Interview with A.L. Hawke, author of The Hawthorne University Witch Series

 

Today it gives the Speculative Fiction Showcase great pleasure to interview A.L. Hawke, author of The Hawthorne University Witch Series.

Welcome back to the Speculative Fiction Showcase. We’re meeting to discuss the latest instalments in your Hawthorne University Witch Series: a new box set featuring volumes 4-6 and a preorder for your Xmas witch story Candy Crone (Book 6.5). For starters, what can you tell our readers about the Hawthorne University Witch Series? How did it begin?

Well, my witch series is all about the college student Cadence Hawthorne. It’s really her story about her growth—not only her transformation into a witch, but into a woman. We follow her as she falls in love with Bryce starting in her Freshman year, Beltane Fire, all the way up to her studying in graduate school in Candy Crone (my upcoming Xmas new release).

Cadence narrates the books in first person present tense. I chose this for the cinematic effect. It’s a writing technique rarely used because it assumes the reader is talking to the narrator while the action is happening, something not possible in reality (unless, as in the case of my stories, your reading from a magic book). So the reader intimately joins Cadence, falling in love with Bryce, exploring why the town was named after her, learning why her enigmatic teacher, Alondra, is so interested in her, and all sorts of other witchy fun stuff along the way. And, all the while, we learn all about witchcraft and the occult.

The impetus for starting all this came from simply wanting to write a Halloween paranormal romance story. That was it, nothing glamorous. After I discovered Cadence’s voice, the first book, Broomstick, was born.

Let’s talk about volumes 4-6 of the series. Why are you releasing this box set now?

It’s Halloween. I had planned the release of books 4-6 as a personal goal in 2024. There’s nothing like having a book finished and I envisioned expanding my most successful series with another trilogy with Cadence in graduate school. So, I buckled down and got it done. Now I’m releasing all three in a discounted collection, Books 4-6, for the Halloween season. And with every eBook come audiobook versions narrated by the very talented actress Alexa Elmy.

The Hawthorne University Witch Series comes under the heading “Witches and Paranormal Romance” but the university setting is very important. What can you tell us about that.

I loved reliving college. When I describe Cadence and Maddie’s dormitory, that’s my dormitory. The dining commons and library are how I remembered it back in school. I went to college in both a suburban and a small rural town, so Hawthorne in Georgia is sort of a mix of my two experiences and I loved reliving it all with Cadence.

The protagonist of the University Witch Series is Cadence. How much can you tell us about her and what stage has she reached in her training - and her life?

You know, Cadence starts out as a very sweet and innocent girl in Beltane Fire. Her magical journey changes that. One of my favourite books in the series is Book 5, Ravens, because it’s so transformative. She learns the darker side of witchcraft—black magic. But it’s through learning the darker side that she becomes more balanced as a person and eventually helps the town. Through the journey, from Beltane Fire/Broomstick to Shadow Cast, Cadence goes from very innocent and naïve to a pretty powerful witch.

How do you go about researching the magic for the books and creating something both imaginary and convincing?

When I set out to create these stories, I wanted the university setting to be a believable place. Somewhere readers can believe students go to lecture, but then gather for Friday sabbaths to practice real magic around a bonfire. My fictitious Georgian town Hawthorne is a small college town surrounded by trees in a forest, and I think that dark shadowy background helps set the mood. It’s similar to Forks, Washington in Twilight. And the realism in settings certainly fits Forks in Twilight more than Hogwarts from Harry Potter. So my books are intentionally more realistic with most of the “flights of fancy” in the books being hallucinatory and psychological. Even in my newest book, Candy Crone, which has illusions from the Hansel and Gretel fairy tale, the story is more focused on the psychology of what Cadence sees in her mind over what actually is happening. That’s all to keep it realistic.

Much of my research is from the internet, but I’ve read a few books here and there, like some of Aleister Crowley’s books and Denise Alvarado’s books on voodoo. Incantations and spells in these books are authentic Latin. And many occult practices are from real pagan practices.

What can you tell us about the antagonists Cadence encounters in volumes 4-6? What tests and trials does she face as a young witch?

She fights an insane Samhain Witch named “mud” who lives like a hermit alone in the forest casting spells to hunt down the witches in Hawthorne.  She also fights her archenemy Enora. But, honestly, Cadence’s biggest antagonist is herself. Book 5 is her journey into learning about the evil within herself. She faces real satanic rites and learns the evil side of witchcraft and her that of her shadow in Book 6, Shadow Cast.

Let’s talk about Candy Crone, which is a standalone Christmas short story. Who is the Candy Crone and what trouble does she bring for Cadence?

Well, as Cadence says in the book, the Candy Crone is a ‘textbook’ witch. She is a crouched over brown-clothed old crone with a black headdress and a large wart on her nose tempting children with candy and sweets. This appearance is adapted from Grýla, of Icelandic witch folklore, who takes children and boils them in her pot during Christmas time. So the short story is a mix of Christmas, Icelandic and Germanic folklore, and Hansel and Gretel.

The idea was to have Cadence face the witch from Hansel and Gretel in Hawthorne during the yuletide. It was loads of fun to write. It’s way out there with hallucinatory scenes and it’s full of candy. Lots of cakes and candy.

What treats can your readers look forward to in Candy Crone and what will new readers enjoy?

Cakes, cupcakes, éclairs, donuts, tiramisu, ice cream dishes, cookies, macaroons, brownies, mixed berry parfait, raspberry, powdered sugar, snickerdoodle cookies, chocolate mousse, pina colada lasagna, chocolate soufflé, and some yummy treats that are covered in chocolate and vanilla swirled frosting. (excerpt from Candy Crone).

The Hawthorne University Witch Series is one of several series and standalone novels that you have written. What can you tell us about your other books and do they share the same universe?

No, my other books are completely separate. My Azure Series and Furies series take place in the same Greek mythological world focusing on Cora, the Greek goddess Persephone. The cool thing about the contemporary Medusa books in the Furies series is that they’re linked with my epic fantasies taking place 4000 years ago in the Azure Series. So Cora in the 21^st century is the same Cora character in the bronze age. Those two series are connected in the same world.

Why is the subject of witchcraft (and magic generally) so fascinating in modern (post-scientific) times?

Great question. Well, let me start with books. Not only are witches in, but paranormal romance books are still popular since Twilight. I think readers love paranormal romance for its realism and excitement. Vampires are scary but sexy. I loved the Twilight series and there’s no question I was influenced by Bella in my series. I wanted to bring that vampire allure to witches in college.

As far as society, I think witches are popular because we live in a spiritually challenging time. Many feel like science, and even organized religion, hasn’t solved our problems. So many are turning to magic. In my witch series, Cadence struggles with her own spiritual beliefs. She calls herself Catholic, but she’s constantly studying different religions, Celtic rites, Theosophy, Thelema, Sufism, Buddhism, etc. She’s not only trying to find out who she is, but what she believes in.

What do you think of the term “romantasy” and does it describe what you write?

Sure. Some books are more romance directed than others. I think Windstorm and Alondra are the most classic structured paranormal romances in the bunch. Others like Samhain Witch are a bit more focused on the fantasy side.

Romance is so fun to write. It’s another tool, like action, that breathes life into characters. You can throw a stray glance, or a wave of one’s hair, or even watching another arrange a desk. It infuses attraction into the story. I found it easy to focus on Cadence’s love life with Bryce as a major part of her this witch story. As Cadence struggles with witchcraft, she also struggles with her newfound lover, Bryce, who’s a male witch himself.

Will there be more adventures for Cadence, her allies and her enemies?

I don’t know. I’m playing with returning to the Alondra prequel and possibly adding a few more books there to create another trilogy. I wanted to continue this story years ago, but I wasn’t as confident over my knowledge of the occult as I am now.

The trouble with continuing books about Cadence is that the series centered on her growing up. Well, as she’s living happily ever after with her husband, the only way to move the series forward in that same light would be to either write companion books in the past or to focus on a new heroine. To me, the main adventure in these witch stories are characters ignorant of magic and discovering it. This is why I’m considering returning to Alondra. Liam is still discovering witchcraft through his love for Alondra in that 20-year prequel. So… maybe with Alondra.

Thanks so much for the opportunity to talk about my witch series!

SFS: Thank you, it's been great!

Buy Hawthorne University Witch | Pre-order Candy Crone 

About A.L. Hawke:

A.L. Hawke is the author of the bestselling Hawthorne University Witch series. The author lives in Southern California torching the midnight candle over lovers against a backdrop of machines, nymphs, magic, spice and mayhem. A.L. Hawke writes fantasy and romance spanning four thousand years, from pre-civilization to contemporary and beyond.

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Witch Mirror (Hawthorne University Witch, Book 4) by A.L. Hawke

 

Release date: February 26, 2024

Subgenre: Paranormal Romance

 

About Witch Mirror:

 

 Reflections of a wicked witch.

Bryce and I are trying to revive Alondra’s old metaphysical history class. We’re in college again, this time teaching. But it’s stressful under our former teacher’s shadow. Not only that, there’s a new demon-witch messing with my love life. So I’m going through that again. Well, at least this time I have Alondra’s magic to protect me.


Actually, not only do I have her magic, her spirit is inside me, possessing me. But don’t worry, Alondra’s ghost is a positive force here to help Hawthorne. I mean…are you good, Alondra?


A witch council is gathering at my house to reflect on ways to save us. They’re convinced Alondra is evil, but Alondra and I are unsure they know what they’re doing. Well, if I can’t hold things together—inside and outside of myself—I fear my plans of finishing graduate school at Hawthorne U. and starting a family are going to shatter.

 

Excerpt:

 

Bryce stops his old gray BMW before a rickety old wooden bridge. He has to drive slowly so we don’t dive through the wooden planks and crash into the water below. The bridge is not much wider than his car. I hate seeing this bridge again. Not only is it always a legitimate danger to our lives, it was sort of the beginning of the Samhain Witch’s freak show. But I don’t hate Geneva Forest. All these trees are like home. Of course, as if the broken-down bridge weren’t bad enough, at the end of the bridge is a wall of white fog. That looks hellishly ominous, too, like we’re going to be swallowed by the white smoke after we cross over. Mira’s black van is behind us. We wait for her and, like last Halloween, she’s probably more worried than Bryce about falling through the wooden boards with her heavier van.
“She’s here,” says Afreyea, seated behind me, in her thick accent. That freaks me out. Gala is sitting beside her. “You feel her?”
“No,” Bryce grunts, but it actually sounds more like he’s saying “yes.”
Flakes of ice start hitting the windshield. Snow? In mid-March? What the hell? Isn’t all this weird enough? There’s not a cloud in the sky.
“It could totally be Hansel and Gretel, you know, Bryce,” I say. “She could be luring us inside to eat us.”
“I don’t see candy,” Bryce says, shaking his head. “That house, if you remember, was more like a fly-infested dung heap.”
“Beelzebub,” says Gala.
“Huh?” I ask.
“Beelzebub,” Gala repeats in her Romanian accent. “Lord of the flies.”
O-k-a-y. You know, these witches are supposed to protect us, right? We’re supposed to have a full-on witch showdown and kick some witch ass. So why does Gala sound scared? Then, to make it worse, Afreyea is whispering. At first, I thought she was muttering something about Beelzebub. No, she’s chanting an incantation in another language.
Ice now covers our windshield, and Bryce has to slow the car to a crawl and run his windshield wipers.
A rush of water splashes my passenger window and makes me jump. Did Bryce drive over a puddle? No, he has almost stopped. Is this the start of black magic shit?
I look back and see something I wish I hadn’t. Afreyea’s eyes are wide open. Apparently, the water splashing scared her.
“She’s here,” Afreyea says. “Brought your book, Cadence?”
Uh, I sure did.
“We end this now, Aurora,” Gala says. “We finally end this, sister.”
 

 

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About A.L. Hawke:

A.L. Hawke lives in Southern California torching the midnight candle over lovers against a backdrop of machines, nymphs, magic, spice and mayhem. With a medical science background, the author specializes in romantic fantasy and science fiction. 
 

Website | BookBub | Goodreads | Author Central | Newsletter

 

 

Shades by A.L. Hawke

 

Release date: February 27, 2023

Subgenre: Paranormal romance

 

About Shades:

 

They hunt angels on the highway.

Amanda’s road trip across the USA is a reward for graduating from college—and an opportunity to record her traveler podcast. On her drive, she gets the adventure she’s seeking after nearly being knocked off the highway. There she has a chance encounter with a shadowy man wearing shades.

Danger follows. A devil named Lilith directs her motorcycle gang to crash into Amanda’s car. The stranger in shades saves her. He calls her an angel, destined for ascension to heaven. That doesn’t sound so bad, until he explains that it means she’s going to die on this trip if she stays on the road.

Well, Amanda won’t disappoint her podcast fans. And as she drives in search of adventure, the devils won’t stop pursuing her. Not before they steer her into even more danger. There’s more trouble in store for her, all set as a trap to bring the man she’s falling in love with closer to damnation.

Content warning: This novel contains sexual scenes, adult situations, and profanity.

 

Excerpt:

 

John felt the rumble of his engine and the slow drift of his car, almost hypnotic, as he sped across the desert. Multicolored light rushed past the edges of his windshield, splashing like colored raindrops and sparks. A mountain rose on the horizon. It left him behind as fast as it had appeared. Every inch his steering wheel turned was a sharp turn. He tracked the road following the lines lit by his headlights, cars passing over the deserted highway every few seconds, though they were miles apart. When he had first driven the car years ago, he had gripped the wheel tightly with the realization that an impact with anyone on the highway at this speed would be fatal—not for him but for anyone he collided with. Now, seasoned and worn, having wandered for years, he passed cars as if they were hills and valleys.

He pressed harder on the gas. The hills and horizon bent before his eyes. At this speed, every mile was a turn. This fast, the car itself aided him in impossible turns beyond his senses. He’d be invisible to the human eye now, visible only to, perhaps, spirits and specters of the dead stuck in this cesspool of a world, like him.

He felt desolation. Blessed loneliness. So he headed for his sanctuary.

Less than ten minutes from Arizona, he found himself in another desert. In Denver the temperature had been in the eighties during the day. Here in the Mojave Desert in the middle of the night, it was a nice seventy outside.

He slowed down as he approached his favorite spot. The drops of light stopped bouncing off the glass. The colors faded. Then he was in darkness in a canyon. But even if the sun were out, it’d be completely barren.

He turned on a dirt road only he knew about. In another moment, he was there.

Before him was a vast field of sand and salt. He shut off his headlights, and it was pitch black except the bright stars above. He got out of the car, and his black boots crackled along dry, caked dirt. Then he put his hands in his pockets and walked away from his car.

That’s when the images came. Usually he turned from them. Not after seeing Amanda. The images always came to him more clearly when he was in the dark. He never slept because of them. Now he longed for them while awake. Now he could sift through them to try to make sense of the new mark. Amanda. To see if she really was who he thought she was. Perhaps he had only imagined the resemblance?

In a short time, a picture came to his mind as vivid as the stars.

He was on the beach in Southern California. It was afternoon. But just as now, he had his thumbs in the pockets of his jeans, was wearing shades, and was staring out at the sea.

 

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About A.L. Hawke:

A.L. Hawke is the author of the internationally bestselling Hawthorne University Witch series. The author lives in Southern California torching the midnight candle over lovers against a backdrop of machines, nymphs, magic, spice and mayhem. A.L. Hawke writes fantasy and romance spanning four thousand years, from pre-civilization to contemporary and beyond.
 

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The Guardian (The Furies, Book 2) by A.L. Hawke

 

Release date: December 7, 2022

Subgenre: Urban Fantasy, Greek Mythology

 

About The Guardian:

 

Medusa vacays on the Italian Riviera to stop her best friend from destroying the world.

I’m staying off the coast on the Italian Riviera in Portofino. Have you ever been? It’s this gorgeous bay surrounded by rectangular red and yellow pastel buildings with swanky shops, restaurants and gorge trails.

Well, I don’t want to be here. And I really didn’t want my lover to join me. See, I came to protect my friend. The ancient Greek gods of Olympus claim Arachne holds the Scepter of Azure. The Scepter is a weapon that can freeze an entire city. Well, I don’t really care about the Scepter, I care about my friend. Of course, Arachne can hold her own. Don’t ever underestimate animals like spiders—or snakes, like me, for that matter.

The Guardian  is a short novella.

Medusa returns from My Evil Eye in this vacation urban fantasy novella. Although The Guardian is chronologically Book II in the Furies series, this book is a distinctive stand-alone that was written to be enjoyed without having read the first novel, My Evil Eye.

 

Excerpt:

 

 It’s dark, but the water’s warm. A green glow shines in front of me. That’s the glow from my eyes. The thick black cobras in my hair are stirring on my head like crazy. They don’t like water and they know where this is heading. My incisors have grown into fangs, my fingernails are sharp as knives, and my face is wrinkled like an old lady’s. Yeah, I’m in full-on Medusa mode. But I probably look pretty silly to the fish as a sea monster swimming in a bathing suit.
Oh, there’s a shark. He’s a big one. Watch out, sharkie, I’ve got teeth too. I adore these creatures, by the way. They’re cannibals. As a monster myself, I play nice and find eating my own kind to be really gross, but I respect killing machines.
I lost the little fella. I smell him more than see him now. He’s giving me a wide breadth. It must be these snakes snapping back at him over my head.
I’ve changed into Medusa because, honestly, I’m totally freaked out. It’s creepy swimming alone in the ocean at night. I’m waiting for a great white shark to latch onto my legs and tug me down, like in that famous scene in Jaws. Remember that movie? You know when the girl at the beginning of the movie is, like, laughing while frolicking on the beach, running from her boyfriend, and she goes out on the water alone? She jerks in surprise because a two-ton shark is chomping off her legs. Then she’s pulled down, spurting unintelligible things as her whole body is torn apart. I love that scene. Anyway, sharkies, you best not pull that shit on me.
Where’s my marker?
The important thing at the moment is finding the statue. It’s not much further out, if I remember.
I peek out of the water for a second to catch my breath. I squint as light shines from a tower under the shadow of a hill by the shore. I see a small boat sailing near me.
Duck down!
I duck. Then I snort sea water and the water trickles over my eyes. My boyfriend’s snorkeling mask is too large. He’s going to hike over to San Fruttuoso Bay and snorkel tomorrow, and he’ll be using aquatic equipment during the day like a normal person.
I reposition my leaky mask over my face and look down toward the sea floor. A few scattered fish glow green in the light from my eyes. Other than that, it’s just a dark, sandy floor about five meters down. No statue. I gargle more salt water.
Jesus.
Yes, Jesus. Where are you?
I’d really like to return to my dry, warm hotel right now.
I think the effigy is closer to the shore.
One fin at a time, Medusa. One fin at a time.
And there it is! Christo degli Abissi.
The Jesus Christ statue is standing on stone steps underwater, with outstretched arms—glowing green from my gaze—looking right up at me. A few small fish are swimming around  a small reef behind him. The marker points to the spot. But I need more air to search. Ready? Well…here goes.

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About A.L. Hawke:

A.L. Hawke lives in Southern California torching the midnight candle over lovers against a backdrop of machines, nymphs, magic, spice and mayhem. With a medical science background, the author specializes in romantic fantasy and science fiction. 
 

Website | BookBub | Goodreads | Author Central | Newsletter

 

My Evil Eye (The Furies, Book 1) by A.L. Hawke

 

Release date: October 17, 2022

Subgenre: Urban Fantasy, Greek Mythology

 

About My Evil Eye:

 

Don’t look at me. Just don’t.

My name’s Gorgiana. For decades, I’ve lived a happy, simple life, shelving books at Sunland University’s library in Florida. But my peace ended when I witnessed an assault, bringing back horrors from my past. Or course, I took care of him. His body’s no longer whole. But that revealed my location.

I asked for help from my best friend, Cora, the goddess Persephone, and everything turned out just peachy. More than peachy. I met this real hot guy named Ash that same night. Later he took me out to a nightclub by the beach—next, a movie. All was well, until some thug stuck a gun in my boyfriend’s back. But I took care of him. He’s in pieces now too. But it all puts Medusa in a heap of trouble.

See, my name’s Medusa. Yeah, I’m that monster with the snakes in my hair. I warned you not to look.

 

Excerpt:

 

 Remember that thing about getting all riled up and full of adrenaline and the beast inside me burning off my hangover? Yeah? Well, that was complete bullshit. My head feels like it could explode. I mean, it’s not as bad as when it had a bullet hole in it, but it’s still really bad.
I threw up when I woke up. But, boy, did you see the bathroom I was barfing in? Everything is gilded! Everything. There are wall-to-wall mirrors, marble floors, and this really cute vanity chair. And this isn’t even Cora’s master bathroom. It was the guest bathroom. And the guest room has a giant floor-to-ceiling window looking out on the gorgeous lake, columns built into the walls, and these huge colorful flowered vases, and, well...her house is amazing.
I slide off the most comfortable mattress in the world and grab a pair of opaque shades Cora left on the nightstand and insisted I wear around the house. I feel rested—maybe it’s the bed or the tranquility of her home—even though the clock on the nightstand says only eleven-thirty. The floors are a little cold, being made of polished travertine.
I walk to the window. The view is breathtaking. I stretch. I’m wearing a teal nightgown. I was so messed up last night, or early this morning, that I don’t even remember getting into it. I didn’t shower, but now I kind of want to. And my hair’s a mess—more so than usual.
As you stand with me by the bright sunny window looking out at this, like, amazing vista, do you see my wigglies? Go ahead. Look. I’ll run my hand along my hair. See, the snakes move a little in the sunlight. They’re small, narrow, and black, but they’re still there, getting all excited from the light. That’s why I never go out during the day. The bright light shines on my hair, and you can see them. It doesn’t look that terrifying. At least not to me. I’ve been told that to people around me, it just looks like my hair’s moving. That’s why I always have it in a bun at work. I know what you’re thinking. Why not a wig? The snakes eat it (sorry, gross, but true). And they don’t put up with hats. Like never.
I yawn. Then I touch the glass. Then I shake my head. Boy, this vista is incredible. In the far background, I catch a ship sailing. And a flock of birds. The clouds are just wisps of white. Far below my bare feet, through the window, I see trees everywhere.
“Excuse me?” squeaks a quiet little voice.
I whirl around and quickly move from the light of the window.
“Who are you?” a little girl asks.
This little tyke is standing by the door in a matching nightgown. Hers, like mine, is a light blueish-green silk one. She looks adorable.
“My name is Gorgiana.”
“You’re mommy’s guest?”
Mommy? Cora?
“What’s your name, sweetheart?”
“Moros.”
She has bright blue eyes—brighter than any human’s. It reminds me of Cora. It’s literally as if Cora had a child but, of course, it couldn’t be.

 

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About A.L. Hawke:

A.L. Hawke lives in Southern California torching the midnight candle over lovers against a backdrop of machines, nymphs, magic, spice and mayhem. With a medical science background, the author specializes in romantic fantasy and science fiction. 
 

Website | BookBub | Goodreads | Author Central | Newsletter

 

Alondra (Hawthorne University Witch, Prequel) by A.L. Hawke

 

Release date: May 23, 2022

Subgenre: Paranormal Romance

 

About Alondra:

 

I fell in love with a goth, but she’s a witch.

Starting school at Hawthorne University was not going well, until I met my classmate Alondra. Allie was different. She was goth. But she was also mysterious, confident and fun. I was into that. My name’s Liam. My friends call me Lee.

Things got weird after I accompanied her to her haunts. Poltergeists and demons attacked little girls. I watched Alondra help exorcise these ghosts, but some of their evil stuck to me.

Well, being attracted to a witch was one thing; dating one was quite another. It seemed the closer I got to Allie, the more her witchcraft endangered my friends. And my soul. You decide. I chronicled everything here in her book.

Alondra is a prequel to the internationally bestselling Hawthorne University Witch series. The novel takes place twenty years before Broomstick.

Content warning: Alondra is a new adult college paranormal romance containing profanity, sexual scenes, adult situations, and, of course, witchcraft.

 

Excerpt:

 

In a dark corner in the ugly three-story building we call the Taylor Library lies a secret enclave known only to me and a select few nerds matriculating through Hawthorne U. I’m sitting alone there in one of the brown leather recliners, with dim lights overhead, studying my textbook. That’s when I notice small pieces of white paper floating down like snow onto my page. Then comes more. I look up and my girlfriend is standing over me, holding two books under her arm and letting torn paper spill over my book. Her long black hair is fixed in a ponytail, and she’s wearing a black button-down with a checkered skirt and black leggings. She’s makeup-less. Even her lips are red. The getup would almost be preppy, if it weren’t so black.

I shouldn’t be that surprised to find her. See, she’s one of the nerds who knows about my secret spot. And she’s got a big irritating grimace.

I glower at her. I’m really pissed. She pouts.

Then I look back down at my book and ignore her. She grunts.

“Found you.”

I lift an eyebrow. I sigh, shake my head, and turn to the next page.

She walks over to the recliner across from me and tries to slide it over. This is really funny because the chair must weigh, like, a thousand pounds. She sighs and gives up. Then she comes back over and sits on the couch beside me, but a bit too far—which I like—and heaves a big sigh.

“Sorry, Liam,” she says. “Didn’t mean to disturb your studying.”

“I’m not mad about that.”

“Oh… good.” Then she irritatingly puts one of her books to the side on the couch and opens the other one. She scoots back, pulls out a highlighter from her purse, and starts studying, as if we planned to study here together all along.

I look at her, but she doesn’t look up from her book. She just says, “Hi.”

“What are you doing?”

“Studying,” she says with a shrug, staring at her textbook.

I get up.

She grunts again, thinking I’m leaving, I suppose.

“I’m mad that you two didn’t say a damn word about what happened last night the whole drive home,” I confess, falling back in my chair. “When I awoke in the morning, dazed like last time, Jane was back to being your best friend and yapping with you about clothes and the newest fucking movie that just hit theaters. Why? You never explained anything. It was like Hilltop Bluff. I woke up to you telling Alice that the ghost was gone and all was well.”

“It was.”

“Jane fell into my arms terrified as if needing protection,” I say, shaking my head. “Protection from you.”

“Maybe you dreamed that?” Alondra quips. She laughs at my expression. I don’t. She seems like she’s in a really good mood, which actually upsets me more. “Oh, come on, Lee, Jane and I have had our differences. We fight and we make up. We made up. It happens all the time. Now it’s over. I heard her argument and I agreed. I won’t do that to her again.”

“What did you do to her?”

“Well…” She stops because, right then, a student with glasses and a backpack walks down the steps.

 

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About A.L. Hawke:

A.L. Hawke lives in Southern California torching the midnight candle over lovers against a backdrop of machines, nymphs, magic, spice and mayhem. With a medical science background, the author specializes in romantic fantasy and science fiction. 
 

Website | BookBub | Goodreads | Author Central | Newsletter