Text copyright ©2017 by the Author.
This work was made possible by a special license through the Kindle Worlds publishing program and has not necessarily been reviewed by S.E. Smith. All characters, scenes, events, plots and related elements appearing in the original Magic, New Mexico remain the exclusive copyrighted and/or trademarked property of S.E. Smith, or their affiliates or licensors.
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A Special Ops Marine gears up to save a young woman with a unique talent from the government who would use her.
A young woman’s special talents make her not only a freak, but also a danger, and only one man can save her.
Seeking shelter in a town of magical beings, a young woman and a Special Ops Marine will fight the powerful forces trying to control her.
Nava Torres’ life was one of turmoil and danger. Considered a freak of nature by her peers and hunted by the government, she never expected to find a place where she could feel safe—until she heard about a town called Magic. For the first time since her parents’ deaths, she felt awe, hope, and something even stranger—attraction to a man who could heat her blood with one look!
Special Ops Marine, Saxon Wehurst, had sworn off women—at least until he met a fiery redhead with black streaks that made him want to run his hands through the colorful tresses. There was nothing in the world that could fire up his protective instincts faster than a woman with trouble nipping at her heels and fire in her hair.
When outside forces threaten Nava and the town, Saxon and his men are more than ready to gear up to protect them both. For Saxon, it is personal—nothing stands between a Bull Dog and his mate—not even the government. Will Saxon and his men be able to protect the woman he loves and save the town, or will she be taken from him forever? Whatever happens, it is time to feel the burn...
Loving Phoenix
© 2017 by Trinity Blacio
Cover design by Melody Simmons
All rights reserved worldwide. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
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Loving Phoenix
Magic: New Mexico Kindle World
by
Trinity Blacio
Chapter One
Home, this is where Nava belonged. The tightness in her stomach and shoulders were gone. Ever since her parents were murdered, she had lived by the day. Always looking over her shoulder, scanning her surroundings when approaching anywhere new. Never believing in any tomorrows, but for some strange reason, this day was different as she walked through her first apartment. This city of Magic, the only place recently she felt safe enough to put down some solid roots. But then again, Nava was tired of running. This town would be her last stand.
She took a deep breath and smiled, looking out the sliding glass door of her balcony in her one-bedroom apartment. It was one of the main reasons Nava had taken the place. The view over the city was breathtaking; she couldn’t wait to see it at night all lit up. She twirled around, feeling free for the first time in a long time. But first, she needed furniture, and Nava had spotted a thrift store right down the street. Grabbing her purse, Nava pulled out cash she had left after opening a checking account. With ten thousand in her new account, she had over two thousand in her purse and another ten thousand hidden in the bottom of her suitcase in case she needed to leave suddenly, all thanks to her parents.
With the special government group still searching for her, Nava had learned quickly how to survive. She didn’t know if she would be safe here in this new place, but she sure hoped so. Because there was no way she was going back with them alive. One year with them, in their so-called dorm of gifted people, was enough for her. The first month there, she had it, but her parents hadn’t been able to get her out until a year later. Something about a contract they had signed with the government, a mistake on their part. Then, they had changed their names and moved, but their sense of safe had come to an end ten years later when the GSP (Gifted Special Project) team appeared in their lives again.
Nava snorted. “Looking my ass, more like controlling.” Nava reached into her purse, feeling the hard edge of the pistol she carried wherever she went. A cold chill ran up her spine thinking of the last time they had tried to take her back to the compound. If it hadn’t been for the group of bikers hearing her screams, Nava would be locked up for good. Hence, the gun Flask had given her, showing her how to use it. Tears came to her eyes as she thought of Flask. He had saved her, and because of this, the GSP had killed him. Just as they had done to her parents but only when he had been alone.
A month later, she had finally made it there, to Magic. Buses and fake routes to throw them off her trail just in case some of them had discovered she had left the biker group. Nava only hoped the Knockers full assault on the GSP that wanted her would keep them busy for a long time to come. She was also lucky that the bikers’ group didn’t blame her for Flask’s death. Instead, they had shown her how to cover her tracks and paid for her bus tickets, helping her escape. If she weren’t safe here, she’d die because there was no way she ever going with them alive. A tool and a breeding woman for the children with gifts they hoped to breed with their idea of superior individuals. Nope, there was no way in hell anyone would take her.
“Thrift store, lunch and then the department store,” she mumbled, closing and locking her door before heading down the stairs to the outside door to her apartment building. Nava would walk to the Mom’s Things thrift store and to the diner Krazy Kettle. Nava smiled going down the stairs, loving the name of the diner. But, first, she needed to find a bed, furniture as soon as possible; she was tired of sleeping on the floor or ground.
Peeking through the door, Nava scanned outside. She didn’t see any Blazers or Crown Victorias around, the two cars she normal saw the GSP in. Nava stepped outside and took a deep breath of the fall air. The weather was warm but not too hot, and there was a cool breeze that danced over her skin as she made her way down the street toward her first stop. In a pair of jeans and tank top, Nava took in the town of Magic, New Mexico. The streets were lined with flowering hanging baskets under the old fashion streetlights one would see in pictures in the fifties. The main road was done in old fashion red brick, not cement or blacktop like most streets. Storefronts were unique and drew you in every time you turned your attention to it, almost as it was casting a spell on you. Who knew, maybe there were spells on them, especially since this town was filled with others like her yet different. The town was called Magic, after all.
Not paying attention to where she was going, Nava ran straight into what she thought was a wall and would have fallen back onto the sidewalk, but a strong arm wrapped around her waist, stopping her fall. “Sorry about that,” Nava said as her gaze traveled up and up to a man built like a tank truck but had a face like that of a Greek god. Never had she thought a shaved head would be hot, but on this man, it was deadly, literally.
Nava took a deep breath, moaning at the cologne the man was wearing and
knew she was in deep trouble. The tingling started in her fingers and traveled up as she jumped out the man’s arms, putting at least a foot between them, afraid she would hurt him. She could have fried the man, and that was not a great way to have the people of this town meet her. Her reaction to the man alone was confusing and freighting.
The fire inside her slowly simmered as she returned her gaze to the man in question. “Again, sorry; I should have been paying attention to where I was going. If you’ll excuse me.” She started to move around him, but he reached out and touched her arm, only to quickly snatch it back.
“Damn, you’re hot? Are you okay? Do you need to see a doctor?” he asked and moaned, realizing his words. “I didn’t mean it that way. I mean you’re hot, but... Shit, shoot me now.” He shook his head, his friends behind him smirking, and Nava couldn’t help but smile.
“I understood what you meant but not to worry.” She looked down at the ground. “I know I’m not hot looking like your classic beauties.” She rubbed her hands down her thighs, which were thicker than the norm. No, her body was not the perfect thing men seemed to want. “I should really get going if I want something to sleep on tonight.” She once more tried to pivot around the hot group of men, groaning inside at her last comment. “something to sleep on.” Jeez. Nava stopped and glanced next to her. Sure enough, the man was beside her, watching, his friends a few feet behind them.
“You are following me because?”
“It’s not every day I run into a beautiful lady on the street. Plus, I am really worried about you.” He bowed to her. “My name is Saxon, my friend to on the left behind is Kaylen. The one next to him, Prem and the other Tadi. We have lived here a few years and haven’t seen you around.”
“That’s because you didn’t.” Nava tilted her head to the side and studied the man. She could see he was worried about her, but he also happened to be one of the most handsome men she had seen. Nada knew he was different when his eyes seemed to burn bright when he had touched her earlier, but what he was Nava had no idea.
She sighed. “Nava Torres,” she said, looking down the road that she had walked coming into town. “I’m hoping to make this town my home, but we’ll have to see.” She looked back at him. “But either way, you don’t want to get to know me, Saxon. The last person who tried was killed. Please, just stay away for your own sake and your friends’. At least ‘til I know it’s okay. Excuse me, I must really go.” Nava once more continued walking down the street, almost sad the man still hadn’t followed her, but she knew it was best. It was the only reason she had opened her mouth warning him.
Chapter Two
Saxon stood there trying to control the inner demon in him as he watched his little fire walk away from him.
His military brothers moved to his side. “I’ll call in the team, and we’ll set up recon on her and her place. Congrats, Saxon. You are the first to find his light. No pun intended either.”
“Find out about this threat. If you will excuse me, I have a mate to get to know,” he told his friends while following behind the little bombshell. Now, all he had to do was come up with a reason why he was stalking her without scaring her off. Oh, he’d known she was armed; the scent of a firearm and the hard object connecting with his belly had alerted him.
Nava stopped in front of Mom’s Things, looking up at the sign before glancing back at him, seeing him coming toward her. Saxon was pretty sure he just saw a puff of smoke come out of her mouth. Is she a Dragon? He knew for a fact that she wasn’t a demon. They would have recognized each other if that was the case.
“You really want to be scorched? Because if you keep following me, I can’t promise keeping you from getting burned. I mean harmed,” she said as the local twins came running around the corner. It seemed that day was the day for everyone to run into each other, because as soon as his mate had said that, she was sitting on the sidewalk laughing. Both the boys not paying attention to where they were going had run right into her.
The boys stared at her then looked up at him as he reached down helping her up. “Boys, you know better than running on Main Street,” he said, facing the town’s little hellions.
“Sorry, Saxon, lady, but he wanted to turn Elma into a mouse. I stopped him, and he’s mad at me,” one of the brothers said, and since Saxon always had a hard time remembering who was who, he shook his head. “No one should be turning anyone into anything. What have your folks told you? Didn’t you just get ungrounded?” he asked, hearing about the last prank they had pulled on their teacher.
“How is Calamity Jane doing?” he asked the boys who looked down at the ground.
“Don’t know; she won’t talk to us. She’s a little miffed. We said sorry, and Aunt Lacey has offered to help...”
“But she won’t say anything to anyone,” the other troublemaker said, finishing his brother’s words.
“Wait, you brought back Calamity Jane, the one in the history books?” Nava asked, sounding really impressed.
“The teacher kept going on how bad she was, but we told her that she was a hero. I mean, you should see how she handles that gun, fast.” Both boys nodded their head.
“Oh my,” Nava said, giggling. “I bet your teacher was surprised.”
Saxon leaned over and whispered. “She was thankful they weren’t talking about Hitler at the time.”
Nava’s eyes got big, and she glanced back at the boys then at him. “They could do that?”
The boys giggled. “We could try...”
“NO!” Saxon yelled, making the boys jump. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to yell, but remember what you were taught about that man?” Saxon tried to reason with the boys.
“Yes, please don’t do that. The thought of that sick man running around...” She shivered running her hands up her arms.
Both boys shook their heads, promising they wouldn’t, as they ran off as their mother yelled at them down Main Street from in front of their diner.
Nava shook her head as the door to the store opened up, and Ringo stepped out onto the sidewalk.
“Everything okay,” he asked and looked down the street seeing the boys, moaning. “Please tell me they didn’t do another spell.”
Nava giggled next to him, and he smiled. “No, at least I hope not. But I think I’ll have a talk with their father, just to make sure they don’t try to bring Hitler back.”
“What?” Ringo glared toward the boys in question. “I swear those boys are worse than any of us were when we were their age,” he grumbled.
“Ha, that’s what you say. Did you forget about the time you and your brother wanted to see the whale in Moby Dick?” his mother said, coming outside to join them. “Matter of fact, I think I still have the harpoon the two of you bought for it,” she said, winking at them. “Hi, I’m Darla, ‘Mom’ of this establishment. Were you coming in to do some shopping?” she asked Nava, holding out her hand to Nava.
Nava placed her tiny hand on Darla’s, smiling. “I love the story, and yes. I just rented an apartment here and have nothing in the means of furniture. I was hoping you might have at least a bed or something.”
“So, you’re new to town, how interesting,” Ringo said, taking her hand next, raising it up and placing a kiss on her wrist.
“Watch it, Ringo?” Saxon growled, reaching up and pulling her hand away from him.
Ringo’s smile grew. “The Bull Dog has found someone that interests him, oh what fun we are going to have.”
“Stop it, Ringo, now.” His mother pushed her son out of the way, wrapping her arm around Nava. “Don’t you mind those two; they’ve been teasing each other for the past fifty years, I swear. If I’m not mistaken, I have this Dresden King in the back. I saw it and knew I had to have it for my store. Now, I know it was meant for you.”
“Wait a minute, your son and Saxon are over fifty years old?” She looked at him then at Ringo. “Okay, what are you? Vampire, Fae?” she asked.
“Dear, that is a little rude, sort of asking your age thi
ng,” Ringo’s mother said, patting her arm.
“Oh,” Nava frowned. “Sorry, but it became a habit at the dorm when they put us all together...” She glanced up at him. “Sorry, didn’t mean to be rude.”
Saxon stepped forward and cupped her cheek. “I’m a demon, and I’m over five hundred years old. There is nothing for you to be sorry about. What are you?”
She looked down at the ground. “Nothing that exciting.” She looked up, smiling, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I just, well, fire is my element. When I said you’d get burned, I meant it literally.” She held out her hand, and a ball of fire hovered above it and then disappeared.
“Impressive and you are something, dear. Come, let me show you what I have. Saxon, I would have a word with you later, please,” Darla said, escorting Nava toward the back of the warehouse.
“Okay, why has your mother become attached to my female?” Saxon asked Ringo as soon as they were out of ear range.
“Easy there, Bull Dog, and I have no idea,” Ringo frowned. “Right now, I’m worried about Mother. She’s holding on, smiling, but inside, I can feel rage and nervousness coming from her... Hell, Dad’s here and so is Matty.” Ringo turned as both moved into the store, searching. “She’s with a customer right now,” Ringo called out.
“Who?” was all his father asked, sending a shiver over him. Ringo’s father, Darla’s mate, was none other than the original vampire all the movies were made from, Dracula, and no one wanted him pissed off.
Ringo pointed to him. “Bull Dog’s mate, it would seem. Even though I don’t think she knows it?”
Saxon shook his head as Nava and Darla moved back toward the front.
“Ringo, have that bed and that adorable little table and chairs taken to Morris’s old apartment. And for Pete sakes, make sure the boys set it up for her. She does not need to be up all night trying to set up the bed, especially since I know for a fact she wouldn’t be able to lift one part of that bed.” Her gaze turned to her mate. “I’m fine; we’ll talk later.”
Magic, New Mexico: Loving Phoenix (Kindle Worlds Novella) Page 1
