A Crescent City Arcana short story A lethal stranger hunted Bethany Hayes down and nearly killed her. But without uttering a single word, he spared her life and vanished, turning her world upside down. Left with newfound abilities and visions of her attacker, Beth tried to make the most of this second chance. Lucius Sempronius Asper learned to kill in the amphitheaters of ancient Rome. Enslaved and bound by the dark magic of a powerful witch, he spent centuries eradicating innocent witches at her command. Though made immortal by her enchantment, he was as good as dead inside. All Lucius knew, what he thought he’d become, changed with Bethany. His one impulsive act of salvation linked them in ways they never could have imagined. Will Beth be strong enough to free him, or will the hunter become the hunted? This short story chronicles how Beth and Lucius learned of the existence of magic, and of each other.

Magic first came to Bethany Hayes in a flash of green light, intense pain, and blinding fear. With the dark witch who wanted her dead now vanquished, she’s learning how to wield her own considerable powers with the help of the former gladiator once tasked with killing her. While their alliance is unconventional, to have any chance of helping a friend in need, she must trust Lucius despite the man he used to be. Had it not been for Bethany, Lucius Sempronius Asper would still be bound by a dark witch’s curse and forced to assassinate anyone she deemed a threat. Now mortal but free after centuries of servitude, he's loyal only to the woman who saved him. But as strange attacks plague New Orleans, Beth's unpredictable magic could prove more dangerous to Lucius than any mysterious evil tormenting her beloved city. The Big Easy won’t reveal her secrets without a fight. Can Beth confront what’s hiding in the shadows without losing herself to the darkness within?