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

But had Marc actually lied? Maybe the good doctor deserved the benefit of the doubt. After all, if Owen suspected someone of abusing an animal, he wouldn’t care who he pissed off in his rush to the rescue. And Marc hadn’t seemed over-eager to investigate that absurd complaint. In fact, the way the vet had refused to meet Owen’s eyes after seeing the “torture chamber” suggested he was embarrassed and regretted the whole incident.


But if Marc really felt the attraction between them, where the hell had he been for three days? Couldn’t the Animal Control Chief find a few minutes to call? Or to drive the couple miles out of town and stop in? After all, there were ownerless cats in the house who could benefit from the attentions of a vet. What other excuse did the man need?


Chapter 12