Spell Bound Read online

  Contents

  Title

  Copyright

  Teaser

  Title

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelve

  Thirteen

  Fourteen

  Fifteen

  Sixteen

  Seventeen

  Eighteen

  Nineteen

  Twenty

  Twenty-One

  Twenty-Two

  Twenty-Three

  Twenty-Four

  Twenty-Five

  Twenty-Six

  Epilogue

  Author's Note

  Free Book

  Books by Samantha Bell

  About the Author

  Newsletter

  SPELL BOUND

  SAMANTHA BELL

  Copyright © 2020 Samantha Bell

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN: -

  This is a work of fiction.

  Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either

  the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner.

  Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead,

  or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Cover art by DoElle Designs

  SPELL BOUND

  I don't belong here.

  No one believes me.

  I've been charged with a crime that I didn't commit.

  My name is Harper Valentine, and I've been framed for a crime against my coven. In a world where witchcraft is regulated, there is no room for anyone who rebels against the system.

  Here at Banebrook Coven Reformatory, the only thing crueler than the guards are my fellow inmates. Two of these sexy warlock inmates, Brax and Gage, are trying to claim me for their own, and the temptation is killing me. At the same time, I've caught the eye of Rowan, the Associate Warden, but this relationship is strictly business. Catching feelings is the last thing I need right now.

  Unless I solve the murder of my coven-sisters and prove my innocence, I can kiss my freedom goodbye. But how can I do that when I'm trapped behind bars?

  -

  SPELL BOUND is an upper YA Paranormal Prison RH Romance intended for readers 17+. It contains some dark themes, sexual situations, and violence that may be triggering. Romance is a slow burn and reverse harem, where the harem grows as the story progresses, and our heroine doesn't have to choose!

  SPELL BOUND

  SAMANTHA BELL

  CHAPTER ONE

  The moon's power radiated above me. It wasn't quite full, but it sent down enough energy for me to lock onto the pulse of the universe. I brought my wand up over my head, casting a circle of protection around me that was precisely thirteen steps wide.

  I traced sigils in the air with the tip of my wand, whispering the words to a complicated spell. I glanced down at the note in my hand for just a second, so I wouldn't mess it up. My writing was hard to make out by the light of the moon; I hadn't brought a candle, and my cell phone was turned off outside the magic circle. I squinted and continued the spell. The Latin words felt strange on my tongue, but I pushed through. Why was this stuff always in Latin?

  The cool September breeze hit me, bringing the scent of pine trees with it. A shiver rolled through my body, bringing my attention back to the magical energy that was building.

  A spark of power rippled through my body and erupted from my wand, casting white light around the circle. I kept my breathing steady and calm. The light transformed into a circle and settled to the ground. Glowing sigils pulsed around me.

  The circle was complete. I cast it without a single screw up. The first time in a while. I let a satisfied smile grow on my face. With a flick of my wand, the light swirled back upwards and evaporated into the air. The only trace of magic that remained was the static feeling jumping across my skin.

  "That's my daughter," My mother's voice drifted through the silent clearing.

  I turned to look at her. She was beautiful; she was tall and thin with long brown hair that flowed in the breeze. Her eyes were like shining emeralds. Her skin was as flawless as fine china. Everyone said I looked like her, but I didn't see it.

  "Mother," I said. "What are you doing out here?" I held my wand behind me.

  "I felt the shift in energy. When I went to your room, you were gone. So, I looked in the next likely place," Mother said. Her lips twitched with a gentle smile.

  "I was practicing," I answered a question that she didn't need to ask. Ceremonial magic was complicated, and I needed all the help I could get.

  "Harper, are you nervous about the ritual on Friday?" My mother asked. She touched my shoulder, and a fading spark of magic traveled between us.

  I nodded. It was a full moon and a Friday the thirteenth. All the coven members were coming together to raise energy and reconnect.

  I was supposed to be helping one of the priestesses in training with the casting. Since I turned twenty, my parents had thrust me into the more complicated magical duties that came with being in a coven. I was no priestess, hell, I didn't even want to become one. I was perfectly happy with remaining in the background.

  "I'm not ready," I admitted.

  My mother laughed. "Are you kidding? My dear, you were born ready. No child of mine lacks the skill to cast a magic circle. In fact, I think you'll be leading them in no time.

  I cringed. My parents were the high priest and priestess and leaders of our coven. They wanted me to follow in their footsteps, but I had other plans. In a perfect world, I would have gone to a community college for art and then moved to New York or somewhere else just as glamourous. I still had the applications stuffed under my bed in case I ever got the nerve to submit my portfolio.

  "You'll be fine," My mother said. She stood still and silent, watching me pack up my things.

  I threw my bag over my shoulder. "If you say so," I sighed. Sure, I had cast that circle without a hitch, but casting alone was different than casting in front of the whole coven.

  The short walk back home was quiet. My mother glided as she walked, her long skirt brushing against the grass. I was dressed in jeans and a sweater, not very witchy, but very comfortable.

  Our home backed out onto a vast wooded area. There was a stream with a wooden bridge, acting as both a physical and magical barrier around the old house. It was a large two-story mansion that had been in the family for generations. It was the sort of place that random goth kids would sneak around to take Instagram photos. In fact, it had happened more than once.

  We crossed the bridge, and the air shifted. The magic that was inherently weaved into the woodlands was not as strong here. In this home, we looked and acted more like ordinary people. It was just safer that way.

  Pretty much every mundane person in town had the suspicion of what went on in our family, but no one had ever confirmed. That's the way my father liked it. Witchcraft was regulated, and those "Jerks of the Magical Control Squad," as he said, would love for the family to slip up and get a hold of our powers.

  I followed my mother up the stairs to the back door. The security lights kicked on and bathed us in fluorescent shine. I blinked and shook my head.

  "Next time you go out to practice, please let me know," My mother said. "You know how your father worries."

  "Sure, mom," I said. I had explicitly not wanted her to know I was practicing. I didn't need the added pressure. The full moon ritual was only a few days away, and the thought of being an assistant and performing magic in front of everyone made me sick.

  I kicked off my Converse sneakers by the door and went straight to th
e kitchen to grab a snack. Darla, one of our many cats, was sleeping on the counter.

  "No more sneaking off tonight, alright?" My mother said as she passed the open door.

  "Yep," I said, diving into the fridge to find what I needed to make a sandwich.

  Once I had a double-decker ham and swiss in my hand, I made my way upstairs to my room. This house was too big for the three of us. Generations ago, magical people had lots of children, but now our families were smaller, just like the mundanes.

  My bedroom was down the last hall. I had a corner room with big windows that were great for daydreaming. To get there, I had to pass my father's study. I saw the lamplight flickering under the door.

  "Harper was out practicing?" I heard my father's voice. "She shouldn't be in the woods alone." Yep, he was acting like his usual over-protective self.

  "Don't worry about it, dear," My mother said. "I know she's stronger than she thinks. She's just nervous about the full moon ritual."

  "Hmm," My father paused.

  I held my breath. I shouldn't be eavesdropping.

  "What is it, dear?" My mother asked.

  "It's nothing," My father said.

  I couldn't tell if he was lying or not. My father was a terrible liar, and it always showed in his eyes, while his tone remained the same.

  "I know you had apprehensions of her helping with such an important ritual," My mother said. "But I believe she is ready. Ready to lead it, even."

  My father scoffed. "There is enough unrest amongst the neophytes without you saying that."

  "I'm not saying now, but one day," My mother replied. "She is a powerful witch. She will be a great leader when she is older."

  "Too many others are after that position. I cannot show favoritism. Our family name. Our coven. I cannot let my parental bias stop our coven from thriving. If our daughter is a true leader, then it will be revealed in time."

  "I've already assigned her to assist in the ritual, it cannot be undone," My mother said.

  "Fine. But you can deal with the backlash." My father sighed.

  The coven politics were enough to drive anyone insane. One of the many reasons I didn't want to end up in the priesthood like my parents did. They were at each other's throats, just waiting for their turn to climb a little higher on the social ladder.

  I didn't want to listen anymore. I turned the corner and retreated to my bedroom.

  My bedroom was large, and I had filled it with countless books and half-finished art projects. It looked more like a dragon's horde than a bedroom most of the time.

  I stepped over the piles of sketchbooks and plopped down on my bed. Polly, my favorite of our many cats, looked up and me and yawned. "How can you be yawning when all you do is sleep all day?" I said to her.

  The white cat blinked and put her head back down on the comforter.

  I scrolled through my phone and ate my sandwich while Polly purred at my feet. I tried to get lost in the Instagram scroll, but something kept nagging at the back of my mind.

  My father's words. My mother's confidence in me. Coven politics. I didn't want any part of it, yet here I was playing the role that I had been given.

  I stared out the tall windows to the woodlands. In just three days, I'd be in front of everyone. Would my father's words or my mother's hopes be right? I just prayed that I didn't fuck it all up.

  CHAPTER TWO

  The house was buzzing with energy on the day of the ritual. The mansion, which usually only held the three of us and a dozen cats, was now teeming with coven members.

  I managed to hide out in my room for a while until my mother came looking for me.

  "There you are!" She exclaimed. "I've been wondering where you are." Mother looked me up and down. "No jeans for ritual," She added, pointing at my black ceremonial dress where it hung on my closet door.

  "Sure," I sighed.

  "Get dressed and come downstairs." It wasn't a request. "Rebecca and Elsie are here if you wanted to say hi," My mother added.

  I wrinkled my nose. Rebecca and Elsie were twin sisters and the only other witches who were my age. Needless to say, we didn't get along as much as our parents wanted us to. They played the coven games, smiling and playing the part. But they had a wicked streak a mile wide.

  "Great," I said with a fake smile, which deflated the moment my mother left.

  With a heavy sigh, I got into my black ritual gown. It was long and loose, reaching the floor when I wasn't wearing shoes. The sleeves were tight and three-quarter length, safety around candles could be fashionable after all. The waist was cinched in with a white ribbon, marking me as a witch-in-training, as far as ceremonial magic was concerned. I could cast circles around anyone when it came to the informal stuff, not that anyone in this coven cared about that. Everything here was about prestige and tradition.

  I smoothed my skirt and looked myself over in the mirror. Ceremonial magic was all about appearances, formality, and perfection. I looked like I knew what I was doing, at least. Lastly, I brushed my long brown hair and tied it up in a bun.

  "Ok, let's do this," I sighed.

  Polly meowed from the corner of my bed.

  I looked over my shoulder. "Thanks for the pep talk," I laughed.

  I could hear voices as I approached the stairs. Looking down, I saw over a dozen other witches and warlocks chatting and catching up on all the little things that happened since last month.

  I sucked in a breath and gathered my confidence. I glided down the stairs with my chin held high. Play the game, do my part, act the way my parents wanted me to. I had to be flawless. As soon as this ritual was over, I could hide away until the next full moon.

  I joined my mother in the main sitting area. She was talking to a lady who was probably as old as dirt. The oldest woman in the coven, and although she retired from leading rituals, still the most revered witch I had ever met. I didn't know her real name, everyone just called her Mama Moon.

  "There's your lovely daughter," Mama Moon said. She looked up at me from where she sat. She was horribly wrinkled, and her back had curved into a permanent hump. Her blue eyes were still bright despite her age.

  "Hello," I said. This woman was one of the few people here that I felt comfortable around. She was the coven elder but didn't act like the other members. She was trustworthy and reliable.

  "Are we waiting on anyone else?" Mama Moon asked my mother.

  "Just Jessamine," My mother said.

  Jessamine was the priestess in training who was set to lead the ritual. She was in her mid-thirties and had begun training with my mother when I was ten. She saw herself as an older sister to me and had wedged herself between my parents and me. Needless to say, I didn't like her much. I knew deep down that she didn't care about me. She only wanted to move up in the coven.

  "And you are supporting Jessamine, yes?" Mama Moon asked me.

  I nodded, pushing down the sick feeling in my stomach. "Yes."

  The room went silent all of a sudden. Then, I noticed my father was on the phone. He was speaking quietly. As soon as he hung up, he walked to my mother's side and whispered to her.

  I didn't catch what he said, but her eyes went wide.

  In an instant, my father, mother, Mama Moon, and a few others left to speak in private. The rest of us stood around dumbfounded, wondering what happened.

  Rebecca and Elsie, the twins, caught my eye from across the room. They had the creepy twin secret language thing down to a science. I'd bet that they could literally communicate telepathically when they wanted to.

  A minute later, my mother and Mama Moon returned. The room was dead silent.

  "Sorry for the alarm, everyone," Mother said. "It seems there has been an incident and," She paused. "Jessamine will not be able to lead the ritual tonight. There has been an unforeseeable incident."

  Everyone gasped.

  I bit my lip, just in case the excitement I was feeling escaped. If Jessamine couldn't make it, then I'd be off the hook! It was almost too good to be tr
ue.

  "What happened?"

  "Is she ok?"

  "How is the family?"

  "What about the ritual?"

  Everyone began speaking at once.

  Mama Moon held up her hands. She was a tiny woman, barely coming up to my mother's shoulder, but she had an immense presence. "The ritual will continue."

  My panic returned. Would I still have to assist?

  "Mama Moon with use divination to determine who will lead. The Fates have made a new path for us, and she will leave it up to their divine wisdom." My mother announced. She motioned for everyone to make a circle.

  I joined the circle beside her just as my father returned with a small crystal pendulum. "This will guide the decision," He said as he presented it to Mama Moon.

  Mama Moon walked to the middle of the circle and began reciting Latin prayers under her breath. With her arm outstretched, she held the pendulum and let it swing. She traced the edge of our circle, everyone holding their breath as the crystal reached them.

  I closed my eyes tight. Not me. Not me. I begged silently.

  My mother squeezed my hand.

  When I opened my eyes, I came face to face with the crystal pendulum. It was swinging wildly towards me as if it were pulled by a magnet. My mouth went dry. My throat became tight. My skin prickled with dread.

  "The Fates have chosen you, Harper." Mama Moon said with a sparkle in her eyes.

  ***

  I prayed that the earth would come alive and swallow me whole.

  Everyone was staring at me, and the dark mood was palatable. No one wanted me to lead this ritual, including me, but Mama Moon's decision was final. I had to go through with it. If I refused, I'd embarrass my family, and no one would ever let me forget it.

  I just had to do this. There was no other way to make this end.

  The coven gathered in the wooded area. There was a large clearing that was marked specially for group gatherings such as this. A bonfire was lit in the center, sending purple and red sparks up into the air. The coven formed two circles, one of seven younger witches and warlocks close to me and the other made of the thirteen elder members. Mama Moon stood at the North, her eyes not leaving me.