A Witch's Life
A Witch’s Life
An Irish Witch Romance
Leigh Ann Edwards
A Witch’s Life
Copyright © 2018 Leigh Ann Edwards
Smashwords Edition
The Tule Publishing Group, LLC
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission 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 products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
ISBN: 978-1-947636-87-3
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Dedication
I would like to dedicate book 5 in my series – A Witch’s Life to the many treasured female friends I have been so fortunate to “gather” through the years. I have always been a bit hesitant to mention friends in my acknowledgements for fear I might cause hard feelings by neglecting to mention someone, but at the same I want to recognize your importance in my life.
We probably all have those friends who have been there with us for a time, as it is often said... for a reason, or for a season...those who were once very close. Perhaps someone moved away and we didn’t maintain the friendship, or we simply drifted apart over time. Not that they didn’t mean very much to us or that they won’t always hold a significant place in our memories, but now we have lost contact.
Because including all of those friends would make this dedication far too lengthy, I have decided to simply mention the names of the friends who have been in my life and stayed in my life for years, through thick and thin from the time we met.
I am not including relatives in this dedication even though some of my dearest friends are my daughters, sister-in-law, and cousin. This list of friends isn’t connected to me by blood or by marriage.
To Vicki, my first and longest friend. We met as pre-school children and shared many happy, and some not so happy times as children and teens. You were like the fifth sibling in our family. It is important to know there is someone from my childhood who will always remember when...who I can giggle and cry with and reminisce about the simpler times growing up in our amazingly special little town of Medora.
To Nancy, my best friend through our junior high and high-school/teenage years. We shared so much laughter and had many conversations trying to figure out what life was about and what it might hold for us. Even though we usually only see each other once a year, it is always like we are fourteen again, and I love that.
To Brenda, in Neepawa, my dearest friend through the years when our children were young, we kept each other sane and I adore the memories we made. Though distance keeps us apart, when we are together, it’s as though no time has passed.
To Marlene, Betty Lou, Janis, Donna, Shirley, Sandi, Tallie, Kelly, Linda, and Randi, my Alberta friends... listed simply in order of when we met. I am grateful for the special and unique relationship I have with each one of you. You all hold a very special place in my heart for the many times and ways you’ve supported me in my life.
To Linda, although we became close through our grief and immeasurable sadness in losing Darla, you have become a cherished friend. To share the memories of her, to be able to laugh and cry in the same moment without judgment no matter how much time has gone by...there are no words except thank you and “ditto”.
There are so many inspirational quotes and lovely clichés about friends, but I simply want to say I am so very glad all of you have been on this wonderful journey with me!
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Acknowledgments
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
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Six
The Irish Witch Series
About the Author
Acknowledments
Once again, I would like to sincerely thank, Meghan Farrell, Michelle Morris, and Sarah McDonagh at Tule Publishing. It is very reassuring to know each of you are there to answer my numerous questions and assist me in so many ways. Even though this is book five in my series and you would think I might have this all down pat, inevitably there is always something that I need extra help with. I am very appreciative of all you do.
To my content and copy editors, Sinclair and Monti, I thank you both for seeing my manuscripts with fresh and experienced eyes, and assisting me to make my stories better.
To Ravven, your covers are beautiful, and I remain in awe of your creative talent. I am beyond thrilled with how aptly you have visually brought Alainn and her world to life.
To my wonderful family, though I may not actually say it often, I truly do acknowledge your continued support especially when I stress over time constraints and deadlines or obsess about my struggles with technology. Thanks for listening, helping with sales and promotions, attending book launches and just being there for me.
To my amazing friends, please see the dedication page.
To the loyal fans of The Irish Witch Series. Thank you. I am really so very happy you continue to be invested in Alainn and Killian and their many joys, sorrows and adventures. Please recommend the series to friends and fellow readers. I welcome your support and I hope you enjoy A Witch’s Life.
Chapter One
Ireland 1536
The night air pulsed and crackled with mystical enchantment as Alainn O’Brien soared through the star-filled sky. She rode upon the horse that had mysteriously transformed into a winged-creature capable of flight during this magical time of Samhain. The enormous golden moon hung low in the sky, illuminating the surroundings below. Alainn inhaled the unusual yet comfortingly familiar scent upon the air, the enticing smell of pure and powerful magic.
She glanced far below at the wonderment of the night as they glided past the rolling hills, gentle valleys,
and craggy cliffs, all clearly evident by the light of the bright autumn moon. She was awed by the moonlight glistening upon the calm sea, and she reveled in the beauty and the bewitching magic all around her.
The creature simply flew on and Alainn was both unaware and uncaring of how much time had passed as they continued their enchanting magical flight. Her long blonde unbound hair was tossed about in the wind as they ascended. Though they were now far above the land, the air remained unusually warm. The shrill sound of a night owl calling out from somewhere below finally pulled her from her trance-like state. She was startled by a voice.
“Where is it you would desire to go to this night, young Alainn?”
“You are capable of speech?” Alainn replied to the horse in disbelief.
“You seem perfectly willing to accept that I have magically produced wings and am now able to fly, yet find it difficult to believe I can speak?”
“Well I did sense from the first time I set eyes upon you that you possessed magical abilities, but I admit they far surpass what I afore believed was possible here in the human realm.”
“But it is Samhain, so much is possible in all realms. But, now you must tell me where are we off to this night? You summoned me to you so I would presume it was not simply to enlist me in escaping your husband.”
“It was not my intent to escape Killian... we simply require some time apart... I needed to be distanced from what our marriage has become...” She softly lamented.
“Ah, well there must be something you desire to see or do on this most magical of nights?” The creature kindly attempted to distract her from her sorrow.
Alainn remained deep in thought, but did not reply.
“Shall we simply soar aimlessly the entire night with no purpose, then?”
“Must we have a purpose? Can we not simply enjoy the beauty and tranquility of this night?”
“If that is your wish, Alainn, it can certainly be so, but you have spent many weeks distanced from magic? I witnessed you informing your husband you would no longer keep your powers concealed. Do you have no inclination toward employing your magical abilities or visiting mystical realms? And though it would appear peaceful up here in the night sky so removed from the earth, all is not tranquil, I assure you.”
“Do you speak of the number of restless spirits?”
“Well, although horses, especially mystical horses bridge the gap between spirits and the living, there’s little to be done about the restless spirits, particularly this night when they run amuck. However, there are others who perhaps require your magical assistance tonight, Alainn. If you truly intend to embrace your powerful capabilities once more, you need to allow yourself to sharpen your senses and reclaim your many supernatural abilities. You have turned from them for far too long.”
He was correct for she had valiantly attempted to ignore or deaden her magical abilities for many weeks now. She believed they had been largely responsible for the loss of her wee son who had died so soon after his birth, but they’d also been the reason she’d been able to save her husband, Killian’s life. Therefore, she was much conflicted on how she felt regarding her supernatural powers as of late.
She had parted ways with Killian, earlier this night. She would never have believed there’d come a time when she would purposely choose to be apart from him, for always her heart’s truest desire had been to share her life with him. But there was much broken between them since they’d lost their newborn son. They barely spoke, never touched. Being together seemed a stark and constant reminder of all they’d been through... all they’d lost.
She had told Killian she was leaving with the intention of finally embracing her powers, turning toward her supernatural abilities; for throughout her life something or someone always prevented her from embracing her magic. She intended to develop her powers, to learn what could be accomplished by way of magic, and how she might better control her many unusual and too often, unpredictable abilities.
She had also assured Killian she would not return to Castle O’Donnel, would never consider going back to him until he saw to it that Ciara was gone. She was the loathsome woman who’d possibly been responsible for Alainn being given a potent mixture of herbs known to cause women to miscarry... the very woman whom had once spent time in Killian’s bed. She was not only promiscuous and untrustworthy, but it was almost certain she possessed dark magical abilities and was possibly affiliated with the demon who had been pursuing Alainn for some time. She dwelled upon the horrid woman, the demon, as well as the thought of being parted indefinitely from her husband, the man she’d loved since they were children. Even though their marriage and all between them now appeared dismal at best, her heart ached at the notion.
The animal intuitively sensed her change of mood. He recognized her uncertainty and her melancholia. He purposely lurched forward and then dove quickly downward. Alainn attempted to hold tight to his golden mane, but was caught unaware and soon tumbled off and began falling. She gasped and called out to the creature.
“Is it your intent to see me fall to my death?” she asked, her heart pounding as she continued to plummet at a perilously swift speed. The horse flew downward as well and looked directly into her eyes.
“Is not death something you have much considered in these past weeks?” he said in a factual manner without a trace of accusation.
“Perhaps, fleetingly, it seemed an easier path, but it is not my wish now,” she frantically whispered.
“You’ll not fall to your death, Alainn. You are able to purposely slow yourself by way of your magic.”
She instinctively held her arms out, palms flat. She allowed herself to grow calmer and was pleased to see the animal had been correct. She was much relieved she had stopped her swift descent.
“Now you must fly Alainn!” the magical horse encouraged her.
“Fly? A person cannot simply fly!” She distinctly remarked.
“A horse cannot simply fly either, but tonight, when magic abounds, all things are possible. You are a witch, and I assure you, this night on Samhain, on the anniversary of the day of your birth, you will be capable of flight.”
Alainn stared skeptically at the animal, but as she fell now more gently toward the ground, she willed herself to stop entirely. Now suspended in midair, she gradually moved upward, higher and higher. She was actually flying. She smiled in spite of herself. Ever since she’d been a small child she’d been capable of flight in her dreams and she’d always felt an undeniably great desire to soar freely. She continued grinning and actually giggled aloud as she deftly flew through the night air. Her laughter felt entirely foreign and the sound startled her. She couldn’t begin to recall the last time she’d laughed. It had been many, many weeks, since before they’d lost their precious baby.
As soon as the somber thought entered her mind, her heart constricted and her breath caught in her throat. She sensed herself losing her concentration and immediately began to spiral downward. The horse flew beneath her and aptly caught her upon his back.
“When your troubles are fewer and your heart less heavily burdened, you’ll manage this feat another time.”
Alainn nodded, thankful for the horse’s perceptiveness. She was pulled from her thoughts by the sound of tiny shrill voices below.
“Fairies,” she whispered.
“Aye,” the animal concurred.
“I suppose it has been some time since I’ve gone to a fairy glade,” she said with a trace of excitement in her voice.
She espied the perfect magical circle below, the numerous tiny lights and the unmistakable mystical glow. They descended upon the glade and Alainn viewed the many beautiful and captivating creatures surrounding them. She had been capable of entering fairy realms since she was a small child. She was aware most fairies had lived for thousands and thousands of years. It was believed fairies were upon the earth long before humans came into existence. The number of fairies and fairy glades had grown considerably for fairies were often immortal un
less they encountered flames most especially to their wings, or murder by way of a dark magical creature or a wicked fairy.
As she dismounted, tiny orbed creatures and delicate winged fairies landed near to her; some touched her and she was soon encircled in their soothing pleasant glow. She felt their empathetic healing warmth and smiled appreciatively, much relieved at how unusually light her heart felt at that precise moment.
Not only was the glade filled with fairies, sprites, elves, gnomes, and the like, Alainn noticed how many mystical animal creatures were here as well. There were unusually immense white stags with magnificent golden horns, and tiny silver hinds surely no bigger than a squirrel. There were deer that hopped and rabbits that flew. The glade held unusual creatures both beautiful and incomprehensible. It was as though an entire forest of woodland birds and animals had been charmed by a magical spell that had pulled them into a whirlwind and when they were released they were oddly fused together disproportionately concocted, as though by unsettled gods with much time on their hands and an odd sense of humor.
Alainn shook her head and smiled at the peculiarity of the many sights. She glanced toward the nearby water and saw it was fairly teeming with water spirits, animals she presumed must be kelpies and mer-people. She had never actually met a mermaid or merman before and felt undeniably intrigued.
As she approached the water, she saw several of the mer-people sitting upon the rocks. She’d certainly never seen these creatures within a fairy glade before and had always been of the understanding they only dwelled within the salty waters of an ocean or sea.
She was further startled for they appeared to be summoning her. She had, of course, heard much of the reputation of mer-people and how they were at times infamous for their often wicked way of beckoning humans to their deaths by calling to them with their captivating beauty and enchanting voices. She hesitated in drawing nearer, allowing the stories she’d heard to influence her thoughts. But she soon reasoned there were surely equally many unpleasant and untrue story told of witches as well. She was further surprised when they actually called her by name.