunately the number flashing on his cell phone happened to be the name at the very top of that short list.
“Hello.” He tried not to sound rushed or allow his impatience to show, but Jake wondered if the High Priestess could have chosen a more inappropriate time to call him.
“Yes, the conference is almost over.” Jake answered but his eyes smoldered as they raked over Emily.
She looked away then leaned back into the sand and tried to make sense of this evening. Surely her senses had completely abandoned her. Hoping to be ravaged by a guy you just met. Really?
“Of course,” Jake nodded his head. “I’ll be there as soon as possible.”
He ended the call then met Emily’s questioning eyes. “That was Isisa, the High Priestess...she’s summoned me to Las Vegas.” Concern washed over his face as he continued. “She didn’t give me much information. In fact, she just told me to get to the airport.”
Jake’s presence had been requested by the High Priestess before, but this was different. There was a sense of urgency in her voice that he’d never heard before. With all of the regional bickering and recent political unrest, his concern grew a little deeper.
He turned his attention back to Emily. “Any chance you’d like to pick up where we’re leaving off once I return to San Francisco?” Jake’s body was hard; just looking at Emily awash in with moonlight filled him with need. He took a ragged breath and knew it was going to feel like a long flight.
“I’d like nothing more.” Emily sat up and somehow managed to regain control of her senses, perhaps jus
t not her discretion. He wasn’t the only one filled with unmet desire. She reached into her purse, grabbed a piece of paper and scribbled her number on it.
“Good luck in Vegas. I’m actually kind of jealous,” she admitted. “I’ve always wanted to be summoned by the High Priestess.”
Even though Emily had spent a great deal of time with her aunt, it was always as her niece, never a witch, never as an equal. She’d always wanted the opportunity to prove herself to Isisa. Obviously that wasn’t going to happen tonight.
“I’ll give you a full report,” he promised. “But I should walk you back to the hotel.”
He helped her up from the sand and kept his hand tucked in hers. Emily’s feet remained bare until they were back at the sidewalk. “I hate to put these back on.” Reluctantly she slipped her shoes on once again.
“Thank you for the uh...walk.” Emily squeezed Jake’s hand as they started towards the hotel once again.
“I really am sorry I have to leave so quickly.” They stopped outside the entrance to the hotel, neither wanting their time together to end. Obscene as it was, Jake felt a connection with Emily he’d never felt with anyone else.
“Please stay safe,” he whispered before he took possession of her lips once again.
Searing waves of heat penetrated Emily, even their clothes were not enough of a barrier to stop her emotions from being ravaged. Anticipation crashed through her veins yet again as he explored the depths of her mouth. She reached up, running her fingers through his already tousled dark hair. She felt disheveled when he pulled away.
Once she managed to collect her bearings, the only words she could offer were, “Hurry back.”
“I’ll call you as soon as I return.” He ran his fingers up her spine, sending shivers from her fingertips to her toes. It took every ounce of energy to turn away from her, but he only had a few minutes to pack.
