Witch in Exile (A Mackenzie Coven Mystery Book 7) Read online

  Witch in Exile

  A Mackenzie Coven Mystery

  Sonia Parin

  Copyright © 2018 Sonia Parin

  All Rights Reserved

  No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  For updates about the characters appearing in this story, as well as updates on upcoming releases, please visit soniaparin.com, twitter or Facebook or sign up to my mailing list.

  About this book

  Lexie’s days are numbered. She’s been accused of killing her cousin, Mirabelle, High Chair of the British Isles and all Circumferential Domains Pertaining to the Mackenzie Coven. Even her feline companion, Luna, believes she’s turned into a killer. Now Lexie has been exiled to an enchanted forest and the only memory she has is filled with gaps. So is everyone else’s. How can she prove her innocence if she can’t remember anything?

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Epilogue

  Chapter One

  I’m going to get you Mirabelle. So help me, I will get you, if it’s the last thing I do. This time, you’ve gone too far.

  Luna’s sharp screech wrenched Lexie out of her restless sleep. She sprung upright. “What? What’s going on?” Raking her hair out of her eyes, Lexie searched for Luna. “Luna?” No response. “Have you been talking to me in my sleep again? I swear, if you don’t quit your mind games, I am going to put a pink bow on you.”

  Every other day, Lexie seemed to wake up with the idea that she needed to go shopping for more of Luna’s favorite food, Game Indulgence, because there was bound to be a new flavor. Never mind that her kitchen cupboards were filled to capacity with the expensive cat food.

  Life had been so much simpler before Mirabelle—

  Lexie rubbed her still sleepy eyes. Mirabelle had given her a box of Game Indulgence, but that had been a while ago. Why had she been dreaming about her? Actually, it had been more a nightmare than a dream, and now that she thought about it, she’d dreamed she’d been dreaming about telling Mirabelle off. Lexie frowned. Even the thought didn’t make sense.

  The sudden pounding on her front door had her scrambling to get out of bed. Responding to the urgency of the knocking, she burst out into the sitting room and saw Luna sprinting toward the front door ahead of her.

  For once, Luna beat her to the door. If she didn’t know better, she’d think the little scamp wanted to make a quick getaway.

  Let me out. Let me out. She’s after me. She’s going to kill me too.

  “What are you talking about?”

  Stay away from me. You... You murderer.

  “Lexie. Open up.”

  Jonathan? Pounding on her front door? He usually let himself in.

  When Lexie reached for the door to unlock it, Luna cowered, her bright eyes wide with horror.

  “What is going on with you? Are you having a neurotic episode?”

  “Oh, good. Jonathan has arrived.”

  Lexie spun around. “Cat. What are you doing here?” She looked around for Mirabelle’s orb but the High Chair of the British Isles and all Circumferential Domains Pertaining to the Mackenzie Coven was nowhere in sight, while her down under cousin’s orb danced around her sitting room leaving a trail of bright orange sparkles. “I thought I told you guys, no more surprise visits.” She turned to Jonathan. “And what are you doing here so early?” Her guardian and chronicler of all her deeds… and or misdeeds looked as if he’d been shoved out of bed. He’d buttoned up his shirt all wrong so it looked askew, his boots didn’t match and his unshaven... well, he usually sported a day’s growth so there was nothing unusual about his unshaven face.

  “How long do we have?” Jonathan asked Catherine, his voice full of urgency.

  “Hey, what’s going on?” Lexie looked from Jonathan to Cat’s orb. A witch in her own right, her Australian cousin hated to travel so she always appeared as an orb. Although, according to what she’d heard, after announcing her intention to join the circus and become a trapeze artist, her parents had put a binding spell on her instilling the fear of heights…

  “Come on,” Cat said, “You don’t have a moment to waste. You have to pack. They’ll be coming for you soon.”

  “Who?”

  Before Cat could answer, Jonathan demanded, “Where’s the cat?”

  Luna peered at them from the safety of the hallway. She looked undecided, her eyes dancing between Lexie and the stairwell.

  “Get in here, Luna,” Jonathan ordered.

  Luna gave a vigorous shake of her head.

  She’s a lunatic. Keep her away from me.

  Jonathan rushed out to the hallway and scooped Luna up. “If they catch you, they’ll bind you. This is the only way.”

  Lexie stabbed her fingers through her hair. “What are you all talking about?” And why could she only hear Luna in her head? She usually came through loud and clear and, when she wanted to, she could communicate with anyone.

  I’m not going anywhere with her. Let go of me. Put me down. This is rather awkward, but I need you to tell Jonathan I’m not going anywhere with you. Tell him. Tell him. I’m in shock and I can’t open my mind to tune into him.

  “Huh?”

  Luna tried to free herself from Jonathan’s hold. “Tell your cat to put her claws away. They’re digging into me.”

  “Hurry,” Cat urged.

  Lexie flapped her arms and spun around. “Why? Will someone please tell me what’s going on?”

  Cat’s orb danced around her. “I’m offering you asylum.”

  “Huh?”

  “You’ll be safe with me for a little while, but you must hurry.”

  Lexie jumped back and put her hands up. “I need everyone to start making sense.”

  Jonathan huffed out a breath. “What do you remember about the last twenty-four hours?”

  Lexie stepped back and crossed her arms. “I went to... and then... oh, and I also... but then we had to... before that we… and then...”

  Catherine’s orb swooped around the room leaving a trail of sparkles behind her. “You’re speaking with gaps.” She turned to Jonathan. “She’s speaking with gaps. Can you fill them in?”

  “Me?” Jonathan looked perplexed.

  “Yes, you. You’re her chronicler. You should know everything she’s been doing. It’s your job. Your raison d’être.”

  Jonathan groaned. “Did you have to put it in quite those terms? I prefer to fool myself into thinking there’s more to my life than shadowing Lexie’s every step.”

  Cat’s orb spun around Jonathan. “You alone bear witness to all her deeds and or misdeeds. You’re her one and only hope. What do you remember?”

  Jonathan shifted. “Well, she.... and then she... oh, and she also… but that came
after... or before... hang on...”

  Sparkles flew out of Cat’s orb like a cranky mini fireworks display. “You too?”

  Jonathan staggered back. “Me what?”

  “You’re speaking with gaps.”

  Luna screeched and again tried to scramble out of Jonathan’s hold.

  “This is bad. Very bad.” Cat’s orb hovered in the middle of the sitting room. “We don’t have time to figure it out now. Grab your emergency bag and let’s go.”

  Lexie looked around her. “Emergency bag?”

  “Yes, you know, the bag you have prepared with some clothes and other essentials just in case you have to go to the hospital or skip the country at a moment’s notice.”

  “I don’t have one of those.” Lexie turned to Jonathan. “Do you have one?”

  Jonathan shrugged. “Everyone has one.”

  “Well, I don’t.”

  “It doesn’t matter now,” Cat said. “Just grab some clothes and let’s go.”

  “Where?”

  Cat’s orb bobbed from side to side almost as if looking to see if anyone could hear them. “I’m taking you to my cottage,” she whispered. “You should be safe there. It’s warded against all intruders.”

  “Your cottage? But that’s down under, somewhere in an Australian forest.”

  “And you have a problem with that?” Cat sounded miffed. She swooped down and stopped right in front of Lexie’s face. “You don’t seem to understand the severity of your situation. Now, either pack some clothes or come as you are.”

  “Is there a door number three I can pick?” Lexie asked.

  Cat’s orb expanded and little sparks flew out of it. “Yes and guess what’s behind that one. Suffer the wrath of the Coven Disciplinary Board.”

  * * *

  Lexie thought two pairs of everything would be enough to see her through whatever this was. She threw her clothes inside a carry bag and wondered if she should contact her mom.

  As the current High Chair of the American Continent and all Circumferential Domains Pertaining to the Mackenzie Coven, she should be able to help or, at least, throw some light on the matter.

  “And I can help. Albeit in a limited capacity.”

  “Mom?” Lexie swung around but she didn’t see Morgana. “Where are you?”

  “There’s no time to waste, Lexie. You must go. Don’t tell me where. The less I know, the better. I’ve given you a new dress to wear. Be safe.”

  “Mom?” Lexie called out her mom’s name again but was met with silence. A dress? She’d given her a dress? Trust her mom to think of fashion at a time like this.

  Cat flew into her bedroom. “What’s taking you so long? Hurry. Hurry.”

  Lexie couldn’t help laughing. “You sound like the Wizard from The Lord of the Rings.” Her heart gave an alarming thud. Oh, that had better not be a sign. She loved her small East Village apartment. If she had to leave it forever...

  This had better be a prank. She’d settle for a false alarm.

  Grabbing her carry bag, she strode out into the sitting room. Lexie looked from Jonathan to Cat. “So what’s my approval rating?”

  Jonathan gave her a head to toe sweep of his dark blue eyes and, brushing his hand across his chin, he nodded. “Yeah, that’ll do. In fact, that’s better than I expected.”

  “What?”

  “Chain mail,” he said.

  Lexie patted herself. Something felt odd… different. Her cousins had given her a Mackenzie Coven outfit for her birthday which she apparently wore all the time… even if she didn’t wear it. The black skirt flared out to mid thigh and the bodice… well, she preferred not to think about how revealing it looked. The striped stockings she could live with and she rather liked the Mary Jane pumps. Lexie rushed back into the bedroom and looked at her reflection in the mirror.

  “Huh? What is this?”

  “It’s a chain mail dress. Where did it come from?” Cat asked.

  Lexie swung around and smiled. It actually felt quite light and her strappy shoes had been replaced with practical lace up, steel capped boots.

  She turned just in time to see Jonathan throw a shoe at her. It bounced right off her.

  “Hey.” Lexie frowned and then she smiled. She hadn’t actually felt the shoe. “Hey, this is super cool.”

  Jonathan poked her with a finger. “Hard as steel. Yeah, that’ll do.”

  “Now what?” Lexie asked and hoped Cat didn’t press her for more information about the dress because then she’d have to own up to having contacted her mom. “I can’t transport myself to your cottage because I’ve never even seen a picture of it. Do you have a closet for me to land in?” While she could blink herself anywhere, she needed to have a mental picture of her destination, although that never seemed to stop her from always landing in a closet.

  “Never mind that. We don’t have time. I’ll cast a spell and transport you.”

  “Um... hang on.” The last time Cat had cast a spell on her it had gone horribly wrong and Lexie had broken into rhymes and tongue twisters every hour on the hour.

  “Don’t worry,” Cat assured her. “I’ve cast this one many times and I’ve never had any complaints.”

  Luna found her voice and screeched, “My tail. My tail. Tell her to remember my tail.”

  Cat’s orb glowed orange and expanded to twice its size.

  Travel through space with no time to spare, this trio leaves now...

  “Did she say trio?” Jonathan’s voice echoed right along with Luna’s screech and demand to be released because she’d changed her mind.

  A swirling wind sparkling with bright lights enveloped them, lifted them off the floor and swept them off.

  * * *

  “Well... that was weird.” Lexie turned and tried to see if she’d made it through in one piece. She patted her shoulders and her head. “Yes. I’m all accounted for.” Including her new chain mail dress.

  When Jonathan patted his head, Luna saw her chance and took it, leaping out of his hold and rushing to the front door.

  Jonathan growled. “Where is she? She wasn’t supposed to bring me along. Just you and the cat.”

  Luna hissed at him. “I am not a cat. I am the incoming High Chair’s loyal feline companion.”

  “I see you’ve found your voice,” Lexie said.

  “The shock must have done it for me. Do not come any closer,” Luna warned. “That’s right. Keep a safe distance, or I swear I will bite you.”

  Lexie snorted. “What happened to being a loyal feline companion?”

  Luna licked her paw. “Habit. It slipped.”

  Lexie looked around. They’d landed in someone’s sitting room, a nice change to landing in a closet on her butt. But where exactly were they?

  A door at the end of the spacious room opened and a lithe woman with a mop of Titian red hair strode in and greeted them with a sparkly hello.

  “Who are you?” Lexie asked.

  “I’m Cat.”

  “No, you’re not. Cat’s an orb.”

  Cat laughed. “Only when I have to travel. It’s a sort of astral projection. I’m there, but not really there because I’m actually still here. In fact, I’ve always been here. Hey, did you think I was an orb in real life?”

  Lexie looked askance. “Well, I’ve never met you in person. Sorry. You look fabulous in real life. Not that you don’t look great as an orb. In fact, you’re quite sparkly.” Lexie turned to Luna. “Don’t I always say that about Cat? Tell her.”

  Luna hissed. “Don’t come any closer.”

  Rolling her eyes, Lexie strode over to Cat and threw her arms around her. “Hello, cousin. Lovely to meet you at last.”

  “Are you checking to see if I’m really real?” Cat asked.

  Lexie released her. “Do you blame me?”

  “Fine. In your place, I guess I would have done the same. Anyway, welcome to my cottage.”

  She called this a cottage? It was palatial. Lexie slanted her gaze at Luna who lifted her nose i
n the air.

  Luna purred. “See what I mean? Everyone has a far better setup than you.”

  Jonathan cleared his throat. “Would you mind telling me what I’m doing here?”

  Cat’s neat eyebrows drew together. “What are you doing here?” She smacked her hand against her mouth. “Oops. Did I say trio instead of duo? Sorry, I was under a lot of pressure to get Lexie to safety.”

  “Can you get me back?” Jonathan asked.

  Cat’s cheeks flushed slightly. “Well, as to that. I’m afraid not.”

  Jonathan’s eyebrows shot together. “What do you mean? You got me here, you can send me back.”

  “I could. Ordinarily, but I’ve closed the gateway and warded it.”

  “Undo it,” Jonathan demanded.

  “I can’t do that. It’s a safety measure for emergency situations such as this one. I set it on automatic to lock until the moon has completed its full cycle. If I’m still alive and well, it will automatically open again.”

  Jonathan took a step toward Cat. “If? What if something happens to you?”

  This time, Cat’s cheeks flushed a deep crimson.

  “Hey!” Lexie exclaimed. “Are you suggesting I’ll... and then... because...”

  “She’s doing it again.” Cat shook her head.

  “Doing what?” Lexie asked.

  “You know, talking with gaps.” Cat brushed her hand across her chin. “I suspect you might have experienced something traumatic and it’s affected the way you react. Specifically, the way you react to the suggestion that you might be capable of a violent act. What do you remember about the last twenty-four hours?”