Tasting - The act of ingesting blood to detect its magic affinity. Typically done by male elementals to females they wish to feed upon to check compatibility.
Feeding - The act of ingesting blood to absorb the magic-binding proteins; most often male elementals upon females. The male will prime the witch first with his own magic to cause the binding protein to saturate her blood near the pulse points, where he will penetrate with his fangs.
Prime - The act of an elemental using magic on a potential feeder; most often male elementals upon females. The witch will react with sexual arousal when properly primed, an instinctual response to a potential mate - thought to be a vestigial biological drive to procreate. Priming can occur even without attraction, although this isn’t common.
Blood memory - As unique as a fingerprint, a blood memory is formed from the magic in the blood an elemental ingests when tasting or feeding. This memory allows the elemental to temporarily track whoever he/she has bitten. The distance this works over is a well guarded secret by male elementals, but it is believed to work through pheromones produced by the witch, of which the scent may dissipate over time.
Blood bond - Connection created by blood sampling that ties the chi of two individuals with magic, such as when a vampire feeds upon a witch. It is a blood memory in its simplest form, without reinforcement. The bond results from the sampled blood proteins and magic first entering the vampire’s chi, and then, it is usually reinforced by providing the witch with a taste of the vampire’s own blood. A blood bond will transmit distress to the vampire’s connected chi if the witch is threatened and is more reliable than a simple blood memory from a one way tasting.
Claim - A blood bond reinforced by directly injecting male elemental saliva-laced ink into the skin over a chi point to create a stronger connection that will last as long as the tattoo created by the ink.
Mate - A witch, vampire, or demon, determined by magic to be compatible with another elemental, from birth. Nobody knows if they have a mate or who that mate(s) will be before a tasting, involving an exchange of saliva and blood that will activate the mate bond. Mates may dream of their intended mates before the bond is affirmed, and mates can talk to each other through the mate bond once created by the exchange. Few believe in mates any longer, fearing it is only a story promoted by demons to find witches with desirable magic.
Mate Bond - A way to communicate and share magic with one’s mate once a mate exchange occurs with blood and saliva (i.e.: a bite). Allows the mates to share what they each see and hear, similar to a hallucination. All mates can communicate at once, on the same mate bond, but must be connected at the same time. It requires a spell to be cast each time by the mate that wishes to use the mate bond.
Amplification Circle - A magic circle that is used to amplify one’s magic. Unlike a regular circle, it doesn’t provide a protective barrier, so its user can be attacked when inside it. Used for heavy offensive magic mostly, and popular amongst earth elementals to amplify their strength.
Maeren Series
Every Witch Demon but Mine
No Witch Way Out
Witch Darkness Follows
In Witch Hell Reigns
Victory Lap Series - Complete
Impetuous
Duplicity
Faerie Series - Complete
No Faerie Tale Love
Faerie Cursed, Nevermore
Faerie short - Wild Ride
Standalones
Hidden Dragon Omegaverse
Entrapment
Phantom Orchid
Novellas
The Bully Switch novella
Acknowledgments
This book is part of a greater, fantastical series that I never could have gotten sorted out on paper without the help of great betas and alpha readers. Thanks-in no order-goes to Jutta, Paula, Kate, January, Kaitlyn, Kaitie, Julia, Melissa and Megan. I also need to mention all the wonderful readers like you, which make the scary world of indie publishing worth it. Thanks for your reviews, reads, recommendations, words of encouragement and for asking when the next book will be out.
Reach out to me if you see anything that needs correcting or have a question. Email or my Readers Group on FB.
C.A. Farelli created the new covers.
About the Author
I heal people and soothe souls for those that can’t be cured. I’m a fangirl. I believe in fairness and rescuing kitties from trees. You can depend on me. Book recommendations are the best gift next to a smile. Humour is a must. You live a lot to learn. Be kind.