MAKING MAGICKAL ALLIANCES: A Paranormal Women’s Fiction Novel by Leigh Raventhorne (best color ereader .txt) 📗

hand up. His brow furrowed, but he stopped and stood at the bottom of the stairs, crossing his arms as he looked up at me. I started back up the stairs, stopped, took a deep breath, and turned around.

He raised a brow at me, but said nothing.

I motioned toward the hall. “They’re waiting.” He just watched me, his eyes roving over my face, as if trying to read me. “Rand, if you follow me, we’ll lose the whole afternoon and you know it.”

He grinned and leaned on the bannister. “I’d be completely okay with that.”

“Completely, hmm?” Unable to help myself, I started to take a step down, then caught myself. “Stop it.” His grin widened, and I pointed a finger at him. “I mean it. I’m going upstairs—alone—to grab my ring and I’ll meet you . . .” I waved toward the back of the house.

Pushing himself off the bannister, he took a step backwards. “I’ll give you a pass this time.” I watched as he walked away, then hurried up the stairs.

This is quite an audience. Are you sure you want to do this with everyone here?

I’m sorry, Zara. I couldn’t tell them no. Are you okay with it?

I’m fine. She was silent for a moment and I could sense she was proud and excited. As she should be. But I could also tell she was a bit nervous. It’s just odd, seeing a witch I used to be bonded to, while now bonded to another. Last time it didn’t hit home quite so much, but now . . . perhaps an audience is good.

I grabbed the Rose Quartz ring, managed to remember to drop the Citrine ring from Margo’s shop in Elmer’s wooden box, and hurried to join everyone else in Stella’s old bedroom. The room was crowded enough that I almost turned and walked right back out. The only people not present were the Draftmans, who had headed straight for the garage to begin searching all the vehicles when we got home, and Sarah and Michael. Well, hopefully Aunt Stella wouldn’t mind.

Upon closer examination, I had to try not to laugh. Everyone except Rand had a kit cradled in their arms. Tess held two while Zara sat next to Sebastian on the windowsill.

“Want one?” she asked, sounding a little reluctant at the prospect of giving either of them up. I knew she had high hopes of being chosen by one of them when the time came.

Shaking my head, I said, “I don’t want to take a chance on the magick affecting them. Everyone ready for this?”

Zara jumped down and trotted over to my side. Quit stalling, Roxanne.

Okay then. Picturing Aunt Stella in my mind, I called her back, praying she was decent.

She appeared in the corner near the chair and lamp. She didn’t seem surprised as she took in the small crowd of us in her bedroom.

“Well, dear, this is . . . unexpected.” Her brow quirked up as she turned away from them to face me.

“I’m sorry, Aunt Stella, they all wanted to either meet you or see you again. And we need your help.”

“Of course you do, dear,” she laughed and smoothed the smart navy blue pantsuit she wore. “Do you mind if I sit?” She motioned to the chair behind her.

“Oh, please do. Can I get you anything? Tea?”

“No, thank you,” she said as she sat. “But if you don’t mind, let’s get down to business. It’s not that I mind seeing you, but I was getting ready for a council meeting later this afternoon. I’ve been on the roster for this for, well, since I crossed. Their schedule has been backed up more than usual for some reason, according to Gertie. We’ve already been pushed back twice, so I don’t want to be late.”

Before I could respond, her gaze fell on the two kits Tess was holding and her eyes widened. “Oh, Zara,” she said in a hushed voice, her hand going to her throat. “Your babies are beautiful! You must be so very proud.”

Without being asked, Tess stepped forward and gently settled both kittens on Stella’s lap. Zara sprang up to curl around them, purring loudly. Stella picked up the black and white kit, and the two studied each other. Though one set of eyes was young and the other was over two hundred years old, their evaluation of one another was surprisingly similar. Out of the five, this one was the least rambunctious, according to Zara. She rarely cried for attention, complained over being bathed, or became impatient or pushy during nursing. She seemed almost zen, for a kitten. As if to prove this point, the tabby, seeing her sister receiving attention that she wasn’t, mewled and reached out a shaky paw, stretching precariously up toward Stella, before clumsily toppling over. Zara righted her and gave her head a rough lick. Stella laughed delightedly.

“You’ll certainly have your paws full with this lot in another week or two, won’t you?” She gently placed the black and white female back on her lap and stroked the tabby’s head. She looked around the room again, probably noting the other three kits being coddled. “But it seems as though you have plenty of help, old girl.”

Did you just call me ‘old girl?’ Zara huffed in mock indignation. I don’t age.

“Aunt Stella, let me introduce you to everyone.” Introductions were quickly made. Stella had never met either of my friends or Danai, but she greeted them warmly.

“Danai, it is a pleasure to finally meet you after only speaking to you on the phone for all these years.”

Danai inclined her head. “Thank you. I owe your niece my life, Madame Devraux. She does your bloodline proud.”

Stella beamed, then turned to my friends. “Samantha Stone. I expect you’ve taken over from Mr. Lido by now?”

Clearly startled, Sam looked