Free Abandoned (Book Two of the Castle Coven Series): A Witch and Warlock Romance Novel by Hazel Hunter Page B

captain was.”
    “Kirk,” he said firmly. “You never forget your first.”
    Hailey blinked.  
    “You were watching the original series when you were a kid? That was back in the seventies, wasn’t it?”
    “Sixties as a matter of fact. It’s a little weird. I’m never as old as some people think I am, but I’m far older than what others think.” He shrugged. “I’m one of the youngest members of the Magus Corps, and it makes for some interesting days.”
    “It must. The Magus Corps is, um, I’m not sure how to put it.”
    “Not an organization that likes to change?” Stephan’s laugh was real, but there was definitely a little bitterness to it.  
    “I wasn’t going to say it if you weren’t.”  
    “It’s fine. I know what the Magus Corps’ reputation is, especially here. I think you’re the first person who’s come to sit down next to me since I’ve been here.”  
    “This must be very different from where you usually are,” Hailey murmured, and he shook his head.
    “Honestly, not really. I’m not exactly Magus Corps material at the bottom of it, but the Commandant I serve under, he realized that the organization needs to change or die. I’m sort of a mascot in some ways, you know? A whole new breed of Magus Corps officer, dedicated to fighting evil in brand new ways.”
    There was enough bitterness in his voice that he shook himself, looking faintly embarrassed.
    “That was probably a lot more honest than I thought it was going to be. Look, that’s all true, but that’s not the whole story, okay?”
    Hailey shook her head dubiously.  
    “I think that any organization that would treat you like a mascot isn’t one that you want to be a part of.”
    “I’m not saying I don’t have my days,” Stephan admitted. “I mean, there’s a reason I’m here for my break. In another world, I’d probably be living here and turning the machine shop into my own snug little berth.”
    “But in this world?”  
    He shrugged.
    “In this world, I was a guy who was pulled out of a really bad place. It was a Magus Corps officer that found me after I was awakened. I didn’t even know it. All I knew was that the guns I touched worked better, that the grenades I was using did more. It was an incredibly dark time, and I was lucky to get pulled out of it when I was.”
    He was silent for a moment, long enough to let Hailey do a little bit of math in her head. If he had been watching the original Star Trek series, he had also likely been drafted into the Vietnam War. The idea of this mild young man in a combat situation was unnerving.
    “The Magus Corps gave me what it felt like the whole world had been denying me, you know? I had a place for the first time. They wanted to see what I could do, and by God and all the saints, I wanted to give it to them. The Commandant says that my gadgets have saved lives. I was the one who insisted on getting cellphones and smartphones in the field as soon as they became available. I like to think I’ve done a lot of good.”
    “You seem very devoted,” Hailey observed.  
    “Well, you got me on a good day. I have bad ones too, don’t get me wrong. It can get pretty nasty out there, but even when it feels like one big military circle jerk, I know there are Magus Corps officers who have my back.” He shrugged. “Nothing’s perfect.”  
    Hailey hesitated for a moment, and then she finally blurted out the question that had been lurking in the back of her mind ever since she sat down.  
    “Do you know Kieran McCallen?”
    “Major McCallen? A bit, I guess. He’s older, so he doesn’t like my toys all that much, but he’ll use ‘em. Never met him before. Why do you ask?”
    “Oh.” Hailey couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed. “I… He was the officer who got me here. That is, his mission was to find and evaluate me for a trial with the Castle.”
    Stephan nodded.
    “We don’t always play nice with the covens, but we do our best. Are you