The Windhaven Witches Omnibus Edition : Complete Paranormal Suspense Series, Books 1-4 by Carissa Andrews (graded readers txt) 📕

in and of itself. The bright reds, yellows, and oranges all mix together in a blazing array of life’s final breath.

Rather than going straight to Blackwood Manor, I find myself driving the country roads in admiration of the changing season. There won’t be much time left before the leaves are gone completely and snow will blanket the ground. Wade doesn’t seem to mind as we drive the winding and twisty roads, hand in hand.

However, before long, I’m well out of my comfort zone for knowing how to get back home and the sun’s light has completely faded from view. I pull over to the side of the road.

“Everything okay?” Wade asks, speaking for the first time in a while.

I nod. “Yeah, just got myself a little lost. I was too busy admiring the leaves. Just need to get a little digital direction.”

Dropping Wade’s hand, I pick up my phone, and press the Maps app, so I can follow the GPS home. How people ever found their way when all they had was a paper map, I’ll never know.

Wade smiles and pats my leg.

Within seconds, the application pinpoints my location, and the fastest route home. Luckily, we’re not too far out. Only another twenty minutes or so. As I shift into drive and look out over the road, I see a woman walking along the side. Partway on the road, partway on the shoulder, she moves with a strange sort of limp. Her outfit is odd—a mixture of old and new. She’s in jeans, but her coat flows behind her like some sort of grayish hooded cloak.

Sweeping my gaze up and down the street, there doesn’t appear to be any houses nearby.

“Where did she come from?” I say to Wade, as I tip my chin toward her.

“Who?” he says, looking around. When his gaze lands on her, he quirks an eyebrow. “She going to a renaissance festival or something?”

I shrug. “Your guess is a good as mine.”

My eyebrows tug in and I drive forward slowly. As I come up next to her, there’s something strange, an energy rolling off her in waves. It doesn’t feel right at all.

“Can you feel that?” I whisper, shooting a look at Wade.

“The creep-me-out vibe?” he asks, returning my gaze.

I nod.

“Yup, getting that one loud and clear. Maybe we should just keep going.”

“Do you think she’s okay?”

“She seems like she knows where she’s going. But I’m not sure we really want to stick around,” Wade says, raising his eyebrows and shivering.

I shrug, realizing he’s probably right. But I need to at least check on her. Rolling down the window, I call out, “Excuse me. Are you okay? Do you need a ride?”

Wade’s wide eyes turn on me.

“What?” I say, sheepishly.

The woman continues to walk, not even giving me a glance over her shoulder.

“Hello?” I repeat.

I continue to troll along, following the woman for a moment, until she comes to an abrupt halt. Goose bumps flash up and down my forearms as I realize where we are. We’re at the location of Cat and Colt’s accident.

My headlights cast a warm glow on the pavement, but I know what the dark stain is that the woman is staring at. Cat’s blood is still evident, but it has turned a darker color, no longer the vibrant red it was days ago. Small fragments of their SUV are still scattered about, but for the most part, whoever came out to clean up the mess did a good job.

I turn to Wade, unsure if I should tell him where we ended up.

The woman stands in the middle of it all, her head down, hood up, and feet in the exact location the SUV had landed.

Taking a deep breath, I put the vehicle in park and reach for the door handle.

Wade grabs hold of my right hand, pulling me back into my seat. “Do not go out there.”

I take a deep breath. “It’ll be fine. I need to know if she’s okay. I don’t know why, but this is something I have to do.”

“Then I’m coming with you,” Wade says, kicking open his door and exiting before I can. I open my door and follow after him.

“Excuse me, can you hear us?” he calls out. “Are you all right?”

The woman doesn’t acknowledge him at all. Walking up to her, I reach out to turn her around, but my hand goes completely through her wrist and I nearly stumble over. Wade catches me and pulls me back.

As the woman turns around, a haunting remnant of Cat locks eyes with me. Where her dark brown eyes should be, there’s nothing but a strange white haze.

Stumbling away, I cover my mouth to hold back the scream of surprise. Cat should be at home and in bed. Not here—not where I found her. And not a ghost.

Instantly, the specter is in my face. Her wide, white gaze pleads with mine. “Sinner,” she shrieks.

Then, she vanishes before our eyes.

Keep reading! Continue with Book 2: Soul Legacy Now!

Soul Legacy

Chapter 1

Loose Ends

After everything we’ve been through, why this?

“You can’t be serious, Wade. Everything is almost done here at Mistwood Point and you’ll be free to move to Windhaven. We have more than enough room at my dad’s house. Why on earth would you want to get an apartment?” I say, combing my fingers through my hair.

Wade sets down the cardboard box, letting it teeter precariously on top of a small stack of others just like it. “I know you don’t get it, and to be honest, it’s hard to explain. I guess after everything that’s gone on, I just don’t think I’m comfortable with that. It’s not you, not at all. This whole thing with my grandpa, going through all of his belongings and life history—it hit me harder than I expected, and I just need some space alone to think.”

My heart skips a beat, practically plummeting into my stomach.

Alone.

Not a good sign.

Taking a deep breath, I pinch the bridge of my nose.