Enchantment

by Lawna Mackie

The morning sun beamed through the window, casting colored rays of light across his face. Annoyance flared, and Kerrigan glared at the sunlight peeking through the curtains, forcing him to rise from the comfort of his bed. Once free, he stumbled to the bathroom with a throbbing headache, and stopped in front of the mirror. He looked like hell, and his head wasn’t the only part of his body throbbing. His eyes had changed to a flashing, eerie gold, a remnant of the sensuality he’d felt in his dream. Another characteristic of whatever he was. A cold shower would put things back to normal. Then he’d focus on getting rid of the girl and her furry friend.

  The cold water flowed over him like a waterfall, but failed to dull the aches in his body. At least his eyes had gone back to normal. Shedding the towel wrapped around his waist, he pulled on a pair of well-worn blue jeans before tugging a white T-shirt over his head. A strong cup of lento would help.

  Down in the kitchen, he poured the steaming dark brew from the pot and then continued on his way through the door and into the tunnel leading toward his parents’ lodge. Now, if he could just convince himself the emotions he’d felt yesterday wouldn’t descend on him again today…

  Perhaps it had been too long since he had shared his bed with a female. But there were no female Enchanters who even remotely resembled what was lying asleep in his old bed.

  * * * *

  Kerrigan opened the door. “Hello.”

  “Good morning, sweetheart.” His mom’s reply drifted from the back of the house. He inhaled, and his stomach growled as the rich aroma of cinnamon wafted through the house. His nose directed him to where she stood at the island.

  “Good morning, Mom. I just want to say sorry, I behaved badly yesterday.” Kerrigan shifted from one foot to the other, his ears burning as he waited for her to speak.

  Paddy offered him a forgiving smile. “Kerrigan, I could see how tired you were yesterday. I know how much energy it required from you to heal the girl. If there is a next time, stop and think first.”

  “Mom, I know, and I appreciate the understanding, but still, I was rude. Don’t know what got into me. Where’s Dad? I should…”

  Paddy pulled a hot tray of sticky buns out of the oven. “I bet you didn’t eat this morning before rushing over here to check on the visitors. Sit down, and I’ll get you one of these while you wait for your father.”

  Between the delicious scent of cinnamon and the thoughts of Meeka down the hall, his senses were on overload. “Mom, did she wake up last night?” He hoped the question came out as nonchalant as he wanted.

  Slicing into the steaming treat, he licked at his fingers as the icing oozed down.

  “Two questions at once.” She stared at him with a quizzical brow. “No, they didn’t awake, and your father’s doing patrol up above. Cocooning the visitors is out of character for him, and he doubts himself.” Paddy sat down at the table, a sigh crossing her lips.

  “I know you think I was too hard on him, Mom, but that’s my job. I’m supposed—”

  She placed her small paw on his arm. “Son, it’s not me you need to be speaking to. Wait for your father. I'm sure he'll be home soon.”

  “I’ll deal with the Council. No harm will come to Dad. I’ll make sure of it.” Kerrigan fell silent while pulling at a piece of the hot bun and blowing on it before sticking it in his mouth. “Yum. Mom, I’d kill for these sticky buns.” He licked his fingers before pulling off another piece, while she scowled at him.

  “Poor choice of words, son.”

  “Have you checked on the girl this morning?”

  “Yes, the girl—Meeka—is still not awake, but I’m sure she will be soon. I’ve enjoyed visiting with Catz. She’s a very pleasant being. It’s been a long time since I’ve had the chance to cater to anybody other than family.”

  “Really? What did the Lemren tell you?”

  “Catz said Meeka would not understand any of this when she wakes up. Are you sure she can’t leave the room? If the poor girl accidentally manages to leave the room, she will surely have a heart attack. What do I say to her?”

  “I’m sure, Mom. They can’t leave the room without my say-so.”

  Paddy picked up his empty plate and wandered over to the sink. “I’m not worried for our safety. But she will be terrified when she awakens. I hope she will feel safe with her animal companion near. Will she realize we mean them no harm?”

  As if speaking about it made it happen, a sudden, terror-filled scream echoed through the lodge. A low growl filled his chest at the shrill sound. Without realizing it, he leapt to his feet and tore down the hallway. He burst through the door to see the frantic girl thrashing on the bed.

  Damn it. She’s going to hurt herself.

  Running to the edge of the bed, he straddled her. He fumbled to restrain her flailing limbs as she bucked with her hips and struck out at him with closed fists. Her eyes never opened, as though she was lashing out in a dream. She fought with impressive strength, though eventually, her radical movements subsided and her body went limp.

  His long body sprawled on top of hers, he stared down at the most beautiful face he’d ever seen. He couldn’t breathe for what felt like forever. With her face mere inches away, his senses were alive. From fingertip to toes, his body tingled. Her hair smelled like flower blossoms, and with every breath she took, her sleek body pressed tightly against him.

  She set him on fire. Somehow, this girl rendered him helpless and paralyzed. Her silky skin reminded him of a pixie’s wing.

  Shit! This can’t be happening.

  His body reacted to everything about her, and he was on the verge of losing control. The soft give of her breasts against his chest stirred an unspoken emotion. He could feel them burn into his flesh. His power intensified like a storm, and the air around them snapped and sparkled with electricity. He was a dam ready to burst. The magical power coursed through his trembling muscles.

  His heightened emotions spurred the creature on inside him. The beast roared in his head, demanding fulfillment. His fingers lengthened, bending into claws. For a moment, his vision blurred. He knew his eyes would now resemble burnt gold. His jaw clenched and he bit his tongue. He embraced the pain, hoping it would slow his body’s need for transformation. The metallic taste of blood pooling in his mouth provided only minor satisfaction. His perfectly placed teeth had disappeared. Razor-sharp points gleamed menacingly in their place. Flinging his head back, he could smell the sweet scent of her blood calling to him like a rare aphrodisiac.

  What is wrong with me?

  He swallowed against the bitter taste of fear on his tongue. Shifting had never been beyond his control. Now he was changing.

  My inner dragon awakened by its mate? No. Surely not... It couldn’t be.

  Forcing himself to focus he pushed aside his own confusion, desperate to regain his more humanoid form, lest he frighten her.

  Kerrigan focused on his breathing, struggling to take slow, deep breaths. He closed his eyes, still holding her wrists above her head and pinning her legs to the bed. Mentally, he commanded his magic to dissipate.

  Slowly, he opened his eyes. With the force of a sledgehammer, he felt the kick of desire all the way to his soul. Pale lips opened on a silent gasp. Every instinct within his body clamored for him to soothe her, to ease her fears.

  He bent his head, trying to gain control of his spiraling emotions.

  Breathe. In. Out.

  Slowly, he raised his eyes, wishing it were all a dream.

  The most unusual pair of lavender-colored eyes stared back at him, speaking volumes. She was terrified. Who could blame her? Dragons didn’t exist, but now she had one holding her down. Okay, he was only half dragon at the moment, but he could see the look of horror on her beautiful face.

  Anger rose, engulfing the passion of the moment before. He could feel the tentacles of self- loathing wrapping around his control, mocking him. “Control, Kerrigan. Keep it under control,” he muttered. Pushing past the anger, he focused on soothing the woman beneath him.


  “Shh, I have no intentions of harming you. You were struggling, so I didn’t want you to hurt yourself again. I’m going to slowly release your arms and stand up.”

  Kerrigan searched her face for understanding. Releasing her wrists, he stood, and straightened to his full height.

  * * * *

  The moment his weight left her body, Meeka gasped for air and shoved herself backward, slamming her body into the headboard. She quickly pulled her knees up to her chest and scanned the room, wishing she were invisible from his prying eyes.

  Where the hell am I? Who is he? Oh my God, Catz.

  Her heart pounded. She had to find a way out of there. Her eyes glanced about the room, but to her horror, there were no windows, only a door, which was directly behind the most gorgeous guy she’d ever seen. With her luck, he was probably an axe murderer.

  I must be dreaming.

  If so, it was an unbelievably intense dream with a muscular, hunky guy as the main character. So it didn’t quite make sense, but it was the only thing she could think of. She muttered to herself quietly, “Wake up,” and closed her eyes.

  When I open my eyes, the scary dream will be gone.

  Meeka slowly opened one eye at a time, hoping the dream had ended. She’d wake up alone in her bed at home.

  Shit!

  Nope, the Greek God was still there. The panic flared to frenzy. Her mouth went dry, and she tried to slide even farther back into the headboard, knocking her head against it again.

  “OW!”

  Girl, you’re definitely not dreaming. Why does my head hurt so much?

  Confusion settled like a heavy blanket. She reached up to the tender spot, and, her memory came crashing back.

  Chapter Seven

  Memories flooded her mind like a raging river. First the phone-call from her parents, the canoe trip down her favorite stream with Catz, the storm, the startled creature and eventually falling out of the canoe. She remembered hitting her head, and the trickle of warm blood running down her face. It had felt like something heavy hung from her legs as she slipped beneath the surface. She’d been certain death was imminent. Her last thoughts had been of Catz.

  She held her breath and swallowed the lump in her throat. “My cat. Did you see a cat?”

  The words had barely left her mouth when Catz jumped into her lap. Meeka scooped her up in her arms as tears of joy ran down her cheeks. “You crazy cat, you’d even follow me into death, wouldn’t you?”

  Meeka looked at the stranger hovering nearby. His broad shoulders took up most of the space in the small, round room, dwarfing her. Was this his room? It seemed unlikely, considering the dimensions of the room, but she wasn’t about to make any judgments. “Where am I? How did I get here? Did you save me from drowning?” The words tumbled from her lips.

  His expression quickly flashed through a number of different emotions. He looked uneasy; impatience raced across his face before a carefully controlled smile formed on his lips. Meeka had never been so uncomfortable in her life. The seconds she waited for him to speak felt like hours.

  “You’re in my parents’ home, and they’ve been taking care of you. You did almost drown, along with your…cat, but my father saved you both and brought you here.”

  His voice was masculine, with a sultry drawl.

  Sexy.

  Meeka couldn’t believe she’d just had that thought. She set Catz aside and made her way cautiously to the edge of the bed. “I’m really sorry to have been a bother. I’m extremely grateful to your father, but I really should get going.”

  Meeka placed her feet on the floor and pushed herself off the bed. The room spun. She staggered sideways, preparing herself for the fall, only to be grasped around the waist and held up by two powerful arms. She gasped and pressed up against his large chest.

  In an instant, the brute swept her up in his arms and deposited her back on the bed. “I also seem to be in the right place at the right time where you’re concerned. You still need some time to recover from your injury.”

  What should she say? She was alone in God knows where, and what were her thoughts… how terribly handsome he was. She had to get out of there. “Really, I’m fine. If I could just borrow your telephone, I could be out of here and on my way.”

  The small, slightly crooked grin on his face sent a bolt of heat to her cheeks. How dare he laugh at her?

  “Precious, you sustained quite a blow to the head. My healing was complete, but your body still needs rest. Unfortunately, you will not be able to return home just yet.”

  Meeka gaped in disbelief.

  What the hell does that mean? ‘his healing process was complete.’ He may be gorgeous, but he has to be whacked.

  “I really need to be going. Perhaps you could just tell me where I am. I know I’ll be able to find my way home.” Swinging her legs over the edge of the bed, she pushed at the tangled blankets.

  “You will not be able to leave this room until I feel it is safe for you to do so.”

  “I don’t think so. You can’t order me around. This is a free country.” Blood raced to her head, thumping against her temples. “Look, I appreciate your help, but I’m fine, and capable of leaving whenever I want to. I don’t need you to tell me when I can or cannot leave!”

  “I’m sorry, Meeka, you will not be able to leave until I say.” Alarms went off in her head. “I didn’t tell you my name.”

  She glared at him and watched as he glanced over at Catz. Things were getting stranger by the second.

  “Perhaps, Enforcer, this is not the best time to reveal everything. Remember, she knows nothing of any world beyond Earth.” Catz howled angrily, only to be soothed by Meeka’s quick hand.

  “She must be aware of the danger.”

  “Awareness will come. Soothe her now so that when the time comes, you can protect her from the threat you know is coming,” Catz insisted, curling into Meeka’s lap.

  Cursing the creature for being right, he crossed his arms and looked back her way. “I’m sorry, precious. While you were in and out of consciousness, you told us your name.”

  Annoyed couldn’t begin to describe how she felt. “Listen, buddy, I’m not your precious. I’m not your anything. You can’t keep me here if I don’t want to stay. It’s illegal. I’m sure you’ve heard of kidnapping. My family will be looking for me.”

  He didn’t need to know it was a lie. Frustration boiled, both at the situation and at her own lie. Really, who would miss her? Her parents? Her employer? No, she was alone—but he didn't need to know that.

  He backed away from the bed. “My name is Kerrigan. I wish I could let you go home, more than you know, but for now, it isn’t possible. You should get some rest. You really have no idea how lucky you are to be alive.”

  Weak-kneed, she stood, swaying slightly. Her nails bit into the palms of her hands. “I demand you let me out of here!”

  * * * *

  Kerrigan felt the intrusion instantly and stumbled. The touch of an unknown mental power hit like a punch. Something or someone tried to force him to release her, but he couldn't. Even as he argued with himself, he realized that the force, the intrusive magic, came from her. He briefly closed his eyes, severing all paths to his mind. The woman had caught him off guard, and the look on her face told him she had no idea of the power she held.

  Catz walk toward the edge of the bed and looked up at him.

  “I hate to say I told you so, but now you know. She does have a special ability, and it’s very powerful. She doesn’t even know she’s a sorceress. Mind control is a great talent, but also a great weapon in the wrong hands.”

  He was astonished.

  A sorceress. Damn it!

  Kerrigan’s eyes narrowed, his thoughts laced with a threatening undertone. “I’m leaving now, but you should probably start speaking to her about this world and what she will soon see.”

  He returned his gaze to Meeka and spoke. “You truly are precious.” Dismissing her and Catz, he turned and wal
ked away. The door opened and closed without his touch.

  * * * *

  She stood stunned. Who did he think he was? Meeka stumbled to the door and tried to open it. Of course he’d locked it. Dizziness overwhelmed her senses. Defeated, she turned her back against the door and sank to the floor.

  What is this place? She had never seen any room like this.

  Round—every frickin’ thing is round, just like the bed.

  It even had a dome-shaped ceiling. Escape from an entrance other than the door didn’t seem possible.

  She heard Catz jump off the bed. Lifting her head, she smiled when the feline wrapped its small body around her legs. She looked down at Catz. “What have I gotten us into? What would I have done if you had drowned? I would never forgive myself.”

  “I would never leave you.”

  Meeka looked at her with wide eyes and shook her head. “Say that again,” she asked, scared to believe what she’d heard.

  Jumping onto her lap, Catz stared at her with unblinking eyes. “I said I would never leave you.”

  Meeka covered her face with both hands and took a deep breath. “I’ve finally lost my mind. Did I fall down the rabbit hole? Catz, tell me I’m dreaming. I have to be in a dream. I wanted the fairy tale. Now it seems I’m in one, except the prince is being a jerk, and I’ve lost my marbles and can’t wake up.”

  “I wish I could tell you this is all a dream, but unfortunately, that’s not the case. The man is right; we really can’t go home, at least not just yet, if at all. The two of us have always been able to speak to one another. I just didn’t speak clearly or vocally. The time had to be right. Now the time has come, and we must go forward with your destiny.”

  “None of this is real. None of this is real,” Meeka repeated. “What are you talking about? Catz, you’re speaking to me just like a person would. Since when do furry pet critters speak? How about never. That just doesn’t happen. Everything will be normal again if we can just go home.”

  “We did go down a rabbit hole, so to speak. This is not your world. It’s a different world in a different dimension. You are not dreaming, and I’m sorry to cause you so much distress.” Catz purred. “But time has run out, it seems. Destiny has decided to start the party early.”