Magic and Mayhem: Witch and Were (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read Free

realized what was happening it was too late. My body was already transforming.
    Oh no!
    I jerked away from Mick and ran into the bathroom, slamming the door behind me in the nick of time. By the time the door clicked closed, my hands and feet were familiar white fur covered paws.
    "Patience, what the hell?" Her mother called from the other side of the door.
    "It's nothing. I'm fine."
    "You are not fine," she responded. "You turned orange with magic," she shrieked.
    "Oh my Goddess, Mother. Shut up. We are in mixed company." Thank the Goddess I could still communicate in wolf form.
    "Probably not the mix you were thinking, sugar." Mick's thick, deep voice cut through the din in my mind. All the extra residual noise from the magic and stress of changing to a wolf.
    "What do you mean?"
    "Why don't you open the door and we can talk about it face to face," he suggested.
    Who was this guy? I didn't know him from Adam and even I she could open the door I wouldn't. Whatever was happening to me was private. Not something I planned to share with every Tom, Dick and Mick.
    "No," I blurted. Until I figured out how to get my normal self back, there would be no opening doors or going anywhere.
    "You can't open the door can you? Because of the paws." Mick again interrupted my mental tirade.
    What the hell?
    "Go away." I needed to think. Who was this Mick and what was he to my mother? And why did I want to give him anything he wanted including me?
    "Patience, honey. You should let Mick help you. He seems to think he has an answer for whatever this is."
    "So this has nothing to do with whoever my father is?" As far as I thought, it seemed the only plausible answer.
    "I don't think so, baby. Although I can't be sure. I was a little crazy back then. Hell, I didn't even remember half of my youth anymore."
    Back then? That was the understatement of the year. She'd been crazy from the get go. Or at least as long as I could remember. There really wasn't a party or man she saw that she didn't go for and if Mick was any indication she hadn't mellowed much. Goddess. My mother is a cougar. And I was attracted to her latest conquest so what did that say about me?
    I sauntered over to the bathroom rug and curled up on the soft, fluffy pad. This shifting nonsense was exhausting work.
    Now I needed to breath deep and relax. It had worked the last time to get me back to human and hopefully it would work again.
    I closed my eyes and thought of water, mostly because it soothed me. In my mind's eyes I was now floating on a raft with the warm sunshine bathing my face. I couldn't remember the last time I'd done something as simple as that, but in my memory bank it still felt really good.
    Peripherally I thought I heard the door open, but I didn't want to break the easy feeling floating through my mind. It felt so gooood...
    My body warmed and a flood of magic washed over me. No wonder witches always felt sorry for me about my lack of true power. This felt amazing. Everything tingled from the tips of my fingers to the tips of my toes.
    "Ahhhh," I sighed.
    "Feels good doesn't it?" The low rumble of Mick's voice brushed against my mind. I should jump up and punch his lights out for invading my privacy. My brain urged me on, but my body felt too good to interrupt.
    "She's back," he called behind him.
    "Thank the Goddess," my mother said, waves of relief vibrating from her voice.
    I finally opened my eyes and groaned. Mick was close. Way too close. I could smell his earthy scent. It was a little salty, a little musky and a whole lot of forest on a warm day.
    "Mom, would it be too much to ask for some clothes? And maybe your boyfriend could go in the other room so I can get dressed."
    "Okay, Patience. Although he's not my—"
    "Mom!" I yelled. "Clothes."
    Then I turned to Mick. "You. Get out."
    He turned up his smile and I wanted to jump his bones. Honest to Goddess this was frustrating.
    "Go," I repeated.
    "Yes, Ma'am," he answered, holding his hands up in surrender as