She spoke of the tree as if it were alive, and I placed my palm against the exposed root beside me. I could feel something—warmth—but I wasn’t sure what it was. Honestly, I wasn’t sure of anything. Even my own name eluded me.
“Where am I?”
“You’re in the forest near the village of Derrydun,” she replied, pointing to the north. “In County Sligo.” I raised my eyebrows, not understanding, so she added another location. “Ireland.”
“Ireland?” A thought flashed in my mind, and I knew wolves didn’t belong here. There were no wolves in Ireland. Were they shapeshifters, too?
“You have the accent,” she mused. “A very thick one…and know the language.”
“There are no wolves in Ireland,” I muttered.
Aileen frowned. “No, they were hunted down to the last almost three hundred years ago.” Her gaze fell from mine and took in my shivering body. “You’re bleeding quite badly, you know. You must be in a great deal of pain.”
I tightened my grip on my hair. Every time I tried to remember what came before the running, a throbbing headache overcame me.
“So?” The woman shifted, pushing her weight back onto her heels. “Will you let me help you?”
I thought over my options. I was naked, wounded, likely had some broken bones, and I had no memory of who or what I was. My stomach was empty, I was lost, and I had no idea who to trust. Someone was looking for me, and they weren’t nice at all. The wolves were trying to tear me apart, and the ravens would’ve shredded my flesh if they’d caught me. What could I do? I had nowhere else to go.
“I won’t hurt you,” Aileen said, her voice gentle. It had an almost musical quality to it, and as the notes fell over my body, warmth seeped into my bones. “I will keep you safe and clean you up. Derrydun isn’t far, and it’s protected by the hawthorn in the village green.”
“Why?” I asked, my throat feeling completely raw.
Aileen smiled and laughed softly, the sound tinkling like sunshine through the darkness. “I would be a terrible witch if I turned away a creature of magic from my doorstep. Especially when he is in desperate need of a little help.”
“A witch?”
“Aye, but I’m not just any witch.” She smiled once more and rose to her feet. Holding out her hand, she beckoned. “I’m a Crescent Witch.”
Crescent Rogue is out now!
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
The Crescent Witch Chronicles
About Nicole
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Crescent Rogue
