Fantastical by Kristen Ashley
Valentine looked to the other witch. “You don’t know how bad it is. I don’t see good things. He pines for a dead woman. The Ilsa of my world will not thank him for tearing her from her world, no matter that that world holds nothing but terror and flight, and forcing her to live with a man who physically is, even though he is not, a man she fears and detests all the while he wants nothing but his dead wife back, not her. She is not the Ilsa he loves and that is all he will see, until he comes to understand she is not the woman he so desperately wants returned and then what? Disappointment, if she is lucky. Anger, if she is not.”
“There are other possible outcomes,” Lavinia returned.
“Indeed, but there are also those two.”
Lavinia held her eyes.
Then she smiled and whispered, “We shall see.”
That was the truth too.
Valentine sighed and wondered why she cared.
She came to no conclusions; it was simply that, unfortunately, she did.
Then she looked back to the sea.
Then she said softly, “I have work to do.”
“You do, indeed,” Lavinia agreed. “As do I.”
She did. Troubled times lay ahead and if Valentine was not taking back trunks of jewels and gold, she would have nothing to do with it.
Valentine did not have a good feeling about what was to come for this universe.
Not at all.
And she’d been trapped in that universe during war and she had not enjoyed it even a little bit.
That said, the work she had to do at that moment didn’t have to do with the troubles this world faced. It also didn’t have to do with Apollo Ulfr and his blind devotion to a dead woman.
It had to do with something else.
Something she was not doing for payment.
Something she was doing just for fun.
And also, since she seemed to be growing soft of heart recently (also unfortunately), something she was doing for love.
Then again, love was everything so she forgave herself her soft heart… this time.
Valentine turned back to her friend. “Until tomorrow.”
Lavinia lifted her chin and smiled.
Valentine lifted both hands then, moments later, in a mist of green, she disappeared.
She reappeared not in New Orleans, her home.
No, she reappeared in a living room in Seattle.
“Jesus, fuck! What the fuck? Who the fuck are you?” the man walking out of his kitchen carrying a bottle of beer and spying her in his living room burst out.
Valentine allowed herself an indulgent moment to study the extremely handsome Noctorno Hawthorne of her world.
Then she said words he would undoubtedly understand immediately.
“Cora needs you.”
His powerful body went statue-still and he glared at her but behind his blue eyes he was alert and he didn’t even attempt to veil his concern.
Then he transferred his glare to the ceiling.
Then he muttered, “Fuck.”
At that, finally, Valentine smiled her cat’s smile.
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About the Author
Kristen Ashley lives in the beautiful West Country of England with her husband and her cat. She came to England by way of Denver, where she lived for twelve years, but she grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana. Her family and friends are loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.
Kristen’s Mom moved her and her brother and sister in with their grandparents when she was six. Her grandparents had a daughter much younger than her Mom so they all lived together on a very small farm in a small farm town in the heartland. She grew up with Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched). Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.
And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.
Discover other Titles by Kristen Ashley at Smashwords.com
Rock Chick Series:
Rock Chick
Rock Chick Rescue
Rock Chick Redemption
Rock Chick Renegade
Rock Chick Revenge
Rock Chick Renegade
The ‘Burg Series:
For You
At Peace
Golden Trail
The Colorado Mountain Series:
The Gamble
Sweet Dreams
Lady Luck
Dream Man Series:
Mystery Man
Wild Man
The Fairytale Series:
Wildest Dreams
The Golden Dynasty
Other Titles by Kristen Ashley:
Lacybourne Manor
Mathilda, SuperWitch
Penmort Castle
Sommersgate House
Three Wishes
Connect with Kristen Online:
Official Website: www.kristenashley.net
Kristen’s Blog: www.kristenashley.net/menu/blog.html
Kristen’s Facebook Page
Follow Kristen on Twitter: KristenAshley68
Cover Art and Photograph by DM Ashley
Kristen Ashley, Fantastical