Page 1 of Rock Hard

Prologue

My fatal flaw is I never saw the train racing at me until it was too late and I had nowhere to go.

Metaphorically speaking.

The dark-eyed temptress in front of me with the evil glint in her cold stare grins. It’s not a warm smile. Not even a friendly one.

It’s full of chilly intent. I should have run right then but sometimes you can’t outrun your destiny. Your fate.

Her full red lips open and she growls, “Granite Zephyr. You’ve played with me one too many times. I’m not a toy and my heart is just as warm as any other woman out there. Even if people call me a witch.”

I grimace. “Menen. Don’t be so dramatic. We’re friends. Nothing more. I’ve told you time and time again. I cannot date you. Can’t marry you. I’m waiting for true love. My fated mate is out there somewhere and I’m not settling for whatever this is.” I move my hand between us and she glares at me like she wants to rip my whole arm off and beat me with it. “I’m sorry, Menen. We’re friends and that’s all we’ll ever be.”

“You went out with me. You made promises to me,” she hisses between her teeth.

“I did not. I told you right from the start that all we could ever be was friends. That spark is not there. You know it isn’t. I don’t know why you’re blaming me for what fate has designed. It’s not us. We were at the same place eating and I didn’t take you there. It wasn’t a date. We’ve gone over this.”

Her slim hand twirls in the air and I feel my heart race. I know that she’s a powerful witch. A solitary one since her coven disowned her a long time ago. She said it was a difference of opinion and my sense of justice rebelled when I heard that.

It didn’t seem fair.

Now I’m starting to wonder if that difference of opinion wasn’t something a little more serious. Her dark eyes are flashing with red lights and her slim body is vibrating with anger, righteous indignation.

The air shimmers with a dark light and the hair on the back of my neck stands on end. A glowing green light pulses around us and strangely, there’s a whipping wind that roars into life in our little bubble.

Her dark eyes glow with a frenetic green light and I fight the urge to turn and run. “What is going on, Menen?”

She chuckles, low and harsh. “You’re a naive fool, Granite. With me, you could have been something amazing. We could have practically ruled this town. Without me, you’re gonna regret it.” Her voice lowers. “You have made a huge mistake. Now you’re going to pay.”

Her voice changes and she lifts her hands up, the palms glowing wicked green. “For one who chose, the risk is clear. You must face your life alone. One day out of the year…you have the chance to find true love and break the chains of the heavy, drowning choice you’ve made. One chance, one choice. Find your love. Or stiffen to stone. One day is all I give you. I curse you, Granite Zephyr. You will pay for the rest of your miserable life.”

And then she disappeared.

I chuckle nervously but then I move on with my Halloween. I’ve always loved it and this is no different than any other spooky holiday for me.

Until I wake up and can’t move the next day. Then it’s clear what happened and my whole world is blown up. In one day.

CHAPTER 1

Angela

Iwhistle softly as I whip up a new recipe for a devil’s food cupcake that will practically set the town on fire.

I bought my new bakery on the outskirts of Magic, Wyoming. At least twenty minutes from that strange shifter town. I knew that I didn’t want to move to the little town of shifters. My best friend, a waitress who’s been out of contact for a couple of weeks now, moved to the town and told me about some strange stuff happening in the town.

But then I lost contact with her and I’ve heard some strange things since moving here.

I can’t get near the town though. There’s some weird magic happening that I couldn’t pass through. Like some kind of barrier.

I’m a woman who believes in unusual, funky things being alive and well in the world. And maybe that’s why I’m not a big fan of Halloween. There is a dark, spooky element to the holiday that makes me cringe just a little bit. I’m more of a Christmas Eve magic kinda girl. Give me presents and candy canes and sparkling lights in the dead of night and I’m a happy girl.

Witches and ghosts and dark magic all around? No, thank you.

I have my favorite Christmas music cranking and I’m whistling and singing to Last Christmas. Yes, I know it’s probably boring and cliche to love that song but too damn bad! It’s so bouncy and fun! I can’t help but smile and tap my sneakered foot while I dance around in my blue jeans and t-shirt. A fluffy peach apron with sheer ruffles on the edges covering my clothes.

Tonight is going to be so much fun. There’s a ball in the town square tonight. I already know that the weather is going to be perfect. Gold, orange and brown leaves are falling from the trees and it’s seventy five degrees with a cold breeze moving in. The chill feel of autumn just barely chasing the night-time heat of stifling summer out. The bare branches shake and shimmy like a bony band of dancers in the wind and the watery light of a full moon that’s bathing the town. Last night it was almost full and I have to admit, the ambiance was so spooky that my little heart raced when I stepped out the doors at three this morning to get started on my baking.

I’m totally engrossed in this new recipe. I’ve added the heat of chiles into the batter and honestly? I feel like a cartoon skull and cross bones should be wafting out of the bowl while an evil chuckle rings out into the air. I stir and stir, the heat from the batter burning my nose and making me chuckle. I’m gonna fool some people with this one.

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