Cursed Web

CURSED WEB MOONSHADOW BAY BOOK 9 YASMINE GALENORN A Nightqueen Enterprises LLC Publication Published by Yasmine Galenorn PO Box 2037, Kirkland WA 98083-2037 CURSED WEB A Moonshadow Bay Novel Copyright © 2023 by Yasmine Galenorn First Electronic Printing: 2023 Nightqueen Enterprises LLC First Print Edition: 2023 Nightqueen Enterprises Cover Art & Design: Ravven Art Copyright: Yasmine Galenorn Editor: Elizabeth Flynn ALL RIGHTS RESERVED No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed in any format, be it print or electronic or audio, without permission. Please prevent piracy by purchasing only authorized versions of this book. This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, or places is entirely coincidental and not to be construed as representative or an endorsement of any living/ existing group, person, place, or business. A Nightqueen Enterprises LLC Publication Published in the United States of America CONTENTS Acknowledgments Welcome to Cursed Web 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 Playlist Biography ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Welcome back to January Jaxson’s world—the world of Moonshadow Bay. Thanks to my usual crew: Samwise, my husband, Andria and Jennifer—without their help, I’d be swamped. To the women who have helped me find my way in indie, you’re all great, and thank you to everyone. To my wonderful cover artist, Ravven, for the beautiful work she’s done. Thanks to my best friend Carol Shannon, one of the most remarkable and magickal women I know. Also, my love to my furbles, who keep me happy. My heart is over the rainbow with my Rainbow Girls, and here in the present with our current babies. My most reverent devotion to Mielikki, Tapio, Ukko, Rauni, and Brighid, my spiritual guardians and guides. My love and reverence to Herne, and Cernunnos, and to the Fae, who still rule the wild places of this world. And a nod to the Wild Hunt, which runs deep in my magick, as well as in my fiction. You can find me through my website at Galenorn.com and be sure to sign up for my newsletter to keep updated on all my latest releases and to access the VIP section of my website, which has all sorts of perks on it! You can find my advice on writing, discussions about the books, and general ramblings on my YouTube Channel and my blog. If you liked this book, I’d be grateful if you’d leave a review—it helps more than you can think. Brightest Blessings, ~The Painted Panther~ ~Yasmine Galenorn~ WELCOME TO CURSED WEB Now that I know where Gretchen Wyre lives—the witch who hexed my great-great-grandmother and all her female descendants—it’s time to break the curse. I enlist my grandmother Rowan and my grandmother Naomi—who’s visiting from Ireland—to help. But just because we know where Gretchen is doesn’t guarantee success. And some curses take on a demonic life of their own, and those demons aren’t willing to vanish into the sunset without a fight. Reading Order for the Moonshadow Bay Series: Book 1: Starlight Web Book 2: Midnight Web Book 3: Conjure Web Book 4: Harvest Web Book 5: Shadow Web Book 6: Weaver’s Web Book 7: Crystal Web Book 8: Witch’s Web Book 9: Cursed Web Book 10: Solstice Web (forthcoming) CHAPTER ONE We were nearing Samhain—the festival of the ancestors—and the Veil was thin. I could feel it in my bones. I could sense it in the air. Autumn had come in with a vengeance and everywhere I looked, ghosts were walking. It wasn’t that there were more of them than usual, but my perception was growing and it was driving me nuts. I wanted to focus on something other than death, especially with my wedding coming up in a couple of months. At least I had Nonny’s visit to look forward to. “I can’t believe I’m going to see Nonny! I haven’t seen her since I was a little girl, even though we’ve talked. I hope…” I stopped, faltering. “You hope what?” Killian asked. We were sitting on the bed, talking. My grandmother Naomi was due in tomorrow, and we were slated to drive over to Bellingham International Airport to pick her up. It would be the first time I’d seen her since I was eight. We’d kept in touch, but face to face? That had been thirty-four years ago. “I hope she’s proud of me.” I adjusted my wrap top over my jeans. It was low cut, a gorgeous cobalt blue, and it fit my curves nicely. “My parents are dead, and Aunt Teran loves me no matter what. But Nonny’s no-nonsense. She doesn’t put up with any bullshit or slackers.” “From what she sounds like on the phone, I don’t think you have to worry about that,” Killian said. “Are you ready? We’re due at our appointment with Carrie in twenty minutes.” Carrie Oshner ran Carrie’s Bakery & Wedding Cakes, one of the best bakeries in town. She was as skilled with a piping bag as Monet had been with a paintbrush. And we had an eleven-thirty appointment with her to discuss our wedding cake. We had originally planned to go with Sirus Barker, who owned Violet’s Tea Dreams Shop—a tea shop he named after his wife—but he and Violet had decided on a trip to Europe, and they would be gone during our wedding. He had recommended Carrie to us with glowing reviews. So far we had booked the venue—we were getting married at Mulberry Farm’s Clydesdale Mansion. London Mulberry, a local heiress, owned a hundred acres on the outskirts of town. There were several venues for rent there, including the most prominent setting—the Clydesdale Mansion, which was on a ten-acre patch of land. With a large hall, ten bedroom suites, two large main bathrooms, a kitchen, and a spacious garden, it was the perfect place for a winter wedding. If