Magic, New Mexico: Touch of Madness (Kindle Worlds Novella)

by ML Guida

  He cleared his throat. “Close to my home. I live up on the bluff to have some privacy.”

  “Swell. So, now what?”

  “We walk.” He smirked. “Unless you want me to change into a dragon.”

  “No, that wouldn’t be my first choice. So, which way?”

  He put out his hand. “Down this path and around that boulder is my house.”

  They walked in silence. His masculine scent stirred every desire inside her. She didn’t understand this overwhelming sensation, since she’d only been vaguely tempted by men before, but this was like a quick rising storm.

  She suddenly realized that when he kissed her, she regained some of her fiery independence. She wasn’t whole yet and felt something was missing, but at least it kept her from turning into an uptight lady. “Did you feel something odd in that tornado?” she blurted.

  “Like what?”

  “I felt all these tingles running through me. I’ve never felt it before.” She hesitated before she added, “And I thought I heard a voice.”

  “What did it say?” he said slowly.

  She stopped. “You heard something, too, didn’t you?”

  “First tell me what the voice said.”

  “I don’t know. Maybe I was just imagining it.” Heat flared on her cheeks, then she scratched her earlobe. “Maybe I was just scared.”

  He gave her a hard stare like he knew she was hiding something. “Did you feel anything?”

  She rubbed her arms. “Aye, it was like an army of ants running over my body. Do you think the tornado had anything to do with my other half?”

  He grew silent for a minute, then glanced up at the midnight sky as if it had answers. “No, I don’t.” He took off his hat and shook his thick hair. “Only because after we left Hera, Topper cast a binding spell. This was something different. I’ll tell you what the voice told me if you promise to tell me what it told you.”

  “Maybe. So, tell me.”

  He put his hand gently on her shoulders, then drew her closer. “It told me to kiss you.”

  Her eyes widened. “Bloody hell. It said the same thing.”

  “Let’s not disappoint it.”

  ***

  Theo brushed Gwen’s hair out of her cheek. He turned his head, then captured those lips, which were surprisingly chapped and tasted of salt. She didn’t resist him and slowly opened her mouth to allow his tongue to slide inside. He could feel her heart beating as fast his. Something stirred inside of him, and the anger always threatening to burst was doused by the taste of the salty sea. He devoured her mouth, wanting to awaken her passion for him. He crushed her to him, needing to feel her voluminous body pressed against his. He plundered his lips down the length of her throat to the hollow between her breasts. She was ice to his fire, and he needed her like no other woman.

  Arching her back, she allowed him access to the top of her breast. A husky groan from her tempted him to slip his hand beneath her blouse and cupped her breast.

  “Wait. Stop. This is going too fast.” She pressed on his chest, breaking the moment.

  He immediately released her, cursing his lust.

  She panted, “Do…you think…Hera knows what it was?”

  Hiding his disappointment, he murmured, “I doubt it.”

  She wiggled out of his arms. “But you don’t know.”

  He didn’t like where her thoughts were going. “No, I don’t.”

  “Then we need to go talk to her.”

  “She made it quite clear I’m not wanted on her property unless I have a warrant.”

  She didn’t answer right away. “But I wasn’t.”

  “Forget it.”

  “What?”

  “You’re not talking to her. Hera’s extremely dangerous. Topper is the most powerful witch in Magic, and even she had a difficult time binding her powers.”

  “But we need to know what’s going on. You don’t want to be walking around blind, do you?”

  He stiffened at her condemning voice. “I know how to do an investigation.”

  “Then lead the way.”

  “Barging in on her is liable to get us both turned into frogs. We need another approach.” He cast his gaze over her, then rubbed his jaw. “Hera might be intrigued by meeting you. But she’d have to think it’s your other half.” He smiled. “And frankly, you don’t look the part.”

  She scowled. “I haven’t exactly looked my best.”

  “I can help with that.”

  They turned around. Topper was back to her normal manicured self, but this time, her hair was a bright curly green. She gave Theo a hard stare.

  “You know something about the tornado, don’t you?”

  His heart quickened at her perceptive gaze. “Why do you ask?”

  “Because you’re still not a dragon. Every time something happens to someone you care about, you change into a pissed off dragon, causing destruction wherever you go.”

  He winced at her harsh tone.

  She gestured with her arms. “But here you are as a man and calm, I might add.”

  “Theo?” Gwen asked quietly.

  Theo’s determination faltered slightly, but he met her smoldering green eyes directly. He wanted to keep his secret, but instead he blurted, “I have had dreams about it. That’s all.”

  “Dreams?” Topper drew her brows into a deep frown. “What kind of dreams?”

  “Ever since I first changed into a dragon, I dreamed of a strange aqua planet with a castle, mountains–and dragons.” He gritted his teeth, his voice grating with impatience.

  “Theo,” Topper said in a low voice. “Secrets can kill.”

  Theo sucked in a deep breath then cursed softly. “I didn’t think it was real.”

  “Nevertheless, it’s not something you should have kept silent.”

  “I saw no need to volunteer this information,” Theo said sharply.

  “Topper,” Gwen said. “Theo said that Hera might know something about my other half. Do you think this has anything to do with the planet?”

  “I don’t know,” she said. “It might have everything to do with it, or nothing at all. I fear Hera has tapped into something that is far more powerful than she realizes and will get burned.”

  “No sweat off my back,” Theo mumbled.

  “We’re not going to know unless we go talk to her,” Gwen said. “Which we were going to do before you came.”

  “Impatient little imp, aren’t you?” Topper said silkily.

  “According to you, I don’t have much time.”

  “True.” Topper touched her wand to her chin. “Let’s fix you so you’ll look like your other half.”

  She waved her wand, and a purple whirlwind of sparkling white stars flew out of it, then spun around Gwen. Black hair floated around her head, and her clothes rippled. As it slowly descended into the Earth, Gwen’s dark hair softly landed on her slender shoulders, and every smudge and tear vanished from her clothes. She was model beautiful as her double, but Theo missed his rough and tumble pirate.

  “But my double has a sword and a pistol.” She gave Theo a defiant stare. “Besides, I never go anywhere without them.”

  Theo smiled grimly at the eagerness that crept into her voice. He folded his arms over his chest. “What do you plan to do with them?”

  The breath exhaled out of her, circling an angry oath. “I’m a pirate. What do you think?”

  “She’s right, Theo.”

  Before Theo could protest, she whirled her wand, then pointed it at Gwen’s hips. Her sword and pistol magically appeared. He wanted to snatch them, but the look of glee in her eyes and her radiant smile stopped him. He’d move the earth and moon to see that happiness on her face.

  Gwen unleashed her sword. “Let’s go visit Hera.”

  He stepped in front of the little spitfire of womanhood. “You think barging in, in the middle of the night, you’ll get answers from Hera?”

  In a flash, quicker then he thought possible, a soft whisper of steel s
lashed through the air, and in the next second, Theo found his neck stretched back against the gleaming threat of Gwen’s sword.

  “You were saying, Sheriff?” she said slyly.

  He edged away from her sword and gave her a warning glare. “Swords are not stronger than magic.”

  Topper touched the sword. “This one will be.”

  The sword glittered aqua that made Theo stiffen his spine. He wasn’t sure if this was coincidence or if the queen was at work here. He had a bad feeling, but the two women were not about to listen to his reasoning, nor was the dragon simmering inside him as if it sensed danger.

  Chapter Ten

  Gwen wished Topper hadn’t left, but she’d insisted that she and Theo had to confront Hera without her. Probably had to do with Theo being her supposed mate. Hera wasn’t the first witch Gwen had met, but she was the first one to cast evil spells. From where she came from, demons held that card.

  If asked, she wouldn’t admit it, but she was glad that Theo was with her. Normally, she wouldn’t have the slightest hesitation to confront her tormentor, but she didn’t possess her normal spirit. She wondered if her other half possessed it, which was alarming. She’d pulled a sword on Theo, but she had no intention of hurting him, just proving her skills. Or maybe she was trying to prove to herself that she still possessed those skills. She sometimes thought she was losing the fighting ability that she’d worked so hard for. Facing Hera would be a deadly challenge–one mistake, and she and Theo could have a sword embedded in their hearts.

  She glanced at Theo, speculating why he always put her on the defensive and brought out the worst in her. He was just like the men in her past–arrogant, determined, domineering. She’d always hoped she’d end up with an even tempered man–not an ill-tempered dragon.

  But fate had never been kind to her, so why would it be any different in choosing her mate?

  The moonlight shined on the wide, rocky path, their boots crunching the rocks. She could make out the arc of his eyebrows, the straight line of his nose, the rugged squareness of his jaw with its deeply dimpled chin that sent all kinds of conflicting feelings simmering in her belly. But she turned away, focusing on the task at hand. She’d never had time for a committed relationship with a man and only had quick easy encounters.

  Theo was different. He made her want to pursue him.

  She scowled at herself. Going up against her deadly double and a scheming witch definitely was not the time to indulge in fantasizing about a man.

  With each step, uneasiness edged up her spine, and she found herself gripping her sword, hoping she’d still know how to use it when she faced her enemies. She walked closer to Theo, needing his strength. He still had his guns on his hips, but they paled to his fire-breathing abilities.

  “Her home is right over there,” he said casually, indicating an adobe home with a smoking chimney and shutters closed.

  Red smoke puffed out of the chimney, as if Hera was brewing something diabolical.

  She clasped his arm, marveling at his strength. “What do you think she’s doing?”

  “Obviously, casting a spell,” he said dryly.

  “Against us.”

  “Most likely. But I doubt she could counter Topper’s binding spell.” The tone of certainty diminished Gwen’s sense of bravery.

  Not one to admit her fear, she braced her feet apart, ready for battle. “Do you think Topper knew she would do this?”

  He shrugged. “Probably.”

  The desert breeze plucked at fine strands of his dark hair and curled them over his cheeks. The glow from the house and the moonlight flickered off his body, as if an artist had sculpted a marble warrior, not just carving every muscle and sinew, but also shaping every detail of his face into a dangerous, handsome privateer under the midnight sky. Back in her time, they would have still been on opposite sides of the law. He’d be determined to hunt her down and bring her to justice while she led him on a merry chase.

  Or would she? Maybe she’d let him catch her, just to see what would happen, to see if he’d turn her over to the Crown or if he’d kiss her until her toes curled.

  He gave her a sizzling look, as if he guessed what she was thinking.

  Heat blazed on her cheeks despite the cool desert air. She immediately turned from him, gripping her sword, and headed for the house to prevent being drawn into another smoldering kiss. “Grand, just grand.”

  She winced at the huskiness in her voice, as if she was begging for him to take her in his arms.

  Theo brushed ahead of her, his slight touch on her arm spreading warmth through her. Once again, he was going to protect her.

  “I can take care of myself, Theo.”

  Her voice sounded braver than she felt. She was losing her spunkiness, and she didn’t know how to get it back. She’d never run from a fight before, but a streak of cowardice slowly replaced her iron will.

  He glanced over his shoulder. “I know you can, but that doesn’t mean I want to see you get hurt.”

  She smiled. At least he respected her abilities–unlike her brother, who always wanted her to be left behind, embroidering like her twin. If only Theo could see her in her true form, he’d be totally amazed. She’d never fit in civilized society. She was more at home on the pirate ship–no matter how briefly she’d been there.

  “Are you going to change into a dragon?”

  “Only if she pisses me off.”

  They both slowed their approach as they drew near. It was eerily silent, as if the crickets were too scared to make any harmony. When Gwen took a step, her boot crunched on the rocks, and she winced. Theo stood perfectly still. She slowly took out her pistol, then cocked it.

  He waved his hand as if motioning for her not to make the slightest noise. Her heart beat wildly, and she held her breath, too afraid to make a sound.

  Something crunched beside her. Gwen whirled around, weapons in both hands, and froze. The moonlight shone off her exact image, and she lost her voice.

  “Looking for me, mouse?” Her other self smirked. She aimed a cocked pistol at Theo’s chest that was less than a foot away. “Move, and he dies.”

  Gwen’s chest tightened, and for a heart-pounding second, her vision blurred. Everything turned to the same color of the tornado that had brought them here. It was as if the storm surged inside her, igniting every pulsing impulse not to lose him. An overwhelming dizziness gripped her, and for a split-second, she thought she heard a soft voice echo in her mind.

  If he dies, you’ll lose your soul.

  She shook her head, not sure what was real, fighting not to pass out. She stared at Theo, needing to protect him.

  He released a low warning growl, and his golden eyes grew darker. Any minute, he’d do something foolish to save her.

  She glanced over her shoulder and met the gaze of her double. “Don’t hurt him.”

  Her voice was barely a whisper.

  “Then, throw your weapons on the ground.”

  “Gwen, no,” Theo said angrily. “She can’t kill me.”

  “Ah, there you’re wrong, dragon boy,” a voice said from the shadows of the house.

  The same red-haired woman that Gwen had seen in the desert stepped out of the darkness. Her skimpy, skirt was hiked high over her knees, but what was most alarming was her tight, blue shirt was so far apart from her skirt that her pierced belly button was exposed. Gracelyn would have frowned in disgust.

  Theo narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean, Hera?”

  “Dragons are immortal, but in your case, the inhabitants from your planet, aren’t until they’re mated. So you see, Sheriff, one shot, and you’re dead. Or didn’t Gwen tell you that she’s an excellent shot?”

  Unfortunately, it was true. To their grim displeasure, Gwen had outshot many of the many the men of her time.

  The moonlight glistened off the barrel and the smug smile of her identical twin. Gwen knew Theo was in serious danger. She knew it by the terror that slid through every inch of her, seizing her c
hest and slithering up her dry throat. He’d saved her life twice. Now it was her turn.

  She met his stare, which seemed to beg for her not to do anything foolish, but she couldn’t lose him. Spikes of defeat crawled up her dried-up throat. She tossed her beloved weapons onto the ground, which was a mistake. Immediately, her other half seized her arm, then pressed the nose of her pistol to her temple.

  “Let her go,” Theo growled.

  Her doubled laughed. “No.”

  Theo hissed and arched his back. His skin changed to orange-red, and his body contorted into dragon, exhaling fire that lit up the desert. Heat washed over Gwen, and her clothes immediately stuck to her skin.

  But her double didn’t flinch and only pressed the pistol deeper into Gwen’s temple. “I’m not afraid of you, dragon. Recognize this?”

  “It’s my gun.”

  “Precisely. More accurate than mine. If you want to see this mouse alive, then I suggest you do as I say.”

  “What are you talking about?” Gwen scowled. “If you kill me, then you die.”

  “That’s not true. Hera cast a spell and said I could live, even without you.”

  “Did you ever think she was lying?”

  “It’s a price I’m willing to pay. Listen, Sheriff, I want money, and lots of it. Enough to allow me to live in comfort and never have to live on the streets again.” She tilted her head at Hera. “According to the witch, dragon gold possesses special powers that would allow me to not only to be immortal, but I would be immune to spells–”she cast Hera a dark frown–”and my senses would become supernatural, making me the best thief in all the world.”

  Gwen’s eyes widened. So her other half had the same fears she possessed. It made sense. Gwen never wanted to worry about money or feel vulnerable again, so why wouldn’t her double feel the same way?

  “Yes,” Hera purred, drawing Theo’s attention.

  Smoke flared out of his nostrils, and his tail twitched back and forth. He took a menacing step toward Hera.

  She held up her hand. “Before you decide to fry me, sir dragon, I can tell you how to save your intended. Dragons hoard their gold, and this lovely lady wants it. You have a queen who is filthy rich, from what I’ve seen.” She stuck out her thumb. “You want to save them both, then give me my wand, and I can send you to your planet without dreaming. Don’t, and the good one dies.”