Holding Out For A Hero: SEALs, Soldiers, Spies, Cops, FBI Agents and Rangers

by Piñeiro, Caridad

  “Oh, please, I can’t believe you never figured it out. You’re a bright girl, Mikaela, but I have to say, between the lack of perception and now this insane crap you’re babbling, I’m beginning to doubt you.”

  “Doubt me? You spent the last month dressed up like a cat. You snuck in here, pretended to be a stray. You...” Miki opened and closed her mouth, but no more words would come. Instead she let out a blood-curdling scream.

  “Impressive, darling. I’m sure your nosy neighbor enjoyed that.”

  “I fed you tuna.”

  “I know. I did appreciate the way you added the pickle relish for me, too. That was sweet.”

  “Sweet?” Holy cow, she was losing her mind. “Mother, will you please explain yourself?”

  Alexis Lansing slid from the table and stretched her arms overhead. Her black pantsuit hugged curves Miki had spent half her life envying.

  “What’s to explain? You wouldn’t tell me where you were, what you were doing. You’d just come through an emotionally horrific life-changing event and I knew you’d need me.” Alexis gave a delicate shrug and poured herself a cup of coffee. “So I came in disguise. Just to watch out for you, make sure you were okay.”

  “How’d you find me?”

  Alexis rolled her eyes. “Please, Mikaela. Do you really think I’d ever not know where each of my children was? It’s like a homing device that comes with childbirth. For being such bright witches, you and your siblings are fairly obtuse sometimes.”

  “Ryan and Lena are the bright ones,” Miki muttered.

  “Okay, that’s enough of that crap.” Her mother slammed her coffee cup down with a loud crack. Miki was fairly sure she’d enhanced the sound to emphasize her point. “I’m tired of this, Mikaela. I gave way when you married that limp whitefish, but only because I thought you loved him. But that’s over now and we’re going to deal with this little inferiority complex you spend so much time polishing.”

  “I’m not polishing anything.”

  “You’re only good for tidying up?” Alexis brutally reminded her. Miki winced. Damned if she’d ever babble her heart out to an animal again.

  “Look, that was self-pity, not an inferiority complex.”

  “Don’t try and bullshit me, Mikaela. I’m the master and you haven’t even graduated the minors yet.”

  Miki knew her lower lip was jutting, but she couldn’t stop the pout. Thirty years old and she was being chastised like a bratty little kid. Well, screw that. She wasn’t a little kid, she was a grown woman. One who’d come through a nasty divorce, teetered on bankruptcy, and just broken an ugly karmic spell.

  “That’s enough, Mother.”

  Alexis raised a brow in regal inquiry.

  Miki shoved her shoulders back and lifted her chin.

  “Look, I appreciate that you want great things from your kids. I’d imagine if I ever had kids I’d want that, too. And I’m sorry if I’ve been a disappointment to you. But I won’t be talked to like a misbehaving child. This is my house, my life, and my choices. I expect you to respect that.”

  Alexis narrowed her eyes, huge and black like Miki’s own. She tried to read the emotion there, but her mother was too skilled at shielding.

  “Let’s take those a point at a time, shall we?” Alexis slid into the banquet booth and waved a hand to the chair opposite her. Miki pressed her lips together, but sat.

  “First off, I’m your mother and, yes, I do expect great things from my children. Great as in a life that makes them happy, fulfilling work, and loving people to support them on their path. I might have been worried about you for a while, Mikaela, but I was never disappointed.”

  “I’ve never been as good as Lena and Ryan at magic—”

  “Don’t even start that crap with me. Your sister and brother have their gifts, yes. But they didn’t just walk into them. They studied, they worked, and they apprenticed. That’s a choice every witch has. Most don’t choose it, though. It’s like mortals and those school things. Master’s programs? Many are content with finishing high school. It’s not a bad thing to choose not to continue studying, Miki. It’s simply a choice.”

  Miki swallowed and looked at the table, her gaze tracing the fine lines of the wood grain. “I didn’t really choose not to continue, though,” she admitted in a whisper. “I just didn’t feel called in any direction. I thought that meant I wasn’t supposed to go on.”

  Alexis blew out a deep breath and tapped her long nails on the table. Miki heard her counting backward from ten under her breath and winced. Oops. Never a good sign.

  “Okay, I’m going to let you off on that one. It was my fault. Well, mine and your father’s. When you’re sixteen, you’re supposed to be taken to the High Priestess for training. I was in the middle of my second divorce. Your father, damn his eyes, was off discovering the magical attributes of the Ancient Egyptian handmaidens.”

  “I got an invitation, but I refused it,” Miki reminded her. “It wasn’t your fault I didn’t go.”

  “Miki, dear, it’s not normally a choice. At least, not in our family. Nobody wants to go. Your sister threw a weeklong tantrum over going. Ryan ran away from home, we finally found him in Italy. It was our responsibility to make you go, but we... well, we blew it.”

  Miki gave a little shrug, trying to act like it hadn’t mattered. Her mother put her hand over hers and the tears welled up. Miki sniffed and met her mother’s own tear-filled gaze.

  “I guess I thought you and Dad didn’t think I was special enough to go. I figured that’s why you didn’t push me.”

  Alexis’s face crumpled and she shook her head, obviously too upset to speak. Finally, she was able to take a deep breath. She pulled a lace hanky from the air and wiped her face before handing Miki a matching one.

  “Darling, your father and I had as much faith, belief, and confidence in you as we did Lena and Ryan. To be honest, and you can’t tell them this, we had more. They needed the training, the extra push. But your magic, your powers and connection with the elements were beyond anything we ourselves could master. We, well, we justified our selfishness with the fact that your natural talents were more than you’d likely learn from the Priestess anyway.”

  Miki grimaced and shook her head. Alexis reached over and grabbed her hand. “I wouldn’t lie to you, Miki. You know that. Not only because my oath forbids mistruths, but because I’ve made it a policy to never lie to my children.”

  “You really thought I had that much talent, that much power?”

  “Don’t you feel it? Right now, close your eyes and feel for the elements.”

  Miki did. The earth, its strength and solid hum of energy, answered her call. As did the wind, whipping through the open window to flutter through their hair. She could feel the placid waters of the nearby lake, as well as the fissures of liquid moving under the house. The sun, its fiery warmth, filled her with energy.

  She opened her eyes and met her mother’s knowing gaze with a confused frown.

  “I can call up the wind, create fire. I can cause the earth to tremble and the rain to fall. But I can’t communicate with the elements like you do. I can’t feel them. I can use them, but you master them.”

  Miki swallowed a couple times. She tried to understand the wildly contrary feelings rushing through her head. With a deep breath, she accepted her second shock of the day.

  “So, I guess I’m afraid of failure and one hell of a strong witch?”

  “That’s my girl,” Alexis beamed. “Nothing like a little inner conflict to keep you interesting.”

  “I need something, Mom. I don’t know what, but I feel like I need help with the magic. Even though I broke the curse, and I’ve gained control of the magic, I still feel like there’s more. There’s something...” she didn’t know how to explain it. It was like a nagging in the back of her mind that she had something to do. She just didn’t know what.

  “See the High Priestess, Miki. She’s asked about you. Even if you don’t go to her for religious traini
ng, she’ll help you find what you need magically. She’ll point you in the direction to find your answers.”

  Miki ran through the procedures in her head. The last time she’d knelt before the High Priestess, she’d abdicated her powers. Would she be welcomed back? Could she accept the responsibilities returning would demand?

  “Okay,” Miki finally agreed, for the simple reason that she couldn’t think of any other options. At least, none that could help her the way she wanted.

  “Good girl.” Alexis stood and came around the table. She held out her arms and with a grin, Miki launched herself into them. There was no place so safe as her mother’s arms.

  “Now, we’ve settled that,” Alexis said, pulling back. She brushed a hand through Miki’s hair and gave a smile that was only a little shaky around the edges. “Tell me about the hunk. He’s got a nice ass and beautiful eyes. You’ve caught yourself a live one there.”

  Their laughter filled the room as Miki leaned her head on her mother’s shoulder and told her all about the man she’d fallen in love with.

  * * *

  Under the growing moon, Miki stood in the center of a circle of unlit candles. The soft white silk of her robe fluttered against her bare thighs as she lifted her arms to the clear sky overhead.

  “Powers, Elements, Deities three. Maiden, Mother, and Crone, I call to thee. Here in this circle, I call forth the power, Your aid I seek at this midnight hour. I’m answering the call of destiny. Cleansing and preparing, so mote it be.”

  A rush of energy surged through her, then whipped around the circle of candles, flaming them to life. She lowered her arms and cupped her hands, shoulder height, and lifted her chin.

  “Great Goddess, grant me the answers I seek. Show me my path, reveal my gift. Allow me now to heal this rift.”

  The candle at the center of the circle, floating about three feet above the ground, flamed to life.

  Miki stared into the flame. Scrying had never come easy for her, but in the past, she’d always shied away after a single try. No longer.

  Instead of trying to stare into the fire seeking images, she gave herself over to the energy of the fire. She let the heat fill her senses, the golden-red flame’s flickering light hypnotize her.

  She floated on an emotionless cloud, simply observing the images that flashed through the flames. Three-fold tasks stood in the way of her claiming her power.

  The first she easily recognized in the image of Perry. She’d met that task today, broken the curse. And while she knew there were still bits and pieces to resolve, for the most part she had a good handle on it.

  The second image confused her. An icy blonde woman, looking like a winter queen. The night was dark against her back and she seemed to take great pleasure in the pain of others. Of one person in particular.

  Gideon. Miki sighed as his image floated through the flame. She wasn’t surprised he was her third task. After all, telling him she was a witch would be a huge step forward in her acceptance of herself and her magic.

  The images wavered, then, like a huge explosion, clashed together as the flames shot high over Miki’s head. She gasped, but held tight to the power. Gently, she brought the flame back down, then let the images, the power, fade.

  Pleasure and power mingled in her system, filling her with a sense of pure acceptance. She was a witch. Perhaps not as skilled in glamour as her brother, or as gifted in divination as her sister. But her powers were strong.

  She was a witch. And damned if she’d ever deny her powers again.

  She’d have to tell Gideon. He’d accept her. Unlike Perry, he was a man sure of his own strengths. He wouldn’t find her threatening. And while he might possibly doubt her at first, given the town’s magical history, she figured he’d believe easily enough.

  Who knows, maybe he’d been the kind of kid who’d had a major crush on Bewitched’s Samantha?

  She was still confused over the winter-queen woman. She wasn’t anyone Miki recognized, although the sense of vindictive nastiness nagged at the back of her mind. That energy she’d felt, but she couldn’t recall where or when.

  No matter, it’d come to her. For now, she was on her path. That’s all that mattered.

  As Miki lowered her arms, a gentle shower of white rose petals rained down around her. Their heady scent filled her senses. She was one with the power.

  She held her hands out, palms flat, and the candles’ flames lowered to a soft flicker.

  The cat wound herself around Miki’s ankles, her meow sounding like approval. Miki laughed in delight and spun in a circle.

  As she made a full turn, something caught her eye.

  She looked over, and her delight turned to dread.

  Oops. This was definitely not the way she’d planned to fill Gideon in on her little secret.

  “Um, hi,” she said softly.

  He gave a silent nod. The dark night hid his expression from her. His body language, though, didn’t look too friendly.

  “I didn’t expect to see you tonight. Especially this late.”

  “Obviously.”

  Miki bit her lip at the amount of ice packed in that one word. It wasn’t the cold that worried her. It was the lack of surprise. Most mortals who’d walked in on an act of magic either gushed, babbled, or passed out. Gideon, though, didn’t seem at all surprised.

  “I kinda had some news for you.”

  “Really? I had some for you, too. But I don’t think it’s nearly as shocking as yours.”

  Except he didn’t seem shocked. She tried to sense his emotions, but it was like running into a steel wall. Nothing but cold, closed energy. Her earlier dread curdled in her belly. Miki wiped her damp palms over her robe, and wished she’d done the ritual skyclad. Maybe the sight of her naked body in the candlelight would have distracted him a little.

  A gentle wind danced between them, and her gaze caught the fluttering paper in his hand. She narrowed her eyes. It was one of the flyers she’d seen declaring him for mayor. Miki pressed her lips together to keep her delighted yelp from escaping. After all, it suddenly didn’t feel much like they’d be doing any sort of happy dance together.

  “You’ve decided to run,” she said softly. “I’m so glad. You’ll be a wonderful mayor for Rossdale.”

  “I’m interim mayor for now. There are procedures to follow, things that need to be settled with Reggie if anyone can track him down. But in the meantime, I’ll pinch hit.”

  “That’s great,” she told him in all sincerity. “I know the town will prosper under your guidance.”

  He didn’t say anything. Unfortunately, he did step closer, so she could see his expression. Miki’s stomach took a quick nosedive to her toes. Well, for a man who didn’t seem at all surprised to walk in on an act of magic, he sure didn’t look happy. At all.

  “When did this...” he trailed off, then waved his hand toward the circle of gutted candles. “Is this something new?”

  “New? Um, no. I mean, I’ve had it for years. I just, well, you know...” she trailed off herself and gave an uncomfortable shrug. This really wasn’t the way she’d planned to tell him. Miki sucked in a deep breath and squared her shoulders. If there was one thing she’d learned in her conversation with Perry that morning, it was that the other person had the right to know all the facts.

  “I’m a witch,” she blurted out. With a wince, she mentally slapped herself in the forehead. Not the gentlest way to share the news. She pasted a serene look on her face and waited for the onslaught of questions.

  When they didn’t come, she shifted, the grass growing chilly beneath her bare feet.

  “Gideon?” She took a step forward, so only a foot or so separated them. She could smell his cologne, see the rigid planes of his face. Even his hair seemed to resist movement, although there was a soft breeze fluttering around them. “Don’t you want to say something? Anything?”

  He frowned down at her, then shook his head slowly.

  “No. No, I don’t want to say anything.”
His words, still ice-cold, sounded empty. Emotionless.

  She swallowed the trepidation in her throat and reached out to lay her hand on his forearm. At least he didn’t pull away. Miki reveled in the warmth of his skin beneath hers, the now-familiar energy of him rushing into her with a soft caress.

  “I thought I was falling in love with you,” he blurted out.

  She gasped, pleasure surging. Her smile dimmed when she saw he didn’t look nearly as happy about the news.

  “But I was wrong. I didn’t know you, not all of you.”

  “This,” she waved her hand to indicate the proof of her magic, “doesn’t change me. I’m the same woman you say you fell in love with. With just a little extra. It doesn’t change me, Gideon. It shouldn’t change us.”

  “It changes everything. What you have, what you are? That’s the one thing in the world I’ll never accept.”

  With that, he shook her hand off and turned away.

  Miki watched through the blur of her tears as he walked off. She tried to swallow, tried to find her voice, but couldn’t.

  She swore she felt her heart break. One man refused her for not being all she was. The other turned away because he wouldn’t accept her for her true self.

  She drew her power around her like a comforting blanket and swallowed deeply. She’d be damned if she’d let Gideon walk away so easily.

  “You’re right,” she told him, finally finding her voice, although he was long gone. “This does change things. I’m not willing to give up. Not until you give us a chance.”

  There’s a New Witch in Town: Chapter Fifteen

  “Hey, Gideon. Another delivery for ya,” Fred said with a snicker in his voice. Gideon grimaced, then plastered a blank look on his face as he turned to face the owner of the General Store.

  “This time it’s the special lunch from Bea’s. Miki ordered it, but Marcia refuses to talk to you, so I’m delivering it.”

  “Refuses to talk to me? Why?” Gideon asked, hoping to divert Fred from a replay of the litany of questions he’d peppered Gideon with four times already today.