by Iris Abbott
“I’ve been doing some digging of my own, but I haven’t come up with anything yet. It’s as if my men just blanked out. I’ll see you in thirty,” the alpha wolf shifter said before breaking the connection.
****
Selena sat mesmerized as she listened to her friend Julie relate everything that happened to her since they last saw each other just a couple of nights before at the Halloween party. She thinned her lips and narrowed her eyes when Julie got to the part about how she’d been held hostage in her apartment, tied to a chair no less. “The nerve of that man!” Selena exclaimed. “I don’t think I’d go out of my way to anger witches and vampire. That’s just asking for trouble.”
“Yeah, well, Alessandro took care of him. He won’t be around to hurt any of us ever again.”
Selena gave her friend a nervous smile. “I certainly hope so, because if something happens to either one of us today, and we survive, we’ll probably be under lock and key for the rest of our lives.” She let out a giggle. “And that’s a very long time for the mates of a vampire and guardian.”
“Stop worrying, that’s always been your biggest fault. You, Selena Hunt, are a worrywart in witch’s clothing.”
A loud knock sounded at the door. Selena excused herself to the bathroom and slipped to the back of the apartment leaving Julie to greet her visitor. With any luck, it would be Brittany. They still hadn’t heard from her yet.
A cold chill slid down her spine, and she knew something was terribly wrong. She glanced at the visitor and vaguely recalled seeing him at the Halloween party. She quietly closed and locked the bathroom door. She heard raised voices, and her concern grew.
Luckily her phone was in her skirt pocket. She pressed speed dial number three. Thank goodness she’d programmed Phillip’s number into her phone the day before. She heard him answer at the same time a splintering sound behind her alerted her to the fact that she was no longer alone. She slipped the phone into her pocket and turned to face the intruder.
“Where’s Julie, the woman who lives here?” she demanded in a loud, clear voice. She hoped Phillip heard everything being said and figured out where they were. She backed as far away from the man as she could get while she waited for an answer.
The man bared a mouth full of teeth and snarled. “My friends are making sure she’s comfortable. Why don’t you join her in the living room, and don’t get any ideas about casting a spell.” He opened his hand to show her the perfect crystal and protection amulet he had in his possession.
“Damn,” Selena muttered under her breath. He knew how to use the elements of the earth to block a spell. That could only have been taught to him by a witch. She and Julie were in serious trouble.
“It’s obvious you know about witches and magic. Who are you?” She prayed that Phillip could still hear what was being said.
“I’m a wolf shifter, and yes I know all about witches and the company they keep.”
He herded her down the hall. She saw Julie sitting in the middle of the couch surrounded by two burly men. One of the intruders stood and pushed Selena down in his place.
She rolled her eyes and bit her lip. Selena hated being manhandled, but she needed to channel her anger and keep her wits. She turned to Julie, “are you okay?”
She glared at the three men standing guard around them. “Julie, you really need to move. This used to be a nice place to live, but now the complex must be having trouble keeping out the riffraff.” She smirked at the wolf shifter who’d dragged her from the bathroom. She didn’t care if she made him angry. If he was verbally sparring with her, then he was too busy to carry out his dastardly plan. She believed Phillip was on the way and she was going to give him the time he needed to arrive.
Julie seemed to pick up on Selena’s train of thought. Selena, Julie, and Brittany had always thought alike. It was one of the things that cemented the unbreakable sisterly bond between them.
“I don’t even know why you’re here. Selena and I have never done anything to upset the local wolf pack. We didn’t even know you existed until just recently.”
Selena picked up the thread of the conversation. “And what possible connection could there be between a crazed vampire hunter and wolf shifters.” She arched her brow and waited. She got the desired effect she wanted when one of the shifters started talking.
“That vampire hunter was nothing more than a pawn. We used his hatred of vampires to create a distraction while we furthered our own agenda.”
“Shut up, Larry,” the man Selena thought was in charge bellowed. Her guess was confirmed when the other two cringed and visibly shrank under the other more dominant male’s words.
Selena needed to keep them talking. “Well, big boy,” she addressed the leader. “What’s the harm in answering a few questions?” She tried to look unconcerned and gave an offhanded shrug. “After all it’s not like Julie and I are going anywhere.”
The man glared at her. “I know that the council has been sniffing around poking their feline noses into matters that don’t concern them. I also saw you leave the party with a guardian who happens to be a member of said council. Don’t count on him to rush to your rescue. He’s on a wild goose chase right now that should keep him preoccupied for hours to come. And there are hours of daylight left so there won’t be any vampire charging to the rescue either.” He directed that comment to Julie.
“Humph,” Julie made her displeasure known. “If you’re referring to yesterday, then let me clarify the facts. No one came riding to my rescue. I got away from that disgusting vampire hunter on my own.” She gave him a look that seemed to say I can do it again too!
“Well, magic isn’t going to do you any good today. So, we’re gonna sit back and wait. Mitch might not be our choice of Alpha, but nobody said he wasn’t thorough. He’ll want to come back here to look for any clues the vampire hunter left behind. After all, the security breach occurred under his watch.” He gave the evilest grin that Selena had ever seen. A chill swept down her spine.
“Why? What are you going to do to…” That’s as far as Selena got.
A big black fluffy housecat waltzed into the living room like he owned the place. The animal let out a long meow. It hissed at the three men and ran to curl its body around the women’s legs.
The leader narrowed his eyes and gave the cat a suspicious look.
“Don’t look at my cat like that,” Julie demanded. “Come here, Syn.” She patted her lap, and the cat gracefully jumped onto the couch. “He’s just a harmless housecat that’s been living here forever.” She pointed toward the kitchen. “His food and water bowl are over there.”
Selena let out an inner sigh of relief. Thank goodness Julie had been too busy to pick up the stuff she bought for Syn. She picked up the cat and rubbed her face against his.
“Haven’t you ever heard of a witch and her familiar? Syn’s been hanging around us forever.” A few days short of a month didn’t qualify for forever, but she didn’t think the wolf shifters would be able to make that distinction.
“Maybe I should rip him to shreds. The world would be better off with one less cat in it,” an intruder threatened.
“What if he’s a guardian?” One of the other shifters anxiously shuffled his feet.
“It’s highly doubtful,” the leader decided. “Saint John is with the blond, and this isn’t her apartment. Look around,” he waved a hand. “They’re telling the truth. A cat obviously lives here. Take him to another room and lock him out of the way.”
“No,” Selena tightened her hold on the cat. “Let me do it. I don’t want you to hurt him.” She started to stand, but the cat hissed at her and jumped out of her arms. She sat back down in shock, “or maybe not.” She rubbed at her arm like it had been scratched. His claws had been sheathed, but the wolves didn’t know that, and he apparently had a plan that included separating the men.
****
One of the men growled at the cat, and Syn pretended to be herded into a back bedroom. Phillip wait
ed until he was in the room and the wolf shifter turned his back on him. Quicker than the blink of an eye he shifted to his human form. He wrapped both hands around the wolf shifter’s neck and applied enough pressure to cause him to blackout.
He wanted to snap the scrawny canine’s neck for daring to terrorize Selena and her friend, but he and Mitch had an agreement. These three would be turned over to Mitch and the pack. They would die by the hand of the alpha under pack law with the council’s blessing of course. A challenge to the alpha for the right to lead a pack was one thing. Scheming to take out the alpha in an underhanded way that involved collusion with a vampire hunter and the possible harm of other paranormal beings was not acceptable!
Guardians were blessed with a touch of magic. They could conjure up simple things with just a thought and mental image. Phillip used his mind and magic to conjure up a pair of handcuffs just in case the downed shifter regained consciousness. He restrained the renegade wolf and rushed to jump into the fray. His shift was based on magic instead of anatomy, so he was already fully clothed.
****
Selena watched as the smallest wolf shifter stomped across the room, sending what he thought was an ordinary house cat to the back of the apartment. She coughed to cover up the smile she couldn’t hide. There was going to be a big surprise waiting for that rabid wolf when Phillip was done, of that she was sure.
She gave a startled yelp when the front door crashed open. It was completely torn from its hinges. A massive wolf with a shiny black coat of fur stood on top of the shattered wood. He instantly jumped on the shifter that Selena had pegged as the leader of the little ragtag gang of troublemakers.
She didn’t wait to see what was going to happen. She and Julie spared each other a quick glance before springing into action. They both surged forward lunging for the feet of the second wolf shifter.
Selena felt the ripple of flesh and sprouting fur beneath her hands. She felt fear for the first time that day. She and Julie didn’t stand a chance against the strength of a bloodthirsty wolf. Before the fear could coalesce into a large ball in the pit of her stomach a blinding light appeared.
She gawked in wide-eyed astonishment as her friend Brittany dropped right out of the sky. The light and sudden appearance of another witch distracted the shifter. Thinking fast, Selena grasped the chain and tugged hard. She tossed it to Julie who took off away from the group as soon as she had the amulet in her hand.
Selena looked at the large black wolf with blood-matted fur just as the animal lunged for the kill. He grabbed the throat of the smaller, tawny-furred wolf and gave it a vicious shake. He didn’t let go for several seconds after, probably making sure the traitor was dead.
Selena crossed her fingers and began to chant. “Hear me now all the powers of the universe. Make this spell work swifter than this wolf shifter at the speed of light hour! Lift up my magic. Shift the balance of power. Let good conquer evil and stop its intended upheaval.” She blinked three times and held up her arms to embrace the powers of the universe she’d just called upon.
The wolf shifter beneath the two witches let out a startled whimper. He stopped mid-shift. All his strength and canine characteristics faded away. He stared with wide eyes as Brittany approached him.
Selena’s red-headed friend effortlessly lifted the man from the floor by an awkwardly bent arm behind his back. She gave him a sharp kick to the shin with one of her sturdy shoes. “That’s for terrorizing my friends.” Then she shoved him toward Mitch Gannon the alpha of the Enigma wolf pack. He’d already regained his human form and thrown on a pair of jeans.
****
Mitch made sure both of them were restrained and ready for transport to the large log cabin that served as his home and meeting place for the pack. He left them to his younger brother and beta of the pack Justin, who’d just arrived on the scene. He was going to be right behind them, but he needed to offer his thanks first.
He turned to Phillip Saint John with a grave nod. “Thank you for helping me thwart their less than honorable plot. If he thought he was strong enough to be alpha he should have issued a challenge instead of combining forces with a vampire hunter to create a distraction and cause general havoc to the entire paranormal population of Enigma.”
Next, he turned to the three lovely women watching him with large eyes. “I’m sorry you were put in danger by members of my pack. Please accept my apology, and if you ever need anything let me know.”
He looked at the beautiful blond that he remembered seeing the night of the Halloween party. He might owe Saint John, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t tease the feline. “And you,” he kissed her hand. “If you ever get tired of that cat shifter,” he winked, “look me up under Gannon Security. I’d be more than happy to take you on.”
Phillip hissed. Mitch sent him a wicked smirk before turning on his heel. He left without a backward glance.
****
Selena, Brittany, and Julie formed a circle of three and embraced each other for several minutes. Selena’s heart rate was finally returning to normal, and her legs were a little shaky. She thought she might collapse, but then she felt Phillip behind her and knew that with her man and her friends she could face anything the universe threw at her.
Another blinding light appeared, and the four occupants in the room found themselves eye to eye with a very angry pirate.
“Whoops,” Brittany stated to everyone gathered in the room. “I’m not supposed to do that by myself yet, but I knew you guys needed me.” She shrugged her delicate shoulders. “Logan thought it would be too dangerous, but I used my magic anyway. Not a moment too soon either!”
Selena and Julie looked at each other and then glanced back at their friend. Brittany had a lot of explaining to do, but it looked like that was going to have to wait. She blew her friends a kiss and promised to be in touch, before disappearing along with the pirate behind a blinding flash of light.
****
Selena was exactly where she wanted to be. She was snuggled into Phillip’s warm embrace on the large king-sized bed in the master bedroom of his penthouse. He trailed kisses from her mouth to her neck down to her aroused and pebbled nipples. They begged for his touch. She whimpered as his mouth and tongue paid homage to the twin rosy pink bundles of nerves before trailing lower. Her last coherent thought was how blessed she was to have been given the unique power to use magic. And she offered one more special thanks to the powers that be for bringing her this guardian’s loving claim!
A PIRATE'S LOVING KISS
Enigma, Maine Series
Book 3
Iris Abbott
WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal.
A PIRATE’S LOVING KISS
Copyright © 2011 by Iris Abbott
First E-book publication: October 2011
Cover design by Iris Abbott
Photos and illustrations courtesy of bigstockphoto.com
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.
All characters in this book are fictitious and exist only in the imagination of the author. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
Dear Reader,
Welcome to Enigma, Maine where sometimes things are exactly as they seem no matter how strange that might be! A PIRATE’S LOVING KISS is part three of the Mated Souls Trilogy. Brittany and her two sister witches have cast a mated souls spell to help them find Mr. Right. Who would have thought that Mr. Right would turn out to be a time traveling wizard from the 23rd century? Who happens to be most at home in the eighteenth century aboard pirate ships!
Brittany and Logan took a wrong turn at a Halloween party, and now they are on the run from three deadly wolf shifters. Brittany is finally reunited with her sister witches, and together with their soul mates, they solve the mystery
of who has been harming paranormal beings in Enigma. Readers beware: a kick-butt martial arts expert with fiery red hair clashes with a hotter than sin, time-traveling pirate and mutiny is sure to follow. Batten down the hatches! It’s going to be stormy seas ahead for these two independent and strong-willed beings.
Enjoy and thank you for reading,
Iris Abbott
PROLOGUE
Brittany Sheldon, Selena Hunt, and Julie Banks met in the flowered meadow on the night of the full moon. It was almost three weeks before Halloween. Brittany glanced around at her sister witches. She confidently caressed the pouch of gold dust she had in the pocket of her designer cape. She’d been excitedly waiting for this moment ever since the three sister witches had conceived the plan and wrote the spell. It had taken them over a year to piece together what they thought would be the perfect mated souls spell. After more than a decade of kissing frogs, this twenty-eight-year-old witch was ready to find her prince.
Her friend Julie interrupted her inner musings. “Does everyone have gold dust?” she asked with a shaky voice. At everyone’s nod of confirmation, she blew out a deep and nervous breath.
“Okay, it’s now or never. Are you ready? Three of us performing this spell together should make it even stronger.” The three women closed in so that they were standing in a tight circle. They crossed their middle and index fingers together on both hands before joining hands with each other to create an unbroken circle.
Then three clear solid voices chanted into the crisp night air. “A sprinkle of gold dust we entrust for an overwhelming lust. We conceive of and have dreamed of a love from above. May our hearts be touched by the darts of Cupid so that we recognize a love from which we shall never depart. We feel it in our soul, and it is our very goal. We cannot wait. We ask of fate, please send us each our given mate! And mated souls shall be our role from Halloween until the time that death takes its final toll.”
