Morgan's Wand Read online

MORGAN’S WAND

  Young Adult Fantasy

  Bonus Short-Stories of Daughters of the Circle

  Copyrighted © July 1, 2015 by Lenore Wolfe

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.

  Triquetra Press

  Cedar Rapids, Iowa

  First Printing July 01, 2015

  Copyrighted © July 01, 2015 by Lenore Wolfe

  All rights reserved.

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite online store and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to any person, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The personal names have been invented by the author, and any likeness to the name of any person, living or dead, is purely coincidental. This book may contain references to specific commercial products, process or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, specific brand-name products and/or trade names of products, which are trademarks or registered trademarks and/or trade names, and these are property of their respective owners. Lenore Wolfe or her associates, have no association with any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, specific brand-name products and/or trade names of products.

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  (Ancient Celtic)

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  WITCH FANTASY

  Daughters of the Circle Series by Lenore Wolfe

  DAUGHTERS OF THE CIRLCE

  Shadows in Ravenwood

  Daughters of the Circle Series Book One

  Released March 08 2015

  WITCHES OF RAVENWOOD

  Daughters of the Circle Book Two

  Released June 04 2015

  Dark Paranormal Fantasy sister series by Lenore Wolfe

  THE FALLEN ONE

  Sons of the Dark Mother Series Book One

  To be Re-released January 2015

  Dark Fantasy

  A Tribute Novella

  THE FALLEN ONE

  Sons of the Dark Mother Series Book Two

  To be Re-released January 2015

  Dark Fantasy

  AUTHOR’S NOTES:

  For those of you who have expressed an interest in reading all the sister-series in order, the following is a note about each of these story updates. The original, Doorway of the Triquetra in the series Children of Atlantis, has evolved into Jaguar Witch, was originally e-published in 2012. The original story has since blossomed, as each of these Sister-Series each made themselves known.

  While the first book is not a Young Adult novel, and should only be read by adults, the rest are cross-genre books that are very well received as Young Adult and Adult alike. Missing the first series of these sister-series, Doorway of the Triquetra will in no way hurt the enjoyment of the rest of these sister-series, since each series also stands on its own. Reading all these sister-series is only for the enjoyment of readers who have asked to know the order in which they were all written.

  The second series in the sister-series is Sons of the Dark Mother, with the first book The Fallen One. There are four volumes to the first book, since this book turned out to be extremely large. The first volume of the second book will center around Dracon, called Embraced by Shadows will be release in 2017. If this series hits a cord with you, there are two more princes in this series that will eventually make themselves known.

  The third series in the sister-series is the series Realm of the Elemental witch, with the first book, Fire Sprite, which is a Middle School Fantasy Young Adult book, and can be skipped by any who don’t want to read something quite this young without missing anything. The second book of this series is Khan and is scheduled to be released in early 2017, while the third and last book of this series is Alli and is scheduled to be released in late 2017. The second in this series is Water Sprite, and is due out in 2018-19, Air Sprite 2019-20 and Earth Sprite 2020-21.

  The fourth series written in this sister-series is Daughters of the Circle: Shadows in Ravenwood, Witches in Ravenwood, Faerie in Ravenwood, which is about to be re-released in November of 2016, and Magick in Ravenwood, which is about to be released in December of 2016. This series will likely have numerous books since there are many showing themselves to me in the works.

  The fifth of these sister-series is Cat People. The short-story prequel of these is the book you’re about to read now. Expect to see the first book, Cry of the Jaguar, during Halloween 2017.

  And the sixth is Raven’s Kiss, in the Witch and the Vampire, is a more romantic part of these sister-series, and will also be released in early 2016. You will find parts of that in Daughters of the Circle as these stories intertwine.

  On that note, you will see random chapters that appear from Jaguar Witch—and The Fallen One—in Daughters of the Circle. The opposite will also be true. These were done on purpose to help you understand the timeline in these stories, and integrate their various stories, as these series cross in and out of one other’s lives, when they meet.

  Lastly, there is another sister-series that will work soon work its way into the mix. It is a series that is set back in the 100’s and is the history of the ancestors behind these series. You will notice the first of these in the beginning of Ravyn’s Kiss and in Daughters of the Circe. The first of these is Solstice Fire.

  Happy Reading! Enjoy!

  CONTENTS

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  FREE EXCERPT

  ABOUT AUTHOR

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  ALSO BY LENORE WOLFE

  READER PERKS

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Chapter One

  Morgan’s Kiss

  Present Red Bluff, Colorado

  Morgan never imagined she’d be drawn to a wand. She couldn’t remember giving it much thought. So, when it arrived at the front door of the manor in a long, beautiful, ornate box, she stared at it, thinking how beautiful the box looked—and the
wand too—nestled in the impression where it sat.

  The box intrigued her in itself, made up as it was of intricately molded metal, in deep reds and gunmetal gray, the interior a deep, rich black velvet. Other than that, she never gave it another thought. Yet, over the next several hours, something surprising happened.

  First, she kept getting pulled back to the room where she’d set it over the fireplace mantel. Several times, she found herself standing in front of it, having had no conscious thought of going there. When she did, she’d become aware she just stood there, staring at the impressions in the metal of the box. Then, she’d find herself taking it down and opening the box, just to stare at the wand. She felt something from it. She sensed this connection caused her to keep being tugged toward it.

  Each time the connection grew stronger—and stronger still.

  Looking down at it, now, cool against her fingers, she realized that she might not know where this wand had come from—or why—but she’d held it before—had owned this wand before…. If a wand could be owned, that is.

  Frowning, she stared at it. She certainly hoped that this wand hadn’t come into her life to start trouble. Not just when she’d made up her mind, now more than ever, to have a normal, magick free life—at least for a while. She’d hate to think that it showing up on her doorstep meant something was amiss—again.

  At the very least, she needed a short break from magick.

  There were four of them, who did magick. She and her sister, Claire, Tara, who’d always known she was a witch—and Sophia. Then, there was Alex and the twins. They’d grown up together in the small town of Red Bluff, before being separated one fateful day, playing around with magick.

  They’d just gotten their aunt back—for heaven’s sake—after losing her to their very first enemy, Dante. Now, Sophia, who was half faery and half witch, and a lifelong sister-witch, who moved into Ravenwood Manor with them, was still with the Prince of Fire and his group—because of that stinking no-account Fae Prince who couldn’t take no for an answer when he’d up and decided to make her one of the members of his little harem.

  They needed a break—a big one for heaven’s sake—from magick….

  Now, this.

  The more she stared at it—the more she had the growing sensation this didn’t bode well for them, and that this meant something more was in store—already.

  Morgan set the wand in its velvet nest. Shaking her head, she closed the lid with a snap.

  Oh, no, she thought. She wouldn’t be drawn into yet another battle—no matter what the wand thought it had in store for her.

  She placed the box back on top the mantel, squaring her shoulders. And with some determination, she left the room.

  She found Alex in their bedroom, putting his clean clothes away. Sitting on the bed, she frowned, staring out the window. She sensed that her troubled thoughts got his attention, because he hesitated, halfway to the dresser with another pile. Setting the pile on top the dresser instead, he turned to look at her instead. “That wand still bothering you?” he said.

  Glancing at him, she nodded, swallowing, then glancing away. “I have a feeling it means we’re in for something more,” she said, irritated. “And we haven’t even finished with the last bit of trouble we’ve uncovered.”

  He nodded, sitting down on the bed and pulling her into his arms. Alex bent and gave her a tender kiss, running his thumb along her jaw. “Whatever it is, we’ll get through it together,” he said, looking down into her eyes.

  She tried for a smile, pulling away. “But that’s just it,” she said. “We’re not together—not anymore. And who knows if we’ll ever get Sophia back.” She got up from the bed, turning to look at him in her agitation. “That prince may never give up on his obsession with her.”

  He got up from the bed, pulling her into his arms. Looking down at her, he pulled her flush against his body. “We’ll figure it out,” he promised, leaning down to give her a tender kiss.

  She gazed up into his dark eyes. “What did I ever do to deserve you?” she asked.

  He grinned at that, but then he sobered. “What did I ever do to deserve you?” he repeated back to her.

  She leaned up on her tiptoes, kissing him. She felt the blessing of his love wrap itself around her. She felt the answering call within her body. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she kissed him back with everything she had.

  She knew he was right. As long as they stuck together—they could get through anything. But she sure wished someone out there would give them a break.

  An hour later, they left the bedroom, hand-in-hand. Down in the kitchen, they found Claire busy preparing dinner. She glanced up at them, as they came through the door.

  “I heard someone's given you a wand,” Claire said to her.

  Morgan nodded, not liking the reminder. She’d just managed to get her mind off of that thing. “Have you seen it?” she asked her sister.

  Claire nodded. “Jake told me where it was,” she said with some excitement evident in her tone. “I had to go and peek,” she said.

  Morgan shook her head, going to take the plates out of the cupboard. “How can you be so happy about this?” Morgan asked, glancing at her as she worked.

  Alex took the plates from her and went to set them on the dining room table in the other room. As always, she felt a surge of love for him, realizing he was giving them some room to talk.

  Claire glanced at her, from where she now stood in front of the countertop stove that sat on the island in the kitchen. She stirred the spaghetti sauce, then sniffed at the aroma curling up from the pot. “How can you not?” she said back to Morgan. “It’s so beautiful—and old—and it feels amazing,” she said.

  Morgan stopped halfway through pulling the flatware out of the drawer. “We don’t even know where it came from….” She finished for her sister.

  Claire wrinkled her nose. “Well, there is that,” she said. “But you have to be intrigued, none-the-less,” she said, looking at her sister expectantly.

  Morgan frowned and shook her head. Finally, she shrugged. “Okay,” she admitted. “Yes—I am,” she glowered at her sister now. “But only because I remember that wand,” she pointed toward the living room.

  Claire looked up sharply at her sister. “You do?”

  Morgan nodded emphatically.

  “From where?” Claire asked, suspicious now.

  Morgan looked away, then back at her sister. “From a past life….”

  Chapter Two

  Wand of Power

  Morgan stood, back in front of the fireplace, staring at the wand. After dinner, she and Claire had gone back into the living area to take another look. Morgan sensed the anticipation, rolling off her sister, as she lifted the lid and brought out the wand. She’d swear that Claire almost hoped that something would happen—or maybe she sensed it would.

  Morgan had to admit, though, the power from the beautiful, old wand really did feel amazing as she took it out of the box, feeling the bond forming, stronger than ever, that seemed to wrap itself around her arm, traveling through her, drawing her deeper to it, with every beat of her heart.

  She’d been right. This had been her wand—she could feel it. This had been her wand for the space of all her lifetimes….

  Blue mist surrounded it, as she stared. The air shimmered, then a woman stepped out of the mist. Morgan’s mouth fell open, and she gaped at her, unable to believe what she was seeing. She felt Claire move forward, and she wanted to protest—but stood rooted to floor, instead.

  The beautiful, queen-like woman, who stood before them in a black, jeweled gown, turned to stare into Morgan’s eyes—and right away, from somewhere deep inside, Morgan knew she was a Dark Faery—and the keeper of the wand.

  “At last,” the Dark Faery said.

  Morgan shook her head. What could she have possibly meant by that? “Who are you?” she asked.

  The woman laughed. “Why I am the Dark Faery, Chantel, who protects the wand,” she answered,
confirming her suspicions, tugging further at the edges of Morgan’s memories. “I have been waiting for you to awaken the power within, once more.” She looked around, her gaze falling on Claire. “Oh, this is wonderful,” she said. “The sisters are back together, again. I couldn’t be more pleased.”

  “You knew we were separated?” Claire asked.

  Chantel nodded. “As you’ve had to overcome, in several of your lifetimes—you’ve now had to overcome such a separation in this lifetime, too. It is part of the curse,” she said, staring at them through striking blue eyes, fringed in long, midnight lashes. She looked at them expectantly, as if what she’d said made everything clear.

  “Oh, dear,” she said, looking from Morgan to Claire. “You have no idea what I’m talking about, do you?”

  Both sisters shook their heads.

  “Hmmm,” Chantel said. “Let’s see,” she looked around. “Well, we may as well begin at the beginning,” she said, then grinned. “You might want to take a seat.”

  Morgan looked at Claire, and Claire shrugged, and they moved to sit on the couch.

  The Dark Faery took a seat across from them. She seemed to glide into her chair. “Now, let’s see,” she said, again. “Oh, yes,” she laughed, her laughter taking on the tinkle of wind chimes, mesmerizing the sisters.

  “A long time ago, in a beautiful kingdom, these two powerful sisters lived in the castle. The king brought them there to do his bidding,” she said in a breathy voice like she was telling some little girls a fairy tale. “Oh, he held such amazing power because of these sisters.” She stared at one sister, then the other. “You see, he was not a good king, and he only stayed on his throne because of these sisters.” Her gaze narrowed on Claire, then Morgan. “Because of the two of you….”

  Morgan stared at her. “Why did they—we—do as he asked?” she said. “Especially, if he wasn’t good a good king?”

  “Why? Because he held your aunt captive,” she said, as if that explained everything. “You see, there,” her eyes twinkled, “your—mother—died when you were very young, and she was all they—er—you both had. The King knew this, so he locked her up. And when you girls tried to go against him, as you grew older, he separated the two of you, too.”