Memories of Magic (The High Priestess Trilogy) by Paige Stone

CHAPTER ONE
     
    It was her first big conference so her expectations were pretty high. That was her first mistake. Emily had been looking forward to the convention for weeks, but the International Code of Conduct for Witches was turning out to be just as boring as its title. She just didn’t know how it was possible to have so many speakers telling everyone how to behave.
    Emily knew there had been several incidents recently. She also knew that some of them had to do with the protests against the High Priestess and her handling of one particular coven found practicing black magic. There were some who saw the High Priestess’ leniency as weak while others saw it as compassionate. Regardless of anyone’s view, a big enough rift had been created that now required several lectures on how to conduct ourselves.
    Emily tried to mind her own business. It was already difficult enough to be taken seriously as an independent witch, but with her aunt being the High Priestess governing the entire region, it was next to impossible. However, the closer Emily got to thirty, the more she wanted to make a name for herself, to prove her worthiness. She figured the convention would be a good place to branch out.
    With every possible description of witch in attendance, Emily fell well into the conservative side of this crowd. Dressed in a light, flowing skirt and white tunic, Emily had decided to let her long blonde hair hang straight, hoping that it made her look more serious.
    She smiled easily as she mingled during the fifteen minute break between speakers. When the conversation shifted to the High Priestess and her handling of the black magic coven, Emily quietly excused herself. Many didn’t know about her relationship to the High Priestess and she wanted to keep it that way.
    Unfortunately Emily left one heated conversation and inadvertently stepped right into the middle of another one. She wasn’t even part of this discussion, she was just simply walking by; and now she found herself wishing she could erase the words she’d just heard. The discussion seemed more than just heated, it sounded dangerous.
    She had entered the grand ballroom and was meandering back to her table when she overheard the two witches talking about a new breed of creature called a Mowart. All Emily heard for sure were the words vampire and chimera, neither of which sounded good.
    Wanting nothing more than a non-political discussion and a stiff drink, Emily tried to act nonchalant as she weaved between tables in an effort to quickly find her seat. But alarm bells screamed through her mind when she heard the two men discussing ways of creating an army of these new creatures to overthrow Isisa, the High Priestess. Her Aunt.
    She felt the blood drain from her body. Emily desperately hoped the shock of their words didn’t register on her face.
    What the hell? Just stop talking! She screamed the words in her mind. She slapped a plastic smile on her face and continued to walk away but the tiny hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. They know. Of course they know . Emily had no doubt that the young witches knew she’d overhead them; their eyes were burning holes into her back.
    She picked up her pace, left the grand ballroom and turned into the closest meeting room she could find. That’s when she ran directly into the solid chest of Jake Wheeler.
    “Oh my God, I’m so sorry.” Emily pushed her hands against his rock hard chest to steady her balance and immediately felt the electrical surge of energy shoot through her.
    Jake reached out and grabbed her shoulders to keep her from toppling over. “In a mad rush to listen to the next speaker?” The sizzling current he experienced from touching her skin was instant and almost singed his fingertips.
    Once he was sure she was steady on her feet, he released his grip, but even that couldn’t stop the powerful energy from coursing through him. The look on her face was all the confirmation he needed; he wasn’t