Artifacts & Amulets E-Book

Race Lucinda

• Herausgeber: MC Two Press
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Beschreibung

Enjoy this clean, paranormal cozy mystery by award-winning and bestselling author Lucinda Race.

Welcome to Pembroke Cove, where witches and murders are multiplying...

In a small New England town, Lily Michaels is reveling in a tranquil day in her happy place—her bookstore. Contentment evaporates when two archeologists burst through the door on a mission. They're searching for books about amulets—precisely, the cursed Heart of the Soul, on display at the Olde Town Library in Pembroke Cove. Lily’s familiar, Milo, hops onto the counter and the conversation halts Milo’s tail mid-swish. After the out-of-towners leave with the same frenzy as they entered, Milo reveals a secret that could change the coven of the Michaels witches forever.

Later that night, Lily and her fiancé, Detective Gage Erikson, are enjoying a moonlit stroll on the beach. They stumble upon the lifeless body of Petra Addington, one of the archeologists from the bookstore, clutching the Heart of the Soul amulet. Questions tumble through Lily’s brain: How did Petra steal it, and why did she end up on the beach, dead? Could the reported curse from the Heart of the Soul have claimed a new victim?

With the clock ticking, Lily must uncover the amulet's secrets and protect those she loves. As she investigates the murder and Milo’s past, the very foundation of Lily's life may change forever. Will her determination and skill as a witch be strong enough to solve the murder before there are more victims—including her beloved familiar?

Artifacts and Amulets is the 8th novel in A Book Store Cozy Mystery Series, although each book can be read as standalone. It is a sweet and clean, cozy mystery with a guarantee that the culprit is caught. Happy reading!

Leseprobe

Artifacts & Amulets

A Paranormal Witch Cozy Mystery

Book Store Cozy Mystery Series

Book 8

Lucinda Race

MC Two Press

Contents

1. Lily

2. Lily

3. Gage

4. Lily

5. Lily

6. Gage

7. Lily

8. Lily

9. Gage

10. Lily

11. Lily

12. Gage

13. Lily

14. Lily

15. Gage

16. Lily

17. Lily

18. Gage

19. Lily

20. Lily

Chapter One

A Free Story for You

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About the Author

This book 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 events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

Copyright © 2024 Lucinda Race

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, distribute, or transmit in any form or by any means. For information regarding subsidiary rights, please contact the author, Lucinda Race.

Editor: Trish Long

Cover design by Mariah Sinclair

Manufactured in the United States of America

First Edition August 2024

Print Edition ISBN 978-1-954520-82-0

E-book ISBN 978-1-954520-81-3

Chapter1

Lily

QUICK NOTE: If you enjoy Artifacts & Amulets, be sure to check out my offer for a FREE novella at the end. With that, happy reading.

***

The door to the Cozy Nook Bookshop opened with a sharp bang. A man, about fifty, with streaks of gray in his hair and mustache, scowled at me. He wore a crisp brown suit with a white shirt and orange tie that reminded me of a pumpkin. The woman was a bit younger, wearing a dark skirt, matching jacket, and a pale blue blouse, making her deep blue eyes more pronounced, and three-inch heels. Her hair was coiffed in a short, no-nonsense style that complimented her face. She closed the door and glanced around, her face expressionless.

“Welcome to my bookstore. I’m Lily. If there is anything I can help you find, please ask.”

The man gave a curt nod of acknowledgment as the woman stepped to the counter. I was perched on a wooden stool and put aside my family’s book on magic, Practical Beginnings, that I had been reading.

“Is there a specific book you’re looking for today?”

She glanced at the man and back at me. “I am. A book on amulets. Do you have anything in stock?”

I gave her a wide smile. “Yes.” I stood and headed down the aisle close to where my familiar, Milo, was snoozing on the window seat. The sun streamed in the large plate glass windows, bathing his gray fur in warmth. He lifted his head and looked at the customer through slits in his eyes before he bolted to an upright position.

I smiled at the couple. “Did you know there is an exhibit at the Olde Town Library with artifacts that include several amulets? Their history is reported to be quite interesting.”

The man said, “Why do you think we’re in town? We forgot our reference books in the city, so show us what you have and stop jaw-jacking.”

I didn’t appreciate his cantankerous tone, but the old saying the customer is always right had me tamping down a sharp retort. I gestured to the shelf in front of them as if we were on a game show and I was the hostess showing off the gifts. “Here you go. As you can see, there are several. I hope you find what you’re looking for.”

The woman tipped her head. “Thank you.”

She turned her back to me as if I shouldn’t see what book she picked up first. I took the hint that I was dismissed and took my time going back to the counter. The couple didn’t seem to be enjoying their day, and I found this curious. Outside, the sun was bright; temperatures were pleasant for a June day, and from what I had heard, the exhibit at the library was fascinating. I caught Milo staring at me, and I gave him a wink. If he wanted to talk to me, he could, non-magicals would only hear him meow. He hopped to the floor, leaving one of his favorite napping spots, and trotted behind me. I picked him up and set him on the counter.

While Milo and I waited, the woman’s voice was laced with agitation. “I must see the Heart of the Soul amulet. It is imperative my proposal is accepted.”

Nodding in their direction, I whispered, “What do you think their problem is?”

In a deep kitty growl, Milo said, “Be careful. I’ll explain later.”

I was surprised to see him continue to stare in the customers’ direction. He was engrossed by their conversation. I arched a brow in his direction, but he ignored me and swished his tail in a jerky side-to-side motion.

After several long minutes, the couple carried a stack of books to the desk. The woman sorted through the titles, handing five to the man and placing one on the table behind them. With a thud, he set them on the counter next to Milo. “We’ll take these.”

“If you need directions to the library, it’s on the corner of Doenut Drive and Route 1 on the right, at the end. But if you’d prefer to walk, you can cut through the town square and get there in a few minutes.”

“Good to know.”

I rang up the books and gave him the total, but the woman handed me her credit card. I glanced at the name as the transaction was being processed. “Petra. That’s a beautiful name.”

“Dr. Addington.” She wrenched the card from my hands. “Can I sign for the purchase please?”

My eyes widened at her rudeness, but she wouldn’t be the last customer with an attitude when they entered my shop. As I slipped her books into a brown paper bag, I looked past her to see what the man was doing.

He was reading the back jacket of the book Petra had set aside.

“Simon. The bag.” Without so much as a thank you, she turned in her pumps and strode to the door, her heels clacking against the wood floor.

The man, who I now knew as Simon, shrugged. “The boss.” He trailed after her, looking more like a sad puppy than a grown man.

The door closed with much less force than when it was opened, and I watched Petra and Simon get into a heated exchange. Petra’s arms were flailing about, and she repeatedly jabbed him in the middle of his chest. He stepped back while she advanced on him, still carrying on. I wished the windows were open to hear what they were saying.

“You know, my dear witch, if you hadn’t been slacking on your studies, you might have discovered the spell for eavesdropping. Typically, it’s frowned upon in our coven. However, there are circumstances in which rules could be interpreted that it was warranted, especially when it’s easy to see she is extremely agitated.” He tipped his head back and watched me, watching the action outside.

“What do you know about the Heart of the Soul? I’ve never heard of it.”

“It’s an amulet.” He quickly jumped to the floor and trotted into the back room.

That short answer wasn’t like Milo. “Where are you going?”

“Out.” He pushed on the kitty door and left it swinging in his wake.

I crossed my arms over my chest and then looked at the sidewalk. Petra and Simon were gone. If I hadn’t been distracted, I could have seen in which direction they went. Glancing at the desk calendar, I was pleased to realize the library was open late tonight. With a quick text to my fiancé, Detective Gage Erikson of the Pembroke Police Department, I let him know I’d be stopping at the library after I closed the store. I smiled at the idea of spending time at the library in spite of Milo’s rude departure.

What was it today with rudeness? I sank to the stool. My eyes were drawn to the kitty door. Where had he gone?

I placed my hand on the old leather-bound book in front of me and closed my eyes. I focused on Milo, and the cover warmed under my touch. The tug of concern to make sure my familiar was safe increased. I opened the book. Pages began to turn, first right and then left until it lay open. I read the title of the spell; Stay Connected to Your Familiar. This was just what I needed. I continued to read aloud. To create a deeper connection between a witch and her familiar, recite this spell. Under my breath I said:

Two peas in a pod are we.

For when I need to see what you can see.

Not to be used frivolously.

This I wish and so it shall be.

After I had read through it once, I read it out loud again with more conviction in my voice. I crossed to the front window and looked across the town square, hoping to catch a glimpse of my gray fur ball. But he was nowhere to be seen. I was tempted to use the summoning spell. Instead, I closed my eyes and repeated the connection spell again. This time, I could see the front doors of the library from the elevation of the sidewalk. Was it possible I could see what Milo saw at this very moment?

In my vision I saw a leaf skitter across the sidewalk, but the focus on the front doors never wavered. He knew how to get inside if that was what he wanted. I waited another couple of minutes before I opened my eyes. The urge to know what was going on was stronger than before. For now, I’d bide my time. In a moment of clarity, I decided Milo would go with me to the library tonight. There was more than one way to get to the bottom of things.

An hour later, Milo slunk around a bookcase. I watched him out of the corner of my eye as he paused and then sat down. “My dear witch, can we talk?”

“Always.” I gestured to the wingback chairs positioned near the front window. It was one of my favorite places to curl up. Often, I enjoyed a hot beverage and read when time permitted or shared coffee and a sweet treat with Gage or whoever else might stop in.

With a tentative gait, he walked to one of the chairs and jumped up. A band constricted my heart. Whatever was going on with Milo had me on edge. He never moved at a sedate pace. I sat next to him and folded my hands in my lap. “I’m ready whenever you are.”

He tipped his head down as if the fabric on the chair was the most important thing he needed to see. I wasn’t about to push him to open up. After my family’s book of witchcraft clonked me on the head almost a year ago and I discovered my rescue cat could talk, I learned patience was the key to good communication with Milo.

“Have you ever wondered how I became a familiar?”

His normal snarky kitty growl was absent, and he sounded as if he had lost his only friend. I knew I was about to say something stupid, but I had to ask. “You weren’t born a familiar?”

He lifted his head and glared at me. “Familiars aren’t born. We’re made from other beings such as a witch or wizard.”

“Oh.” What was I expected to say and how would I have known? Should I have thought to ask when I learned the truth about myself and him? “What were you, a witch?”

His nod was barely noticeable. As he began to speak, I leaned closer so as not to miss a single word. “It was a long time ago, and I was respected as a fair and honorable witch. But some craved the power I possessed. You see, as a young witch, I discovered the rarest red opal anyone had ever seen. I had crafted an amulet and imbued it with a spell that as long as I wore it, my powers would remain pure and strong. As the years went by, I grew complacent. I let my guard down. A witch joined our coven in the neighboring village. There were whispers, but I let arrogance cloud my judgement. She wanted to claim the amulet I wore around my neck for herself. With trickery, she got my amulet and cursed me to life as a familiar. Before her spell changed the course of my life, I was able to change the course of hers. I cursed the amulet that whoever should wear it, if they had an impure heart, would perish.”

My hand flew to my mouth. “Milo, you cast a death curse?”

“Yes, and you deserve to know the truth before I leave. I did the unforgivable.”

“Did the witch who took your amulet…” I didn’t want to say the words, and thank the stars Milo didn’t wait for me to finish my question.

“Yes. She died. It was such a chaotic time in our town. The power struggles between good witches and evil. A tale as old as time. There were rumors, of course, about the amulet, but I lost track of it. Now, this beautiful, cursed object is part of a traveling exhibit and should never fall into the wrong hands.” He lay down and covered his head with his paws in shame.

Why was he telling me this now? And I quickly rewound the events from earlier. “Milo.”

When he didn’t pick his head up, I scooped him from the chair. After placing a tender kiss on the middle of his head and holding him away from my body so I could see into his deep green eyes. “Milo, what was the name of your amulet?” My heart thudded in my chest. I knew before he would tell me, but I had to hear it from him.

“The amulet of Aathmika.”

“And you’re Aathmika.” There was no need for the question. I just needed confirmation. “What does that mean?”

“Once upon a time, I was. It means soulful and close to the inner heart.” He hung his head. “Now, instead of being a powerful witch, I am a humble teacher for you, my dear witch.”

I crushed him to my chest and blinked the tears from my eyes. “Your amulet is in our library.”

“Yes, and I can tell you that woman who was here plans to steal it.”

“Petra Addington? How do you know that?”

“Guess.” He squirmed from my arms and dropped to the floor. “I followed them and heard what they were saying. Non-magical people never pay attention to a cat when they’re talking.” He ran his paw over one side of his whiskers. “For the record, Simon was still arguing with her. He said she was being foolish. There was no way she would get her hands on it.” He grumbled, “Heart of the Soul. You have to ask yourself who renamed that to make it sound sweet and innocent.”

“Well, it’s based on facts. You said it means soul and inner heart. At some point, the name was changed.” I got to my feet. “I texted Gage, and we’re meeting at the library. Do you want to come with us or stay here?”

Milo’s body shook from the tips of his whiskers to the end of his tail. “I don’t know that I want to see it. After all this time, it still might be too painful. A reminder of all that I’ve lost.”

I knelt on the floor and ran my hand over the length of his soft fur. “Milo, you won’t be alone. I’ll be with you. And whatever happened all those years ago can’t hurt you again.”

He leaned into my hand. “Lily, you’ll need to do some recon work and confirm the curse is still as strong as ever. The amulet must be protected at all costs. If it falls into the wrong hands, I shudder to think what might happen, especially if it’s a non-magical. That screams disaster.”

“How can I do that short of putting the amulet on? Which, for the record, I don’t even want to think about doing. Should I have Dax come with Gage?”

“First, you’re a Michaels witch and pure of heart. I don’t think it could hurt you.” Milo nodded when I mentioned a more seasoned witch to accompany us. Gage was a non-magical, and I was still new at a lot of witchy stuff.

“Asking Detective Sweet Tea to join us might not be a bad idea. Dax Peters is more than competent; his powers are off the charts. But why don’t you ask them to come by here first, and I can fill them in on the high-level curse information? I wouldn’t want your Detective Cutie to try and touch it. There’s no way to know just how strong the magic is.”

I loved that Milo had given them both nicknames. Gage was really good looking, and Dax, being from Louisiana, got the moniker, Sweet Tea, not that he drank much tea; coffee was his beverage of choice. But the names were endearing. I had one lingering question. “Where did you get the name Milo?”

“My familiar gave his life protecting me. It was the best way I knew to honor his sacrifice.”

A lump rose in my throat. I made a silent vow. Never put my precious Milo in a position where he’d have to protect me at the cost of putting his own life in peril. I pulled him to my chest and smothered him with kisses.

“Stop.” He swatted my cheek with his paw, claw tucked in. He coughed like he wanted to hack up a small hairball. “Now, what about reading some of the book Practical Beginnings? You never know when you might need a new spell.”

I gave him a half smile. “Are you kidding? I’m going to start at the beginning and read every single page. If trouble is brewing, I’m going to be prepared.”

“First text Gage, and don’t forget to ask Detective Sweet Tea to come too.” He slipped from my arms and stalked to the window seat. “I need a nap.”

He turned around three times and curled into a ball. So much had happened in the last fifteen minutes I felt like I’d been sideswiped with information. My familiar once had been a powerful witch. Didn’t my aunt Mimi know, and if she did, why in the heavens and earth hadn’t she told me? First things first, text Gage. Then call my aunt.

Chapter2

Lily

I watched Gage through the front window as he strode across the town square, his long legs closing the distance between us. With a sigh, I leaned against the counter. Dang, he was easy on the eyes. He wore his usual cowboy boots, acid-washed jeans, and dark blue polo with the Pembroke Cove police department emblem. The wind ruffled his short brown hair. I knew behind the dark aviator sunglasses, his hazel eyes were laser focused on my shop. Matching his stride was his best friend and transplant to Pembroke Cove, Dax Peters. Today, he didn’t look like a former federal officer from DC. His usual creased black dress pants, black blazer, and white buttoned shirt had been replaced with dark jeans and the same polo shirt Gage wore. Instead of boots, he wore shiny black loafers. This was progress.

The bell above the door jingled when Gage pushed it. Before I could rush over and throw my arms around his neck and kiss him, he had swept me into his arms. With a soul-stirring kiss, it was evident he was happy I had texted him. I looked around him. Dax closed the door and bent over to chat with Milo.

“Hey, Dax. I haven’t seen you for a couple of days. How’s my brother from another coven?”

He picked up Milo and carried him across the room to join me and Gage. “Busy.” He glanced at Gage, his brow furrowed.

It seemed by the look they exchanged, something had happened which I might not like. “What’s going on?”

Gage slipped his arm around my waist and said, “You might as well tell her. She’ll find out.”

Still holding Milo and petting him, Dax said, “I’ve been offered a job which I’m seriously considering.”

My heart sank. Dax had become a trusted friend, a partner in sleuthing, Gage’s best friend, and an important part of our group. I didn’t want him to move. Everyone knew how things went. You’d promise to keep in touch. In the beginning, everyone made the time. Then slowly, that changed. People stopped putting in the effort and drifted apart.

“I don’t want you to go.” I looked from Gage to Dax. “Is someone giving you a hard time in the department?”

He chuckled. “Lily, it’s not like that. Remember when we worked on Archie Dane’s untimely departure from this earth?”

“Yes, that was six months ago.” Gage hugged me close to his side before releasing me. I knew he was trying to reassure me.

“I spent some time with the officers in Robins Pointe. A few days ago, I was approached to take over the department.”

“Huh?” This was not what I had wanted to talk about.

“They’ve offered me the position of chief. I’m seriously considering it.”

Milo cranked his head in Dax’s direction. “I didn’t know you were looking for another job.”

Neither had I. Bless Milo for saying what I was thinking.

“I wasn’t. The current chief said I impressed everyone. When he decided to retire, he approached the town board and tossed my name into the running. I’ve had a couple of conversations with the board and other officers to see if I’d be a good fit. Today, I was offered the job.”

I sagged into a chair. Robins Pointe was only thirty minutes away. I could hear the excitement in his voice, and the way his eyes sparkled, it was easy to see he wanted to say yes. “If this is what you want, why are you thinking about it?”

“Honestly, I’ve gotten used to living in Pembroke Cove, and to move again in less than a year is a lot to undertake.” He gently placed Milo on the floor. “There’s a feeling I have, way deep down inside that I can’t put into words. I need to take a leap and accept the position. However, I don’t want to rush into a decision. I told the board I’d let them know by next Monday.”

“That gives you plenty of time to consider every angle and,” I wriggled my eyebrows, “we’ll pull out my clue board and make a list of pros and cons. It’s proven to be an excellent tool as we’ve tracked down some unsavory characters since you arrived. It’s fitting to put it to use for this puzzle.”

He chuckled. “And we all know how much you love a puzzle. Even if we don’t make a list, I’d like to get together for dinner tonight at the Clam Bake and talk it over. You’re my best friends, and I value your input.”

Gage smiled. “Spoken like a native. All important decisions should be made over lobster.”

I tapped the tabletop. “That’s after we take in the exhibit at the library.” My eyes connected with Milo. I needed to share a part of the story he told me but not the part about his connection to one particular piece. That was just between us.

Gage quirked an eyebrow. “What makes this exhibit so hot you need to see it tonight? You haven’t mentioned it before.”

“I had two customers in today, and they bought some books about amulets. They mentioned that one is stunning and quite significant in its history. The woman, Petra Addington, was very excited to see it in person.”

Dax looked from Milo to me, his dark eyes clouded. “What was the name of the amulet?”

“I think she said, Heart of the Soul.” I didn’t dare glance at Milo. I took deep, steady breaths to control my breathing. I wouldn’t let on that I needed to see this particular artifact from my familiar’s past. “It’s a red opal, and based on the pictures I looked up on the internet, it's stunning.”

“What else did the internet tell you?” Dax asked.

I avoided his penetrating gaze and hurried over to my laptop. Turning the screen around so that Gage and Dax could see the necklace, I said, “This article says it’s a few hundred years old, and the person who wears it can have bad luck.”

Milo coughed. Dax leveled his gaze on him. “Is that all?”

With a shrug, I said, “That’s all it says, and you know me; once that couple started talking about it, I grew curious.” I closed the laptop and gave Gage and Dax what I hoped was a charming smile. “I’ll need a few minutes to lock up in the back, and then we can head over.”

I had already prepared to close up, but I wanted to get Milo alone. There were a couple of questions that needed answers before we left. I hurried into the back room to lock the door, and Milo trotted after me. With a glance over my shoulder to reassure myself the guys had stayed put, I tapped the countertop. Milo jumped up with ease.

“Would Dax know about your history?”

“Not me specifically. He would have heard of the witch who once possessed and lost the Amulet of Aathmika and might even have heard its new name. But the only person who knows the full story is you.”

A lump bobbed in my throat. “I’m the only person you told? I’m humbled.”

Milo touched my hand with his paw. “I trust you with my life just as you do with me. But we have to make sure the amulet is protected. It’s in danger. I can feel it in my soul. It must not fall into the hands of that woman who was here today. If it does, it will be very bad. The only reason it exists is to remind all good witches and wizards that magic can be tainted and honor must always be uppermost in your mind.”

I had never heard Milo so articulate and adamant about anything. I missed his snark, and the sooner we knew that there was no way Petra Addington or anyone else could get their hands on the amulet, the better.

“What’s the plan when we get to the library?”

Milo jumped down from the counter. “We’ll react as events unfold.”

Gage and I walked hand in hand down the brick sidewalk. Milo trotted in the lead, and Dax was next to me. If the guys thought it was odd Milo was coming, neither of them mentioned it. A few cars were parked in the lot next to the library. I wondered how many people had been through the exhibit since it arrived in town. We climbed the wide stone steps, and Dax pulled open the heavy wooden and glass door, allowing Milo to slip in first, and we followed.

The new head librarian, Paige Reed, was seated at the desk just inside the door and flashed us a welcoming smile. “Hello, have you come to see the amulet exhibit?”

I caught a glimpse of Milo’s tail as he slipped through the door to the annex. “We are. Has it been busy? It’s not often we get such a rare exhibit in our small town.”

“I’ve been surprised it’s very popular. In fact, we’ve had several people travel from Buffalo to see it. I guess the small library event has been popular. We’re lucky Pembroke Cove was one of the few in the Northeast to have this honor.” Paige gestured to the entrance. “Go on in. Only a few people are taking the self-guided tour at the moment.”

I thanked her, and we followed Milo. To Gage’s credit, he never asked why Milo had come. I suspected Dax was curious, but he would wait to see what was happening before he commented.

The room was quiet, with the exception of a hum of reverent whispers as a couple strolled down the aisle in front of us, looking at each amulet and reading the captions out loud. I scanned the left side of the room for Milo. He was nowhere to be seen. I had turned to the right when a few voices were getting louder. I hurried in that direction to discover Petra and her friend Simon were having a heated argument with three people I didn’t recognize.

“What are you talking about?” Petra’s face was crimson. “This is a red opal.”

“Petra calm down.” The man gave a pleading look to the two women he was with. “Roni, Donella, tell her that she’s right so we can move on.”

Simon held out one of the books they had purchased at my shop. “It says right here the Heart of the Soul is an extremely rare red opal.”

One of the women spoke, “Donella and I aren’t disagreeing about what the base is, but what we’re saying is this particular amulet is beautiful but dangerous. It’s not bestowed with goodness. A curse waits for the unlucky soul to slip it on. That’s why you shouldn’t even think about it as anything but something to respect from a distance.”

The corner of Petra’s lip curled up. “You’re jealous that I have been granted special permission to examine it. Late to the party again, Roni.” Petra turned her back on the newcomers.

The woman, who I thought was Donella, straightened her spine and flipped her dark hair over her shoulder. “We’ll see who ends up publishing the real paper on the authenticity of this priceless jewel. You may be a respected archeologist in our field, but you won’t win, Petra. Not this time. I’ll see to that.”