Moonlit Betrayal

In the snowy forests of 1827, Mariah flees from her beloved Bowen MacRieve, who, under the full moon, transforms into a beast. Her desperate escape ends in her accidental death, witnessed by the tormented Lykae. This prologue sets the tone for a story where love, loss, and supernatural forces intertwine, and where the consequences of a single night echo through centuries.

The Hie Begins

Centuries later, the Talisman's Hie—a magical, cutthroat competition—draws together immortals from across the Lore. Mariketa the Awaited, a young witch with untapped power, and Bowen, still haunted by Mariah's loss, both enter, each with personal stakes: Bowen seeks a key to resurrect his mate, while Mariketa aims to prove herself and claim her destiny.

Witch and Wolf Collide

In the depths of a Mayan tomb, Mariketa and Bowen's paths cross. Their mutual distrust—his of witches, hers of Lykae—sparks both conflict and attraction. Their banter is laced with sexual tension, but their goals are at odds. When forced to cooperate, their chemistry becomes undeniable, even as old prejudices and secrets threaten to tear them apart.

Sealed in Darkness

Bowen, desperate to win the Hie, seals Mariketa and other competitors inside the tomb, believing she can escape with her magic. Instead, they are trapped with ancient, ravenous incubi. Mariketa's powers falter, and the group faces starvation, madness, and nightly attacks. Bowen's actions set off a chain of curses and resentments that will haunt them both.

Curses and Consequences

Mariketa, in a moment of fury, curses Bowen with mortality, stripping him of his regenerative powers. As he battles through the Hie, his injuries mount, and he is forced to confront his own vulnerability and the cost of his obsession. Meanwhile, Mariketa's leadership and resilience grow as she struggles to keep her group alive.

The Tomb's True Prisoners

The tomb is revealed as a prison for incubi, whose hunger and madness threaten the trapped immortals. Mariketa's powers begin to manifest in new, dangerous ways, but she is still untrained and afraid. The group's survival depends on trust, ingenuity, and Mariketa's emerging leadership, even as hope fades.

Descent into Madness

As days pass, Mariketa's physical and mental state deteriorate. She faces her deepest fears, including her own inadequacy and the possibility of dying forgotten. The incubi's presence forces her to confront the darkness within herself, while outside, Bowen is driven to the brink by guilt, pain, and the realization that he may have doomed the woman he cannot stop thinking about.

The Witch's Awakening

On the edge of death, Mariketa's latent abilities surge. She discovers her unique captromancer gift—magic through mirrors—and begins to understand her true potential. Her transformation is both physical and spiritual, marking her as the Awaited One and setting the stage for a confrontation with forces far greater than herself.

The Lykae's Despair

Bowen, weakened and alone, is forced to confront his past, his prejudices, and the truth about his feelings for Mariketa. His obsession with resurrecting Mariah is revealed as a curse, not a calling. Only by letting go of the past can he hope to find redemption and a future.

Escape and Survival

Bowen, restored by Mariketa's magic, returns to the tomb and rescues the survivors in a dramatic, perilous escape. The ordeal leaves all changed—Mariketa is now a leader and a force to be reckoned with, while Bowen is humbled and desperate to make amends. Their relationship, forged in adversity, is tested by lingering mistrust and unresolved passion.

The Jungle Gauntlet

Forced to travel together through a perilous jungle, Mariketa and Bowen must rely on each other to survive. Their journey is fraught with danger, both external and internal, as they battle monsters, human soldiers, and their own conflicted desires. Along the way, they confront their differences, their shared trauma, and the possibility of love.

Temptation and Trust

Physical attraction boils over into intimacy, but emotional wounds remain. Bowen's possessiveness and Mariketa's independence clash, yet their connection deepens. They share secrets, fears, and dreams, learning to trust each other even as the full moon—and Bowen's uncontrollable beast—approaches.

The Full Moon's Price

As the full moon rises, Bowen's beast is unleashed. Mariketa, caught between fear and fascination, must decide whether to trust him or flee. Their passion reaches its peak, but so does the danger. The consequences of Bowen's nature and Mariketa's power threaten to destroy them both.

The Mirror's Secret

Mariketa's captromancer abilities reveal a prophecy: she is destined to face the greatest evil of the witches, the sorceress Häxa. Through the mirror, she learns the truth about her parents, her destiny, and the real reason she was Awaited. The mirror becomes both her greatest weapon and her greatest vulnerability.

The Sorceress Revealed

Häxa, the Queen of False Faces, manipulates events from behind the scenes, resurrecting Mariah to torment Bowen and Mariketa. The revelation that Bowen's love for Mariah was the result of a curse, not fate, shatters his illusions. Mariketa must face Häxa alone, armed only with her newfound power and the support of her friends.

Battle of Reflections

In a climactic battle, Mariketa faces Häxa in a duel of mirrors and magic. The fight is brutal, testing Mariketa's strength, ingenuity, and resolve. With Bowen incapacitated, Mariketa must rely on herself, her heritage, and her love to defeat the sorceress and free the souls trapped by Häxa's evil.

Sacrifice and Salvation

Mariketa triumphs, but the power she absorbs threatens to consume her. She becomes enthralled by her own magic, unable to break free. Bowen, now fully understanding his love for Mariketa, risks everything to reach her, proving that love—not fate, not curses—can overcome even the darkest magic.

Winter's Night, Wicked Deeds

With Häxa defeated and their personal demons laid to rest, Mariketa and Bowen finally claim each other. They reconcile their differences, accept their destinies, and choose each other freely. Their union, celebrated in the snowy wilds of Scotland, is a testament to the power of forgiveness, growth, and love that transcends even death.

Characters

Mariketa the Awaited

Mariketa is a young witch burdened by prophecy and her own lack of control over her immense powers. Half-fey, half-witch, she is both an outsider and a potential leader. Her journey is one of self-discovery, as she learns to harness her captromancer abilities and accept her role as the Awaited One. Psychologically, she is driven by a need for acceptance and belonging, haunted by abandonment, and fiercely independent. Her relationship with Bowen is fraught with mistrust, passion, and ultimately, mutual respect and love. She grows from insecure novice to powerful sorceress, embracing both her light and darkness.

Bowen MacRieve

Bowen is a Lykae (werewolf) tormented by the loss of his mate, Mariah, and his own violent nature. His hatred of witches is rooted in family tragedy, but his encounter with Mariketa forces him to confront his prejudices and his past. Bowen's psychological journey is one of letting go—of guilt, of obsession, of the illusion of fate. His love for Mariketa is transformative, teaching him humility, vulnerability, and the courage to choose a new future. He evolves from a bitter, single-minded warrior to a devoted partner and protector.

Häxa (Queen of False Faces)

Häxa is the ultimate antagonist, a sorceress who feeds on misery and manipulates events from the shadows. She is the architect of much of the suffering in the story, including Mariah's resurrection and Bowen's curse. Häxa represents the destructive power of unchecked ambition and the dangers of living in the past. Her defeat is both a personal and cosmic victory, restoring balance to the Lore.

Mariah

Mariah is Bowen's lost mate, whose death defines his existence for centuries. Her resurrection by Häxa is a cruel trick, forcing Bowen to confront the truth about his feelings and the nature of fate. Mariah's role is both catalyst and victim, embodying the dangers of obsession and the importance of moving forward.

Rydstrom and Cade

Rydstrom, the honorable king, and Cade, the mercenary, are demon siblings who aid Mariketa and Bowen. Their own struggles with loyalty, power, and destiny mirror the protagonists' journeys. Rydstrom's wisdom and Cade's pragmatism provide support and challenge, highlighting themes of brotherhood, sacrifice, and the complexity of good and evil.

Tera, Tierney, Hild

These fey siblings are fellow competitors in the Hie and become Mariketa's allies in the tomb. Their loyalty, resourcefulness, and shared heritage with Mariketa underscore the importance of chosen family and solidarity in the face of adversity.

Elianna

Elianna is Mariketa's teacher and surrogate mother, offering wisdom, support, and tough love. She represents the power of tradition, the importance of mentorship, and the necessity of facing one's destiny.

Carrow

Carrow is Mariketa's best friend, a fellow witch with a wild streak and a fierce loyalty. Her humor and irreverence provide levity, while her unwavering support helps Mariketa survive and grow.

Nïx

Nïx is a Valkyrie seer whose cryptic guidance shapes the course of events. Her foresight, madness, and hidden wisdom embody the unpredictable nature of destiny and the importance of embracing chaos.

Plot Devices

The Talisman's Hie

The Hie is both a literal and metaphorical trial, forcing characters to confront their limits, desires, and fears. It brings together enemies and allies, tests loyalties, and serves as the backdrop for the central romance. The structure of the Hie, with its escalating dangers and shifting alliances, mirrors the internal journeys of the protagonists.

Curses and Prophecies

Curses, prophecies, and magical predictions drive the plot and the characters' choices. Bowen's curse of mortality, Mariketa's prophecy as the Awaited, and the enchantments placed by Häxa all explore the tension between destiny and agency. The story uses foreshadowing and misdirection to challenge assumptions about love, power, and identity.

The Mirror/Captromancy

Mariketa's unique magic—channeling power through mirrors—serves as both weapon and weakness. The mirror is a symbol of self-examination, the danger of obsession, and the potential for transformation. It is through the mirror that Mariketa learns the truth about herself, her enemies, and her destiny.

Transformation and the Full Moon

Bowen's Lykae nature, especially during the full moon, is a metaphor for the battle between instinct and reason, passion and restraint. The full moon's approach heightens tension, tests trust, and ultimately forces both Bowen and Mariketa to accept all parts of themselves and each other.

Resurrection and False Faces

The resurrection of Mariah and Häxa's ability to assume any form explore the dangers of living in the past and the seductive power of illusion. The story uses these devices to question the nature of love, memory, and identity, ultimately arguing for the necessity of letting go and embracing the present.

Analysis

Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night is more than a paranormal romance; it is a meditation on the nature of destiny, the cost of obsession, and the transformative power of love. Through the intertwined journeys of Mariketa and Bowen, the novel explores how trauma, prejudice, and the weight of prophecy can imprison individuals, and how only by confronting and accepting the darkest parts of themselves can they find freedom and happiness. The book challenges the idea of fated love, suggesting that true connection is not about destiny, but about choice, growth, and mutual respect. The defeat of Häxa is not just a victory over evil, but a triumph of self-knowledge, agency, and hope. In a world where magic is both blessing and curse, the greatest power is the willingness to forgive, to change, and to love without reservation.

Last updated: April 28, 2025