Cursed Dagger: Moon Called, #1

By Dana Wright

Kissed by the moon…

In trouble with her mother, fledgling witch Gabby Stine is sent to visit her Aunt Diana. She discovers a whole new world at Moon Called, an antique shop specializing in cursed objects. When an antiquity lands in the shop and promptly disappears, disturbing events point to a threat that will test her, sideways magic and all. Blood vows and witchcraft may hold the key, but the ultimate power might just be in the darkest recesses of her heart.

 

A werewolf unleashed…

Carson Maddox is a wolf on a mission. When two of his friends and then his sister go missing, he is ready to do whatever is necessary to find them. A pending war with the vampires looms in the distance but a blacker danger lies closer to home. Will the alluring teenage witch at the antique shop be his downfall, or his salvation?

 

A triumvirate of blood and fire…

Heir to the throne of vampires, Viktor Romany has a problem. Awakened from sleep to discover his father murdered and the current Regent suspect, he finds the family vault is missing an amulet never meant to see the light of day. The treaty with the wolves in tatters, he must act quickly before the girl who haunted his dreams is swept into an ancient curse that will destroy them all.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: eBTT YA Generations Books
• Release date: Jun 29, 2021
• ISBN: 9781773571294

Book preview

PROLOGUE

Cold November rain pelted mercilessly against the windows. Just for a moment Curtis sat, trying to forget the pain in his twisted limbs as he watched the silvery droplets slide down the glass. Memories of chilly afternoons on the football field and old sodden sneakers stirred and he had a sudden urge to run through the puddles that gathered in the parking lot below.

In the old days, he could jump in with both feet. He took great joy in it, in fact. Curtis moved his head and the scarred remnants of his once perfect face came into view.

He believed he could handle anything. The last big win of the season and he thought he was freaking superman.

God, he’d been an idiot.

He should have said yes to Evangeline and it would have all been different. But it was too late now. No one had seen her since the bonfire. And he hadn’t even told her he was sorry.

But he had to listen to Jenna. She wanted the bonfire.

The beer.

The weed.

All of it.

Evangeline had warned him to stay away from her. Now it was too late.

He could still see Jenna’s face over the blaze of the fire, her eyes glowing like two green candles.

Now I’ll have everything I want.

Her lips met his and he was a goner. Her soft skin blazed a trail over his body and whatever voice of reason that might have been there was gone.

One beer too many at the bonfire and he’d lost everything. His two best friends were dead, his girl was disfigured, and he was just waiting for the next opportunity to end it all. The two girls riding in the back seat got lucky. He still wasn’t sure how. And every chance they got, they reminded him that he was still breathing when their boyfriends weren’t.

He would have traded places with them if given half a chance.

His body hurt.

There was no escape.

Not for one single, solitary second.

Every time he closed his eyes, he could hear the sound of grinding metal and breaking glass. The screams of his girl, her friends, and his buddies.

Then the terrible silence after.

The smell of gasoline and later, the smell of burning flesh as they dragged him out of the burning truck. He blacked out before he could see what happened to the others. All he had were snatches of time when he came up from the dark until someone jabbed a needle into his arm to put him under again.

He should have just stayed there. It would have hurt less.

The blood and his friends’ lifeless bodies would stay with him for the rest of his life.

So would Evangeline’s silence.

Did she know he’d slept with Jenna instead of taking her to the dance?

He was going to hang with the gang and pick her up late. Late enough that she knew who was calling the shots.

God.

What a dick he’d been.

But the thing that haunted him most was the look in his parents’ eyes. He’d been the star football player. The one who was supposed to break out of small town life and end up in the big leagues. Now he was barely surviving as a cripple.

They were the only reason he was here, in yet another doctor’s office. His mother had dropped him off, not even looking at him as the nurse helped him out of the car and into the wheelchair. Curtis was pissed, but he had to do what they asked him to. He didn’t have much of a choice.

Listen to them. Do what they say and you’ll be home before dinner.

Right.

Like they could do anything to help. Dozens of doctors had already told them the same thing. He was paralyzed from the waist down. His left eye was toast, and the right side of his body was barely functional.

A male nurse appeared at the sliding door of their newly equipped handicapped van. He wrestled with the lock and grimaced as he replaced his arm on the chair.

He couldn’t even press a button without making a federal case about it.

The irony wasn’t lost on him. Three months ago, he would have been the one making fun of the kid in the wheelchair.

Now he was one.

Karma really was a bitch after all.

Curtis stared down the ramp, the reality of his situation becoming crystal clear. Their family had gotten him a part time caregiver. He’d gotten him into the van. Now he waited for the douche to get him out, but the asshat was too busy texting on his phone to notice they’d stopped.

Hello.

Nothing.

God.

What a dick.

A knowing look, followed by a cough had Curtis squinting into the morning light. Clouds were moving in fast and he wanted to get inside before the downpour.

Being wet and stuck in a chair wasn’t high up on his list of fun things to do while waiting in a freezing doctor’s office.

I’ve got you. The male nurse set up the ramp and rolled Curtis' chair down and onto the sidewalk. Moments later, the van pulled away and he was left unceremoniously with the nurse.

So much for home health care.

Wordlessly, the nurse wheeled him into the large building, turning quickly into the waiting room.

The doctor will be with you shortly. Then he turned on his heel and vanished as quickly as he had come.

So, Curtis waited.

People came and went and still he sat.

It felt like hours since he’d been brought in. If he could have fidgeted, he would, boredom clawing at his brain.

Curtis snorted and stared at the too perfect form of the people sitting in the chairs across from him, the amulets hanging from both their necks. Their eyes glittered in the dim light, alive and glowing. It was abnormal how still the woman, in particular, sat, not quite breathing. Her skin was luminous, almost paper white, as was the girl next to her.

Frowning, he stared out into the rain.

This ceaseless waiting had his patience frayed at the edges. Restless and edgy, he pressed the side of his forehead against the cool glass and stared out into the gray afternoon, wanting to be anywhere but here.

Another waiting room.

Another hospital.

Then, finally, someone appeared in front of him.

Ah, how lovely to see you, Mr. Lisle. The nurse smiled, guiding him past the waiting area and down the cold, white hallways of the doctor’s offices. I trust you are well today. Your mother said you had some complications from a recent injury that we need to take a look at.

Curtis clenched his teeth, anxiety knotting its way through his insides.

Why was he even here?

Nothing helped. He nodded, his response on the barest edge of civility.

Then movement in the hallway brought another surprise. His former date exited one of the doctor’s offices, all traces of her previous injuries gone.

Jenna, her name passed his lips before he could even process what he was seeing.

It was her, like she had been before.

Only even more beautiful.

His stomach gave a little flip, waiting for the condemning look in her eyes. But there was none. Not even surprise at him being here.

Curtis. Her eyes met his, but it was the flicker of the stone hanging from her neck that captured his attention.

Where had he seen it before?

Then it hit him.

The waiting room.

The freakishly attractive mother and daughter he’d seen just moments before.

Unease trickled through him and he met her gaze once more.

I’m glad your mother agreed to let you come. This place has helped me so much. The smile on her face didn’t quite meet her eyes.

He didn’t know what to say.

I… he started to speak, but stopped as Jenna started moving down the hall.

Nurse. Jenna looked over her shoulder, not even breaking stride. Her mass of red hair curled in seductive waves down her back, hips swaying with every footstep. The jeans she wore clung to her body. No doubt for the doctor's benefit. It certainly wasn't for his.

Or maybe it was. Just to prove a damned point.

She hadn’t called or returned his texts for months and now this?

Is this where you’ve been? he blurted it out before he even thought it through. A flush of heat crept up the back of his neck. He shouldn’t have cared, but guilt was consuming him, one day at a time.

He couldn’t let her know he’d noticed she hadn’t tried to get in touch with him. The old Curtis wouldn’t have given a damn. He’d just find a new girl for the flavor of the week and move on.

He’d done it more than once.

Did she know about Evangeline?

He searched her face for some kind of clue but the smile that teased him was practically a mask.

Come on, Curtis. Jenna's voice, soft as velvet and swift as steel, raked over him, piercing him with her sharp-eyed gaze. Time to go.

His mouth went dry and he swallowed, the intense desire to rise out of the chair and trail after her a need that went beyond anything he’d ever known.

The damned amulet she wore glittered in the over bright lighting and he had the urge to tear it from her neck and roll over it with his chair.

It didn’t make sense.

None of it did.

Admiring her form as she strode down the hall, Curtis marveled at the miracle of modern science. Her face had been destroyed; her body scarred. Even still, she’d fared better than he had. Certainly, better than the two buddies who died.

The nurse pushed him along the long hallway and they veered to the left, coming to a stop at a closed door.

Jenna opened the door, holding it open for him to enter. The nurse rolled him inside of what appeared to be an office, and without another word, shut the door silently behind him.

What is this?

Be patient, Jenna responded, not meeting his gaze.

Fine. He didn’t have to talk. He’d meet with whatever quack of the week this was and be on his way home in an hour. He had Uber still programmed into his phone.

Jenna ignored him, seating herself in one of the padded chairs in front of a large desk. Here, there was no rain to keep him company. Only the cold demeanor of a girl that merely tolerated the air he breathed. The salmon pink painted walls reminded him of the inside of someone's stomach. It was a shit color.

The door to the office opened and a swarthy, dark haired man in a white coat entered. Ah, Miss Rutledge. How wonderful. And you brought Curtis with you this time, I see. How excellent. The doctor's dark eyes gleamed, his olive skin stretched taut over his high cheekbones.

This was why she came here.

To fawn over him.

Disgust twisted his insides and he glowered at the wall. If anything was happening between them, Curtis didn't want it thrust in his face.

Mr. Lisle. How rude of me. He stepped around the desk, his face a mask of concern. I should introduce myself. My name is Dr. Nairobi. I have been overseeing some of Jenna’s care.

I’ll bet.

Doctor, Curtis bit out, anger at his body's betrayal seething through his blood.

Jenna twisted around and pursed her lips. Doctor, if you would be so kind. I’ll wait in the hall while you two talk.

That would be fine. We’ll speak in a moment.

Curtis, do what the doctor says. She rose from the chair, laying a hand on Doctor Nairobi's arm, setting Curtis' blood boiling all over again. Nodding in his direction, she disappeared back through the door they had entered minutes before, leaving him alone.

Mr. Lisle, I assume Jenna has explained to you what the purpose of today's visit is? Dr. Nairobi approached, lowering himself in a chair across from him. Your girlfriend is an exceptional young woman.

Curtis just looked at him.

"She’s not my girlfriend. And I’m not exactly