Bound by Magick 4-in-1 Box Set (Pentacles of Magick)

Bound By Magick

ELIZA GAYLE

The Pentacles of Magick Collection

Untamed Magick

Magick Ignited

Force of Magick

Magick Provoked

Bound
by Magick

Pentacles
of Magick

Copyright
© Eliza Gayle, 2011

Cover
art by: Mina Carter

Gypsy
Ink Books

www.gypsyinkbooks.wordpress.com

This
is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or
business establishments, events or locales is coincidental.

All
Rights Are Reserved. No part of this may be used or reproduced in any manner
whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations
embodied in critical articles and reviews.

What readers are saying about Eliza Gayle’s Books

“Each and every book of the Pentacles of Magick series has
been astounding.” ~ Whipped Cream Reviews

“Lucas: A Black Cougar Novel is gripping; adventure packed,
and will have you on the edge of your seat from page one…” ~ The Black Raven
Reviews

“Dirty Deeds was an exciting novella that just screamed with
sexuality. I highly recommend it and look forward to reading additional pieces
of work from Ms. Gayle…” ~ Night Owl Reviews Top Pick

Dedication

As always I must thank my family for their infinite patience while I
write and edit more stories
.

Untamed Magick

Pentacles of Magick

A novella of paranormal romance

By Eliza Gayle

Chapter One

The vision of a woman filling the screen took Graelen’s
breath away. The tumble of dark blonde hair cloaking her shoulders and back
surrounded an oval-shaped face with wide set, deep green eyes. Perfect white
teeth nibbled on the lower edge of ruby lips. It was her—the woman he'd
been warned about. The one he'd been waiting for. He'd known she would be
beautiful and difficult to resist. What he hadn't expected was the sudden surge
in his power at the mere sight of her. Every cell in his body sparked when he
first spied her on the security camera, and with the seductive power rushing
through his veins he couldn't turn away.

“I'm sorry, ma'am, but Mr. Scott isn't available for
visitors at this time. Might I suggest you contact his secretary and schedule
an appointment?”

He listened as his butler spoke in his typical clipped tone
to the woman through the security speaker outside the front gate. She fidgeted
nervously as she tried to convince Steven to let her in to see him.

“Please, sir, could you explain to Mr. Scott that I have
come a long way to discuss some urgent family business with him? It’s of utmost
importance that I contact him right away.” Her voice flowed through the speaker
like the softest jazz on a sultry summer night, and Graelen felt the impact
deep in his groin as his cock tightened.

“No, ma'am, I'm sorry, but…”

“Steven, let her in.” Graelen hadn't even realized that he'd
walked over to the intercom until he pressed the button, cutting off his butler
in mid-sentence. He knew he should let Steven send her on her way, her presence
meant nothing but trouble for him. Yet for years he’d wondered what event would
finally lead her to him. Despite the danger and risk this woman posed to his
family, he had to know. Over the years he’d learned to control the cravings to
use the magick at every obstacle, and he was certain he could hold his own with
the petite woman now holding court at his front gate long enough to hear her
out and discover what she wanted.

“Ma'am, if you will return to your car I will open the gate
for your entry.”

Graelen watched as a small, smug grin turned up the edges of
her full lips just as she pivoted back to her car. Her heart-shaped ass, clad
in worn denim jeans, clung to her like a second skin as her hips swayed ever so
slightly. As she reached for the car door she bundled her coat tighter around
her waist, reminding him of the cooler temperatures that arrived this week,
signaling the imminent approach of Samhain in just four days—the most
difficult time of year for him and his brothers to resist the temptations of
using magick. The ceremonies and traditions of this time created the most
intense power surges that called to them, luring them to embrace exactly who
and what they were.

This was simply another uncomfortable indication that his
mystery woman's appearance at his doorstep was all part of the prophecy his
family feared. The one that doomed them to a lonely and short existence. He
should have sent her away and not even started what would likely be a fucked up
chain of events. Yet, the power surge at her appearance intrigued him, and he
had to know: why her and why now?

He'd deal with regrets later.

He listened intently as Steven ushered her into the library
to wait for him. He paced the room, trying to work off some of the adrenaline
the power pumped through his body. He had to calm himself before he went to
her. It wouldn't do for her to see him this close to the edge, fighting the
seduction of the powerful magick that currently enthralled him. It would be so
easy to use this extra power to get what he wanted. One short spell and his
little beauty would tell him everything he wanted to know. It would be simple
to take what information he wanted before sending her back on her way.

Grae shook his head clearing those thoughts from his head.
Best to face this head on and meet the woman who would be his destiny.

Rena couldn't believe she'd gotten in. She'd expected
getting an appointment with the reclusive Graelen Scott would be next to
impossible, and had planned out several clever ways to get him to see her.
She’d arrived determined to do whatever it took to talk to him and get some
answers.

As she tracked around the library, waiting for the
mysterious Mr. Scott, she marveled at the luxurious furnishings surrounding
her. She’d crossed expensive marble floors, custom carved pillars, and a
multitude of cavernous rooms. From her extensive research she’d learned the
financial empire surrounding the Scott family was funded by too many different
avenues and products to count. Over the years they’d gotten involved in so many
different offerings that it was impossible to pin their fortune on any one
business or circumstance. It seemed that whatever the family touched turned to
gold, or in their case millions of dollars. A very lucky family, indeed.

The dark mahogany furniture of the room she’d been left in,
along with the forest green upholstery and accessories, spoke volumes about the
kind of people living in this house. Men. The room was one hundred percent all
man. When she touched her finger to the chair behind the desk, she could almost
see the man who sat here. The lingering faint scent of his musky cologne
mingled with the rich smell of the leather bound volumes lining the walls.
Decadent. Powerful.

Careful, Rena. Don't get yourself too wrapped up in this
place or the man behind the secrets. You're here to complete the research for
your benefactor and get back to the museum as quickly as possible.

Her gaze landed on a framed photograph of four men. Young
men, early to mid-twenties, she would guess. All of them appeared strong and
gorgeous, each in their own way, yet they were similar in appearance when it
came to height and coloring. Drawn to the desk, she picked up the picture for a
closer look. The first two dark-haired men looked like twins. Despite their
body language showing they were comfortable with each other and happy, their
eyes spoke something entirely different. She spied something dark in their
gazes as if something was missing and they longed for something more. An
alternate path maybe? Rena shook the strange thought from her head. Where did
that come from?

Placing the frame back on the desk, she turned her back on
the picture, shaking off the weird vibe she'd gotten from it. From the corner
of her eye she spotted a familiar book on the shelf and wandered over to take a
closer look. Sure enough, it was a recent copy of the Tarot Pedia, not unlike
the one she owned herself. Interesting to know Mr. Scott had an interest in the
metaphysical. She reached to pick it up…

“Find something that interests you?”

Her arm jerked at the sound of the gruff, masculine voice
behind her, and the book plummeted to the ground. She scrambled to pick it up,
but in her haste her backpack slipped from her arm, landing next to her feet,
its contents scattering around her.

“I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you.” The gentle timber
of his voice was both courteous and patronizing. She dropped to her knees and
began collecting her things, stuffing them back in her pack as quickly as she
could. Her heart raced. Her head buzzed. Air, she needed more air. Rena took a
deep, calming breath, held it for a few seconds before releasing it nice and
slow.

“It's okay.” Her voice trembled. “I don't generally startle
that easily, but it’s been a long day of traveling to get here.”

He knelt beside her and that cologne she’d scented near his
chair filled her senses—sent her reeling. Together, they gathered her
belongings while she tried to steady her racing heart. When his hand touched on
a lone Tarot card, his hands stilled and she heard a distinct intake of breath.

“What is this?” He turned to look at her as he asked. She
got her first glimpse of gorgeous jade green eyes surrounded by long inky
lashes, and she thought she might melt on the spot. His jet-black hair just
brushed the edge of his collar, teasing her with a sudden need to touch.
Despite his polished appearance she glimpsed something more simmering
underneath the surface. Even the sexy lock that brushed his forehead hinted to
a wildness she’d not expected.

His perfectly shaped lips were currently set in a grim line,
but she still clearly imagined them soft against her own. He stared at her
intently, their heads so close to be almost touching, and for a brief moment
she would have sworn she glimpsed a molten heat of desire in his eyes before
changing to a sharper more assessing look. She glanced down, finally realizing
he was holding the card in front of him waiting for her answer.

“It's a Tarot card.” She had no idea what else to say.

“I know it's a Tarot card.” A quiet sigh escaped his lips.
“What I don't know is what you're doing with this particular card.” His voice,
barely controlled fury, raised the hairs on the back of her neck as she fought
the anger his brusqueness rose in her.

She grabbed the card from his hand and waved it in front of
his face. “This card is the whole reason I’m here, Mr. Scott. You are Graelen
Scott, right?”

“Yes, I am. And what do you mean this card is the reason
you’re here?” As he gently pulled her upright again, she took a few deep
breaths and started in on the speech she had practiced for hours.

“Mr. Scott, thank you so much for agreeing to see me without
an appointment. I'm Rena Gallagher from the Museum of Art History in San Diego,
California. I’m a staff historian there, where one of my specialties is Tarot
History. Specifically Iconography, which encompasses many specialties, of which
Tarot is a favored of mine.” She paused long enough to take a shallow breath
before continuing.

“Six months ago I was commissioned to study an ancient deck
of Tarot cards believed to be completely different from all other known
documented sets. This card is from that deck.” She watched him turn the card
over again and again as if pondering the meaning himself. She couldn't take her
eyes off his hands as he tapped his fingers against different elements of the
card.

“I was specifically tasked with constructing a detailed
interpretation of each card, differentiating the variances between common
interpretations of similar decks and anything standing out on these cards that
were different.” She peered up at him and took the glazed look on his face to
mean he was bored with her speech, probably already tuning her out. She needed
to switch tracks or he was going to throw her out before she could even get to
the unusual details leading her to him and his family estate.

“Mr. Scott.” She waited for him to raise his eyes to meet
hers. She needed his full attention. “The specific card you have in your hand,
the Ten of Pentacles, has led me to your doorstep. After months of research a
simple Boolean search revealed that parts of that card are part of the Scott
family crest and have been for centuries.”

“Yes, Ms. Gallagher, that’s true. But hardly a revelation.
It's not a secret that during the Victorian occult revival certain members of
our family were a little too deeply involved and developed our family crest
based on this card. In fact, it was shortly thereafter the matriarch of the
family was beheaded for her involvement. Despite her apparent lack of judgment
at the time, her husband chose to honor her memory by keeping the new crest.
All of which is public record for the research inclined.” His voice lacked the
enthusiasm she had hoped for as she grappled with the information he shared.

He strode across the room towards his desk, distracting her
from her thoughts and giving Rena a moment to appreciate the movement of his
lithe body in his black fitted slacks and black silk shirt. She imagined the
powerful muscles of his legs that would flex under her touch. He sat in the
leather seat behind his desk and leaned forward, while looking at her intently.
He motioned for her to sit in one of the chairs opposite his desk.

“The more important question at the moment, Ms. Gallagher,
is how did these cards come to be in your possession?” He indicated the card
with a slight wave of his hand. “Eighteen months ago these cards were stolen
from our family safe right here in this house.”

The impact of his statement was like a sucker punch to the
gut, nearly collapsing her into the chair. As her knees buckled she gripped the
arm of the chair to steady herself.

“Stolen?” She studied his face as he watched her, but there
were no telltale signs of deceit. Oh God he was telling the truth. He leaned
forward on his elbows and lifted his head as if he might whisper a secret to
her.

“That's right, Ms. Gallagher, and it's damn odd you showing
up here out of the blue with the most important card in the deck.” His words
were as cool and clear as ice water. Shocked by the insinuation, she clenched
her jaw, struggling to bite her tongue and not fly off the handle with words
she would later regret. She couldn't afford to get kicked out of his mansion
before she even got to the real crux of her late night unexpected visit.

“Mr. Scott, surely you don't mean to imply that I stole
these cards?”

He arched his brow at her statement.

“As I told you I was commissioned to study the hidden
meanings in these cards, and the card you have there, your family crest, has
taunted me for months now.” She eased back into the chair, taking deep breaths
to release the tension that had built over the last few minutes. The situation
was spiraling out of her control and she didn’t like it one bit.

“And who, pray tell, hired you to study these stolen cards,
Ms. Gallagher?” Rena shivered as his sarcasm snaked along her spine with every
syllable. Her hands gripped the arms of the chair as she struggled to remain
composed. So much for those anger management classes.

“I'm not privy to divulge that information. The benefactor
wishes to remain anonymous.”