He walked toward Harmony and extended his hand in friendship. “Hello, I’m Chase.”
It was not the type of environment he wanted to meet this beautiful, intriguing woman. He was as hard as a rock and there were still kids to be found. His focus needed to be on the missing teenagers, not the effect Harmony had on his body and soul.
“Are you a witch, too, Chase?” Harmony asked.
“No,” Chase answered. Now was not the time to tell her what he was.
Every supernatural creature who lived in Magic closely guarded what they truly were to strangers. The horrors of past prejudices toward their kind was still too fresh in most of their minds. The town already had two aliens, making Harmony a welcome addition. Chase doubted she even knew what a werewolf was.
Harmony’s attention was soon directed away from him. She shifted her gaze to Pati. “Your magic led you here, yet I don’t hear cries for help. What others spells do you have that can assist us?”
“I can turn us into birds,” Pati replied. “We can fly through the canyon’s openings and search for the children.”
“Once we find them, I can levitate them, drawing them out of the chasm,” Prue added.
Harmony looked skeptical, but nodded her unspoken agreement. Over the years, Pati had turned them into different animals for short periods of time. The human side of him loved experiencing life through different animal’s eyes, his wolf did not. It had been years since Pati worked that type of magic on him.
“The spell will last thirty minutes,” Pati said. “When your vision becomes cloudy, the spell is losing its energy. Immediately, exit the chasm. You don’t want to convert back in a narrow passage.”
Chase walked beside Harmony. He would safeguard her until she was released from the spell. Her willingness to allow Pati to change her into a bird showed how open-minded the alien was. Perhaps, the truth about what he was would not be an issue after all.
He felt the magic take over his body. It was different from the sensation that brought about his wolf. Chase wondered how Harmony felt and her reaction to seeing the world through different eyes.
Harmony’s finch immediately took to flight and dove through an opening in the rock. He followed behind her, as Pati and Prue headed in the opposite direction.
Even his bird was attracted to her. Was her cloaca swollen? He was prepared to perform the bird mating dance.
His attention was diverted when Harmony reached a dead end and soared toward the sky. He followed in her wake. For a short time, they both traveled the same wind current. It felt natural being next to her, regardless of their form.
He heard faint cries east of their position. Harmony lifted her wing slightly to communicate she too heard the cry. They reached the weakened, thirsty children just as his vision began to cloud.
Chase nudged Harmony, indicating they needed to head for the rock’s surface. She followed him without any complaints. They rested nearby as their bodies returned to their former shape.
“That was amazing!” Harmony exclaimed. “I’ve never experienced anything that can compare. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so alive.”
He stood paralyzed as her lips fell onto his. There was no mistaking how he now felt. He had found his mate.
***
Harmony had no idea why she kissed Chase, but she knew she turned a corner in her life. There were various crossroads a person faced in their lifetime. Kissing this man was one of those moments.
She ran her hands through his tawny brown, thick hair. His strands were coarse, as tight as the sinewy muscles in his arms.
Flying in bird form gave her the greatest high she ever experienced, but kissing this man was mind-shattering. Emotions and sensations overwhelmed her ability to reason. At this point, she was just reacting, incapable of rational thought.
His lips were tentative at first, no doubt stunned by her action. As reality sunk in, Chase deepened the kiss and his hands fell onto her hips. Her body warmed to his touch, even through the clothing she wore. What would occur when he touched her naked flesh?
She had kissed men before, but none of them tasted this good. There was a slight mint-like flavor to him. Harmony took in more of his deliciousness as their tongues tangled.
The cries of the children below brought her back to reality. She reluctantly pushed away from him, immediately feeling the loss of his touch. In the past, she hated to be touched, but now she craved it from this man.
“How do we contact Pati and Prue?” Harmony somehow found her voice after what she experienced. “The children need water and lifted to the surface.”
Chase put his fingers into his mouth and generated a loud whistle. How had he created such a loud, high-pitched sound? She was still mystified as he produced the sound again.
A returned whistle indicated the women heard his message. It was not long before Pati and Prue arrived on their broomsticks.
“They are directly below us,” Chase advised the two. “The opening is too small to levitate them out in their current forms. They must have entered the canyon miles from here and got lost in the passages. It appears they brought no food or water with them.”
“Stupid,” Pati muttered under her breath. “No matter how many signs and warnings we post, there are always some who think they know better.”
“These kids won’t make the same mistake twice,” Prue assured them. “I will go down and get them. My elemental gifts are required here. Notify your mate we have found the teens.”
“Your mate?” Harmony asked Pati.
“My soul mate is a jaguar shifter,” Pati informed her. “We used magic to turn us into birds. Danyal can use the magic of his ancestors and shift into the form of a large cat.”
Harmony consulted the small computer on her wrist to investigate more about jaguars. The animal was of the Panthera genus. Well, that didn’t tell her anything worthwhile. Her eyes widened as she read on. From the nose to the tip of their tales, they could be six-feet in length and a large male would weigh as much as three hundred fifty pounds. She was almost brought to her knees as she read about a jaguar’s bite force.
She could feel her normally pale complexion lose what color it had. A shudder ran through her body in reaction to the dangerous animal she just read about. How could Pati have mated with such a creature?
***
Chase’s attention was focused on Harmony, rather than the attempt to rescue the teens. At one point, he was afraid she was going to faint. Whatever she read on the screen on her wristband had clearly distressed her.
“Are you all right?” Chase asked as he studied her wobbling body.
Harmony backed away from him as if he had hurt her. “Are you one of those jaguar shifters?”
“No,” Chase answered.
His pulse raced, hoping she would not ask what he was. If a jaguar frightened her, how would she react to his wolf? The smartest thing he could do now was to divert her attention. He pointed in Prue’s direction right before she turned into a peregrine falcon.
The falcon was the size of a large crow. She was a gorgeous bird with a blue-gray back, barred underparts, and a black head. He found it amusing Prue would change into a sexually dimorphic bird. The female peregrine falcon was larger than her male counterpart. Prue took to the air and dove into the chasm.
Moments later, she returned carrying a small rodent. As soon as the chipmunk was on the ground, it materialized into a human boy. The beautiful falcon returned with the second child as the first boy started to ask questions.
Either by witchcraft or Dreyden’s ability to wipe minds, the children would not remember anything about their rescue. Medical science would explain their amnesia a result of their dehydrated state. Only the residents of Magic would know the truth. Pati worked a spell that would save the children’s lives until they were turned over to the local health clinic.
Chase heard the sound of propellers whipping the air before he caught sight of Sheriff Theo’s helicopter. The dragon shifter lawman landed
and Chase carried one of the children to the craft. After the second child was aboard, Theo lifted off, returning to town.
“Harmony, you’ll be staying with me and Dreyden until you find a place of your own,” Prue said as soon as she could be heard over the retreating helicopter. “There is plenty of room. My grandmother’s house is huge.”
Chase wondered how long it would be until Prue called the home she inherited her own. It had been six months since she had returned to Magic. It was clear his first crush was going to remain in Magic.
He didn’t want to lose Harmony’s company just yet. Chase needed to concoct a reason to invite himself to Prue and Darden’s home tonight.
“It’s been a trying day,” Chase said. “Why don’t I pick up some pizzas and beer. I doubt anyone feels like cooking tonight.”
Prue and Pati saw right through his barely disguised plan and they both smiled. Fortunately, they said nothing to alert Harmony to the real reason he was playing pizza delivery man.
“Sounds great,” Pati said. “Danyal and I will be there by seven.”
“The gigantic cat?” Harmony shrieked.
It was clear the female alien was freaking out. If he had any hope of a relationship with the beauty, he needed to find a way to eliminate her fear of animals. He had a week before the moon was full and his wolf was freed.
Chapter 5
Harmony’s heart beat so quickly, she was afraid it would burst. As it was, her breathing was just as erratic. An all too familiar panic attack was upon her.
She was in what Prue called a living room while her hostess was in the kitchen preparing for guests. The walls seemed to be closing in on her as she contemplated sharing space with a jaguar shifter.
“Are you all right?” A voice broke through her muddled mind. “I’ll get you a glass of water.”
Before Harmony had time to react, Prue handed her a green cup. Harmony grabbed the handle, not immediately able to see the liquid contained within. Earth had discovered how to make ceramics. It should not have surprised her, even primitive worlds baked their dishes.
“Take slow, shallow sips,” Prue instructed, concern written all over her face.
To her surprise, the woman did not totally release the mug she drank from. She must be in worse shape than she thought. Taking Prue’s advice, she sipped the cold, refreshing water.
In a matter of minutes, Harmony felt better. She was finally able to speak. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” her hostess immediately replied. “Do you want to tell me what caused your panic attack? I know one when I see one.”
Would it be wise to confide in a total stranger? Especially one who possessed magical abilities she did not understand? Prue was certainly compassionate and willing to help rescue perfect strangers.
“When I was eight, my family went to an isolated location on Glacier known for its spectacular ice cliffs,” Harmony started to explain. “At that age, I was reckless and didn’t heed warnings not to wander off alone.”
Prue shifted closer to her, intent on hearing the rest of the story. “Most kids that age are fearless, even when they get older,” Prue said. “Those teenagers we rescued today are perfect examples of the stupidity of children, regardless of what planet they are from.”
“Then, I was typical,” Harmony continued. “There had been sightings of ice weasels, but the warnings fell on deaf ears as far as I was concerned. The moon was full and I wanted to see the cliffs without anyone telling me I couldn’t climb them.”
“A weasel?”
“That was what my translator came up with,” Harmony admitted. “They are vicious small mammals with sharp teeth and sharper claws. Although they are no longer than the distance between my elbow and the tip of my middle finger, their speed makes them deadly. One was upon me before I could use my climbing equipment to hold him off. The animal tore through my jacket and clothing, seeking the warmth of my blood.”
Harmony had to stop and take a cleansing breath to calm herself. After all these years, she could still feel the claws and teeth tearing her tender flesh. She took several sips of water to soothe her now dry throat.
“I finally heard human cries and knew help was on its way. But the ice weasel kept attacking me,” Harmony cried. “They beat the animal to death because he refused to release me. When it finally died, they had to pry its claws from my bones.”
She tried to control the tremors telling her story created. Her wounds had finally healed, but her memories were still terrifyingly fresh. Harmony pulled down her shirt to show Prue the scars on her chest.
When she had the courage to look at Prue, she saw compassion reflected on her face. Harmony hated when people pitied her. That was one of the reasons she always covered her chest and rarely shared her story.
“My magic can remove the scars, even the memories,” Prue said.
Harmony shook her head. “The doctors say the skin is too damaged. I have tried various mind-control techniques. Even though the memory fades for a period, my nightmares only intensified. There is no way to purge my subconscious of what happened. I have a crippling fear of animals.”
Prue’s eyes grew larger, finally understanding what brought on her latest attack. It was obvious the woman was struggling with what to tell her to ease her fears.
Harmony’s mind went back to the instant she was rescued. All she could remember was seeing all the blood on the ice. It was obvious she was never going to get over the accident and couldn’t stay in Magic.
***
Chase leaned against the white frame structure, three pizza boxes resting in his hands. Prue had left open the windows to draw the cooling afternoon breeze into the house. He heard everything Harmony shared.
“Although Danyal is a shifter, his human mind is aware of his animal’s movements,” Prue assured Harmony. “The only time he becomes violent is when his mate or someone he cares for is in danger. Otherwise, he is just a big pussy cat. He isn’t a wild animal.”
He was once again relieved there was no mention of him being a werewolf. He needed to rely on Danyal and the other shifters to prove to Harmony there was nothing to fear. Although, the shifters had more control of their cats than he had of his wolf during the full moon.
Chase needed to drop off the pizzas and get the beer from the car. There was a possibility the aroma of the pies would permeate through the screens, alerting the women to his presence.
It appeared the conversation had momentarily ended. Now seemed the best time to let them know he arrived. Chase took the four steps to the front door and shouted, “Prue, I’m here with the pizzas.” He tried to sound as normal as possible.
The sound of Prue coming to the door was audible on the hardwood floors. He had mere seconds to remove any signs he heard their conversation from his expression.
“I didn’t hear you approach, Chase,” Prue said. “Your wolf is ready to run wild.”
Chase gave Prue a warning glance. Why would she mention his animal now after Harmony’s confession? Fortunately, her comment had been no more than a whisper. Prue winked at him and opened the front door. She obviously wanted something.
He followed her into the kitchen, nodding his acknowledgement of Harmony as he made his way through the living room. Just that short contact made his heart race. With care not to mess up the hot cheese in the delivery boxes, he placed the pizzas on the granite countertop.
“I’ll get the beer,” Chase commented and headed toward the kitchen’s exit.
“You heard her story?” Prue asked in hushed tones.
“Yes,” he answered in kind. “What am I going to do? She’s the one.”
It was quite a revelation to admit to his first crush.
“I know.” Prue moved forward and embraced him. “It’s a week before the moon is full. We’ll figure it out. Get the beer. Harmony has been alone in there too long.”
As soon as Prue released him, Chase moved through the swinging door into the living room. Finding their mates was not ea
sy for Prue or Pati. It gave him hope he would have his own happily ever after with Harmony. Both couples were now the epitome of romantic bliss.
“I’ve got beers and sodas in the car, if you’d like to stretch your legs and give me a hand,” Chase said as he approached Harmony.
He was rewarded with a brilliant smile. Harmony was obviously not a woman used to sitting around with nothing to do. Before she stepped outside, Harmony touched her weapon, assuring herself it was still there. He hoped she was not going to shoot Danyal.
“This is your conveyance?” Harmony asked as he opened his truck’s passenger door and handed her a six-pack of his favorite beer.
“It’s called an automobile,” Chase informed her. “Car for short. Although, we are capable of flight, most of us are restricted to land vehicles. My conveyance is a truck because of the open bed in the back. It is used for hauling equipment, furniture, soil, or whatever is required.”
Chase grabbed a twelve pack of sodas and one of the remaining six-packs of beer. Harmony looked expectantly at him, no doubt expecting to carry more.
“I am half Titian,” Harmony said. “My muscle fibers make me stronger and faster than I appear. I am capable of carrying more than this trifle.”
Not wanting to insult her, Chase handed over the six-pack and grabbed the remaining beer. Although Harmony expected to carry more, he closed the truck’s door and headed for the house.
She followed him, not a word shared between them. At this point, it was clear, she did not fear him. If things went well between her and Danyal tonight, maybe his anxiety regarding how she would react to his wolf would lessen.
When they entered the kitchen, Harmony stood by the refrigerator as he tried to find room for the beer and sodas. As it was, he had to pull the sodas out of the cardboard box and placed a couple in the fridge’s door. How could two people eat so much food? He had only seen a fridge this full on Thanksgiving eve.
Magic, New Mexico: A Touch of Harmony (Kindle Worlds Novella) Page 3
