Scent to Her Grave Read online

  He had a good point. People wanted to trust the companies they did business with and Radiance had been so corrupt that they’d never keep their clientele.

  “Have you let Trevor out yet?”

  He reached over and patted my hand. “Yes, Persia, thanks to you, Trevor’s a free man. I let him out of jail this morning, and apologized to him.”

  “What I still don’t understand is why Colleen pinned the crime on his shoulders.” Auntie said.

  Kyle spoke up. “Trevor was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Colleen witnessed the argument between Lydia and Trev, and it fell together in her mind right then. It was easy enough for her to grab his hammer out of his truck while he was off eating lunch. And Colleen was the one who called Trevor, pretending to be Lydia to get him alone so he wouldn’t have an alibi.”

  I stared at the water as the waves crested gently against the shore. Trevor had given his heart to Lydia and look what it had gotten him. Love… one of life’s greatest gifts, and one of its greatest banes. Which reminded me. Elliot was moving to town. Shit, what the hell was I going to do about him?

  Kyle interrupted my thoughts. “Persia, can I talk to you for a moment?”

  He walked me down to the water’s edge. “I know I’ve been acting pretty snotty to you. I think I’ve realized why. I was looking at a picture of Katy today—she was my wife. You know, you remind me of her. You were both strong women, both brilliant.”

  I just nodded, letting him talk.

  “Thing is, when she died, it felt like my gut had been ripped out. And when you came home, I think I felt guilty because I found myself attracted to you. Anyway, I’m sorry. It’s not your fault.”

  I didn’t want him to be attracted to me, but I couldn’t be rude. Couldn’t shake off his confession like it meant nothing. I touched his arm. “Kyle, everything’s okay. It must be hard. I never met Katy, but from what I’ve heard about her, she was pretty special.”

  He smiled then, a broad smile that lit up his face. “Yeah, she was. I’d like to tell you about her sometime. Would you consider going out to dinner with me? Not a date—I promise. Just two old friends, having dinner together.”

  Not a date. That was good, because the last thing I needed was to get involved with someone like Kyle. Good friends? Yes. Lovers? No. Besides, my mind was still on Bran Stanton, who I found intriguing and altogether delicious. But dinner with a friend? That I could do.

  “Sure thing. I’d like to hear about Katy. Bring pictures, okay?”

  He let out a long sigh of relief. “Thank God. After that stupid mistake with the kiss, I was afraid to ask. You pack a good punch, lady. You know that?”

  I snorted. “Of course I know it. And I’m proud of it.”

  We rejoined the others, where Kyle said a quick good-bye and headed off to work. I linked arms with Auntie and Barbara and we strolled along the shore. The waves were crashing and the constant susurration of the wind sounded like wind chimes and voices mingling into a melody fresh in off the ocean. Barbara said something silly—I don’t remember what it was—and we all laughed.

  We stopped at the foot of the lighthouse, and Auntie turned to me and gave me a fierce hug. “I am so glad you came back to Gull Harbor, Imp.”

  As I stared out at the ever-changing dance of the waves, I knew it was true. I was home. Regardless of exboyfriends moving to town and local beauty queens getting murdered in our shop, regardless of anything else that might happen, I was home.

  ~End~

  If you enjoyed this book, the other two—A BLUSH WITH DEATH and GLOSSED AND FOUND will be out within the six weeks.

  For hot, steamy paranormal romance with a touch of dark humor, you might want to read BEWITCHING BEDLAM. Also, BLOOD MUSIC the prequel novelette to Bewitching Bedlam, is available for only $0.99 and the next BB book will be out in July 2017.

  If you like post apocalyptic fantasy romance, I invite you to check out my Fury Unbound Series: FURY RISING and FURY’S MAGIC are available now.

  And sign up for my newsletter to stay tuned for my upcoming releases:

  May: MOON SHIMMERS (Otherworld Series, Book 19)

  June: FURY AWAKENED (Fury Unbound Series, Book 3)

  July: MAUDLIN’S MAYHEM (Bewitching Bedlam Series, Book 2)

  August: FURY CALLING (Fury Unbound Series, book 4)

  October: SIREN’S SONG (Bewitching Bedlam Series, Book 3)

  October: TAMING THE SHIFTER (Anthology, Bewitching Bedlam novelette)

  November: FURY’S MANTLE (Fury Unbound Series, Book 4)

  November: WINTER’S HEAT (Anthology, Bewitching Bedlam novelette)

  December: SILENT NIGHT (An Otherworld Novelette)

  Biography

  New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today bestselling author Yasmine Galenorn writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance, and is the author of over fifty books, including the Otherworld Series, the Fury Unbound Series, the Bewitching Bedlam Series, and many more. She’s also written nonfiction metaphysical books. She is the 2011 Career Achievement Award Winner in Urban Fantasy, given by RT Magazine.

  Yasmine has been in the Craft since 1980, is a shamanic witch and High Priestess. She describes her life as a blend of teacups and tattoos. She lives in Kirkland, WA, with her husband Samwise and their cats. Yasmine can be reached via her web site at Galenorn.com.

  Books by Yasmine Galenorn:

  Fury Unbound Series:

  Fury Rising

  Fury’s Magic

  Fury Awakened (May 2017)

  Fury Calling (August 2017)

  Fury’s Mantle (November 2017)

  Bewitching Bedlam Series:

  Blood Music (Prequel novelette)

  Bewitching Bedlam

  Maudlin’s Mayhem (July 2017)

  Siren’s Song (October 2017)

  Whisper Hollow Series (in order):

  Autumn Thorns

  Shadow Silence

  Otherworld Series (in order):

  Witchling

  Changeling

  Darkling

  Dragon Wytch

  Night Huntress

  Demon Mistress

  Bone Magic

  Harvest Hunting

  Blood Wyne

  Courting Darkness

  Shaded Vision

  Shadow Rising

  Haunted Moon

  Autumn Whispers

  Crimson Veil

  Priestess Dreaming

  Panther Prowling

  Darkness Raging

  Moon Shimmers (May 2017)

  Harvest Song (2018)

  Blood Bonds (2019)

  Otherworld: E-Novellas:

  The Shadow of Mist: Otherworld novella

  Etched in Silver: Otherworld novella

  Ice Shards: Otherworld novella

  Flight From Hell: Otherworld--Fly By Night crossover novella

  Earthbound

  Silent Night: Otherworld Holiday Novella (December 2017)

  Otherworld: Short Collections:

  Tales From Otherworld: Collection One

  Men of Otherworld: Collection One

  Men of Otherworld: Collection Two

  Moon Swept: Otherworld Tales of First Love

  Chintz ‘n China Series:

  Ghost of a Chance

  Legend of the Jade Dragon

  Murder Under a Mystic Moon

  A Harvest of Bones

  One Hex of a Wedding

  Holiday Spirits

  Lily Bound Series (in order):

  Souljacker

  Fly By Night Series (in order):

  Flight from Death

  Flight from Mayhem

  Indigo Court Series (in order):

  Night Myst

  Night Veil

  Night Seeker

  Night Vision

  Night’s End

  Indigo Court: Novellas:

  Night Shivers

  Misc. Short Stor
y Collections:

  Mist and Shadows: Short Tales From Dark Haunts

  Bath and Body Series (under the name India Ink):

  Scent to Her Grave

  A Blush With Death

  Glossed and Found

  Anthologies:

  Winter’s Heat (A Bewitching Bedlam novelette

  Taming the Shifter (A Bewitching Bedlam novelette)

  Once Upon a Kiss (short story: Princess Charming)

  Silver Belles (short story: The Longest Night)

  Once Upon a Curse (short story: Bones)

  Never After (Otherworld novella: The Shadow of Mist)

  Inked (Otherworld novella: Etched in Silver)

  Hexed (Otherworld novella: Ice Shards)

  Songs of Love & Death (short story: Man in the Mirror)

  Songs of Love and Darkness (short story: Man in the Mirror)

  Nyx in the House of Night (article: She is Goddess)

  A Second Helping of Murder (recipe: Clam Chowder)

  Magickal Nonfiction:

  From Llewellyn Publications and Ten Speed Press:

  Trancing the Witch’s Wheel

  Embracing the Moon

  Dancing with the Sun

  Tarot Journeys

  Crafting the Body Divine

  Sexual Ecstasy and the Divine

  Totem Magic

  Magical Meditations