“I think that sounds like a wonderful idea,” I reply, joining in my friend’s excitement. “But first, I think there are a few announcements that need to be shared.”
All three sisters look at me in surprise, and then at each other.
“We’re all knocked up,” Brielle says with a laugh. “All three of us.”
“Babies!” Ruth tears up and holds her daughter close. “My babies are having babies, Sophia.”
“Yes.” I look into Lucien’s eyes and give him a wink. I see their lives. All of them. Along with their children’s and their children’s children. I know what’s to come.
There will be battles ahead. But there will also be love.
So much love.
If you or someone you know is in crisis,
call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline) at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or text the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741). Both services are free and available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. All calls are confidential.
If you loved the Bayou Magic series, you will want to check out the next paranormal romance series coming from Kristen Proby, beginning in 2022! Here is the first look at Hallows End, the first of the Curse of the Blood Moon series!
Hallows End
Hallows End
A Curse of the Blood Moon Novel
by
Kristen Proby
Prologue
September 1692
~Jonas~
“They took Margaret Scott.”
I look up into the sad eyes of my long-time friend, my coven sister, Louisa, and feel my heart sink with sadness.
“They will execute them,” she continues, her voice full of frustration and urgency. “Jonas, we must do something.”
“If we speak up, we expose the entire coven, and they will murder us all,” I reply and feel the candles around us building in strength, fueled by my anger. “We cannot risk hundreds of lives, Louisa.”
“So the few shall die instead?” she insists. “Those women have been good to us, Jonas. They have not done anything wrong, and they are certainly not witches. Margaret has worked tirelessly to protect us, to conceal us from their unjust government.”
“I know.” I stand and cross to Louisa, laying my hand on her shoulder. Her aura swirls in outrage. “And I am eternally grateful to her. To all of them. Would you have me send our entire family to slaughter now? Because if I go forward and defend Margaret, that is what will transpire.”
She shakes her head, tightening her lips in despair. “It is not right.”
“No. It is not. Staying silent as they punish our allies is wrong. But I do not know what else to do.”
She turns away and then looks back at me. “I have been dreaming again. I suspect that it will not matter in the end, regardless of whether we speak up now or not. I see fire. I hear screams. They will come for Hallows’ End, Jonas. It is only a matter of time. Did you see the blood on the moon this night?”
The thought sends terror through me, and I know she’s right.
I’ve had the same dreams.
And I saw the blood on the moon.
“Jonas, you know that what I say is true!”
“I know.” My voice is rough with grief—with resignation. “You are right. It is time. Summon the others.”
“We cannot undo it once the spell is cast,” she warns me.
“The alternative is death,” I remind her. “Assemble in the town square in one hour. We will end this bloodshed and protect our own.”
“Will I remember?” she asks. “When it is finished, and we are safe, will we know what we did?”
“No. Only I will remember. It is as it should be.”
“The burden is too great—”
“Go,” I interrupt. “Make haste. Time runs out.”
She pauses and hurries over to hug me close. “I’m sorry, brother.”
“It is what is meant,” I say and pat her back. “Now, do as I ask, won’t you?”
“Yes.” She wipes at a tear on her cheek. “Yes, I will make the preparations.”
She hurries out of my small, modest house, and I return to my desk, opening the bottom drawer to retrieve my book of shadows.
It’s time to cast the curse of the blood moon.
You can preorder Hallows End here: www.kristenprobyauthor.com/hallowsend
Here is a sneak peek at Memento Mori by Rayvn Salvador! If you love paranormal romance, you do not want to miss this!
Memento Mori by Rayvn Salvador
Prologue
~Hanlen~
Then . . .
The images in front of me blurred, like trying to see a penny at the bottom of a churning pool. My heartbeat pounded in my ears, and that ice-water rush of adrenaline had yet to leave my veins. I swallowed hard, tried to tune back into what the man and woman in front of me were saying, but I couldn’t concentrate. I could barely breathe. There had to be some mistake. I had just seen Reagan. Had just hugged her goodbye.
I shook my head and tried to swallow, the edges of my vision getting grayer by the second. Just as I sensed my knees give way, I felt strong arms breaking my fall, and heard a feminine voice saying, “Get her settled on the couch. I’ll grab her some water.”
Barely aware of what was happening, my mind too much a stew of confusion, grief, and shock, I went willingly, feeling my feet shuffle as someone led me into the living room and to our sectional sofa. I collapsed and then closed my eyes for a moment, trying to take some deep, slow breaths through my nose, letting them out through my mouth. I looked up when I heard movement in front of me.
The police officer squatted down and handed me a glass of clear liquid. “Here, drink. It’ll help with the shock.”
I grabbed the glass from her and took a small sip. I hadn’t realized how thirsty I was until the cool refreshment hit my tongue. I took another larger drink, my hand shaking. I almost dropped the glass, but the woman gently took it from me, setting it on the coffee table in front of us before taking a seat on the easy chair to my right. I closed my eyes again. This couldn’t be happening.
“Miss Arbor, I am so sorry to bring you such horrible news at this ungodly hour. Are you going to be all right? Is there someone we can call?”
I looked up when a hand landed on mine, eyes meeting those of the man in front of me. There was emotion there, but not what I expected. Not pity, exactly. Empathy, maybe?
“I . . .” I cleared my throat. “There’s no one here. No one close. There’s only Reagan. Was only Reagan,” I corrected myself.
I couldn’t stop the tears then. They came in a deluge, my body wracked with sobs. My roommate, my best friend, the sister I had chosen in life, had been murdered. I was well and truly alone in the world.
At least, that’s how it felt.
Chapter 1
~Hanlen~
Now . . .
Ten years. I had been gone for ten years, and yet, driving down Highway 61, it was almost as if no time had passed at all. The Spanish moss and resurrection ferns on the live oaks hung like gauze ghosts at Halloween, both welcoming and creepy. Everything about this terrain and these parishes used to be a comfort to me. All of that ended early one morning on a Saturday when two uniformed police officers showed up on my doorstep to deliver the most crushing news possible. Reagan, my soul mate for all intents and purposes, was gone.