Blood Twist (The Erris Coven Series) - By Bonnie Wheeler Page 0,3

The families were preparing a shared meal, but he doubted he could eat. The scent of cooked food was unappealing – however, he normally enjoyed fresh fruits, nuts and vegetables. He needed living blood to survive, but raw foods were still pleasurable. Although he knew Teagan’s mom, Aileen, would see to it that all of his favorite snacks were a part of the spread, Braden had too much on his mind to consider dining.

Floating in from outside, a delicate perfume smelling of brown sugar and vanilla mingled with the other familiar scents. Instantly, he knew it belonged to Lexie’s friend, Liz. It amazed him how close the two girls were, considering they were polar opposites. Where Lexie was soft spoken and delicate, Liz was direct and forceful.

He chuckled recalling how well Liz handled herself when he charged into the basement ready to take on the shifters. He had expected to find the Serovs feasting on Lexie’s family. Instead, there was a beautiful stranger with a loud mouth giving him hell for making her jump. If he had more time, Braden would have enjoyed getting to know the spitfire better. If Lexie loved her, she must have some remarkable qualities. Just the way the girl smiled was enough to make him interested.

I guess I’ll never know.

Braden stood and walked to his window. The view from his bedroom looked out on Teagan’s family home. He and his mother had lived on their property in a small guest house for years. Brigid no longer ventured out to socialize with the others. It wasn’t that she didn’t love them, because she did.

They understand…

After Braden’s father passed away twelve years ago, the magic that bound Brigid to Lachlan dissolved. Her once shiny flaxen hair had paled to an almost white. Delicate lines were beginning to appear across her brow and around her mouth, but Braden still found his mother lovely.

The truth was, without the magic of the bond, Brigid was growing older. As soon as his father passed, she began aging at a normal rate. Seeing the others full of youthful energy with their fate-partners had become too painful for her to endure. So, as a matter of emotional survival, she lived a quiet existence in her rooms as she waited to be reunited with Lachlan in the afterlife.

Braden hated leaving his mother like this, she needed him desperately. He was all she had left of Lachlan, other than the memories. But, even she didn’t know the secret he kept tightly to himself for the last eight years. Never would he have allowed her to be troubled with such a burden, especially in her fragile state. Besides, if he confided in her, Brigid would have begged the coven to intervene. More lives would be lost.

He had to face his death alone.

3

LIZ

Liz shifted the glass serving dish into one arm as she adjusted her sunglasses. No matter which brand she bought, they were always sliding down the bridge of her nose.

Although she suffered a momentary anxiety attack when she parked her rust bucket in the McKenna’s driveway, she was fine once she reminded herself whose home it was. Any parents responsible for breeding a Casanova like Teagan were sure to be a blast.

The lawn looked like it belonged on the cover of Better Homes and Gardens. She would hate to step on a single blade of grass; they were all too perky and evenly level to ruin with the indentation of her foot. Torin’s place was the same way. Endellion was growing flowers with blooms the size of Liz’s head. Did the Irish damphyrs have a magical explanation for their gardening or did they just have green thumbs?

Liz followed the cobble walkway that stretched around the large white Victorian into a sprawling backyard. Endellion and Cian’s mother, Fianna, were setting up a large banquet table for their buffet styled luncheon. Fresh cut flowers in whimsical vases of all shapes and colors adorned the pastel linen covered surface. Lemongrass scented oil burned in amber effusion lamps, while ivory pillars made of beeswax dotted the table.

All we need now is for David Tutera to pop out for an episode of “My Fair Wedding.”

Endellion was splendid in her long, moss green gown next to the taller and polished Fianna. Cian’s mother had eye-catching espresso hair that complimented her ivory skin. She rocked a tailored, raspberry cocktail dress with strappy sandals. Liz smiled. If she could look that slamming in her golden years, she would be partying until the day