Bewitched an enchanted i.., p.1
Bewitched: An Enchanted Ink Prequel, page 1
Bewitched
AN ENCHANTED INK PREQUEL NOVELLA
ENCHANTED INK
BOOK 0.5
KELEX
A TWISTED E-PUBLISHING BOOK
Bewitched
Enchanted Ink, .5
Copyright © 2023 by Kelex
Edited by Marie Medina
First Publication: August 2023
Cover design by Sleepy Fox Studio © 2023
Logo copyright © 2023 Twisted E-Publishing, LLC.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is strictly coincidental.
All characters depicted in sexual acts in this work of fiction are 18 years of age or older.
Created with Vellum
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Elizabeth Montgomery
Only Skin Deep
Magic, Demons and the Hunter
Fated Mates Charity Anthology
Also by Kelex
About the Author
Hollywood talent agent Switch is dragged to Salem while one of his biggest stars is filming there. From the shadows of the trees outside the House of the Seven Gables, he gets a glimpse of a witch and senses something amiss. Intrigued, he shifts into his feline form and curls his body around one of the man’s ankles—immediately realizing it’s his mate.
Young witch Cassius Howe struggles to harness his powers. After a run-in with a black cat, he follows the creature, instincts firing. Rounding a corner, the cat is gone, and a gorgeous man is standing in its place. One look at Switch and Cassius is completely enamored.
After a wild few days spent in bed, the men realize they have destinies that don’t seem to align. Can the two strong, stubborn men reconcile their dreams or is their mating not meant to be?
Chapter
One
Hollywood, CA
May 1970
“You need to come with me to Massachusetts. You just must.”
“You know I’m too busy to leave L.A.” Thomas “Switch” Tierney rubbed a spot on his chest, the tingling barely registering as he moved his hand. A speck of indigestion? He’d had a big lunch and a couple of bigger martinis along with it in an attempt to woo a new client—an aging actor who still had some name recognition and wasn’t too hard on the eyes, either. “I can’t disappear. I have commitments.”
Sure, he had commitments. Most of which he could reassign to his assistants and the junior agents under him. They’d love a chance to get ahold of some of his work—but therein lay the problem. If they got their claws into some of his projects, they might not want to let go. He sure hadn’t when he’d been working his way up the ladder.
The ladder had changed, though. It was his ladder. And he needed to work on delegating and building his stable of agents. That had been the whole point of opening his own agency— having a dedicated team so he could focus his energies on the biggest clients and perhaps slow things down a bit. Slow down? It had only made everything come at him even faster.
He smiled at the thought. He loved it hard and fast.
The rougher the better.
Elizabeth Montgomery laid her arm over the back of the low couch, sighing the sigh she made whenever Switch didn’t do what she’d asked. She pegged him with a glare. “They’re taking me out into the middle of nowhere to film, and I want my agent there at my side. Who knows what might happen all the way out there in the wilds.”
“The wilds?” Switch scoffed. “You’ll be less than an hour outside Boston if my calculations are correct.”
“Exactly… a whole hour from civilization.”
“You act as if there won’t be any running water or electricity. I’m sure they have both. Should I call the hotel and confirm?”
“Salem is simply primeval. Just look what they did to those poor women in the past. They might have water and electricity, but there’s a darkness there, too.” Elizabeth paused, putting on her best sly smile. “Come on, Switch. You know you want to.”
“You have Daisy.” He’d hired the little shifter as Elizabeth’s assistant a few months before and knew she was more than qualified for the job. “She can run all over town for you.”
He rubbed at his chest a bit more, the tingling sensation registering more clearly in his mind.
“This is a huge undertaking, going on location to film. Not just off the lot, but across the country? It’s unprecedented for network TV. This is huge, Switch. Huge. And I want to ensure it goes smoothly.” She smiled again, the twinkle coming to her eye—the very reason households across America adored her as Samantha Stephens on Bewitched. “Wherever you go, things always run smoothly. You’re the King of Smooth. You just have to go. Come with me to Salem.”
A tremor rose up his spine, the tingling worsening. If shapeshifters could suffer heart attacks or other human medical emergencies, he’d surely think he was having one.
“Switch?”
Pulled back into focus, Switch chuckled, shaking his head. Elizabeth was one of his biggest stars and definitely one of the most popular—even with ratings of the show waning. He knew the show was using the Salem gimmick to bring viewers back, and he hoped it worked, for them both. Her working kept his percentages coming in.
“Isn’t it two or three episodes? I can’t be gone that long.”
Elizabeth shook her head. “We’re only filming a few scenes in Salem. The rest will be on a sound stage here at the studio. We’ll only be about a week.”
A week. That wasn’t so bad, was it?
“Switch,” she said, her smile faltering. “Things haven’t been good at home. Or on the set. I need someone in my corner there with me. Daisy does a fine job, but she just doesn’t have that thing you do. You help keep me calm. I need calm.”
Switch sensed her desperation. He couldn’t send her to Salem like that. He needed her happy, as it meant a better shoot. A better shoot might make all the difference in regaining viewership. If traipsing off to Salem, Massachusetts to watch her film a couple of episodes of her show kept her happy, so be it. It would only be a week, and he could use the break from the hustle and grind. Plus, they had phones there. He could check in. “Fine… I’ll come.”
Elizabeth’s winning smile flashed his way seconds before she rose, with a swish of taffeta and Chanel perfume curling about the room. “You know where we’re staying?”
“The Hawthorne Hotel.”
“Yes… make sure they get you a room as close to mine as possible,” she said. “We can bump Daisy to another floor if need be.”
Close, but not too close. “I’m sure we won’t have to do that.”
Elizabeth crossed the office and paused at his door. “We’re going to have fun, my darling. I can’t wait.”
“Nor can I.”
As soon as the door shut behind her, Switch rose from his chair and crossed to lock the knob. He stalked toward the mirror along one paneled wall. Light from the floor-to-ceiling windows illuminated his reflection. He drew off his jacket and tossed it to a nearby chair and then unbuttoned the column of buttons along his chest, the ache to his chest growing. When the shirt was in a pile around his feet, he stared at the image of his mark.
His mate’s mark.
The one which he’d been born with. It was emblazoned like a tattoo of sorts, all black strokes and curling lines. Except, it was no longer black. It pulsed with blue magic, as if trying to give him a message.
What was the message? His mark had never done anything remotely like it before. His mind raced, searching his office for a clue. Was his witch close?
Should he not leave L.A.? Was it warning him not to go?
He rested his palm over the mark and felt it pulse. Was that his heart, or did his mate’s mark vibrate with a life of its own? He turned back to the mirror and watched the magic curl around his mark.
Fuck… what are you trying to tell me?
His mind spun. When had it started?
It had been during his conversation with Elizabeth—he was sure of it. About the same time he’d asked him to go. Was there something in Salem waiting for him?
Bewitched was going to Salem to film a few episodes centered around the historic Witch Trials, that he knew. The area was a beacon for paranormal creatures, witches particularly, though he’d never visited himself.
“I’m not going to Salem,” he announced, staring into the mirror.
The mark pulsed painfully, the magic dimming.
“Okay, I’ll go…”
The pain stopped, the sensation much more pleasant, and the curl of magic licked at his chest, caressing him with the skill of a lover.
“I suppose that tells me all I need to know,” he remarked to his reflection before grabbing his shirt. “You need to settle down now. We don’t need humans seeing you glow.”
As if it heard him, the glow faded and the black lines reappeared. For some reason, Switch missed the magic.
Perhaps I’ll find the source sometime soon.
His phone buzzed. His secretary’s voice filled his office soon after. “Paul Lynde is
“Thank you, Rebecca,” he called out in that direction. He tugged his clothing back on before returning to work.
His mind, unfortunately, remained elsewhere.
Salem, Massachusetts
June 1970
Arriving home from a long day of work, Cassius Howe paused outside his house, loud music blaring. The front porch was full of strangers, drinking and smoking. As he reached the door, he witnessed a transaction between a random guy and Yohan, a recent addition to the house.
“Cas, my man. My main dude.” Yohan tucked the bills into his chest pocket, attempting to be slick. Since he hadn’t contributed to the rent, Cassius wondered if Giles would see any of that money.
“What are you selling, Yo?”
Yohan frowned before slapping on a wide smile. “Selling? I ain’t selling anything but peace, love, and granola, my friend.”
Cassius drew in a deep inhale and bit his tongue. It wasn’t technically his house. It was Giles’. Cassius rented a room. A room that was hopefully devoid of partygoers, though he seriously doubted it.
Another guest came up to Yohan, offering some cash. “Hit me, man.”
Cassius stood a moment, waiting to see what happened. Yohan ignored the guy, grinning at Cassius.
“You hear the news, Cas?” Yohan asked.
Cassius shook his head. “What?”
“They’re filming a TV show in town tomorrow. We should go try to be on television.” Yohan said, likely attempting to change the subject. “I think I’d like Hollywood.”
“I think I’d like you being in Hollywood myself.”
The guy watching with cash in hand piped up. “Bewitched. I love that show. I heard they’re doing an episode about the Trials.”
Cassius cringed. A silly television witch coming to take on the tragedy of the Witch Trials? It wouldn’t sit well with the Salem covens, he was sure of it, but then he wasn’t in a coven, so he had no idea.
No, he was stuck working long hours at the mill while trying to learn any little scrap about magic he could ferret out.
The guy with the cash whispered. “Come on, man. I ain’t got all day.”
Cassius held Yohan’s gaze, refusing to let it go. Yohan smiled, not surrendering.
Once he realized they’d come to a staring stalemate, Cassius growled and walked into the house to see how much destruction had already been caused. He was too fucking tired to deal with any of it.
He wove his way through the throng of bodies filling the ramshackle cottage. Frijid Pink’s rendition of the House of the Rising Sun blared from the living room stereo and broadcast magically to every other room in the house—though none of the humans seemed to notice. The scent of the medicinal poultices and herbs Giles used for spells collided with the odor of marijuana and beer; the mixture almost too much for his nose—or stomach—to handle.
There were more bodies in the old house than the foundation could likely support. Every room appeared packed. He finally spotted Giles at the kitchen table, scattering runes across the Formica surface, and preparing to tell another fortune. Cassius paused beside the table to listen to Giles’ insight.
“The first rune is Sowilo. The Sun.”
“Is that good?” the attractive girl sitting across from him asked as she pushed a curtain of silky, blonde hair over one shoulder and pouted her full lips.
“It speaks of power,” Giles replied, oblivious to her subtle flirtation. “And as it is the first rune, it means that in the past, power or influence caused your issue.”
“Totally,” the girl said, fluttering her lashes Giles’ way.
“The next is Perthro. Destiny. It speaks of Fate—which presently leads you closer to a resolution.”
“Man, you are so good at this. Fate totally brought me here. To be with you…” She fluttered her lashes again.
Giles smiled, still clueless. “The next is…”
“Wait,” the girl said, waving her hands in the air in front of her face. “I think the acid is kicking in.”
“Acid?” Giles asked, frowning. “I don’t mind a little pot, but no acid in my house.”
“Don’t freak out, man. I took it before I came,” the girl said with a hint of laughter. “You’re a hunk. Wanna go find someplace quieter? I might let you cop a feel.” She giggled. “Might even let you do more than that.”
Cassius snorted with laughter, which got him a glare from his housemate. But, boy, was she barking up the wrong tree. Giles wasn’t into girls. Wasn’t into boys, either. Flirting fell flat because Giles just didn’t get it.
Giles gathered his runes and tucked them back in their velvet bag. “No, thank you.”
“You’re a bummer,” the girl said, rising. She waved a hand to a friend. The other girl closed the gap between them. “This party is lame. Let’s go.”
She wobbled on her feet, and her friend grabbed her about the waist, the pair nearly toppling before they righted themselves.
As soon as the pair sauntered away from the table, Cassius drew back the chrome and orange vinyl chair that clashed with the worn thin blue patterned linoleum floor and sat, eyeing Giles. Spirit in the Sky came over the speakers, and a whoop came from the crowd. As soon as the noise died down, Cassius asked, “What’s going on?”
Shame filled Giles’ face. “Yohan wanted to invite a couple of people over. I said yes…” He cast a look around. “Somehow a couple of people has turned into a full house.”
“In your house.” Cassius wanted to tell the man he was a pushover, but he’d already said it so many times in the past that he wasn’t kicking that dead horse.
“He lives here, too.” Even as he said the words, Cassius could see Giles didn’t believe them.
“He sleeps on the couch and doesn’t pay rent.” He leaned closer. “And I’m pretty sure I saw him dealing at the door. Where do you think that girl got the acid?” Cassius was all for expanding one’s mind and had even tried a hit once himself out of curiosity. Wasn’t for him, but if others wanted to enjoy, so be it.
Magic was all the high he needed.
What they couldn’t have was the fuzz knocking on their door looking for a dealer. It was hard enough hiding the fact they were witches—witches without a coven, in fact, which meant they didn’t have the collective power between them to hide much of anything. Cassius was good at parlor tricks, and Giles was only a bit better. They sure as hell couldn’t stop cops.
Cassius glared. “I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to end up in jail.”
Giles eyed him, sheepish. “Me either.”
The sound of breaking glass was heard over the music, screams added at the end. Both he and Giles leapt from the table and rushed toward the noise. A fight between three big guys was destroying the living room and had taken out two front windows in the process.
Cassius turned toward Giles. He knew what he wanted to do, but it wasn’t his house.
With the wave of a hand, Giles cut the music. His gaze whipped to Cassius’. “Smoke bomb?”
“Stink bomb,” Cassius said, grinning. “More effective.”
Giles tucked a hand into his pants pocket. Cassius could sense the magic nearby and grinned when Giles pulled his hand out, displaying a perfectly round stink bomb.
“You get the back door. I’ll manage the front,” Giles said. With the snap of his fingers, the fuse lit. Giles lobbed the bomb right into the middle of the fight.
“What is that smell?” someone screamed seconds before putrid smoke began to swell from the potent little projectile.
More screams came before Cassius could race toward the back door. He struggled through the crush of bodies, stopping at the door and ushering folks out. It only took a matter of seconds to clear the entire house. As soon as the last person he saw was out, Cassius locked the back door and began a sweep to push any stragglers out the front. Covering his nose, he went room to room. He found a pair making out in the bathroom and marched behind them toward the front. Once the place was completely cleared, Cassius waved his hand, collecting magic, and sent a wave of fresh air through the house.
