A Familiar Magic

by Sarina Dorie

  He spelled out each word with care. “I will behave.”

  He planned to hide under the bed during their honeymoon. If he was going to get sick from the transformation, he would run into the bathroom and use the litter box. When the electrical magic of Clarissa and Felix’s touch affinities had previously set off Lucifer’s magic and burned through the curse, his transformation to his human self had been temporary. Perhaps it would be again, but Lucifer suspected if he didn’t squander his magic like last time, and he instead stored it, he wouldn’t change back into a cat.

  It also meant he wouldn’t be able to work any other spells, but he didn’t care. As long as he could be a man again and be with Abigail, to hold her in his human arms again, he would be happy. He nuzzled her hand.

  “There’s so much that can go wrong with this plan,” Abigail said. “Your electrical magic might weaken the wards, and the Raven Court might find a way to get in. I don’t want them to hurt Clarissa.”

  He tapped the board. “Raven Court will not know where they are honeymoon. They will not look for way in.” He found it more difficult to keep his words from jumbling together. “Do not worry.”

  She offered him a hopeful smile, but the lines didn’t ease from her forehead.

  “Tell them strengthen wards after honeymoon.” He wrote. “You can bring Clarissa smoothie.” Breathy pants escaped from him, the closest he could manage to a chuckle. Clarissa hated Abigail’s healthy smoothies.

  “That’s right! I can bring her a strawberry-kelp-banana smoothie in the morning so they have energy.” Abigail beamed.

  Now that they were on the topic of food, Abigail was in her element. Lucifer did his best to pay attention while Abigail told him about the menu she was helping plan and the wedding cake she would be baking for the wedding.

  Abigail still hadn’t decided whether she was going to bake the cake at home and bring it when Felix magically transported her or use the oven at Womby’s School for Wayward Witches, the magical boarding school where Clarissa and Felix worked as high school teachers. Yet all he could think about was the numerous ways this plan might go wrong.

  Most matron of honors only had to plan invitations, decorations, and catering. But Abigail also had to worry about uninvited Fae guests who had figured out what Clarissa’s affinity was and wanted to kidnap her for it.

  Touch magic was more than pleasant sensations that could break curses. It could amplify other Witchkin’s and Fae’s powers and be used as a weapon against others. Lucifer was fortunate no one knew about his affinity or his brother’s. He hoped to keep it that way.

  In three days they had a wedding to attend, and he had a honeymoon to crash. Lucifer was so close to freedom he could almost taste all the cake, pizza, and wedding leftovers he was going to get to eat once he was in his human body once again.

  CHAPTER TWO

  A Fairy Tale Wedding

  Abigail was so busy with preparations in the days to come, she hardly had time for Lucifer. He was left to his own devices once they arrived at Womby’s School for Wayward Witches. He did his best to play his part, behaving as any other sociopathic cat: killing mice, hissing at teenagers who came too close to Abigail, and watching for any ravens that happened to be flying over the grounds of the school.

  Lucifer only saw one raven, Priscilla, and Abigail had forbidden him from pouncing on his sister.

  On the day of the wedding, magic was thick in the air, mingling with Clarissa’s anxiety. Magic and nerves were never a good mix among the half-breed offspring of Fae and humans known as Witchkin.

  If Clarissa had been his daughter, he would have told her it wasn’t too late for her to change her mind about the wedding. She was still young, in her twenties. She was cute with freckles, making her appear far younger than she actually was. There were plenty of other men out there who would put up with her hot pink hair and eccentric art teacher ways.

  But if Lucifer could have spoken, he would have been human. He wouldn’t have needed for her and Felix to release a dose of Red affinity magic that he could snatch up to break his curse. He didn’t want Clarissa to marry a potentially nefarious man like his brother, but he did need them to consummate their marriage.

  Abigail helped Clarissa get ready in the morning while Lucifer tried to stay out of the way. Clarissa was dressed in Abigail’s wedding dress, a gown from the eighties with puff sleeves and layers of ruffles that invited a cat’s claws to snag against the lace. Lucifer’s reaction seeing it a second time wasn’t any better than the first time he’d seen it. He hunched down, fighting the instinct to shred it into pieces.

  Abigail had worn the dress on her wedding day with Adam. She’d looked like a princess.

  Lucifer had gone into the woods and killed mice to appease his anger that night.

  Preparations the morning of the wedding went smoothly enough despite the tension in the air.

  The moment the Fae burst into the cottage, all that changed.

  CHAPTER THREE

  The Godfather. The Fairy Godfather, That Is

  The moment Lucifer laid eyes on Prince Elric of the Silver Court, he was fairly certain he was the one person he loathed more than his brother. For one thing, the man was a Fae prince—an elite and entitled noble used to getting his way. For another, he was a powerful being who radiated so much magic he could have scooped it into bottles and marketed it as a perfume. The man wore a crystal crown on top of his long silvery hair. Despite the color of his long locks, his face was youthful.

  Elric swept Clarissa into his arms like a rakish former lover—which he probably was.

  The Fae man fussed over Clarissa. “I beg you will forgive this intrusion, but there are some traditions I cannot ignore, and giving a blessing to one of my subjects is one of them.”

  Lucifer snorted. He gathered this princey fellow thought he was her fairy godfather.

  Abigail and Clarissa both tried to deter him from a “blessing.” Lucifer knew all too well how mixed those blessings could be—especially from an uninvited Fae who had just crashed a wedding. The Fae Lucifer had met in the Unseen Realm and Faerie Realm were all tricksters—even the seemingly benign ones. A Fae on a wedding day would result in trouble.

  Abigail sat on edge in her chair, chaperoning the visitor. Lucifer stalked back and forth, eager for Abigail’s go ahead to strike. The moment the man’s advice upset Clarissa, Abigail left her seat and placed a hand on the man’s arm. “Stop right there.”

  Elric gestured toward the door. Abigail’s green eyes clouded over and she stumbled toward the exit. Lucifer’s attack instincts were set into motion, but instead of launching himself at Elric, he found himself rushing out the door, rolling around in a bush of catnip, more drunk than a sailor. He couldn’t recall what he’d been about to do.

  Eventually he wandered back inside the cottage and plopped himself down on someone’s jacket on a chair. He heard beautiful voices singing eighties love ballads in the distance. The soothing sound put him to sleep.

  The sounds of screaming woke him from his cat nap.

  END OF EXCERPT

  For the rest of the novel, go to Sarina Dorie’s website for information about the next book in the series:

  https://sarinadorie.com/writing/novels

  If you enjoyed this not-so-cozy witch mystery in the Womby’s School for Wayward Witches world, please leave a review at the online retailer where you purchased this collection. You might also enjoy free short stories published by the author on her website: http://sarinadorie.com/writing/short-stories.

  Readers can hear updates about current writing projects and news about upcoming novels and free short stories as they become available by signing up for Sarina Dorie’s newsletter at:

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  Other novels written by the author can be found at:

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  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  I want to thank my fans for their enthusiasm reading my novels. My street team/ARC team has done a great job telling me when you find typos, pointing out formatting errors, leaving reviews, and purchasing books from Amazon so that you can help my ranking. Downloading books from Amazon also helps you become a verified reviewer and Amazon is more likely to show your review—and not delete it later. I also have many people on my team who review on Goodreads and Book Bub, post on social media, and tell their friends. I am thrilled to have so many fans!

  For those who have filled out my Google form, it has helped me become more organized so that I don’t have to search my emails to find all the wonderful things you have done to support the creation of my novels; I have them all stored in the same place. I wanted to send a shout-out to the people listed below who have filled out my Google form. I know there are more people out there who are fans who have contacted me in the past, but the people listed below are the readers who used the form. I also know there were times some of my readers have told me other books they’ve reviewed, but it wasn’t necessarily on the form, so I wanted to say one giant THANK YOU for everything I didn’t list below. For those who filled out the form after I included it in the back of this book, I also wanted to say thank you, even if you are not named.

  After hearing some people’s comments and thinking it over, I decided to only use first names and last initials to keep identities confidential in the list below.

  A BIG SHOUT OUT TO:

  Mom, thank you for being my number-one fan of all time. You encouraged me when I was six while I was writing and illustrating my own picture books, kept encouraging me in middle school, and read my stories and novels in high school. I have kept writing because of your nurturing, enthusiasm, and your brutal honesty, which has helped me improve my writing. I probably wanted to be a writer because of the respect you showed for literature. You read me bedtime stories, our house was always full of books, and you let me watch Romancing the Stone over and over as a kid.

  Night Writers, I am so fortunate I have a writing critique group that tolerates my many submissions, gives me honest feedback, and listens to me complain about my publishing frustrations.

  Daryll Lynn E., I am so thankful you are willing to not just critique my manuscript, but that you want to read the books in their entirety when I only submit sections to our critique group. You are a valuable critique partner and friend, not only because of your enthusiasm when I do something well, but your honesty in telling me what I did wrong, and your willingness to brainstorm with me to help me improve the manuscripts while they are in the rough-draft stage. I am flattered that you told me you needed a book to read during the weekend to relax, and you selected one of my published books—a book you had already critiqued months before. You choose me over Harry Potter, which I have to say is close to earth-shattering since I know you. I don’t know how I will ever be able to show you my thanks. Truly, I don’t think inviting you over for sugar-free, chocolate-avocado-and-coconut pudding is enough.

  Charles, thank you for your encouragement and support. Other writers complain about significant others who don’t understand their need for writing time. I lucked out and found you. If it weren’t for you, our home would never have tissue, toilet paper, or any other paper products, just like Joan Wilder’s house in Romancing the Stone.

  To my ARC Team/Street Team:

  Thank you for posting reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, Librarything, Bookbub, and other places where you share your passion for reading. Stephanie M., Karen W., Valerie L., Shannon T., Dawn H., Wilma C., Janet S., Sheree K., Deborah B., Lynn E., Sherri L., Vicki G., Becky B., Tonya G., Steve P., Elaine S., Sandy V., Donna S., Jennifer W., Tonia W., Jennifer L., Georganne L., Katherine M., Susan E., Jeri M., Evelyn G., Linda M., Diane K., Cathy S., Veronica M., Cheryl B., Stan H., Dawn H., Heather B., Mary N., Devin C., Michelle R., Janet S., Katherine M., Annalisa A., Tonya G., Dawn H., Deb L., Tonia W., Bev S., Billie W., Barbara H., Amy M., Cathy S., Veronica M., Jodi S., your honest reviews of the books are helpful in spreading the word. Reviewing books helps me reach readers who might not otherwise know what the books are about, who might wonder if the books are a good fit for their interests, and in general, helps me make the books more visible.

  I appreciate that you are willing to share my books, covers, blurbs, and sale days on social media. I am fortunate to have more people than just myself posting on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and other places that I often don’t think about. Jodi S., Stephanie M., Lynn E., Sherri L., Evelyn G., Jennifer W., Cheryl B., Deb L., Amy M., Bev S., Jeri M., you help me find readers I wouldn’t necessarily know might be interested in my books. Thank you for that!

  Thank you for finding my typos and saving me from public shaming and future humiliation due to the sins of my bad grammar. Linda C, Wayne N., Stephanie M., Amy M., Jeanie M., Lynn E., Elaine S., Sandy V., Stan H., Linda C., I appreciate you pointing out mistakes so that I can provide cleaner copies before I publish the books.

  Thank you for suggesting my books to your book groups. Jeannie M., Karen W., Vicki G., Evelyn G., Steve P., Joeline W., Tonya G., Amy M., I appreciate your enthusiasm for my work enough that you are willing to share that excitement with others.

  Thank you for reading, supporting, and being a fan: Barbara H., Linda C., Shoshanah, Joeline W., Wayne N., Jeannie M., Stephanie M., Karen W., Valerie L., Shannon T., Dawn H., Wilma C., Janet S., Sheree K., Deborah B., Lynn E., Sherri L., Vicki G., Becky B., Tonya G., Steve P., Elaine S., Sandy V., Donna S., Jennifer W., Tonia W., Jennifer L., Georganne L., Katherine M., Susan E., Jeri M., Evelyn G., Linda M., Diane K., Cathy S., Veronica M., Cheryl B., Stan H., Dawn H., Mary N., Devin C., Michelle R., Janet S., Katherine M., Annalisa A., Tonya G., Dawn H., Deb L., Heather B., Tonia W., Bev S., Billie W., Barbara H., Amy M., Cathy S., Veronica M., Jodi S.

  To everyone, thank you for your encouragement and enthusiasm. I appreciate your willingness to download and purchase books. I am glad you are enjoying them as much as I enjoy writing them!

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Sarina Dorie has sold over 150 short stories to markets like Analog, Daily Science Fiction, Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Orson Scott Card’s IGMS, Cosmos, and Abyss and Apex. Her stories and published novels have won humor and Romance Writer of America awards. She has sold three novels to publishers. Her steampunk romance series, The Memory Thief and her collections, Fairies, Robots and Unicorns—Oh My! and Ghosts, Werewolves and Zombies—Oh My! are available on Amazon, along with a dozen other novels she has written.

  A few of her favorite things include: gluten-free brownies (not necessarily glutton-free), Star Trek, steampunk aesthetics, fairies, Severus Snape, Captain Jack Sparrow, and Mr. Darcy.

  By day, Sarina is a public-school art teacher, artist, belly dance performer and instructor, copy editor, fashion designer, event organizer and probably a few other things. By night, she writes. As you might imagine, this leaves little time for sleep.