Incantation a paranormal.., p.1
Incantation: A Paranormal, Polyamorous Romance, page 1
Incantation
Spells and Sins Series
E.R. Hendricks
Copyright © 2024 E.R. Hendricks
All rights reserved
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.
ISBN-13: 9781234567890
ISBN-10: 1477123456
Cover design by: Mary Lasko
Library of Congress Control Number: 2018675309
Printed in the United States of America
To all my fellow witches! May all your spells be prosperous, So Mote Is Be.
Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Blurb
Warning
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
Epilogue
Acknowledgement
Warnings, Tropes and Triggers
About The Author
Books In This Series
Blurb
What happens when a clumsy, sarcastic witch who's spent most of her life clinging to the shadows, finds out she has not one, not two, but four mates?
Then team up to find out who or what is killing witches...
A sh*t show. (In case you were wondering) that's what happens.
So, follow along on this crazy adventure with Piper and her four mates as they try to navigate not only a relationship, but also save all of...Witch kind? Witchidom? Witchisium? Whatever, you know what I mean. Save the d*mn world.
**As with ALL of my books please check Trigger Warnings. Even my mellow stuff has Triggers. Otherwise, buckle up and get ready for the Spells and Sins series, where magic and mischief collide for one hell of a wild ride.**
Warning
Although this book isn't inherently dark, it does come with quite a few triggers, so if you are sensitive to such please go to the back of the book for a full list of triggers, tropes and content warnings. You can also find the full list of these triggers and the triggers for my other books on my LinkTree on all my social media pages.
Otherwise, sit back and enjoy the ride...oh, and the spice. ;)
Chapter One
Piper
“Mom?” I yell through the large expanse of the house. The high ceilings cause everything to echo. It doesn’t help that moms’ decorating style has always been on the minimal side. High end of course because the High Priestess could have no less. I just barely refrain from rolling my eyes. She may be the “great” High Priestess to everyone else, but to me, she’s just a bitch. Don’t tell her I said that though, she’ll have me burned at the stake, Salem style. She doesn’t tolerate disrespect, even from me.
“In here.” Her tone even sounds cunty. Is that a thing? Oh well, it is now.
I make my way up the second-floor stairs, each one creaking under my Doc Martins. The air has a hint of staleness like the windows haven’t been open in years and if I’m not mistaken there’s a hint of St. John’s Wart, making me wonder what evil spirits Mother was trying to banish. “Too bad she can’t banish herself from her own home.” I chuckle to myself as I continue onto the third floor. Mother likes to be up there. She thinks it makes her more powerful being closer to the moon and one of our main sources of power, besides Lilith and Hecate, our deities.
As my foot hits the top step of the third floor, I misjudge the distance, causing my boot to graze the landing just enough for my body to teeter forward, losing my balance and promptly hitting my knees hard.
“Fuck…” I hiss, my body jutting with the impact, causing my teeth to clack and my bones to rattle.
I look up in time to see my “loving” mother roll her eyes and sigh like I’ve personally offended her with my lack of grace.
“Language Piper. I didn’t raise you to speak like a sailor. For once in your life have a little class.” She tsks, her eyes rolling with annoyance. Her gray hair—just like mine—is pulled back into a severe bun, causing her skin to tighten around her eyes like a facelift and make her sneer even more pronounced. Not that she needs work done…she doesn’t look a day over forty-three. Her position and power extend her life and cause her to age at a much slower rate.
I blow out a breath. I’m under no allusion that I’m not viewed as a failure in her eyes. I’ve always known. Even as a child, she made her expectations known. As I got older I realized they were unattainable for me and stopped trying to gain her approval.
“I’m fine by the way,” I grumble under my breath as I pick myself up and brush the imaginary dust off my black dress. I hear more than see her purse her lips as she stands from her desk, the round stained glass window silhouetting her from behind, giving her an even more ominous feel than she already carries around with her like a Louis Vuitton bag.
“I called you here because I wish to discuss something with you,” she says sternly as she glares down at me, even though in my boots I’ve got a good two inches on her. Her disdainful eyes drop for a moment to the tattoo I have across my chest and up my throat before meeting the dermal piercing by my right eye then drifting to my nose piercing. She’s never liked my body “decorations”. Doesn’t matter that most of them are ruins and protection sigils. She doesn’t think they are befitting the Priestess’ daughter, even though I’ve never been able to live up to that title even without them. I close my eyes for a brief moment, saying a silent prayer to Lilith for patience before opening them again.
I don’t bother responding to her words, I know she will continue whenever she’s good and ready. I adjust my stance, forcing my shoulders back, my chest out and my arms folded “gracefully” behind my back.
She slowly steps around her desk, taking her time and drawing it out before leaning against the front like a CEO power move. She glances to the right, seeming to hesitant about what she’s about to say and it causes my brows to furrow. If there is one thing my mother is, it’s a bitch…but the second thing is confident. Not just in herself but in every action she makes. She is organized and calculated down to the letter. I nibble on the inside of my cheek, my brain begging her to say something, anything! The anticipation is killing me. Which is what she probably gets off on.
Finally, she breaks the long-awaited silence. “Someone is killing witches.” She lets the words hang in the air as a sudden chill causes the temperature in the room to drop a degree. It’s not totally uncommon for a witch to die every now and then. Although we live longer lives than humans, we aren’t immortal, just notoriously difficult to kill. And more than one of us, enough for it to be obvious we are being targeted? Now, that’s unheard of.
I pause for a moment allowing her to elaborate, when she doesn’t, I speak up unwilling to wait another twenty minutes for her to continue. “So, what do you need from me?” I question as I plop down in one of the chairs she has neatly arranged in front of her desk for just this such occasion. Her right eye twitches slightly and I know she’s irritated at my lack of patience but if I wait on her we will be here all day.
“I need you to do the only thing you’re good at.” Her lips purse again as she raises an eyebrow daring me to argue with her. My jaw clenches matching her irritation.
“If you want to use me like your search dog, you’re going to need to give me more information.” I lean back, faking indifference and confidence I don’t feel, but need to if I ever want my mother to see me as anything other than a disappointment. Her eyes lower as she stares me down like I’m a piece of old chewing gum stuck to the bottoms of her Louboutins. She sucks her teeth but reluctantly gives me the information I’m seeking.
“So far we have at least six dead. We are only finding bits and pieces of them scattered around which leads us to believe they are trying to leave a message of some sort. Maybe a threat.” She delivers all this like she’s describing a bout of inconvenient weather. My body stiffens as I swallow down my growing anxiety.
“How long?”
She turns her hand over, inspecting her blood-red nails before responding, “Six months.” She straightens at the shock I’m sure is plastered all over my face, but before I can say another word she cuts me off. “You will work with Amara to gather as much information as possible, in which you will deliver directly back to me.” Her eyes drill into mine, making sure her words are clear as they are deliver
Knowing I won’t get any more information out of her I stand and make to leave. “Oh and Piper?” She pauses, waiting for me to glance at her over my shoulder. “You will tell no one of this. You understand?” Her wrist flicks as her magic laces through her words wrapping around them and forcing me to obey. My throat clamps down tight as if it’s locking everything in. I drop my head and grit my teeth. She just broke one of the Arcana Guild’s laws. Although small, we aren’t supposed to mess with people’s free will. Knowing she’s done this just enforces the seriousness of this situation. She doesn’t want to raise suspicion or fear within our coven. As much as I understand her reasoning, I can’t help feeling like she is leaving them defenseless by not telling them.
Once she’s sure her words have…sunk in. She waves her hand again, this time dismissing me.
I managed to make it down all the steps without killing myself, so hey, the day’s looking up. My boots clomp against the tile floor, no doubt leaving black scuff marks on her pretty tile as I make it to the entryway.
My father's presence is noticeably absent as the help scurry around doing their jobs for the day. He isn’t a bad guy, I’m just pretty sure my mother carries his balls around in her purse. Even before she became the High Priestess she’s always had this air of authority that few dared to stand up to.
“Have a good evening Miss Piper,” Serenity, our housekeeper and my old nanny says as she smiles fondly at me. She’s always been more of a mother figure to me than my own. I try to force a smile back but she must sense my aura because her head tilts and something akin to pity crosses her face. “What have I always told you, Piper?” She steps closer, her hands tucking a loose strand of silver-gray hair behind my ear as she studies me.
“Anything is possible through Lilith,” I reiterate the words she’s drilled into me since my youth. She nods cheerfully.
“Exactly.” She stares at me for a moment longer, her eyes flicking between their natural blue and a soft gray as she murmurs softly under her breath. A moment later, she shakes her head as if she’s coming to, a smile once again plastered on her face. She leans in so close only I can hear, glancing around the room once to confirm we are still alone. “You are stronger than you think, Piper.” I scoff, struggling to keep the disdain off my face. She’s been feeding me this same line since I was a baby and we both know it’s not true. I once believed her. Hell, I needed to believe I was capable of greater things, of fulfilling my mother’s expectations and living up to her name. One can only fall short so many times before they are crushed under the weight of their own failure. And I am well and truly crushed, my bones bent and broken having never mended properly.
“Thanks,” I force out. The need to not hurt her feelings warring with my own hurt at her false claims that do nothing but reiterate what a disappointment I am to not only my mother but my coven. None of them outwardly speaking the words to my face, but I know it all the same. I was supposed to be some prodigy. The daughter of the Minerva Daldry and Jared Cain. Predestined for greatness only to be a dud.
I drag myself from my family home, the memories threatening to drown me in my own misery. My eyes close just in time for a tear to slip down my cheek looking like a drop of ink as my mascara runs along with it. “Suck it the fuck up, Pip. So what, you’re a failure and will never live up to your mother’s standards, most people don’t. Tons of people have mommy issues your not the first and won’t be the last. Hail Lilith.” I swipe the smudge my from cheek and blow out a breath. “You’re a bad bitch, now act like one.” I reprimand.
“You talk to yourself often?” A voice from behind me to the left causes me to jump before my boot slips awkwardly on the gravel like a clown on a banana peel and I once again find myself on the ground. This time my ass taking the brunt of the fall, sharp rocks digging into the soft fleshy skin.
“Jesus fuck!” I grunt. “I’ll need to invest in some godsdamned safety gear at this rate,” I groan softly to myself. The voice snorts before stepping out of the shadows.
Amara.
I swallow hard despite myself. She’s always made me nervous, not that we’ve had tons of interactions. The woman is the epitome of gorgeous and bad-assery. Her hair buzzed short on the sides, the top long enough to run your fingers through, always artfully styled up and away from her face. Her tan skin kissed by the sun and covered in tattoos. Her leather jacket and ripped black jeans look tailored to hug her body in a way I could only dream of. Of course, she has no clue of my little crush on her and honestly, I prefer it that way. There’s no way someone like her would even look twice at a clumsy fuck up like me. But Goddess, a girl could dream, right?
My breasts heave and my nipples harden, my eyes betraying me as they drop down her body, taking every inch of her in and memorizing it like there’s going to be a test on it.
She raises an eyebrow as she catches me thoroughly checking her out and a small smirk rises to her face. She must know the effect she has on women. Anyone would kill to get her into their bed. Luckily for me…or maybe unluckily, she a lesbian.
Finally remembering I’m still on my fucking ass, I scramble to get to my feet, my cheeks heating with embarrassment at my lack of coordination. It’s hard to gracefully stand in a dress.
She shakes her head before taking a few steps toward me. “I believe we have a job to do.” Studying me like she’s unsure if she should say anything more and give anything away. I nod my head, not trusting my voice not to break under her perusal. I know it’s not in that way, but tell that to my stupid heart as it speeds up and my pulse starts to race. Her tongue slips over her full bottom lip before she tucks it into her mouth and I swear I’m fighting for my life right now. Is it hot out here? Where did all the air go? I cough and sputter as I try to suck in enough air. Her eyes drop briefly to my heavy breasts which are even more on display thanks to my multiple falls. Her slit eyebrow raises once again, mocking me without words. She reaches her hand out and I stare at it like she’s holding Pandora’s box and daring me to open it.
She rolls her eyes at my indecision, “It’s the fastest way to travel.” She nods to her hand, encouraging me to take it. I swallow audibly before mentally reminding myself I’m a bad bitch again and take it. Within seconds everything is flickering and the ground is no longer beneath us. Before I blink we are somewhere in the woods. My knees try to buckle from under me, but Amara lifts her hand helping me to gather myself. “It’s always tough the first time.” Her eyes soften for a second. Her tone gentler than it was at my mother’s house as she gives me a moment to get my balance.
“Thanks,” I cough awkwardly as my boots sink into the soft dirt and she snorts.
“Probably should have warned you you’d be ruining your shoes.” Her words say one thing but her body language says she’s not really sorry at all and is in fact, enjoying my struggle. I look down and notice her worn out black boots on solid packed earth. They look like she wouldn’t care if they got ruined trudging through the wilderness that we are apparently going to have to do.
Great. Just wonderful. Awesome. I blow out raspberries as I look up at the sky, silently begging Lilith to have mercy on me but I can almost feel her chuckling at me too. I’m glad everyone can have a good laugh at my expense. I scoff.
Chapter Two
Amara
I watch as she struggles to find solid ground in the mud pit she’s found herself in. Her boots cling to the muddy surface as it sucks at her feet, making an obscene squelching noise that has me cringing with each step. I’m trying hard not to laugh openly at her distress, but the girl's a walking disaster.
“Feeling anything?” I force my tone to stay professional. This is just business. Work for the coven and the greater good. I’ve been around Piper before but only during coven meetings and group rituals, other than that she keeps to herself and now I can see why. I always assumed her mother kept her away for some grandiose purpose, but now I think she was hiding her. Ashamed of the Little Witch whose clumsy and uncoordinated like a newborn fawn.
