I’m an international, multiple award-winning author with a passion for the voices in my head. As a singer, songwriter, independent filmmaker and improv teacher and performer, my life has always been about creating and sharing what I create with others. Now that my dream to write for a living is a reality, with over a hundred titles in happy publication and no end in sight, I live in beautiful Prince Edward Island, Canada, with my giant cats, pug overlord and overlady and my Gypsy Vanner gelding, Fynn.

PLEASE NOTE: SASSAFRAS contains spoilers for the HAYLE COVEN NOVELS. Do not read before #7, FLESH AND BLOOD.


Banished

Power engulfed me, a strong hand stroking my fur as Ahbi's mind met mine. I wish you well, Sassafras, she sent. Do come to visit someday.

No time to respond, not while her magic lifted me, sent me forward, toward the gap in the veil, through it—

My new body fell, landed hard on cold, wet gravel, the light from the veil shining one more moment. It snapped shut behind me, leaving me alone in the cold dark.

When the demon boy Sassafras breaks Demonicon’s oldest law and strips the power of another, he is sentenced to death. Only his influential father’s pleading commutes Sass’s sentence to banishment. Forced into the body of a silver Persian, his power taken from him, he is dumped in the dark streets of Victorian London and left to die. Rescued by a young witch and integrated into her family, Sassafras finds purpose at last, guiding and loving the Hayle family, sharing his heart with the remarkable coven he claims as his own.

Hayle Coven Universe: Sassafras

I heard her calling my name the next morning, but refused to answer, still tucked into my hiding place. I simply couldn't bring myself to say goodbye. A clean break would be better, easier. She finally stopped, thankfully. I wasn't sure how much more I'd be able to resist.


But when I heard the front door open, the conversation coming from downstairs, trunks being moved and crying mixed with farewells, I could no longer hold back. I had to see her, at the very least, to burn the memory of her beautiful face into my mind so I would have something to hold onto.


She had her back to me when I reached the top of the stairs, they all did, hugging and saying their sad farewells. No one noticed as I slunk down the steps to scurry under a chair and watch from the shadows of it as Thad, my dear, dear Thad, finally turned and embraced George.


"Take good care of him, won't you?" She let George go and rushed past her to the open door as my heart tore in half.


No, I couldn't let her go this way. Not without telling her... what? It didn't matter. My body moved before I could decide otherwise, a silver streak past the Brindles and out the front door, racing down the walk with my heart still in pieces, panting as I hurried to catch her even as Thad disappeared inside the hansom that would take her away from me forever.


"Thad!" I leaped, threw myself at the closing door as the carriage man stared at me with his mouth gaping open, his hand falling from the latch to let the door swing wide again. A boost of magic pushed me the distance I needed, landing me in Thaddea's lap.


She sobbed in her hands, an activity that halted the instant I arrived. With a choked, "Sassafras!" she gathered me to her so tightly I could barely breathe, though I didn't mind a bit.


"Don't leave me," I whispered, hating to beg, unable to do anything but. If she rejected me, I wouldn't survive it, no other would do.


"Silly cat," she said, kissing my ear, "don't you know I never wanted to?" She sat back with a sigh and a happy wave to the Brindles who waved back. I raised a paw to them just as the hansom driver closed the door. "You're coming to America, then, Lord Sassafras?"


"I'm going wherever you take me," I said, standing to press my paw against her damp cheek as the damage to my heart healed in an instant.


Thaddea hugged me to her, whispered to me of the amazing things she would show me when we arrived at her home, but I wasn't listening, not really. The warmth I'd felt when we met had grown too big to contain it in a small space, flooding me with happiness.


With love. It was real after all. I was certain of it. Amazing, really.


Chapter 13: Left Behind