Dark Moon Magic Read Online Free Page A

a half a dozen or more bird carcasses.
    “I counted seven, and I don’t know how they died,” Keith said, frowning. “I didn’t see any notable trauma to their bodies and nothing oozing from their mouths. They still could have been poisoned, but you’d have to check with the CDC about that.”
    “Bag two or three so we can send them off. I want to know what killed these birds.”
    “Sure thing, Trace. Hey, how about we get a few of the guys together tonight and play cards?”
    “Sounds like a good idea. I’ll bring Garrett after I do rounds. About eight? At your house?”
    “Yep. I’ll see you tonight. Oh, and bring some beer.”
    Trace narrowed his gaze on his friend. “I’ll bring beer if you promise there will be no chugging games. The last time we did that, I woke up on my front porch with neck pain that took me a month to get over.
    He raised a hand. “On my honor. No chugging beer.”
    “Bring those ravens by to send off later, and could you stop into Healthy Glow and tell the owner the birds have been taken care of when you’re done?”
    “I haven’t met the new business owner. What’s she like?”
    Trace contemplated his friend’s question. What was she like? Definitely intriguing. More than simply beautiful, and different from any of the other women in Groves, since she didn’t seem to have even an inkling of interest in him. Something that should have pleased Trace, but for some unforeseen reason it didn’t.
    “Go see for yourself. Maybe you can tell me.”
    Trace turned and walked around the building. This whole dead bird thing had him wondering. They’d never had anything like this happen in Groves before, which seemed strange and too much of a coincidence with Regina Moon’s coming to town.
    He headed toward the police station. Trace planned to do a little background check on their new resident and see what came up. Maybe there was more to her than what she let on, and if that was the case, he intended to find out what she was hiding.

 
     
    CHAPTER FOUR
     
     
    Regina wiped the paint splatters off her cheek with her index finger, then continued to roll the sage color onto the living room wall. Already, she felt much calmer than she had that afternoon. The whole dead raven incident had her on edge. Someone was trying to send a warning.
    But why?
    And who? Becky Riverside? Or was it someone else?
    When the roller ran out of paint, she plopped it into the pan and rotated it back and forth. Maybe by the time she finished all four walls, she’d have a renewed sense of serenity.
    Her cell buzzed. She discarded the roller altogether and raced for the phone. “Regina,” she spoke into the mouthpiece.
    “Reggie.” Her best friend sounded upset.
    What was wrong? Had Rod somehow found out where she was? The thought had her heart thumping hard. “What’s the matter, Tiah?”
    “I had to call. I got a bad feeling. Are you all right?”
    Relief washed over her as Regina shifted her balance from one foot to the other. “Yes, but something odd happened today.”
    “Odd?”
    “A flock of dead ravens were found next to my place.”
    On the other end, she heard a gasp. Clearly Regina hadn’t exaggerated the significance of the birds. It meant trouble. What kind, though, she wasn’t sure.
    “I don’t like this, Regina. Let me come stay with you for a while. Just until we know what’s going on.”
    Regina inhaled, then let out a shaky breath. “I don’t think that’d be wise. Rod is probably watching you. I can’t chance him finding me.”
    “I’m worried, Reggie. With me there, we could at least perform a protection spell.”
    “Let me think about it. Right now I’m trying to get my business off the ground, and I wish this hadn’t happened. What if they find out I’m Wiccan and think I killed those birds with some kind of dark magic? It’d be Salem all over again.”
    “You know how I felt about you choosing such a small town to move to. Everyone is so close-minded. They think