Charmed and Dangerous: An Appalachian Magic Novel (Appalachian Magic Series Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

Lucas credit for that.” She laughed with a trace of bitterness.
    Comparisons to a father like Lucas didn’t sound like a good thing. What if she inherited those dark tendencies? That is, if Mom was telling the truth and that Book of Shadows really belonged to him.
    “After you were born, things were better. I convinced myself it was going to be all right. But by the time you were four, Lucas went back to his dark ways. I overheard him boasting to one of his friends that when you turned twenty, he would use your talents to recruit an even larger, more powerful coven.”
    She mulled over the unsettling news. “Were you a part of this coven?”
    “No, he knew I would try to neutralize their black magic.”
    Callie nodded. She would do the same. “How did you get away from him?”
    “I came home and confided to Mom and Dad. They called our coven and several neighboring covens. They made a pact to stand with our family to protect you. I told Lucas what I’d done and to stay away from us.”
    “I don’t imagine that went over too well.”
    “He was furious. He never anticipated defiance.”
    “That was brave of you,” Callie said reluctantly. Words she never imagined saying to her mother. But she hadn’t heard her father’s version . . . yet.
    Mom appeared not to hear, staring at the flames. “I moved home and started my life over with you. He never contacted me about custody visits.”
    “So he didn’t want to see me.” Callie couldn’t hide the pain in her voice. Even if he was the worst sort of jerk, that hurt. She looked down at her hands tightly clasping the black book.
    Mom laid a hand on her shoulder. “I don’t know what’s been in his heart all these years, but I know he tried to see you at least once, when you were twelve.”
    She jerked her head up.
    “Do you remember the night you and Skye played with the Ouija board?”
    The blood drained from her face. Everything always went back to that night.
    “He wasn’t trying to hurt you ,” Mom said in a rush. “But his astral spirit came for me that night. Other nefarious spirits picked up on his energy and amused themselves by trying to scare you.” She cried, her breathing labored.
    Grandma Jo rushed over to Mom and stroked her hair. “I’ll take it from here, Ginnie. Why don’t you go lie down?”
    Mom lowered her hands. “I’m sorry, Callie. I sent you away for your own good.”
    Callie watched as they left the room. Her father was alive! No wonder Mom always changed the subject when she asked about him. She didn’t know what to think. All she knew was she had an overwhelming desire to meet him and hear his version.
    Grandma Jo returned and pointed at the book. “Shall we burn it?”
    “No!” Disgusting as it was, the book was the only real link she had to her father. “Have you heard from him recently?”
    “He called Ginnie right before we sent for you. Somehow he found out you were living in New Jersey and threatened to visit.”
    She couldn’t stop a sudden burst of hope. She wanted— needed —to see him.
    “He said he hadn’t forgotten you’ll be turning twenty in June.” Grandma Jo eyed her steadily. “When that happens, the coven will channel its collective energy into you, and your full power will awaken. Powers you don’t even know you have yet.”
    “Aunt Mallory told me all about that airy-fairy stuff,” Callie said with a dismissive wave. “Even if it’s true, it sounds like my father has enough power without me. Maybe he just wants to see me.”
    Grandma Jo’s expression turned from concern to alarm. “Don’t delude yourself on that score, Callie. He’ll use you for his own gain, pure and simple.”
    “People can change.” The more Grandma Jo dug in her heels, the more she was determined to defend this unknown father.
    “Not him.”
    “Well, he knows I’m back here. What’s to keep him from coming now?”
    “I’m not saying we can keep him away with our protection spells. He’s far stronger than