Page 8 of Jade Lion and the Witch Boy (Haunted Hearts: Season of the Witch #5)

DEEP IN MY memory, an attractive male figure lounges in bed with me and caresses my chest. “I can’t believe I get to lie with the Jade Lion,” he purrs. “I can feel your power flowing through me. So sexy…”

Much later, a room of cloaked figures bows to me. “All hail, Zhou Kai, our Jade Lion.”

And even later, my pulse pounds as I’m forced to the ground. My wrists are bound by tethers of light. The sorcery compels me to shift into my lion form. Their sinister voices chant, “We bind you into stone…”

I jolt awake, sitting upright. I claw at the sheets while my heart beats rapidly. Before a growl of distress can escape my mouth, I turn to my right and notice a sleeping figure in the dark. Now I recall—I am in Sebastian Suarez’s room. And I do not wish to wake him.

Looking down at my hands, I notice how big they are. Now I understand; I am in my lion form. I take two long breaths, then relax as my inner beast calms down. The lion goes back inside me, and I feel my spine shorten. The fur and mane disappear, and I’m back to human form.

As quietly as I can, I stand up and make my way out of the room. The clock in the living room of Boysen House is the same as in my era, so I’m able to discern the time. It will be about another half hour before the others awaken. Taina, Anika, Ashley, and Lisbeth.

The coven leader was so delighted to have me, the Jade Lion, in her presence. She assumes that I will join her group of witches. Like before, I feel the aching responsibility of being the most powerful spellcaster of my generation. Only now, I’m in a new generation.

I wipe my face and walk from the living room to the kitchen.

To be fair to Lisbeth, I truly have nothing better to do than to stay here.

My choice to stay has nothing to do with that incredibly handsome witch boy I’m currently sharing a room with, a most intimate setting.

My memories are still fragmented, but I do recall men desiring me only because of my power as a mage. But Seb seems to like me for who I am…

I sit down at the kitchen table and open up Lisbeth’s tome. Boysen House has resources, and they may be my best opportunity to get my memories back. At the very least, they can orient me to the twenty-first century.

Opening up to the page from last night, I study the rudimentary sketch of the Jade Lion. That being looks just like my bestial form, with a dark mane and green streaks. And the writing does confirm that I am, in fact, the strongest mage―neither wizard nor witch―to exist.

And with that strength, I became a target.

In my memory, the cloaked figures raise their glowing hands.

Tethers bind me, and the magic circle on the ground illuminates.

At least two dozen runes float upward, emblems forged of fire and ice, all while my own magic is suppressed.

My lion form roars as I slowly shrink. I’m being suffocated, body and soul, and my muscles turn to stone

The last thing I recall is one of the men removing his hood and asking, “What if he gets free?”

Another of the men scoffs and replies, “Unlikely. Only when his fated mate reaches spiritual maturity can this curse be undone. And we will make sure he is never found by another soul. There is no room in this world for his beliefs of acceptance and…”

The words trail off as I slip into a deep slumber.

“You’re awake.” Seb’s soft voice pulls me out of my frightening memory. “Is everything alright, Kai?”

I sniff and wipe my eyes. I shut the book and look away, not wanting him to see my tears. The pain feels so real, but it’s still unclear what occurred. What were those last words I heard? My beliefs of what…?

I nod. “Yes.”

“Hey, do you want me to stay home again today?”

I turn to see Seb standing within arm’s length, a comforting presence. I can tell he wants to reach out, to comfort me in a physical way. He’s sweet.

“No. We had a plan for me to go out with you, and you need to return to your job.”

“The coffee shop will be okay without me for another day.”

“I highly doubt that,” Lisbeth sings. She strides in, keys clanging as she sifts through the cupboards. “Your vacation has to end eventually, and we need help on the weekday rush.”

“But what about Kai?” Seb asks.

“I can stay at the library, just like we planned,” I say, tapping his arm. Seb’s gorgeous brown eyes pool with concern.

“See? He’s ready!” Lisbeth strides away, singing, “Your ride leaves in fifteen minutes!”

After Seb and I get dressed—I conjure an outfit similar to his—we ride with Ashley in Lisbeth’s automobile.

The transportation is certainly cleaner and smoother than horse-drawn carriages.

I had heard rumors of self-powered vehicles, but they were rare back in my time.

Gazing at the busy city streets, it is apparent that this mortal technology is commonplace in the twenty-first century.

Minutes pass, and the four of us arrive at a small brick building. The sun is rising, but townsfolk are already strolling the sidewalks. There are lush trees with hues of green and orange; Seb had informed me that the scenery is normal for autumn in Virginia.

When we step out of the automobile, I peer at the yellow awning over tall glass walls. “Brew-Ha?” I ask.

“Yup. It’s a play on the Spanish word for witch.” Seb taps my arm. “Lisbeth’s idea.”

“The witchy theme draws in customers. Mortals think magic is the stuff of fairy tales,” Lisbeth murmurs with a smirk. She taps her nose and continues, “And we intend to keep it that way.”

“Have fun at the library!” Ashley says, rushing into the coffeehouse.

“Yes. But hurry back, Seb. You’ve been off for so long,” Lisbeth chides. “Coffee is the true potion that pays the bills. We can’t just magic up some money. Anyway, toodles, you two!” She waves her fingers and disappears.

My mind buzzes with questions as I follow Seb around the corner.

I do not wish for him to be away from his occupation for long; Anika and Taina are both at their respective jobs, and Lisbeth claims Seb is a valued employee.

Still, he’s choosing to walk with me down the streets of this foreign town, so I’m grateful.

When the wind picks up, I pull my brown corduroy coat closer to my chest, then shove my hands into my jeans pockets.

The town library isn’t too far from Brew-Ha, and the plan is for me to wait there while they work.

“You good?” Seb asks. As always, he looks out for me in this difficult time.

“Lisbeth said you cannot magically produce money.” I gaze at Seb’s curious eyes. “Why not?”

“She said it’s something about the economy. The US Treasury might trace it back to us.” He scratches his eyebrow. “But on occasion we’ve whipped up a few dollars here and there.”

We share a smile. “Why must the general population not know about witches?” I ask.

Seb shrugs. “We might have powers, but the mortals outnumber us. Their weapons would overpower our magic. Have you heard about the witch trials and burning at the stake?”

My memory surfaces, and a chill goes up my spine. I nod, recalling the fear of being mobbed by nonmagical folk. “Now that you say that, I think my old coven and I hid from the world as well.”

“You’re getting your memories back?”

My brow furrows, and I rub my forehead. “Somewhat. They are fragmented and…not pleasant.”

He frowns for a moment with his hands in his pockets before smiling again. “My abuela once said, ‘Bad memories can’t stop you from making new, good memories.’”

A small flutter passes through my heart. In the morning sunlight, Seb is particularly attractive. And his willingness to help me is endearing. I smile and say, “Perhaps I already have.”

He stops when we reach a wide, gray building.

“Well, this is the Cosmo Public Library.” Seb hands me a small piece of plastic.

“With my card, you can borrow up to three books. They don’t know anything about magic, but there’s a lot you’ve missed out on in the past century.

Hopefully you can find something on the history of Hong Kong or something. ”

I take the card and smile. “I am here now, in the United States, with you. I would like to learn more about where I am, not where I’ve been.”

Seb nods with a grin. I take in how his dark brown curls frame his handsome face. He puts his hands in his back pockets and bounces on his feet. “I should get going. The coffee isn’t going to brew itself. You know the way to walk back to Brew-Ha?”

“Indeed. Thank you, Sebastian.”

He chuckles and shakes his head. “You’re never going to just call me Seb, are you?”

“No.”

He walks away laughing, and I wait three seconds before turning to gaze at him. I don’t know why I was bound, but I can’t help but be grateful that my statue form was discovered by such a friendly, adorable witch boy.