Goddess, Awakened. Cate Masters

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      GODDESS, AWAKENED

      The Goddess Connection Book 1

      CATE MASTERS

      LYRICAL PRESS

       http://lyricalpress.com/

      KENSINGTON PUBLISHING CORP.

       http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/

      Dedication

      To Gary, who always made me feel like a goddess.

      Every woman should be so lucky, and demand nothing less.

      Chapter 1

      In starting her life over, Joss had expected some resistance, even some trouble, but not this. The bedroom floor boards trembled beneath her golden-slippered feet. Tendrils of an unseen power curled upward from deep within the ground, tingling through her toes. She paused to steady herself, then continued to put the finishing touches on her costume. The tremors grew into rumbles and their hum seeped beneath her skin. When their tiny wisps twined through her mind, she clenched her hands. Enough. Go away.

      Thick as starlight on a clear summer’s eve, sweet as the lavender blossoms she had yet to plant, energy whooshed up through the cracks of the worn wood and out into the October night.

      She gripped the bureau until it passed, the vibrations rolling over her in lessening waves. Bubbly, effervescent waves. “Third time tonight, Taz.” Each departure took longer, and more of the essence remained.

      When the dog whined, she stroked his fur. “Don’t worry, it won’t hurt you.”

      Even if tonight the waves were palpable enough to make her hairs stand on end. Oh, no, please.

      Nothing could ruin tonight. More than a party, this event would determine her future. And after three years of grief, she’d never allow anything to trap her in its clutches again.

      Joss adjusted the golden leaves in her honey-colored hair. Amazingly still in place, her boring shoulder-length locks swept into a passable French twist. Relief escaped in a laugh. “Good thing. I can’t spend another hour transforming myself.”

      On a tight budget, the cream top and skirt cinched with a golden scarf, and bronze eye shadow and lipstick sufficed to complete her outfit.

      Her new neighbors would start arriving soon. Or so she hoped, if they’d accepted her invitation to the Halloween party.

      Taz tilted his head, and she patted it. “I know. Some golden goddess, huh?” Way to make a first impression. No goddesses in mythology books were middle-aged. At least, none she remembered anyway. Maybe a few widows among them, the status adding to their power. But not her. After John died, she’d struggled for three years to gather herself together, move her life forward, sell her home, and buy this old bed and breakfast to renovate into an inn. A chance to surround herself with people, make herself useful. Needed.

      The dog whipped his head toward the window, then ran and stood against the sill to yip.

      Drawn by what appeared in the fields beyond, Joss followed. “Shh,” she whispered, half afraid to disturb them. Or call attention to herself.

      Tiny flickering lights bobbed and weaved in the darkness. Too late in the year for fireflies, but if anyone mentioned the unusual activity, she might pawn that off as the excuse, though she knew better. Had known the truth her entire life.

      “They must feel the energy too.” As usual, they probably discerned her presence as deeply as she did theirs. Awed by the sheer number of them, she watched in silence. What had gotten into her, planning a Halloween party? On All Hallow’s Eve, the one night when spirits stirred from beyond. When invisible doors between realms opened and allowed normally dormant beings, both light and dark, to return to this world. The very sort of weirdness she’d spent the last two decades trying to keep out of her life.

      Headlights flashed across the back field as a car swung down the long driveway, erasing the flickering glow.

      Joss squared her shoulders. “Too late now. It’s already begun.”

      The foreboding words chilled Joss, though it began long before tonight. She’d known the first day she’d set eyes on the property in September by the still-vibrant gardens, filled with flowers that should have gone to seed by then. More importantly, it resonated in her bones. Beneath this ground. And they visited nearly every night.

      She shook off her wariness. “Let’s go. It’s probably Annie.” Her friend had already spent all day preparing the tempting treats for the party.

      With a woof, Taz led the way down the hall, Joss close behind his long, fringed tail. He nosed open the swinging door to the kitchen. By the time she peered out the back door, the car’s trunk had popped open. Annie climbed out, flew to the back, and loaded containers into her arms.

      Joss hurried outside. “Hey Annie, let me help.”

      “Great.” Annie stacked trays in her arms and smiled at the dog trotting past toward the field. “Hello to you, too, Mr. Taz.”

      “He’s on a mission.” For the second time, her own words hit hard. Did her dog commune with them? He seemed drawn to the fields whenever they appeared.

      “So am I.” Annie cackled with a definite witchy air.

      At the sight of the myriad of food containers and aluminum warmers, Joss halted, uncertain where to start. “You’ve outdone yourself. We’ll have enough to feed the entire town.”

      Her friend worked efficiently, lining up everything on the counter, then lighting the sterno beneath the warming trays. Joss could almost believe Annie’s witch outfit wasn’t a costume, but instead revealed her true magic as a chef.

      “That’s the idea.” Annie kept working as she spoke. “Reel ’em in tonight and dazzle their taste buds so they’ll fill up our dinner calendar for the rest of the year.”

      Her friend nailed it. The inn—and Joss—depended on tonight’s success. “Tell me what I can do.”

      “Besides charming our guests?” Annie gave her a quick once-over. “Love the costume, by the way.”

      A humorless laugh burst out. Hopefully, she could contribute more than charm, otherwise the inn was doomed. “Yours, too. I’ll do my best to be a hostess goddess, but before anyone arrives, I’m going to make myself useful. Put me to work.”

      Pausing, Annie aimed her steadfast grin at Joss. “We’re going to make this work, you know.”

      A sudden lump in her throat prevented Joss from answering. Instead, she nodded.

      In three steps, Annie stood in front of her, hands clasping her shoulders. “We will.”

      “I know. At least the kitchen’s in good shape.” Unlike the rest of the house. Joss couldn’t help thinking of the mountain of work ahead.

      “Okay, so the inn’s a fixer-upper.” Annie shrugged. “You knew that going in. We’ll remake this old Victorian into the gem of Boiling Springs. Right?”

      She drew Annie into a quick embrace. “I love you.”

      “I love you too, hon. Now, grab a pair of oven mitts and carry those servers into the dining room. People will be arriving soon.”

      Shaking off the gloomy mood, she set to work. After relocating the third tray of food, Joss returned to the kitchen.

      “I almost forgot.” Annie rummaged in her handbag and drew out a disc. “Pop this CD in the player. Not exactly “Monster Mash,” but it’ll set a spooky mood.”

      “Great. I tried to find some suitable music, but wasted too much time searching through boxes. I have to finish unpacking.” Joss hurried to the front parlor and inserted it into the stereo. Strains of a crisp violin solo filled the room, a haunting