Hello, and thanks for reading the novel I wrote for NaNoWriMo 2015. Hopefully most of the errors are now fixed, but if you find any, please let me know. I love getting feedback, so please leave a message and let me know what you thought. I'm on here at least twice a day, and would be happy to hear your thoughts.

Familiar Madness is the second and (at this stage) final book in the series, The Morwitch and the Dragon, and continues the story of Ellie and Jayce. Book 1 is already published and available for purchase through Amazon. However, if you'd like to send me a message, I'm always happy to send  a free copy in exchange for a review.

So here it is...I hope you enjoy it!

Ellie is a Morwitch - born half-mortal half-witch. A fact that she doesn't become aware of until just before her eighteenth birthday. Jayce is a dragon shifter living in the mortal world, who's not happy with the future that's been laid out for him. A chance meeting between the two results in them being bonded as witch and familiar, as well as falling in love. The problem is, their bond is forbidden and punishable by death. Now they are hunted by their own kind for breaking the first law of the Magical realms.

So why has the bond been outlawed?

What don't they know about the devastating repercussions of their union?

Follow Ellie and Jayce's continuing story as they search for answers to puzzles kept hidden for centuries.

Can their love survive the seemingly insurmountable obstacles the universe keeps throwing at them?

Their union was foreseen by the Stars thousands of years ago, their fates determined by both prophecy and legend.

But prophecies and legends can be wrong...can't they?

    The Dark One was his own father! Damn it all to hell, this couldn't be happening! Jayce slumped to the ground, covering his face with his hands as his mind reeled from the implications of what he'd just learned. The words the Tree of Life had uttered kept playing over and over in his head:

    I am sorry Jayce Raythawn, to be the one who has to tell you... The Dark One is the man you know as your father, Thomas Raythawn.

    Okay, he needed to just stop and breathe for a minute. Thomas Raythawn, the man who'd raised him, was the monster responsible for trying to kill the Tree of Life and destroy the mortal world? The saddest part of his reaction was that he did not, for one minute, think the information could be wrong. Somehow it made perfect sense that the man who'd made Jayce's life a living hell growing up was capable of mass murder at this level.

    His father was the Dark One! He had to keep repeating the words in his head so they'd sink in. He had no doubt Thomas was also the main instigator behind the bounty being placed on his and Ellie's heads. That fateful night Jayce had stormed out of his home and vowed never to return had been when he'd signed his own death warrant. And then twenty-four hours later he'd met Ellie, and signed hers as well.

    He became aware of his friends hovering nearby. Stars, what would they think of him now?  His stomach felt as if someone had hit him with a sledge hammer, and he was loathe to lift his head and meet their eyes. He couldn't really blame them if they no longer wanted to associate with the son of a monster. Finally, unable to avoid their reaction any longer, he took a deep breath and lifted his head, bracing himself for the repulsion he'd see in their eyes.

    Ellie smiled, her eyes full of sympathy and love, and his jaw dropped. A quick scan of Yvette, Jasper and Isabel told the same story.

    "You don't all hate me?"

    Ellie dropped to the ground and held his face between her hands. "Of course nobody hates you. Jayce, you're not responsible for any of this. We're the heroes remember? We just saved the Tree of Life and the entire mortal world...we're supposed to be celebrating here. Besides, we already knew your father was a complete scumbag...now we just know he's an even bigger one. Come on honey, we need to go home. The Tree of Life is waiting to raise her new magical barriers, and She needs us not to be here to do it. Besides, didn't you promise me an entire week of breakfast in bed when this was all over?"

    Jayce attempted to paste a smile onto his face and nodded mutely, unable to speak past the huge lump in his throat. They scrambled to their feet and were joined by Jasper, Isabel and Yvette. Jasper, the old dragon who'd become more like a real father to him than Thomas had ever been, put his hand on Jayce's slumped shoulder.

    "Come on son...let's go home," he said in a comforting tone.

    The small group huddled together, called their farewells to the Tree of Life, and Jayce vaguely registered the familiar jolt that told him Yvette was teleporting them home.

                                                                                             * * *

    Reality rushed in to meet them the minute they arrived back at Jasper and Isabel's old farmhouse, pushing all thoughts of his father from Jayce's mind.

    They'd landed in the middle of a nightmare...the house was on fire!

    The acrid smoke filling the old familiar kitchen seeped into his lungs. Wracked by coughing, his eyes were soon streaming as he tried to make sense of what was going on. The lounge room was already a raging inferno and the flames were licking at the door frame between the two rooms...they needed to get out of there...fast!

    Before he could so much as blink, Ellie grabbed him and teleported them out of there. They'd landed in the bushes behind their cottage.  Still clinging  to each other they slumped to the ground,  tears pouring down their faces as they continued to cough, trying to purge the acrid smoke from their lungs. Through watery eyes, he took in the scene around them. Where their cottage had stood less than twenty-four hours ago was a blackened, burnt out shell. Nothing remained of the lovingly restored home they'd been so proud of . Whoever was responsible for the fire in the main house had burned the cottage first.

    Jasper, Isabel and Yvette were running towards them, the tears and coughing matching their own. "Are you guys okay? You were gone before I could even think about getting us out of there."

    Her arms still wrapped tightly around Jayce, Ellie shrugged. "Sorry about that...guess I just acted on instinct."

    Yvette slumped down beside them. "Don't be sorry honey, you did exactly the right thing. As long as you're both okay everything's fine."

    Jayce raised his eyes to Jasper and Isabel. "I am so sorry. After all you've done for us...I can't believe...my father..."

    Pain and anger flashed in Jasper's reddened eyes. "That is the last time I ever wanna hear you apologise for anything that man has done. He is not your father Jayce...he's just the monster who raised you. No one could ever hold you responsible for the atrocities he commits."

    Jayce felt a little of the pain and guilt wrapped around his heart ease. He knew without question that Thomas was responsible for the carnage around them. It was just the kind of malicious punishment Jayce would have expected for their interference in his plans. But these people had done nothing wrong, and Thomas - he wouldn't think of him as his father any more - had destroyed their lives out of spite! Jasper was right, Thomas had done nothing to earn the respect or the title of 'father' when Jayce had been growing up, and he certainly didn't deserve it now.

    Ellie suddenly stiffened in his arms and gasped, her eyes flying to Yvette. "What about the aunts? You don't think he'd...?

    Yvette shook her head. "No Ellie. I'm sure he wouldn't have gone after them. You left there before this all started; and he'd know you haven't been back there."

    "So what do we do now? Where do we go?"

    Jasper wiped his eyes, cleared his throat and stepped forward. "Under the circumstances, I think our only option is to head for the rebel hideout in Sydney and talk to the rebellion leader, Amos. We'll need to teleport in somewhere not too close to the actual base. Yvette, can you think of somewhere appropriate to land?"

    Jayce felt the hysteria bubbling up inside him. He spluttered, trying desperately to contain the urge to either laugh or scream at the top of his lungs. Ellie tilted her head and looked at him with a worried frown. "Are you okay honey? What's so funny?"

    He reined in his over-wrought emotions and tried to explain. "When I first decided to go Rogue, I'd planned to move to Sydney and get lost in the anonymity of a big city. I just think it's ironic that it's where I'll end up after all."

    Jayce could feel the silent tension in the air around him. His friends were worried about him -hell, he was worried about him! He needed somewhere quiet he could just breathe and get his brain functioning logically again.

    Yvette and Jasper pulled Jayce and Ellie to their feet. Yvette suggested they move as close to the smouldering ruins of the cottage as possible, hoping the smoke would mask the magic trail their teleporting would leave for a few minutes after they left. They huddled together behind the ruins of the cottage, the 'home' Jayce had hoped would provide a sanctuary from those who hunted the 'renegade' morwitch and her dragon familiar. Had he known his...Thomas...was behind the hunt, he'd have realised that nowhere would ever be a sanctuary again...not while Thomas Raythawn lived.

                                                                                                * * *

    The charred, blackened dirt slipped away from beneath their feet as Yvette teleported them away from the devastation. Surprised by the feel of concrete under her feet, Ellie looked around her at the quiet alley in which they'd landed. The muted sounds of a busy metropolis filtered in from somewhere further down the alley.

    "Where are we?" she asked softly, not sure why she was whispering but feeling that is was somehow appropriate.

    "Chinatown, in Sydney," Yvette replied. "The rebel base is not far from here. I'm thinking it might be an idea to change your glamours before we arrive. Actually, maybe all five of us would be safer if we were glamoured. I'm sure all our descriptions have been circulated by now. Ellie, do you think you could handle changing yours and Jayce's?"

    "Ummm, sure. But I've only ever re-applied and removed the ones you cast in Darwin. How do I cast new ones?"

    "You just form an image of someone you want the person to look like. The trick is to picture every detail of the glamour before you start. Colour, race, eyes, hair etc. Oh, and don't forget clothes..." Yvette chuckled and Jayce blushed furiously.

    "Yeah right...clothes would definitely be good," Jayce said, wearing the first smile she'd seen since the Tree of Life had delivered Her devastating news.

    "Any preferences? Age, race, hair colour?" she asked him with a grin.

    "Well, anything would be an improvement on how the world sees me at the moment."

    Ellie laughed at the memory of what their current glamours looked like, an old grey haired scrubber and a shaggy old 'bum with a bottle-a-day habit' as Jayce described himself. Fortunately, they only saw the glamours they projected to the world when reflected in the mirror. To her, he was the gorgeous eighteen-year-old hunk with golden eyes and dark wavy hair she'd fallen in love with the first time they'd met.

    She focused her mind on an image of a suave, middle-aged businessman, the perfect disguise for blending in with the crowds in a large city. She cast the spell to conceal Jayce's true identity, and then considered her own. She closed her eyes and conjured an image of a thirty-something-year-old efficient looking secretary for herself. When she was done she held out her hand and used her magic to fetch a mirror from her old bedroom back in Darwin.

    She pulled Jayce over beside her, and together they stared at the strangers reflected back at them. Jayce's distinguished looking salt and pepper hair and expensive suit matched her up-tight neatly coiffured secretary look perfectly.

    "Very nice," Yvette called out softly, and Ellie was stunned to see the voice came from an elegant Asian woman chuckling at them. Standing beside her were a couple of trendy looking tourists in their forties, complete with sun hats and cameras.

    Ellie handed them the mirror and smiled. "Wow...this is going to take some getting used to. Let's try not to get separated before we get used to our new looks. I'm not sure I'd be able to find you all in a crowd."

    When they'd finished oohing and aahing over their new looks, the group moved out into the busy streets of Chinatown. Ellie breathed in the new sights, sounds and smells of their surroundings. The streets were a hive of activity, the delicious aromas wafting from the various restaurants making her mouth water and her tummy rumble. It felt like days rather than hours since they'd eaten their meager breakfast at the campsite that morning.

    "I didn't realise how hungry I was until I smelled all that food. Can we please eat soon?" Ellie asked the others.

    "As soon as we get to the Majestic, Ellie," Isabel said. "We need to get off the streets first."

    "Right...so what's the Majestic?"

    "The Majestic is a swish five-star hotel in Darling Harbour that just happens to be owned by a good friend of ours. It's about a fifteen-minute walk from here, unless Jasper can manage to grab a -" Jasper had hailed a seven-seater taxi and was waving them into the back seat "- taxi big enough to take us all," Isabel finished with a chuckle. They piled into the taxi and headed for what Ellie guessed would be their new, but most likely temporary, home.

    Five minutes later the taxi pulled up out the front of The Majestic Hotel, and Ellie squeezed Jayce's arm in excitement. "Can you believe this?" she whispered.

    Jayce frowned and opened the door. "I don't think I'll ever find anything unbelievable again after the last few days. Come on, let's get this over with."

    Ellie's face fell, the excitement in her beautiful eyes squashed by his sour remark. He instantly felt guilty for the way he’d spoken, and used their telepathic link to send an apology to her mind. I'm sorry sweetheart, I didn't mean to snap. It's just that my head's pounding and I feel sick to the stomach. I know none of this is your fault. It's just been a hellava day.

    It's okay, I get it. You're right. Let's just get this over and done with so we can have some alone time. She smiled and squeezed his hand as they entered the impressive resort behind Jasper, Isabel and Yvette.

    Jasper waved them towards the plush lounges scattered around the massive reception area. "Grab a seat guys, this shouldn't take long," he said, and turned to approach the front desk.

    "Good afternoon. Could you please let Amos Hughes know Jasper White is here to see him?" Jasper's voice drifted over to where they sat. The receptionist picked up the phone, dialed a number, exchanged a few quiet words with the person on the other end and hung up, a beaming smile on her face.

    "Mr Hughes will be right down Mr White," she said, and Jasper thanked her.

    A couple of minutes later, the elevator pinged and a distinguished looking gentleman stepped out and headed towards the desk, his eyes scanning the waiting area. When they landed on Jasper he looked confused, then impressed, and then his face broke into a huge smile.

    "Jasper my old friend. What a surprise. Why didn't you let me know you were coming? And where's Isabel?" Amos said, his smile unable to hide the obvious worry in his eyes.

    "I'm afraid our visit was a spur of the moment decision. Is there somewhere private we could talk? Isabel is just sitting with some friends we brought with us so we could show them the big city."

    "Of course. Let's all go up to my office shall we. I assume you’re staying?" Jasper nodded. "So how many rooms will we be needing?"

    "Three would be excellent, preferably all close together."

    "No problem. Gillian, please arrange three suites for our guests under my name and have the keys delivered to my office when you're done."

    Isabel moved towards Jasper, and linked his arm. "Aren't you even going to say hello Amos?" she asked with a grin.

    "Isabel? Goodness, it's been so long I hardly recognised you," he chuckled warmly and winked.

    Then Yvette sauntered up to Amos and raised her eyebrows. "Actually Jasper, we'll probably only need two suites. I'm sure I'll be able to bunk in with someone."

    Amos sucked in a sharp breath. "Yvette?" he said, holding his arms out towards her. "I don't know why I'm surprised. You look beautiful as always." Yvette walked into his arms with a grin.

    Ellie stiffened beside him, and Jayce smiled at the shocked look on her face.

    What? You never thought your mother might have a boyfriend?

    Ewww…don't even talk about it. I do not need those images in my head thank you!

    "How about rather than standing around in the foyer attracting attention we get moving to Amos' office?" Yvette said with a huge smile on her face. Her eyes fell on Jayce and she frowned. "Actually Amos, my dau…friends here had some bad news earlier today and would probably appreciate going to their own room while we catch up. Would that be okay with everyone?"

    "Thanks Yvette…that'd be brilliant," Jayce said, a blush spreading across his face.

    Amos walked back over to the reception desk and returned with a key. "Room 801. I'm sure we'll get a chance to talk later," he said, grasping Jayce's wrist and handing him the key, his intense gaze causing Jayce to lower his eyes in shame. What would this man think of him when he found out who he was and what was going on? Somehow Jayce doubted the man would be as understanding as his friends.

    "Right," Amos said briskly, turning to the group. "We can all ride up in the elevator together, and we'll drop your friends off at the eighth floor. Then we can continue onto my office, which is on the tenth floor."

*     *     *

    Ellie breathed a huge sigh of relief as the elevator doors closed behind them. Jayce was a mess.  She hadn't seen him this depressed since they'd first discovered they'd been bonded as witch and familiar. 

    She squeezed his hand as they followed the lushly carpeted walkway to room 801. She stepped inside when Jayce opened the door and her jaw dropped. The entire wall in front of them consisted of plate glass windows with sweeping views of the Sydney harbour. Jayce closed the door and moved up beside her.

    "Wow…look at this place! Bit of a step up from the cottage wouldn't you say?” Ellie said with a grin.

    Jayce groaned and slumped down onto the lounge. "Nothing will ever be as beautiful as that cottage to me Elle'. Please don't remind me of what we've lost. I feel bad enough."

    Ellie felt the old familiar anger bubbling to the surface. Not at Jayce, but at a father who could do this to his own son. She put her hands on her hips and stood in front of him. "Jayce…look at me!"

    Jayce looked up in surprise and she launched. "Thomas Raythawn is a monster. And despite having to grow up with his presence in your life, you've become a strong, caring, wonderful man, as well as a fearsome yet kind dragon. Don't you see? This is exactly how he wants you to feel. He got away with bullying and manipulating you as a child, and now you're letting him do the same thing to you as an adult.  Stop being ashamed of who you are. You still have the same heart and soul you've always had.  He has neither of those. None of this is your fault!"

    Her anger evaporated at the lost look in his eyes, and she dropped down on the lounge beside him, her tone softening. "Remember when I shut down after Jasper told us the Councils would never stop hunting us? What did you say to me? Embrace the anger and the pain and use it against them. You are Jayce Raythawn, someone who risks his own life to protect others. You could never be anything like Thomas…and he knows that now, which is why he hates you and wants you dead."

    His honey gold eyes filled with unshed tears, and he gathered Ellie into his arms. "Damn woman.  I don't know what I did to be lucky enough to find you, but I sure am glad I did it."

    Ellie sighed against his chest. It had worked…her Jayce was back.