Michele Hauf - The Witch's Quest

The witch’s redemption...

Kelyn Saint-Pierre always had a bit of a thing for Valor Hearst. But after he makes a harrowing sacrifice to save the tomboyish witch from a gruesome death, Kelyn’s certain that any spark between them is gone forever.

Valor wishes she’d known about Kelyn’s crush before she ruined everything. There may be a way she can repay her smoking-hot champion...but it won’t be easy. Circling the globe on a dangerous mission that pits them against deadly magics and dark creatures, Kelyn and Valor are pushed scorchingly close together. But surrendering to passion may only further bind them in pain...

“The moonlight is dancing in your eyes.” Kelyn stared at her.

Valor felt a blush rise and looked down and away from his mesmerizing gaze.

With a sweep of his hand, he dispersed his natural faery dust into the air. It glittered and hung suspended about them like millions of tiny stars fallen to earth.

Wow. Talk about instant romance. And, yes, she was a woman who could appreciate a little romance when it presented itself.

“Impressive. You know I’m an air witch. But I can do this.” She swept her hands up and water surrounded them in dotted columns, catching Kelyn’s dust and the moonlight. They stood on a rock star’s stage.

“Stunning. You win the magic portion of this evening. But now it’s my turn. And I can’t think of anything I’d rather do than this.”

Kelyn coaxed her up against his chest and locked her in his gaze once more before he bent and kissed her.

MICHELE HAUF is a USA TODAY bestselling author who has been writing romance, action-adventure and fantasy stories for more than twenty years. France, musketeers, vampires and faeries usually populate her stories. And if Michele followed the adage “write what you know,” all her stories would have snow in them. Fortunately, she steps beyond her comfort zone and writes about countries and creatures she has never seen. Find her on Facebook, Twitter and at www.michelehauf.com.

The Witch’s Quest

Michele Hauf

www.millsandboon.co.uk

This one is for my kids, Ashley and Jesse.

My two favorite examples of nice.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text The witch’s redemption... Kelyn Saint-Pierre always had a bit of a thing for Valor Hearst. But after he makes a harrowing sacrifice to save the tomboyish witch from a gruesome death, Kelyn’s certain that any spark between them is gone forever. Valor wishes she’d known about Kelyn’s crush before she ruined everything. There may be a way she can repay her smoking-hot champion...but it won’t be easy. Circling the globe on a dangerous mission that pits them against deadly magics and dark creatures, Kelyn and Valor are pushed scorchingly close together. But surrendering to passion may only further bind them in pain...

Introduction “The moonlight is dancing in your eyes.” Kelyn stared at her. Valor felt a blush rise and looked down and away from his mesmerizing gaze. With a sweep of his hand, he dispersed his natural faery dust into the air. It glittered and hung suspended about them like millions of tiny stars fallen to earth. Wow. Talk about instant romance. And, yes, she was a woman who could appreciate a little romance when it presented itself. “Impressive. You know I’m an air witch. But I can do this.” She swept her hands up and water surrounded them in dotted columns, catching Kelyn’s dust and the moonlight. They stood on a rock star’s stage. “Stunning. You win the magic portion of this evening. But now it’s my turn. And I can’t think of anything I’d rather do than this.” Kelyn coaxed her up against his chest and locked her in his gaze once more before he bent and kissed her.

Title Page The Witch’s Quest Michele Hauf www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author MICHELE HAUF is a USA TODAY bestselling author who has been writing romance, action-adventure and fantasy stories for more than twenty years. France, musketeers, vampires and faeries usually populate her stories. And if Michele followed the adage “write what you know,” all her stories would have snow in them. Fortunately, she steps beyond her comfort zone and writes about countries and creatures she has never seen. Find her on Facebook, Twitter and at www.michelehauf.com .

Dedication This one is for my kids, Ashley and Jesse. My two favorite examples of nice.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Extract

Copyright

Chapter 1

The gnarled oak tree behind her looked...angry.

Valor Hearst straightened her shoulders and tried to avoid turning around to cast a glance at the disgruntled tree. Because the moment she started to look closer, things could become real. Especially in an enchanted forest such as the Darkwood.

She knelt on the forest floor, carefully plucking the Amanita muscaria mushrooms from a thick and curly frosting of moss. Normally, she would wear gloves to remove the poisonous red-capped shrooms, but having forgotten them, she instead used an entomologist’s tweezers.

Dried yet still-glossy trails from snails streaked across a head-size fieldstone, which she scraped into a plastic baggie. The powder would serve as another fine ingredient for future spells. She’d decided that since she had risked coming here, she’d take a few minutes to gather spell ingredients before settling down to do the real work: enacting a spell that would, with hope, lure love her way.

Valor had never dared enter the Darkwood, but on this day she was feeling her confidence and was pretty sure that the warnings against witches venturing into the enchanted forest were nothing more than blather. Mortals and other paranormals visited the darkly mysterious woods all the time. She was no different from any of them. Save that her air magic packed a wallop when need be.

“So take that,” she said, yet still couldn’t avoid a suspicious glance over her shoulder.

Had the tree’s bark curved downward in chunky folds to form a craggy frown? She narrowed her gaze, which was followed by her own frown. The bark hadn’t been shaped that way when she first knelt down before the mushrooms.

Maybe?

“Quit spooking yourself,” she muttered. “Crazy witch.”

The Darkwood was off-limits to and unsafe for witches. That was what her friend and fellow earth witch Eryss Norling had said to her last night when they closed the Decadent Dames brewery together and wandered out to the parking lot under the half-moon.

Valor happened to be attracted to most things that were off-limits and unsafe. Whether they be events, challenges or even men. Most especially men.

She tucked the red-capped mushrooms into her fishing tackle box. It was painted in olive green camo and might have a fishhook or two in it, as well—ice fishing in the wintertime? Yes, please. But she mostly used it to collect herbs and spell ingredients. A tiny jade cricket that she had disturbed from sleeping under a mushroom leaped onto the edge of the tackle box.

“You’re lucky you have a heartbeat,” she said to the insect. “Otherwise, I’d pulverize your wings and use the dust in a spell.”