Attraction

In my story, Hidden Magic, for Vella, Chase Ayre feels guilty for bringing trouble to Allura Spell. Allura moved to Magic Hills after her parents and her husband wanted to return to Europe, and she decided to stay in America. It was one of the happiest days of her life when she was free from them. To her parents, nothing could have been more wonderful than having Birk, the son of an old, wealthy European family, fall in love with their daughter. Their fortunes were made. But after Birk went through all of the money he brought with him, and his parents refused to send more unless he returned home, Birk grew frustrated and unhappy, and took it out on Allura. Hit me once, shame on you. Hit me twice, shame on me. Allura packed up and left him, moving to Magic Hills. She warded her entire house and property so that he couldn’t enter it. Neither could her parents. They’d chosen Birk and his family’s money over her, telling her that if she’d be a better wife, Birk wouldn’t have to hit her.

Once in Magic Hills, Allura–a witch–creates her own private Garden of Eden. She lives a simple, happy life. And then Chase arrives. He’s a ranger who’s tracking a harpy that’s leaving the bodies of savaged mortals in her wake. He’d like to use Magic Hills as a base for finding her, but the bed and breakfast is full. Allura offers him a room at her small bungalow. And then, she and two friends insist on accompanying him when he goes out to find the killer, because evidence points to the fact that she might not be alone, that more harpies are banding together.

The attraction between Chase and Allura is strong, but Allura doesn’t want to repeat her earlier mistake. Chase, on the other hand, had a wonderful mate, and he lost her in childbirth. He doesn’t think he’ll ever find love like he had with Absinthe again. So, he stays single. But the more Allura and Chase work together, the harder it is to fight what they feel for each other.