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    Beguiled (A Ravynne Sisters Paranormal Thriller Book 8)
    Beguiled (A Ravynne Sisters Paranormal Thriller Book 8)
    Beguiled (A Ravynne Sisters Paranormal Thriller Book 8)
    Ebook256 pages3 hours

    Beguiled (A Ravynne Sisters Paranormal Thriller Book 8)

    By Merabeth James

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    About this ebook

    The Ravynne sisters head to New England to rescue yet another family member. This time it’s their Great-Aunt Margaret whom Meg fears might be a werewolf for reasons Charlie thinks are quite idiotic. Arriving at the enormous mansion hunkered on the cliff’s edge above the restless sea like a malevolent gargoyle, they find themselves deeply embroiled in the evil that permeates the very walls of Ravenscliffe where one of the most frightening entities they have ever encountered wants one of the Ravynne sisters dead...dead and gone, so her spirit will not linger to haunt where she is unwelcome. But the very beguiling owner wants something else entirely and will do whatever it takes to achieve his end no matter the cost. That price may well be one of the Ravynne sister’s lives...possibly their very souls..

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMerabeth James
    Release dateAug 1, 2021
    ISBN9781005487331
    Beguiled (A Ravynne Sisters Paranormal Thriller Book 8)
    Author

    Merabeth James

    There are six things important to me...well, most important to me: To love unconditionally, to always keep a sense of 'wonder', to always be kind, to find joy in simple things, to never take myself too seriously, and to make sure I don't leave this earth with a list of "if only I hads".I've taken many 'leaps of faith' in my time and, so far, have landed on my feet or, in one case, on a dilapitated houseboat with my dog, and a lot of enthusiasm. I named her 'Sanctuary Annie' and hoped for the best. I knew nothing about boats, couldn't swim and wondered how long she would stay afloat. In the middle of the night, when my dog jumped up to join me on the antique Victorian bed I had moved on board, I would check to see if he was wet, knowing, if so, we were both in big trouble. But Sanctuary Annie hung in there, even surviving a hurricane, when others around her were not so fortunate.Living in the small marina, with the sea as my back yard, I found a profound sense of peace..and the love of my life....my Jim, captain of 'Wings', a beautiful racing sloop that flies across the water, when the wind fills her sails.I often think how much I would have missed out on, if I hadn't taken that leap of faith and followed my heart. Life is meant to be lived and I intend to keep on doing just that.

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      Book preview

      Beguiled (A Ravynne Sisters Paranormal Thriller Book 8) - Merabeth James

      This book is entirely a work of fiction. All characters are entirely fictitious and do not represent any persons living or dead. Product, business, location names used remain the property of any all trademark holders and do not represent an endorsement or association of any kind, either expressed or implied.

      (copyright 2014 Elizabeth Repka all rights reserved)

      Beguiled

      by

      Merabeth James

      Prologue

      Tell me about them, Margaret, he whispered huskily while he traced the contour of her ear with one long, lean finger. Tell me.

      She shivered feeling his warm breath fan her cheek…the heat from his body pressed so close to hers. We’ve been over this before, Lucien. Why do you keep asking me that?

      His finger brushed her lips ever so softly. Tell me.

      She took a deep breath then began, The youngest one is my namesake, but everyone calls her Meg though I’ve told her that makes her seem quite common.

      Tell me what she looks like, he murmured.

      Well, they’re both somewhere between thirty and forty. I’ve lost track of their exact ages. Margaret is….

      Meg. Call her ‘Meg’ since that’s what she prefers.

      She swallowed hard as she felt his warm hand explore beneath her thin nightgown. I can’t think with you doing that, she told him hoarsely.

      He laughed. Easily remedied. I’ll stop until you finish. Go on.

      She sighed and continued, Meg is shorter and tends to be on the plump side judging from her photos. When she visited me as a child, she was always stuffing anything sweet she could find into her mouth even sugar lumps right from the bowl. Her hair is more of a golden blonde than her sister’s and curly, which runs to frizz in the humidity. Mostly, I remember, she loved to talk and talk and talk.

      And her nature? What is she like beyond her exterior, this Meg?

      Easily led by that hoyden sister of hers. Been married once to someone called Michael or Mitch. Didn’t manage to hang on to him for long. No children. Has a fondness for animals that proved most inconvenient. Found a mangy, stray cat on their last visit here and sneaked it into the house. Fed it leftovers after everyone was asleep. You can imagine my horror and disgust. We’ve been over this before, why do you keep asking me?

      Because it pleases me. Now tell me about the other one again.

      She sighed wearily. The opposite in every way. Her name is Charlotte, but she insists on being called Charlie. Willful…stubborn…and sassy. A disgraceful tomboy from day one. Taller now than most men would want, skinnier than her sister, with long silver blonde hair that hangs straight as a stick. Worked for some government agency and now writes novels. Successful novels from what I’ve heard though I never read fiction. Never married though my sister told me there was someone recently. Don’t know his name, but that’s not too surprising considering that I only hear from Margaret…Meg…on Christmas and my birthday. Charlotte adds a bit at the end in her horrific scrawl.

      Go on. I’m enthralled.

      They live together at Hensley Hall and run a B&B there. Supposedly haunted though I don’t personally entertain the possibility of such a thing. My sister tells me they’re into ghost hunting as ridiculous as that sounds.

      He laughed and kissed her lightly on her nose. You are sounding rather prim, Margaret, for someone lying nearly naked in bed next to me…an almost stranger.

      She blushed hotly. I have become a wanton and worse all because of you, and whatever you did to me.

      And you wouldn’t change a thing, would you? he asked kissing her throat then nibbling along its length. I walked into your life, and there was an instant attraction we both felt.

      She smiled and snuggled against his warmth. I still don’t know why I let you in. It was completely out of character for me to do so.

      You are so beautiful, Margaret. Beautiful and very desirable indeed, he murmured his white teeth gleaming in the firelight as he leaned on one elbow and swept her body with his dark gaze.

      She shivered as her pulses quickened. "You make me feel beautiful. When I look in my mirror, I don’t recognize the woman I see there. Promise you won’t leave me, Lucien. That I will always feel…be as I am now," she begged as his finger circled her navel through the thin fabric.

      He laughed softly as she closed her eyes and moaned. You know the price, Margaret. Are you willing to pay it?

      Arching her body to meet his now searching fingers, she pleaded, You can have them. Both of them. Only please, Lucien, take me now…this second. I need you inside me so badly it hurts.

      He smiled as he watched her under half closed lids. "After you write to them. Tell them to come for a visit to my home…Ravenscliffe. An amusing coincidence that they would be Ravynnes, too, isn’t it?"

      Margaret’s eyes flew open, and she shuddered violently as though her heated body had been dashed with cold water. They would not come without a reason, Lucien. Not for me. As I said, the family is not close, and they have not been here since they were children.

      Then tell them that we are to be married. Invite them to the wedding. Insist they come, he told her.

      You mean to marry me? she asked in astonishment.

      He smiled enigmatically. As to that, we will see, but you will be sharing my home for the foreseeable future. Won’t that be cozy, my jewel?

      The firelight bathed her body with its rosy gold light, and he looked her over slowly. His special talent had kept the woman he remembered at bay. She was no longer old with a bone thin body and hard, cold eyes. She was young and more beautiful than she could have ever imagined. That was what he saw when he took her…what she saw in the mirror she gazed in so frequently. The price was to be two great-nieces she cared nothing about.

      He had found their latest picture in a Christmas card while he had been going through her things one afternoon at Hill Cottage after he had entertained himself with her ‘new’ body, and she had fallen asleep afterwards. They were standing in the snow in front of what must be Hensley Hall and holding a Merry Christmas sign in their hands. Meg had been smiling happily. A guileless smile full of warmth. Charlie’s smile was not so easily labeled. Even from that photo, he sensed a wariness about her as though she was sniffing the wind for hidden predators like some sleek golden cat. Well, unwittingly she had found one, he thought with a wry smile, or rather he had found her…found them both. Perhaps he would play with them for a while before he tipped his hand. Wouldn’t that be fun? There had been so little to amuse him in a very long time. His smile deepened.

      Chapter One

      Tell me it’s finally straight before I climb down from this ladder for the tenth time, Charlie told her with a scowl.

      "Fourth if I was counting which I’m not, and I think you almost have it right this time. Up a quarter of an inch on the left side should do it, Meg replied staring up at the antique oil painting. Looks great there, don’t you think?"

      Charlie’s scowl deepened. Do you really want to know what I think?

      Probably not, she replied.

      Tell me again why you had to have this particular painting?

      Meg’s answering grin dimpled her almost plump cheeks. It spoke to me like the others we’ve collected only more so. It’s creepy but interesting, too, and after I cleaned it you can see a surprising amount of detail like the letter ‘M’ next to that itty bitty black bird in the corner where the signature should be that looks like a raven. Tell me that doesn’t intrigue you? It’s like destiny came knocking and, anyway, no one else wanted it, and now we…

      Have it, Charlie finished for her. "I’ll admit the raven thing is interesting….or sort of… but it’s just an amateurish painting you found in a bin at an auction house you’ve been dragging me to every Saturday since we got back."

      It was in a box lot with that cute little area rug that will be perfect somewhere yet to be discovered, she told her. Besides, it’s a haunted looking mansion we don’t ever have to set foot in. A scarier than heck kind of place we don’t have to crawl around in…or under…or over though I don’t think we’ve done that last bit yet.

      Charlie sighed. I’m coming down now and staying down this time.

      Meg heaved a sigh of her own. Look at the restless waves hammering at the cliff and the dark clouds blotting out the sun. I can almost hear those gulls circling overhead…smell the salt tang of the sea.

      Charlie eyed the painting for a long moment before she replied, You’re romanticizing again. That doesn’t look at all like a place we ever want to visit.

      You weren’t listening! That’s the whole point I’ve been trying to make, an exasperated Meg told her. It’s just a product of canvas, paint, and probably someone’s imagination. Nothing we need to ever worry about, but it looks great hanging there. Perfect for a haunted B&B. Besides…

      She was interrupted before she could finish as a flustered Agnes bustled into the room. Her iron gray hair was coming free from its tight bun and her face was flushed. Thrusting a letter into each of their hands, she told them, Came for you in the post. Your ‘children’ as you call them wrote all over the wall in the Blue Room where the couple from Iowa was staying, and I’ve been busy scrubbing it off since lunch.

      Meg’s eyes widened in surprise. "Was staying? They’re booked till Thursday, aren’t they?"

      Not any more. They skedaddled at a dead run like their hind ends were on fire.

      Meg frowned and shook her head. "For heavens sake, what did they expect? They wanted a haunted B&B and that’s what they got! What did they write on the wall that scared them off?

      ‘Begone or die!’ written in what looked like blood just above their bed. ‘Pears our B&B is a bit too haunted for some folks. Anyway they’re long gone and the damage is done. Got too much to do around here to keep chasin’ after that lot of little hooligans…ghosts or not. And since I’m in here, my advice would be to burn that there picture. Fair gives me the shivers it does, and with that said she left the room muttering under her breath all the way out the door.

      Both sisters looked at the letters in their hands. Mine’s from our Great-Aunt Margaret of all people….Aunt Margaret the werewolf who we were just talking about not that long ago, Meg told her.

      Charlie sniffed. Aunt Margaret is not a werewolf just because she was born on Christmas Eve like a lot of other people who aren’t werewolves either.

      Meg smiled. "Sez you. How about all that facial hair and her peculiar gait that I may have mentioned a time or two lately? And she was sneaky. Always checking to see what we were up to and then reporting us to mother, so they could gang up on us."

      But Charlie was no longer listening. She was staring at the envelope in her hand. What’s wrong, Charlie? Meg asked in alarm. Your face is all funny. Who’s it from?

      Charlie looked at Meg. From him. No return address, but I know his handwriting, and I’m afraid to open it.

      Meg offered her best reassuring smile. Nothing can be that bad. Maybe it’s good news. You’ve been trying to get in touch with Zack since we’ve been back and getting nowhere.

      All they told me is that he was in deep cover…has been for months. This should tell me a whole lot more.

      Then open it, Meg replied. You’re just making yourself crazy wondering what’s in there.

      Charlie nodded and ripped open the envelope. Pulling out a thin sheet of paper, she read it quickly then looked at Meg. There was no hiding the pain in her eyes.

      Tell me, Charlie. But only if you want to, Meg told her softly.

      Charlie sighed deeply then read out loud:

      My dearest Charlie,

      I heard that you were asking about me. I am well and safe at the moment, but this time away has given me a chance to think about a lot of things. I cannot see a future for us. Neither of us are children with delusions that love conquers all. We both know that love by itself just isn’t enough…not nearly enough.

      When we first met, I sensed an adventurous spirit…a kindred soul, but I am still out here fighting the bad guys, and you have chosen a different path. You are where you belong. Safe at Hensley Hall with Meg where I don’t have to worry about you. It’s a life I cannot share, and how long would it be before I made you miserable? That’s not how I want ‘us’ to end. Remember me kindly and let me go.

      Zack

      Charlie looked up at Meg with tears in her eyes, and Meg pulled her into a hug. There, there, Charlie. He’s an idiot, she told her as her own tears spilled down both cheeks. You are the best thing that could have ever happened to him, and the life we share is far from dull or safe. For heaven’s sake, we’ve just returned from Romania where we fought off a whole pack of werewolves.

      Charlie wiped her tears away with the back of her hand. It’s okay, Meggie. I sensed this coming, and I’m more than glad I never told him about the baby we almost had. And he’s wrong about another thing.

      Meg nodded. "I know. You are the delusional child who believes in love and happy endings. Something you take great pains not to show anyone."

      Because it makes me vulnerable. Something I could never afford to be except with you, she replied in as normal a tone as she could manage. Now I need to stop talking about all this. Open your letter and see what our great-aunt has to say.

      But Meg couldn’t let it go quite so easily. Brushing a tear off her sister’s cheek and planting a kiss in its place, she told her, "I love you so much, but I want you to be happy. I know I’ve asked you this before, but are you sure you want to be here with me and not out there with Zack wherever there is?"

      Charlie tipped up Meg’s chin and looked into her worried blue eyes. There’s no place I’d rather be than here with you. Read the letter, Meg and stop fussing over me. I’ll nurse my wounds for a while and move on. What else can I do?

      Just wait it out, I guess and hope time takes care of it, Meg told her with a sigh then offered her a smile she was still far from feeling. I don’t remember ever getting a letter from Aunt Margaret before. In our dysfunctional maternal side of the family nobody speaks to each other…or rarely anyway…but here goes. Ripping open the flap, she shook out the letter on its stiff white stationery.

      Dear Nieces,

      I addressed the letter to Margaret, but it is meant for both of you. It seems I am to be married in two weeks to Mr. Lucien Black, and I want you at the wedding to represent my family since my niece….your mother….is still abroad. I am staying at my fiancé’s house, which is not that far from my own home, Hill Cottage, where you visited as children. It is called Ravenscliffe and overlooks the sea. I will expect you both as soon as possible. Please do not refuse this simple request from one who has always held you dear to her heart.

      Fondly,

      Great-Aunt Margaret.

      Both sisters looked at each other in open-mouthed astonishment. You’ve got to be kidding? Married! He must either be some sort of fortune hunter or insane because, for the life of me, I can’t imagine what else the attraction would be, Meg exclaimed. And let me add for the record, I never felt ‘dear to her heart’ or any other part of her anatomy.

      Nor me for that matter, Charlie told her dryly. Aunt Margaret is far from a wealthy heiress. What money does she have? Her Social Security checks? How old is she anyway?

      Meg frowned as she tried to remember. She was one of those unexpected late life babies, so she’s not that much older than mother as weird as that is considering she’s her aunt. Maybe someone was actually smitten by her as unlikely as that is. It happens.

      Charlie snorted in disbelief. Love would have to be both blind and deaf in her case. Remember how she used to complain about everything? Nothing was ever right. Nothing was ever perfect enough.

      Especially you, Meg told her pointedly.

      Charlie laughed. She called me a ‘shameless hoyden’, and we had to go look it up in the dictionary, remember?

      She was right about that. You were and are.

      It was you she caught filching sugar and bringing that ‘mangy animal’ as she called it into the house.

      And you told her it was your idea….the mangy animal part though he was adorable and more matted than mangy though he fluffed up with a good brushing, Meg reminded her.

      Charlie grimaced in distaste. You used my hairbrush as I remember.

      And all this time I didn’t think you’d noticed. What do you want to do about this wedding?

      Charlie frowned thoughtfully. Something feels way wrong to me, and she is family even if she hasn’t bothered with us in years.

      Meg sniffed. "Never bothered with us is closer to it which we really should be grateful for all things considered. Remember the card we sent her on our first Christmas here at Hensley Hall?"

      How could I forget? Ankle deep in snow, freezing our butts off, and I was supposed to smile. So, are we going to this wedding or not?

      I say we go, but I have a feeling we’re going to be sorry.

      Charlie’s reply was preceded by a heartfelt groan. Make the arrangements. It will take us a few days to get there unless you’re in a hurry and want to drive all night.

      I think dawdling along the way is in order, don’t you? Meg asked with a grin.

      ***

      It was early on their second morning out that Charlie thumped the steering wheel with the heel of her hand and told her, You’ve had me stop four times for a pee break since we left the motel this morning.

      You know when I’m nervous my bladder shrinks to walnut size, and it’s not like that gas station up ahead is miles off the road, Meg replied. Just pull in and give me one minute...maybe two or so…and I’ll be right back. Might get yourself a cup of coffee if it will improve your morning grouch.

      Charlie smiled. That’s not such a bad idea, but first tell me what’s making you so nervous. Something you might have shared before we were hundreds of miles up the road?

      Meg sighed. "It’s one of those ‘feeling’ things again that’s gotten worse the closer we get. You’re right. Something is wrong."

      You already knew that when I told you I wasn’t able to turn up much through my contacts. Lucien Black is a blank slate, which is more than a little disturbing all by itself. Everyone leaves some kind of trail these days if you know where and how to look. That’s not to say there aren’t Lucien Blacks out there…just none that seem to fit the glass slipper though that’s strictly my hunch. Fact is, we don’t know enough about him to be sure he isn’t one of those we uncovered.

      Your hunches have always been pretty good, Meg pointed out.

      But not always and this could well be one of those times. You still haven’t told me why the sudden attack of nerves. What gives, Meg?

      Meg hesitated for a moment before she replied, I’m beginning to think the wedding was just a ploy to get us up there, and Lucien Black is some fiction she invented for that purpose, which is why I have to pee every fifty miles. There’s something I didn’t tell you.

      Like what? Charlie asked in surprise looking at her sister slumped down in the seat next to her.

      I had a dream last night, she told her with a sigh. Remember Aunt Margaret’s sugar bowl with the blue forget-me-nots on it? The one that was part of a set that she loved?

      Go on.

      "Well, I

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