Free BloodWitchInferno by Mary C. Moore

you
did show some superior leadership skills during the trial.”
    Karnon stiffened, praying his father was not about to say
the words he had been dreading.
    Satan looked at him curiously. “Do you want to be chosen to
be my heir?”
    His mind racing, Karnon tried to think of the right answer.
He did not want to lead. He wanted to go back to that cozy house where a
formidable blood-witch with wild hair and creamy hips lived.
    “She is quite lovely,” Satan interrupted Karnon’s thoughts.
    “What?”
    “I may have to see if I can’t arrange a Calling with her in
the future,” his father mused.
    Karnon’s insides twisted. He swallowed a retort, forcing
himself to calm down. “With all due respect she’s a little fragile for that,
sir.” He looked at the ground.
    “Oh really? Well she will heal in time, and can you imagine
the power our little ones would have? Maybe I’ll just drop by and mend some of
the damage done.”
    “No!” It was out before Karnon could stop it.
    “No? Are you telling the Prince of Darkness no?”
    “Please,” Karnon whispered.
    “Why not?” Satan had moved closer, close enough that he
stood inches from Karnon.
    “Because I love her!” The words burst out of him.
    Satan moved back. “I thought so.”
    “Sir?”
    “I am sorry, my boy, but I had to be sure. Otherwise the
spell won’t work.”
    Karnon’s heart came back to life. “Spell?”
    Satan smiled. “I used it once, on your mother. It’s a spell
that will allow you to live with your blood-witch in their realm.” He retrieved
something from behind the throne.
    “But if that exists, why not give it to everyone?”
    “It is only for lovers, true lovers. Once you admit your
love for each other, the spell will go into effect. However, if one of you
drinks it and the other does not return the love, then the one who used it will
suffer grave consequences.” Satan held out his hand with a vial filled with a
thick green liquid.
    “Consequences?”
    “You will pass on.”
    Karnon took a deep breath and reached for the vial but Satan
pulled his hand away. “You cannot tell her, you will not be able to speak more
than her name. Once you drink this, when she Calls you, you will not be under
the Calling spell. It must be love. If she does not return your love, does not
say it, you fade away and become a lost soul forever. Use this only if you
believe in her.”
    Karnon stared down at the vial, heart pounding. He had
trusted Mira once, but that was different, just his physical body. This was his
heart, his soul. Could he trust her again?
    * * * * *
    “Come on, Mira. This one is cute, I promise!” Tink, whose
bright-green hair had a blue strip on one side, was trying to convince Mira to
go on another date.
    Mira shook her head. Her last few attempts had been
miserable over the past year. “Sorry, Tink, I just want to be on my own and
share time with my sister.” Because Mira’s mother’s appeared too young, Mira
told people she was her long-lost sister. Tink had acted understanding for the
first few months but after Mira’s mother began to regain her health, Tink had
pushed Mira to get out of the house more, setting her up on too many blind
dates. Apparently the punky woman had given up on the Wiccan scene and was now
into setting her friends up. Tink couldn’t know that Mira spent her nights
feverously learning about her blood-witch powers from the one who should have
taught her in the first place. Mira’s mother had been horrified to discover
that her mother, Mira’s grandmother, had banned magic and was trying to make up
for it. As Serena grew stronger, the lessons became more challenging and Mira
had less energy for other activities.
    “This one is a really great guy, I swear.”
    Mira sighed. Maybe she should have another go at dating. It
had been almost a year since the Calling with Karnon. It all felt like a
surreal dream but thinking about it still made her face burn. Her one attempt
at sex since then had been