Passion's Fire (Passion Moon 2): (A Shifter, Supernatural Romance)

by Renee Jordan

  Chapter Three: Lucky Penny

  Penny Simpson burst in, commanding the attention of the entire bar. She was a curvy blonde with more energy than a pack of puppies. She had a big smile on her round face, her large breasts almost spilling out of her low-cut top. A tattoo of a blue tornado, wrapped in a red bow, whirled between the slopes of her two breasts. It was her totem.

  I didn't really know what a totem was. Christian had claimed it helped a witch focus their magic. I had one tattooed on my lower back—my tramp stamp. It was a heart wrapped in green, thorny vines. I remembered little about the night I had received it. It was when I first dated Burt, back before he became an abusive asshole. We were drunk and stumbling through town. Getting a tattoo seemed like a good idea at the time. All I remembered about the tattoo artist were his green eyes.

  I think that must have been my daddy. How else did I get a tattoo that was also my totem? I didn't even know I was a witch until two nights ago.

  Penny strode through the bar with confidence, her hips shaking, working her plump body. She may not have been as skinny as a model, but she was beautiful and knew it. All the Donovan boys sat up, their ears almost quivering like the pathetic dogs they were as they watched her strut.

  “Well, sugar, you ready to learn?” Penny smiled when she reached me, throwing both her arms around me and giving me a fierce, warm, friendly hug. She had a caring soul.

  I hugged her back.

  The Donovan boys loudly whooped, one of them yelling out, “Kiss,” completely ruining the moment.

  Penny giggled, looking over at the horny pack. “And if I kissed her, what would you give me?”

  “Penny,” I gasped, stepping back from her, my cheeks going crimson.

  “Joking,” she winked, grabbed my hand and pulled me across the bar, her wide hips shaking in her tight jeans. “That disgusting pack of pervs got nothing I want.”

  “You sure, blondie?” one shouted. “I got something pretty big you can play with.”

  “It's not that big,” Penny shouted back. “I've seen it, remember. I would hate to hurt your feelings again by laughing at it. I've seen earthworms bigger.”

  The other Donovan boys whooped at that.

  “Now me and Kotie here have some serious business to discuss. You keep it down, or I'll have Miss Maggie teach you how to be quiet.”

  “You can teach me instead!” another greasy-haired Donovan shouted.

  Penny straddled a chair and I sat down across from her. “Boy, where do we begin?” she asked me.

  “I thought you'd know?”

  “Well, I ain't never taught anyone.” Penny pursed her lips. “Let me see, how did my nana teach me?”

  “Well, um, maybe you can answer my questions.”

  “Sure, Kotie. That's a great idea.”

  “So, when I fought with Christian, he cast some spells, but other things he did without speaking.” My eyebrows furrowed. “Why?”

  “Oh, well that's simple,” Penny said. “You see, everything has spirits. This table, the chairs, the air we breathe, the food we eat. It all has spirits. Witches are the people that can perceive and interact with these spirits.”

  I nodded my head.

  “Spirits come in different, um, flavors, and witches have affinities for these types. You know, like my favorite candy is sour balls and maybe yours is licorice.”

  I grimaced, “Ew, no thanks.”

  Penny giggled. “Well, the spirits that are your favorite flavor are easier to control. It doesn't take much effort to get them to obey you. You don't even need to cajole them.”

  “Is that all a spell is? Cajoling a spirit?”

  “Yep. You're cajoling and bossing them around. Depending on the strength of your personality, you can get the spirits to do greater tasks.”

  “That makes sense,” I said.

  “So for me, I have an affinity for Air magic. I could tap into a ley line that is attuned to air, and I can order about air spirits easily. You know, control the wind, predict weather, and conjure lightning.”

  “Oh, wow,” I blinked.

  “It's great. Even when it's windy, my hair remains perfect,” she beamed.

  I couldn't help giggling at her simple joy. But more questions filled up my mind. “So a ley line is what flows into the Moon Tear Spring?”

  Penny nodded her head. “That spring is a special place. Three ley lines end there, dumpin' all their power. Ley lines are rare. They can often stretch halfway across the world. Where one ley line begins and ends is a special place. Stonehenge in England is built where a Transmutation and an Earth ley line terminates. There are other spots around the world, all mystical and powerful.”

  “And three is even more so, right?”

  Penny nodded. “And I've never heard of a spot with three ley lines terminating before I came to Moonrise. And not only that, but Life, Death, and Love are the three rarest affinities. Very few witches have those. Most get one of the elemental ones. And Transmutation is pretty common, too, now that I think 'bout it.”

  “Well, I have Love,” I said. “I was able to tap into the ley line.”

  Penny blinked. “Oh, wow.”

  “Christian...he made me feed him the energy.”

  “Yes, I doubt he had one of the three, so he needed you to tap into the Spring’s power and feed it to him, like a conduit.”

  I frowned. “Why could he use the power of all three, but I could only use Love?”

  “You should have been able to use all the power of the spring,” Penny frowned. “It's a mix, right.” She tapped her fingers, humming under her breath. Then she snapped her fingers. “Of course, you're still learning. You don't know how to control other types of spirits yet. You only instinctually know how to control your affinity.”

  It was great finally getting answers to my questions. “Christian shapechanged into a bear. What kinda magic is that?”

  “Transmutation,” Penny answered. “Shapechangin' is the easiest part of that type of magic. You can also change somethin' else's type. Like lead into gold.”

  “Really?” A smile crossed my lips.

  “That's very hard. I know, I've tried.”

  “And controlling people? Is that also Transmutation?”

  “Life.” Penny licked her lips. “And very tricky, as well as disgusting. It's like...raping a person.” Penny swallowed, glancing at me. “Did...he try to control you?”

  I nodded my head. “But my magic protected me.”

  “Well, Love's good at protection and healing.” Penny shuddered. “What a creep that witch was. Flesh control is seriously bad magic. That's why you can never trust a Life witch.”

  “I guess so.” My tattoo prickled, only a tiny itch, and I squirmed. “So, um, why do we need tattoos to focus our spells? That's why you have that tornado, right?”

  “Yep, that's my totem.” She touched her tattoo, tracing her bow. “There are two parts to a totem. The first is a representation of your affinity. I went with a tornado, and you have your heart.”

  “And the second is what binds it?”

  “Yes, it represents our control. When we use magic, the totem focuses our powers, like a lens, making our commands more powerful.” The red bow on her tattoo suddenly came undone and the air swirled around us. My totem itched and prickled, sensing her magic. “Do you see the spirits of Air that I'm controlling?”

  “No.” I shook my head.

  “Well, that's the first step. You need to open up your senses so you can see them. Once you do, then you'll be able to cajole and control them.”

  I focused on the swirling air, squinting my eyes as I strained to see the spirits. What would they even look like? My eyes watered as I stared. I tilted my head, moving my gaze into the wind itself. I gasped in pain, a grit of dust blown into my eyes.

  “Oh, shoot,” I groaned, my eyes watering.

  “Oh, Kotie, I'm so sorry,” Penny gasped.

  “I'm fine.” I blinked my eye, the tears washing out the irritating dust
speck. “But I didn't see anything.”

  “Well, you can't expect it right away,” Penny said. “But you need to just keep trying. Imagine that there are spirits everywhere. First, see them in your mind, then you'll see them everywhere.”

  “Okay.”

  I pictured blobs of energy on everything, leaving little trails of ectoplasm. I frowned. I doubt the spirits were slugs. So I imagined more fairy-like creatures, flitting about happy as they could be and ready to be cajoled.

  I concentrated, sweat breaking out on my forehead. My breath caught, my heart pounding in my chest. Heat burned through my face as I strained, every muscle in my body tensing.

  “Keep breathin', Kotie,” Penny gasped. “Don't pass out on me.”

  I sucked in a breath. “Right.”

  “A few...um...critiques,” Penny said. “You're tryin' too hard. You have to just...see them.”

  “And I'm supposed to do that without trying?”

  Penny frowned. “Well, you have to try. But you also have to be relaxed, to let the spiritual world roll through you.”

  “That doesn't make any sense.”

  “I'm sorry. I'm not very good at this. It's like describin' to someone how to see with their eyes when they're blind. I'm tryin' to remember how my nana taught me. I was a kid. It's easy for a child to see the spirits.”

  “So I need to be childlike and try to see the spirits, but not try so hard that I'm not relaxed? Is that right?”

  “Yep,” Penny nodded, reaching out to squeeze my hands. “Now take a deep breath and try again.”

  “But not too hard,” I muttered.

  I strained, struggling to see without trying. It was so hard. I was aware that I was trying not to try. My mind raced. I focused more on keeping myself from trying too hard than actually trying to see the spirits. After ten minutes, a headache throbbed at the back of my skull.

  “I can't do this,” I muttered.

  “Sure you can,” Penny smiled. “You'll get it. Just don't be hard on yourself, okay?”

  “Fine,” I sighed.

  “So I want you to keep trying. Whenever you have a few minutes. Like when you sit down to pee. That's a great time.”

  I gave her a hard look.

  “What?” she asked with an innocent expression. “Is there something on my face, Kotie?”

  I shook my head, a snort of laughter escaping my lips.

  “That's better,” she smiled, leaning over to whisper, “So, are you going to the Policeman's Ball?”

  “You know about that?”

  Penny rolled her eyes. “Everyone knows about it. Everyone in town will be there. I mean, it's not like there's much else to do Moonrise. What are you gonna wear?”

  “I don't know. I didn't bring any dresses with me.”

  Penny clapped her hands and squealed in delight. “Ooh, then we need to go shopping. There's this cute shop up the street. I have time before my shift starts.”

  “Oh, but Forrest is taking me to Granite Hills in a little bit.”

  “Then tomorrow. After your lesson.” Penny squealed again. “We are both gonna be beautiful.”

  “Sure,” I smiled.

  “Okay, so you keep working on trying to see spirits. Tomorrow, I'll teach you how to cast spells and control them.”

  I nodded my head.

  The bar's door opened. I smiled, expecting to see Forrest striding into the bar. My eyes widened in horror.

  It wasn't my current boyfriend. It was my ex.

  Burt had found me.

  Chapter Four: Unpleasant Surprise

  I stared in disbelief at my ex-boyfriend—the man I had fled all the way to Montana to escape. I closed my eyes, hoping and praying I was seeing things. Hoping that Burt hadn't found me.

  He was still there when I opened my eyes.

  “Oh, wow,” Penny gasped before she let out a throaty purr, her cheeks reddening—Burt had that effect on women—even me once upon a time. “Where did he come from?”

  A smile grew across Burt's rugged face. His blue eyes focused on me, pinning me to my chair like a butterfly on a peg board. I was trapped right where Burt wanted. A surge of fear shot through me, chilling my blood. He wore a tight t-shirt, the sleeves torn off, exposing his rippling biceps. He had a face that could make any woman flush with excitement, and a body that made a girl itch to touch those hard muscles.

  Until she learned just what a monster his sculpted beauty concealed.

  “Is Ms. Maggie hosting a band tonight?” Penny gasped, reaching out to grasp my arm, giving it a squeeze of excitement. “Oh, my, I would throw my panties on stage for him.”

  I stood up, my chair pushing back as I folded my arms and glared at Burt. “That's my asshole ex,” I hissed.

  “Oh,” Penny said, her eyes widening. “The one you...?”

  I nodded my head.

  Her excitement fled and she grew serious.

  Burt crossed the room, his boots thudding on the wooden floor of the bar, striding past the Donovan gang. Fiona sat up with a hungry gleam in her eyes as she stared at Burt's ass. Those tight jeans he wore always made his ass look scrumptious.

  Maybe she'd pant after Burt instead of me.

  “I've been looking for you, Dakota,” Burt said, his voice a gravelly, powerful baritone. “You had me so worried.”

  “Right,” I sneered. “Just like you're so worried for my safety all those times you punched me.”

  “Of course I was, Dakota.”

  I bristled. I hated it when he called me by my full name. There was a time I let him get away with it—with those eyes, I used to let him get away with a lot. “It's Kotie, Burt. You know that.”

  His smile grew cocky as he stopped before me. “Fine, Kotie. Now you've had your little adventure, so it's time to come home.”

  “So you can lock me up in the house again?” I snarled.

  “To protect you,” he shrugged.

  I laughed so hard, my fear fading. It was still there, a tightening in my guts and a chill in my blood, but it wasn't overpowering me any longer. Burt couldn't cow me. I had power now. I may not know how to use it, but it was there. He couldn't hurt me anymore.

  “The only man I've ever needed protection from was you,” I hissed. “You are never touching me again, Burt.”

  His hand shot out, seizing my arm. His grip was tight, his fingers hard. “Are you so sure of that, Kotie?” he asked, his voice growing quiet as he balled up his other fist.

  I needed Forrest. I reached out to my shifter boyfriend, focusing on him like I did when Christian attacked me. I don't know how Forrest could sense when I was in trouble. Maybe it was my magic reaching out, or maybe it was his wolfish nature. But I needed him. Burt was about to get ugly; my body tensed in memory of his abusive blows.

  “Oh, you better let go of her, buster!” Penny bristled.

  My hand grabbed Burt's thumb clasped on my arm, my fingers wrapping around it and trying to pry his grip from me. “You let go of me right now, Burt,” I snarled. “Then you better drive out of town before my new boyfriend finds out you're here.”

  His face twisted, blood rushing through his features. “New boyfriend?”

  “He's such a bigger man than you,” I spat. “In every way! He's a real man.”

  Burt's other fist balled up, his grip tightening on my arm.

  “Do it,” I spat. “Hit me. My boyfriend's the Sheriff. He'll lock you up so fast.”

  “Why do you always make me so angry, Kotie,” he raged, shaking my arm.

  “You let go of her,” Penny yelled. She raced around the table, grabbed his balled up fist, and strained to hold him back. The air whipped about us, gusting as Penny unleashed her magic.

  Burt violently flexed his arm, pushing Penny back. My friend stumbled, falling away from Burt as she crashed into a table.

  “You always make me hurt you, Kotie. I hate doing it. But you just won't listen.”

  “Ms. Maggie!” Penny yelled as she held onto the table's edge to keep from fal
ling.

  “Help!”

  My totem itched as Penny's tornado whirled between her breasts. The bar's doors suddenly blew open. A great wind rushed in and slammed right into Burt's back. He grunted like he had been punched and stumbled forward. I yelped in pain as my arm was jerked to the side, my feet scrambling beneath me to keep my balance.

  “What in tarnation is going on?” bellowed Ms. Maggie as she strode out of the back room, her face twisted in motherly rage, the roaring wind still whipping through the bar.

  “Kotie's ex,” Penny pointed.

  Burt glanced at Penny's cleavage, intently staring at her breasts as a smile slowly crossed his lips. An indignant spark flared inside me—the pig was ogling my friend in the middle of our fight. But he was also distracted. I drew back my pointed-toed cowboy boot and planted a hard kick on his shin.

  “Fuck!” Burt snarled, his grip relaxed, and I jerked away as he hopped on one foot. “You fucking bitch!”

  I retreated and Ms. Maggie grabbed me and pushed me behind her. She strode up to Burt without any fear. My ex was easily a foot-and-a-half taller than the older woman, but that didn't matter. Ms. Maggie seemed twice as big, a low growl escaping her lips.

  “You get out of my bar, young man,” she bellowed, poking her finger right into the center of Burt's chest. He stumbled back from the force, letting out a gasp of pain.

  “That's right,” Penny nodded. “You get goin' if you know what's good for you, asshole.”

  Burt eyed the two women, then glanced at me. “You're mine, Kotie. You'll be coming home with me one way or the other.”

  “I'd rather die than be with you again,” I spat.

  Burt clenched his fist, the muscles of his arm bulging. The asshole was thinking about attacking Ms. Maggie and Penny. My tattoo itched. I would not let him touch them. He would never hurt another woman again. My tattoo burned as magic flowed into me.

  The doors opened and Forrest strode into the bar.

  “What is going on?” he growled, his hand drifting down to his gun, his face hardening into pure rage.

  Burt glanced over his shoulder, his fist relaxing. “Nothing, Officer.”

  “Sheriff,” Forrest corrected as he strode forward.