Magic, New Mexico: Seducing Sela (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Zolon Warriors Book 2)

by Tianna Xander

  Chapter Six

  “I don’t understand.” Ceno glanced between them. “Wouldn’t it be easier to buy it from you? It would be faster.” He shoved a piece of pie in his mouth and closed his eyes with a moan. “I would think that driving people from their land is not only risky, but it's also time-consuming and expensive.”

  “Easier?” Sela handed Clyde his desert. Her brows drew down, and she pressed her lips together as she cut herself a small piece of the pie. “He’s just trying to kill two birds with one stone. He doesn’t want me living here because my mama was black.”

  “Now, Sela. I don’t think that’s it at all,” Clyde said at the same time Ceno spoke up.

  “What has that got to do with anything?” He nearly growled at the thought that anyone would dare to harass his mate, not to mention find her lacking for any reason.

  As long as they had lived on Earth, Ceno still didn’t understand the people outside of Magic. Maybe it was because he rarely left the small town, or perhaps, they were as backward as Reno had always claimed before he found his mate, Birgit.

  The small town in New Mexico, where he and his brothers called home, embraced people’s differences. Sometimes, a citizen of the town knew how to enhance the things that made them different. Other times, as with Ceno and his brothers, the people in Magic could hide what made them stand out so they might live a life closer to normal among the humans.

  No matter how different, or strange, someone might appear to be, the people of Magic never held a person’s appearance, magical abilities—or lack thereof—race, color, or nationality against them.

  “Most people don’t care that one of their own married a black woman.” Sela carefully cut her pie with her fork. “But some people put stock in the color of a person’s skin, and white is the color of choice to them.”

  “And you?” Ceno watched as she chewed the small bit of pie and then swallowed.

  “Me?” Sela stopped with her glass halfway to her mouth, met his gaze, and held it. “I wouldn’t give a damn if a man was purple. It would have no bearing on whether I could call him a friend or attractive enough to call him a lover if circumstances flew that way. I don’t look at the outside.” She put a hand to the center of her chest. “It’s what’s inside here that counts.”

  “And if I were blue?” Ceno couldn’t help but ask. Beneath the magic cast over him, before he left Magic, he was blue.

  Ceno and all of his brothers were a light shade of blue with darker blue stripes from the latent beast within them. As with all males from their world, when they met their mates, Reno and their father both gained the ability to shift their shapes. When they shifted into their other forms, they resembled the extinct saber tooth tiger of Earth’s distant past.

  As much as he would hate to leave and never see Sela again, he had to know if she could handle the fact that he wasn’t from Earth. If she couldn’t accept him as he was, he would have to leave her, no matter how much it would hurt.

  “Blue, green, purple... white,” she said eyeing him pointedly. “Color doesn’t really matter. What matters...” She paused with a shrug. “Is whether a man sticks around when the going gets tough. That he’s gentle, compassionate, and dependable. Most of all, that he doesn’t run away when I tell him I’m pregnant.”

  “You’re pregnant?” Her grandfather stood quickly, his chair tipping over behind him. He narrowed his blue eyes, and if looks could kill, he’d be wanted for murder. “Who is the lousy bast—”

  “Calm down, Gramps. I’m not pregnant. That was a bad example.” She grabbed his pocket again. “Sit down and finish your pie.”

  “How can I eat now? You practically gave me a damned heart attack. Don’t you know you shouldn’t do that to an old man?”

  “Then stop jumping to conclusions.” Sela gave him a narrow-eyed look. “Besides, this is the twenty-first century. If I want to have sex with a man, I will, and if I get pregnant, it’s none of your beeswax.”

  “What? None of my...” He glared at Sela. “You can’t just run around sleeping with every man you meet. Think of the babies you might have. You can’t have children with just anyone.”

  Her grandfather stared at her, as though they shared a secret. What were they hiding? Perhaps he should get them back on topic.

  “I came to Arkansas looking for gold.” He took a sip of his drink. “My brothers and I specialize in repairing automobiles. However, we dabble a bit in computer technology. We need gold for designing and making circuit boards.” Ceno scraped the last bit of pie off his plate and popped the final bite into his mouth.

  Gods, the woman can cook. He stared across the table, knowing he would have her for his mate, even if she burned water. She was perfect with her coffee-and-cream complexion, her eyes—a strange mixture of blue, brown and green, he’d never seen before—and her hourglass figure that drove him crazy.

  If he wasn’t mistaken, she was a better cook than his sister-in-law, though he’d never tell Birgit that. He wouldn’t want to hurt her feelings, nor would he want to make her angry. His brother was a force to be reckoned with since he’d met his mate and finally shifted into his beast.

  Their animal half gave them the power to tie themselves to their chosen female for life. It was something he didn’t want to do unless Sela chose him. It wouldn’t be fair to her. He itched all over, his beast trying his will, though it knew he couldn’t change until he mated or his mate’s life was in danger.

  His mouth ached where large teeth would push through his gums, and his fingers and toes hurt where claws would eventually grow.

  “That was a delicious meal, Sela. Thank you so much for inviting me to dinner.” Ceno took a deep breath, leaned back and smiled. “Did you say you had a bunkhouse here?”

  “You’ve invited a stranger to stay in the bunkhouse?” Her grandfather stared at them, wide-eyed.

  “Of course I did.” Sela stood, grabbed their plates and placed them in the sink.

  “Do you need help with those?” Ceno pushed his chair back and stood.

  “A man who does dishes?” She placed a hand on her chest. “Be still my heart,” she said with a laugh. “No. I’ll rinse them and set them in the dishwasher later.”

  “As long as you’re sure.”

  “She said she didn’t want any help, boy. Stop showing me up and get on out to the bunkhouse,” Clyde said as he stood, scratching his backside. “I got me a nice bottle of whiskey with my name on it.”

  “After pie?” Sela wrinkled her nose. “Go on and drink yourself into a stupor then.” She shook her head. “Don’t come complaining to me if you don’t remember anything come morning.”

  “How will I remember you said that? Hee hee.” He shook his head and left the room.

  “That man...” Sela shook her head. “I love him to death, but he’s old, crotchety, and set in his ways. Though I do wish he’d quit drinking. But he’s an old man, and he has so few pleasures these days.”

  “That’s why you keep buying the whiskey, isn’t it?”

  “What makes you think I buy it for him?”

  “He doesn’t seem the type to go to town often.”

  “He used to.” Sela sighed. “But now that Cal Johnson has made life nearly impossible around here, he rarely leaves the ranch. It’s as though he’s afraid Johnson and his men will take over if we both leave the land together.”

  “Perhaps he would.” Ceno followed her through the door and out onto the porch. “Where is your bunkhouse?”

  “It’s behind the barn.” Sela skipped down the steps. “Come on, I’ll show you. There’s a water heater I’ll have to turn on for you.”

  “Just show me where it is. I’ll do it. I don’t want to be any more trouble than I already have been.” He followed her around the barn and stopped when he saw the long, low building. “It’s big.” He shot her a glance. “How big is your ranch?”

  “According to the will, it’s nearly a thousand acres.”

  He whistled. “That’s a big spre
ad.”

  “Yeah. Which is more likely why Cal wants it. Our ranch is up river of his property. I’ve no doubt if the situation were reversed, he would have dammed up the river and kept us from watering our cattle.”

  “You have cattle?”

  “Yeah. We have about a hundred head. I wish it were more, but they keep disappearing. I think Johnson’s men are rustling them, but I can’t prove it.” She sighed as she took a key from her pocket and unlocked the door. “This isn’t much. It’s definitely not a four-star hotel, but it will keep the rain off you, and it’s free.”

  “No. I’d like to pay you rent.”

  “Nope. Not happening.” She shook her head. “I’ll tell you what. You find that gold, and we’ll split it fifty-fifty.” She held out her hand. “Deal?”

  “Deal.” He took her much smaller hand in his and shook it once before letting her go. “First off, I’ll need a map showing your property, so I can figure out where the most likely spot for gold would be.”

  “And you’d know that how?” Sela crossed her arms and gave him a level stare. “I thought you said you were a mechanic. Then, you dabbled in technology; now, you’re an expert on finding gold? Just who the hell are you?”

  Chapter Seven

  “Well?” Sela stared at him, waiting for his reply.

  “I’m who I said I was.” He entered the bunkhouse and began opening windows. “My brothers and I are what you would probably call a jack-of-all-trades. We dabble in a lot of things. Reno and I have been known to do a little prospecting. We’ve found a bit of placer gold we’ve used for our circuit boards. But we’ve never found anything substantial. We know where to look, and we know what to look for, but we’ve never had much luck in the past.” He smiled. “I’m hoping that will change.”

  “Why would you think your luck would change, just because you’re here?” She tilted her head to the side and frowned up at him.

  “Believe me.” He grinned, his teeth practically glowing white in the dim interior. “My luck has already changed. Perhaps yours will, as well.”

  “Yeah, okay. Whatever.” Turning, she waved toward the far wall. “There are clean linens in the closet next to the bathroom. The breaker box is near the back door, and the breaker for the hot water heater is marked. The valve for the main water line is right below it. Turn that on before you flip the breaker. I don’t want to burn up the hot water heater.” Sela turned to go back into the house. “Make yourself at home here. Don’t stay up too late. Breakfast is at nine. If you miss it, lunch isn’t until twelve thirty.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Ceno gave her a mock salute and followed her back outside. “I’ll get myself to bed as soon as I get my things from the car and take care of business in here.”

  “Fine.” Stopping, she looked up and met his gaze. “Thank you for helping me today. You have no idea how much I appreciate it.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Sela didn’t know what else to do or say. Something about the man drew her to him. She wasn’t sure if it was because he’d been her knight in shining armor earlier or because he had treated her like a lady. That was something the people in town had never done. For some reason, most of the men in town thought it was okay to treat her like a hooker. She wasn’t sure if it was because of her color or because she was divorced. She’d yet to figure that one out.

  Was he bending closer, or was she moving toward him? It was difficult to tell. She didn’t think she was moving, yet they kept growing closer together.

  His face, mere inches from hers, seemed to loom in her vision as she stared at his full lips. Her mouth grew dry as he gently grasped her shoulders and drew her closer still.

  “Stop me before I do something that will make you hate me.”

  Slowly, Sela shook her head. She trembled as he drew her into his arms and bent, his lips pressing lightly to hers.

  “Sela! Get your little, round rump in this house!”

  The spell broken, she stepped back and licked her lips. “I-I’d better go see what he wants.”

  “Yes,” Ceno said as she turned and hurried away. “Better go see what he wants and get back to the safety of your home. Goddess only knows what kind of wild things are lurking around out here in the dark.”

  Crossing her arms, she rubbed away the goose bumps and hurried into the house. That was a close call. She should probably thank her grandfather, but she’d never admit she’d almost fallen into a stranger’s arms. What was wrong with her anyway? She’d never allowed a guy to kiss her on the first date, and she’d just kissed Ceno after knowing him for less than a day.

  “Good grief, Sela. When did you start being such a floozy?” She pressed her lips together and marched into the house. “What did you need, Gramps?”

  “I wanted to make sure your new friend wasn’t satisfying another appetite out there.” He downed his small glass of whiskey and then turned it upside down in the sink.

  “Gramps, really.” Her cheeks burned at how close she’d come to doing something she’d rather not admit to out there in the dark.

  “Really, what?” He narrowed his eyes and grasped her upper arms. “Don’t tell me you’re falling for that cowboy wannabe out there.”

  “Cowboy wannabe?” She frowned and sidled around him to get a bottle of water from the refrigerator. “What do you mean by that?” She unscrewed the top and took a long drink.

  “I don’t know where that rascal is from, but I guarantee you he’s not from anywhere in this country. Fancy Texas drawl or not.”

  “What in the world are you talking about?” Sela followed him into the living room and plopped down onto the couch. Drawing her feet beneath her, she leaned back against the arm and waited for his explanation.

  “Your father told you about our family... gift, didn’t he?” Pausing, he sighed at her obvious confusion. “We know things.” He shrugged. “Every one of us has a gift. It’s nothing definite, and it’s nothing we can prove, but we know things, just the same. Take Cal Johnson, for instance. I’ve known something was off with that polecat for years.” He shook his head with a sigh. “There’s something off with that boy out there, too.” He nodded in the direction of the bunkhouse. “Mark my words.”

  “I don’t—”

  “Didn’t you notice anything strange about him, or were you too busy admiring the pretty packaging?”

  Sela’s cheeks burned, and she shifted her gaze to the photo of her grandmother on the wall behind his head. Was it her imagination, or was her grandmother’s smile a little wider than the last time she’d looked at her? Surely, her green eyes weren’t sparkling just a bit brighter, too, were they?

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She glanced at her grandfather for a minute and then back to the portrait of his wife. She stared at it for a moment, her heart pounding. The portrait looked just the way it should. Her grandmother’s soft smile and vacant gaze looked nothing like she’d just witnessed.

  God, I need a drink.

  Sela gave herself a mental shake of the head and turned her attention back to her grandfather.

  “Right.” He winked at her, a knowing smile on his face. “Keep telling yourself that when that spell, or whatever it is that hides his true self from you, wears off. You’re not going to be able to hide from the truth anymore.”

  “Oh, Gramps.” Tears burned her eyes as she thought about his illness. Soon, dementia, or whatever it was that caused his fantastic ramblings, would get so bad she wouldn’t be able to keep him at the ranch. “Please don’t talk that way. It scares me.” She met his rheumy blue gaze. He looked so—so normal.

  “I know you think I’m some crazy old man.” He shook his head with a sigh. “If only your grandmother’s sight had passed to you as well. Then you’d understand.”

  “Grandpa...” Sela waved her hand. “Please don’t.”

  “Don’t what?” He stood and started to pace. “Don’t tell you the truth? Don’t point out the differences in people?” He rubbed his whiskered ja
w and dropped back into his chair. “Don’t try to save you from someone who isn’t being truthful to you... who could break your heart?”

  “I know you’re just trying to protect me.” She took a deep breath. “I’m just not sure I need protection from Ceno.”

  She wasn’t sure why. It was as though something told her she could trust him. Why else would she have brought him home? Was it that strange seeing gift her grandfather kept telling her about, or was she just plain stupid?

  “Honey, you need protection from anyone who’d hide their true self from you. Don’t you see that?”

  “What could he be hiding, and why?” She sighed. “He knows we don’t have anything. And if it’s the gold he’s after, what difference does it make? We wouldn’t even know about any gold if it wasn’t for him.”

  Reaching up, she brushed the tears from her cheeks. “I mean, it’s not as though he’s making advances and he’s only here to get me into bed.”

  Then, what was that in front of the bunkhouse, sweetheart?

  If Ceno hadn’t made an advance out there, she’d certainly like to know what that was. She was sure he’d been about to kiss her when her grandfather called her back to the house. Sela could have sworn it was her grandmother’s voice whispering in her ear, not her own conscience.

  “We don’t know that, sugar. He could just be another of Johnson’s men taking a different route to get Cal what he wants.”

  He had a point. Apparently, Johnson would stop at nothing to get her property in his name.

  “He’s here to search for gold, not to play around with my fat ass.” She downed the last of her water, crushed the bottle and set it on the end table.

  “Don’t you dare let me hear you say something like that again. Grown woman or not, I’ll paddle that little plump rump of yours.” Gramps glared at her for a moment. “You’re shaped just like your grandma, Helen, God rest her soul.” He stared off into the distance. “She was the most beautiful woman in the state. She could have won Miss Arkansas if I hadn’t talked her into running away and marrying me.” His eyes focused on Sela. “You look just like her.”