You can read the first scene of chapter one by clicking on the Basic Witch Series at the top of the page on the menu and choosing Blood of the Coven. Here’s a snippet of chapter two…

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Chapter Two

The impact of Raith’s body slamming on top of Cairenn’s when they landed on the ground took all the air in her lungs and squeezed it right the fuck out. She usually enjoyed two hundred and sixty pounds of solid muscle on top of her pounding away… But not like this.

Unable to breathe, she tried wiggling her way out from under his fat ass, desperate for oxygen. The attempt was like a mouse trying to get out from under an elephant. Can’t breathe. Can’t breathe…

He rolled to his side, bringing her with him by wrapping his forearm under her jaw. Her head snapped back when Raith applied pressure. “That was a fucking mistake.”

Doubtful. The Alliance hadn’t permitted him to assassinate her, and because of their extreme lack in judgment, she now had the upper hand even though Raith was physically bigger and stronger than she could ever hope of being. He could have killed her by now—snapped her neck right in half—but orders were orders.

Thank goddess for the little things in life.

With every second that ticked by, a little more oxygen managed to reach her burning, pancaked lungs. Relax into it. You just got the breath knocked out of you. Brighid has done worse to you in training.

And Raith is in your realm now.

Their world had gone from black and white to technicolor. The mundane, frigid human forest had given way to slightly warmer temps and the fresh feel of elemental energy in the morning.

And that energy shot into her body like crack to a vein—she felt an actual surge.

The moon hung heavy in the night sky. In just a few days that moon would be full. Fueling her body in ways she desperately needed as an elemental.

The demon tightened his hold by flexing his arm, and she released a little of that energy and shocked the piss out of him.

That big body of his jerked and stiffened, but he didn’t let her go.

Impressive. She loved excellence in a male. Unfortunately for him, that excellence was being used against her, so she was about to introduce him to a side of her she had yet to reveal to the bastard—because before this she hadn’t had the energy to work with. But now? With her lungs at half capacity, and Raith’s arm tight around her neck, she was still able to croak out, “What are we going to do, demon? Lay here and spoon?”

“Shock me again and you’re going to find it hard to breathe.”

I already find it hard to breathe, asswad. “Listen, the whole choking thing is usually more than welcome,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “But I don’t see a payout if you know what I mean.”

He roughly pushed her away from him, and she found herself on all fours, her nails digging into the dirt as she regained her composure. Her arms shook as she slowly pushed her way to her knees. Taking a deep breath—the first in several minutes—she got a little light headed. Lack of oxygen, food, caffeine, sleep…

Fumes. Just fumes. The energy of Brocéliande Forest was the only thing that fueled her enough to get to her feet. Because she’d be damned before she kneeled in front of him while he loomed over her.

Raith stood not two feet away, and she had to tilt her head back to look him in the eye, which made the blood dripping down her temple pool in her hairline. He looked more like the grim reaper than the reaper himself. Maybe a little sexier, but that was about it. The Alliance assassin absolutely towered over her, his handsome face a mask of rage. Guess he was taking all of this personal.

Same.

He had to know he was up shit creek without a paddle. This realm would be a nightmare for him. Full of fae and magickal creatures. And the only thing that could catapult his ass back through that portal—if it was even a two-way portal—and back into his own playground was magick, and she sure as fuck wasn’t going to oblige him.

And by the way he was looking at her, he knew it.

“I’m going to relish snapping your neck.”

She tsked him as she watched a muscle in his rigid jaw tick. “The Alliance frowns on their assassins calling the shots. You said they want me alive, so you better watch your Ps and Qs. Your fat ass almost trampled me just now. I almost died of suffocation. Then what would you have told your superiors? That you’d failed yet again?”

If hate had a look, Raith would be it. Well over six feet tall, he had a peculiar color for a demon. His hair was a beautiful shade of blond, with several lowlights littered throughout. He wore the mop on the long side, and though she wasn’t a fan of longer hair on men, the length looked good on him. Made him look absolutely medieval. And as dirty as he was?

Definitely her type.

All his red flags? Sign me up.

His eyes were light green, not emerald as most demons were. His body was male perfection. Features so ruggedly and perfectly handsome he could star in his own action flick. Muscles thick and plentiful. And the power of that body?

She’d been fleeing from it for endless weeks, so she could attest to the strength.

 “Take us back.”

Hate him even though he’s hawt. “No can do, Thor. It takes a while to drum up that kind of energy, and I’m all tapped out.” It took zero energy to use a portal. None. But fuck him. “This is where we part ways. Forever. I think you understand where you are and just how disadvantaged this realm leaves you. It’s been about a month since the fae were released, and I’m betting nearly half of those who once called this realm home have already ventured back. Sucks to be you, kid.”

She winked at him as she started walking past him. She doubted he’d last twenty-four hours. Sucks to suck, asshole.

His giant paw on her shoulder prevented her from going very far.

 “Would you so kindly remove the forklift?” she snapped, glancing at his hand. She was already feeling her power coming back. It wouldn’t take much to leave him stunned on the ground, feeling as though he’d just been struck by lightning.

He tightened his hold. “Take us back.”

“Did you forget so easily how hard I can kick?” He visibly flinched and she smiled. “You’re pretty big in that department. Easy target.”

Before she could make good on her threat, two armed fae males came charging out of a group of trees to her left. Usually fae were unarmed, so she realized they were warriors by their leather and their weaponry—which was on full display. Most fae relied solely on their magickal abilities, but the men and women of their warrior race were usually bigger and always strapped with weapons, as these two were.

They’d likely just come from imprisonment, as most of the warrior race had been on the front lines when it came to the ancient war against the Alliance.

Well, so much for her fist assumption. This portal was guarded.

The demon’s time in this realm was just about over. The fae would allow her entry—but the fallen angel was going to have a fight on his hands. A fight he was sure to lose.

Karma’s a bitch—but finally not to her. She used the tips of her fingers and picked his meaty paw off her shoulder and tossed it from her. “Have fun, big guy. Wish I could have been the one to end you, but this’ll do just as well.” She backed away from him, twiddling her fingers high in the air. “Tootaloo muthafuckaaaaaaaaa…”

She inclined her head to the fae who barely spared her a glance. Fae and witches got along. Fae and Alliance assassins? Not even close.

A low rumble was all the warning they got before the ground started to shake and the leaves on the beautiful trees vibrated.

She planted her feet shoulder-width apart, as did Raith and the fae.

All four of them stopped and looked at one another.

She’d never been in an earthquake before. Born and raised in New York, she’d never given them much thought. The energy from the quake filled her with potent elemental energy, and she closed her eyes to the sensation and breathed it in.

The ground shook for less than ten seconds, and the fae were already marching toward Raith again.

Maybe the quake was her ancestors welcoming her home.

Stranger things had happened.

Ah well. Time to move along. She’d stay for the show, because the fae weren’t fans of the Alliance, and there was a part of her that wanted to see Raith’s ass handed to him. But she’d wasted too much time already. She had no doubt there were Alliance members already in this realm, likely gunning to retrieve their amulet. Hopefully these fae were on top of the influx. Seeing as how they’d found Raith so quickly, she had high hopes.

And the fae would know Raith was affiliated with the Alliance. His camouflaged pants and militant demeanor screamed his allegiance to the organization.

And if they didn’t? “Dude’s Alliance,” she called out, turning around and hooking a thumb in his direction. “Tried to kill Raven the Awakened before she got her paws on the first amulet. I think he’s one of the higher ups, if you know what I mean.” She winked at Raith when he shot her a killing look. “A commander or something.”

By the look on their faces, she’d never cross the demon’s path again.

By the look on his face, it was a good thing she wouldn’t.

Yep, karma was a bitch, and this time she didn’t have to serve it up. Organic karma was always better, because there was no chance of it coming back on you. If it harm none…

And though she’d didn’t wish him well, she kept her toxicity to herself.

She raised her hand over her head and flipped him the bird as she walked away, hips swaying to the beat of her newly found freedom.