Moon Magick by Rae Morgan.pdf

Moon Magick

Book 2 in the Coven of the Wolf Series

Rae Morgan

Moon Magick

Book 2 in the Coven of the Wolf Series

Rae Morgan

Published 2004

ISBN 1-931761-85-X

Published by Liquid Silver Books, imprint of Atlantic Bridge Publishing, 6280

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the

prior written permission of the author.

Manufactured in the United States of America

Liquid Silver Books

http://www.liquidsilverbooks.com

Email:

raven@liquidsilverbooks.com

Cover Art

by Nathalie Moore

http://www.graphicsmuse.com/

This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues in this book are of

the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual

events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.

Chapter One

June, the month of the Dyad moon, the time the God and the Goddess become one. It

is a time to seek harmony in all things: light balances dark, heat balances cold, and good

balances evil .

Brenna Lindsay stood silently in the circle she'd formed of white beeswax candles.

The full moon bathed the clearing with silver light. Cool night air met the still-warm

ground, creating wispy patches of ground fog blanketing the earth like a sheet of

transparent white cotton.

Her wolf, White Star, sat on his haunches next to her, alert and on guard. Her other

companions, twin shapeshifters, Boris and Igor, prowled the perimeter of the glen,

watching for any hint of danger.

A hoot of an owl and the rustling of a small creature were the only sounds detectable

on the night air.

Brenna relaxed, trusting that her companions would stand guard. She resumed her

preparations for the Summer Solstice ritual. Normally, at the lesser Sabbat of Litha, it

was common to seek the Goddess's blessing upon earth's bounty and protection for one's

home. With the veils between the worlds of light and dark at their thinnest, a witch has

the charge to maintain the delicate balance.

This year, that duty was of higher consequence.

Evil was afoot, and had gathered strength since June's crescent moon. It was then

that she'd received the first warning, a note tacked to one of her herb farm's drying

sheds...

We're watching you, witch. Stay out of business that doesn't concern you, or else!

After several more ominous threats and some incidents of vandalism, she contacted

the head of the Coven of the Wolf in Chicago, Drake Morgan. Briefly, she'd considered

going to the local law. The new sheriff was reputed to be a fair and impartial man, but she

quickly discarded the notion. No matter how open-minded the sheriff was, once the

words "witch" and "magick" became involved, his liberalness would vanish more quickly

than ice in Hell.

Drake's response had been gratifyingly immediate. He sent two men from his

security team, the Russian twins, Boris and Igor, to investigate—and provide protection.

They'd arrived yesterday, just in time for the midsummer ritual.

A light breeze blew her azure-colored cloak against her legs and caused the blanket

of light fog to shift and move as if it were a living, breathing creature. She shivered as

some animal screamed in the forest at the edge of the clearing. Star stiffened beside her,

nose raised to sniff the air. After a moment he relaxed, nudging her hand in reassurance,

urging her to finish the night's business.

Whatever was out there was not a direct threat to them, or Star would've attempted to

drag her away.

Turning back to her preparations, she placed several large amethysts and other

protective stones that she would ask the Goddess to bless. The larger stones she would

bury around her house and those of the other local coven members. The smaller stones

she would fashion into protective amulets for her non-coven employees to wear while on

the job.

But her magick could not insulate the countryside. So, she would seek a visualization

of the evil. She hoped that once she knew who or what was the cause, she would be able

to stop it before anyone got hurt.

In the exact center of the circle lay a small pond. It was this she would use for the

scrying.

"Woo-oof." Star nudged her hand.

She looked down at her pet and smiled. The white star marking around his eye

almost glowed in the moonlight. It was the only lightness on him other than his silver-

colored eyes, his pelt being as dark as a moonless night. "What is it, boy? Do you wish to

hunt whatever is rustling out there in the woods?"

Star showed his teeth and nodded.

Laughing, she stroked her pet's head between his ears. "Go on with you. Boris and

Igor will protect me. Just don't bring whatever you catch home. I don't want rodent parts

in my house."

Star rubbed his head against her leg in obeisance, then took off for the wall of trees

at the edge of the clearing. His dark body merged into the inky shadows.

"Why do you put up with that wild animal?" asked Boris, or was it Igor? She still

had a bit of trouble telling the two apart.

"He's no wilder than either of you." Her glance swept over the twins, who'd shifted

from their wolfhound form into human. They stood outside the circle, their pale, naked

bodies almost glistening in the bright moonlight, waiting to be invited inside.

"Please enter. All be blessed who come within." After the two crossed over, she re-

consecrated the circle and began to light the white beeswax candles. "Didn't you bring

any clothes?"

"No," said one of the twins. She thought it might be Igor, since his tone seemed

serious. "We thought summer solstice rituals were performed sky-clad."

"Traditionally they are," she said, "but this spot is adjacent to public forest land, so it

is safer to have clothing at hand."

"Be assured, Mistress, if someone comes, we'll shift back to animal form," the other

twin said. This had to be Boris. Igor had stopped calling her mistress yesterday evening.

She thought Boris, who'd proven to be somewhat of a smart-aleck, did it to pull her chain.

"Boris, I asked you not to address me as mistress." She turned to complete the

arrangements for her ritual. "My employees are beginning to wonder about our

relationship."

Boris stifled a snicker.

She glared at him. "That wasn't meant to be funny. This is a small town, and all I

need is for one of the non-believers to go to the new sheriff and tell him I'm a dominatrix.

Or that I'm having orgies with two of my employees."

"Yes, ma'am," Boris said, grinning like a loon.

"What can we do to help?" asked Igor as he punched his brother in the arm with his

fist.

"Nothing. Just stand and listen."

Brenna arranged a wreath of white flowers on her hair, then removed her outer cloak.

Both men gasped, but she refused to acknowledge their recognition of the sheerness of

her robe. Igor was correct. Most rituals were performed in the nude. To honor the

tradition, but protect her modesty in case someone stumbled onto her during ritual, she

preferred a sheer gown.

Taking her staff of polished oak, she pushed it into the earth. By grounding herself to

Mother Earth, she would prevent an inadvertent crossing over into the dark world.

Closing her eyes, she felt the flow of the Gaia's life force seeping its way into her. She

was now ready to plumb the high energy of the summer solstice. If things went well, she

would garner that energy for protection and seek out the root of the evil.

Picking up the chalice containing wine she had pressed from last year's grape

harvest, she took a sip, then held her hands to the sky.

Goddess, we bring thee gifts to celebrate the time of light and dark.

Help us seek balance.

Bless these stones to protect our home and those within.

Provide us with the wisdom to preserve the gifts of your bounty.

As her words ended, the crystalline stones she'd placed around the circle shimmered

and glowed. She turned toward the East and took another sip of the wine.

Goddess, send the winds to refresh our land.

The eastern breeze increased in its intensity, clearing out the heavy night mist. She

turned toward the South, toasting the Goddess once more with her cup.

Goddess, send the sun to warm the earth and allow all life to flourish.

A strobe-like flash of light from the south swept over the circle, then vanished into

the ground at Brenna's feet. She rotated another quarter-turn toward the West and sipped

her wine.

Goddess, bless us with rain to help the bounty grow.

The rumble of thunder and a flash of lightning came from a cloudless sky and the

pond rippled with the droplets of a phantom thunderstorm. She turned one final time.

Goddess, send the seasons in their proper time.

Brenna took the green cord knotted about her waist and kissed the ends, ending the

traditional Litha ritual.

Going to the four points of the compass on the circle, she laid offerings of flowers

and cookies for the nature spirits, asking them to aid in the protection of her home.

Kneeling by the pond, she grew warm from the power she'd taken. Stirring the

waters in a clockwise fashion, she imparted some of the energy to the cool liquid. Within

the misty swirls, images began to form as she sought knowledge of those who threatened

her and those she protected—maybe even the why of the threats.

Goddess, all we have asked of you,

We welcome with open hearts full of light and goodness.

Please reveal who seeks to harm me and mine.

The waters bubbled and boiled as the air within the circle whistled and screamed like

a banshee. A white owl swooped down and landed at the edge of the pond, a mere arm's

length away from Brenna. Its golden-eyed gaze captured hers with its intensity. Boris and

Igor closed in on the bird. She stayed them with a shake of her head.

The owl spoke to her mind:

Daughter, you have done right in seeking me out. There is a darkness upon the land.

The dark ones are using you and yours for their own evil purposes. Soon, you will

discover their perfidy and must choose your path to re-establish harmony. Be warned,

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