Wiccan Owen Rhys inherits a house outside a small town, where he hopes the solitude will help with his music. But a zealously religious neighbor is convinced he’s a devil worshiper, and her gossip causes the townspeople to view Owen with suspicion. A series of pranks ensues, including dead animals left on his porch, threatening the feral cats living on Owen’s property. Though a bit out of practice, Owen casts a spell to summon a protector -- someone to convince the town the gossip is false and prevent the pranks from escalating. He confidently waits for his champion to arrive. Marc Elias is the town’s animal control officer and veterinarian. He considers himself a rational man who trusts in science and most certainly does not believe in magic. So when he receives a complaint that Owen is bewitching and torturing cats, he dismisses it as her imagination but goes to investigate. Owen is certain Marc is the protector summoned by the spell. But Marc sees Owen’s altar and hears desperate howling, and he has to put aside any attraction he may feel towards the young Wiccan to do his job. Will a little magic be all it takes for both men to get what they want?

Just a Little Magic

“Okay, Dan, I’ll be over shortly.”


He secured the clinic and walked out to his car. Normally, for Animal Control duties, he used the van the county provided. But on a whim, today he’d driven his own vehicle, a midnight-green 1969 Pontiac GTO that he and his father had lovingly restored. But even the feel of the powerful muscle car purring under his control couldn’t lift his spirits.  4


By the time he’d picked up the weed warning and headed out to the east edge of town, twilight was rapidly deepening to night. He got out of the car, forced his tired legs to climb the warped steps of the front porch and knocked. As he waited, he wondered idly how the window in the door had been broken. The cardboard taped to it looked new. Finally, his knock was answered.


A tall figure stood framed in the open doorway, his jet black hair gleaming in the light. With a dazzlingly hopeful smile on that fine-boned face, the young man breathed, “You’re here.”


Chapter 7