“Just exactly who do you think you are, taking that tone with me? You’re only here by my good graces, Antonio. I could have ended your sham anytime I wanted.”
Antonio gave her a look of disgust, then shook his head. “I told you before, my subjects are loyal to me. I’m done with this game.”
He clapped his hands and they were surrounded by people. Most, Gideon didn’t recognize. A few he’d spoken with the day before, then again this evening.
“My consort seems to have lost sight of her loyalties,” Antonio claimed in a booming voice. “Take her captive. I’ll let the nearby townspeople deal with her as they see fit.”
Antonio finally met his gaze, a look of satisfaction on the other man’s face. Gideon nodded, glad to see some good had come from the con man’s hold on the people. Things were all coming together the way they’d hoped. Gideon had been a little unsure, but the other man had convinced him he had a great deal of power himself, enough to handle Tilda’s magic. Not having a clue how to tell one way or the other, Gideon figured he didn’t have any choice and joined forces with the cult-leading con man.
A group of men advanced on her, but Tilda’s cold laugh froze everyone in his tracks. Gideon and Antonio both turned just in time to watch her send a spear of frozen ice shooting across the flagstone covered grounds at the building.
The stone wall burst, sending a shower of rocks everywhere as the huge rumble filled the air. People ducked the flying rubble, some hitting the ground with their hands over their heads. Only Tilda, Gideon, and Antonio ignored the destruction. “You stupid ass, do you really think you have the power to challenge me?”
“I am the Alchemist of the Lights of Atlantis,” Antonio assured her. “I’ve got the power to do any number of things.”
Gideon squinted. He sure hoped that wasn’t as stupid as it sounded.
Tilda gave an icy laugh and a haughty toss of her head.
“You’re nothing that I haven’t let you be,” she informed him. “You have no power and are no longer anything but an irritant to me.”
With a flick of her hand, light flashed. Gideon blinked, then blinked again. Antonio was gone, and in his place stood a peacock, feathers spread as it made a hideous cry.
Damn. The guy had been even stupider than Gideon had thought. What now?
His mind raced. He wasn’t letting Tilda win. He wasn’t sure how he was going to win yet, but he would.
To buy time, he figured he’d try to strike some kind of deal with Tilda. Even if it meant selling his soul, he’d make sure Miki and Rossdale were safe.
Before he could do anything, Tilda walked over to the peacock. With a nasty rip, she yanked out one of the peacock’s bright tail feathers and smoothed it down her face. The bird bawled in pain. With a tilt of her head, she faced the crowd and asked, “Now who wants to challenge me?”
Fear was tangible in the silence. Only the gentle lapping water sounded behind her triumphant cackle.
“I will.”
Miki, her black hair glinting in the moonlight and white tee shirt softly molding her curves, stepped up onto the dais.
Tilda hissed. Gideon stared in surprise. His heart clenching at the sight of her.
“What are you doing here?” he muttered, wanting her gone as much as he wanted to see her.
“Your mother told me I’d find you here,” she said with a wink and a rueful look.
“Ahem.”
Gideon winced at the familiar cough. He stared as his mother, Fred and Reba, and a few dozen more surrounded Miki, melding in with the cultists scattered around the flagstone patio.
Holy shit, half the town was there.
Gideon squared his shoulders and tamped down his worry for the people he loved.
“Listen to your mommy, Gideon. She obviously knows your little witch is as useless as that stupid doll she’s carrying.”
That’s when Gideon noticed the Spud Doll in Miki’s hand. He wanted to grin, knowing how much she’d mocked the figures, but its clear meaning made his heart warm.
Then Tilda’s words sank in.
Useless? His gaze shot from Miki’s too-calm expression to his mother’s glaring countenance. He glanced at Fred, whose jowls were shaking, he was so angry. Then at Reba, who looked like she was about to pass out from fear.
Something was wrong.
“I warned you, little girl,” Tilda was saying, her icy glare pinning Miki in place. “You should have left when you had the chance.”
“And you’d have left Rossdale alone?”
“Of course not,” Tilda scoffed. “Rossdale and its glorious power, as well as Gideon and his glorious body, are mine. I intend to keep them both.”
“I won’t let you,” Miki told her quietly.
“You have no choice. You are nothing, little girl. Even if you did have your powers, you’d be no match for me. But we both know you’re powerless, don’t we?”
Powerless? Anger surged through Gideon, making him want to howl in rage. Miki was in danger. He’d thought she’d be protected, be safe in her magic. But somehow, Tilda had taken that from her. The violation of it horrified him.
“What the hell did you do?” he growled. “Are you so insecure and scared that you have to steal other people’s power to make yourself feel good?”
“Not just other people,” Miki told him. “She’s tapping into the land as well. Rossdale sits on one of the strongest energy vortexes I’ve ever felt. She’s using your ancestor’s blessing to shore up her own magic.” Miki shot Tilda a derisive look. “Without it, I’m sure she’s got as much power as that peacock over there.”
Her almost silent growl was their only warning. Tilda raised her arm, her face clenched in rage. From her upraised hand, she released a bolt of ice at Miki. His heart racing, mind screaming to hurry, Gideon jumped forward to shove her out of the way. Rolling, he wrapped his arms wrapped around Miki to protect her as best he could, and they felt the ground shake as the ice hit the flagstone less than a foot from them. He hunched over Miki as shards of glass-like ice rained across the patio.
“So that’s your final choice, is it?” Tilda’s cackle dripped with ridicule. “Fine. You can both die together. I’ll rule this town and its powers anyway.”
The feel of Gideon’s strong arms enfolding her sent a welcoming warmth through Miki’s system. As if all her senses suddenly came to life, she shivered with pleasure, despite their dire situation.
“Are you okay?” he murmured against her hair.
She did a quick inventory. Other than what was promising to be a nasty bruise on her butt, she seemed to be fine.
Then it hit her. She felt fine. She also felt Gideon. The bubble had burst. His act of love must have broken Tilda’s spell.
Quick as lighting, ideas and plans flashed through her head. Miki considered and rejected until she settled on one.
She gave Gideon a warm smile and brushed a kiss over his cheek. She was gratified by Tilda’s annoyed hiss.
“I need you to piss her off,” she whispered in his ear. It was a dangerous game, especially since she couldn’t let him know she’d regained her powers. But she couldn’t risk Tilda getting a clue.
Without question or even a look to indicate he’d heard her, he got to his feet and helped her up.
Miki reveled in the feel of his arm, heavy on her shoulder as he pulled her close. The security of his embrace filled her with a sense of triumph. Who knew a mortal could hold so much magic? But for her, Gideon did. He’d given her a new appreciation for her own powers. Then, his love had returned those powers to her. Because nothing short of true love would have broken Tilda’s spell.
She stepped away from him and gave a little wave of her hand for him to get on with his irritating of Tilda. While he taunted and ragged his ex-wife, Miki ignored the flying insults and took a deep breath, centering herself.
With another breath, Miki opened herself to the power of the land. She drew in the strength of the looming mountain, the placid lake. She called on
the gentle air to fill her with its energy and focused on the inner flame of magic. Energies surged, mixing and mingling with her own power. Miki’s senses sharpened and even her hair felt like it was tingling as the energy grew within her.
Finally, she took a step forward, putting herself between Gideon and Tilda.
“You need to leave Rossdale,” she said. Even though her tone was soft, her words a calm contrast to the bitter insults flying, both combatants instantly silenced.
“I’m not the one leaving. You are. Time’s up, little girl. You had plenty of chances, now you’re going to have to pay for your audacity.” Tilda slanted a look at Gideon. “Any final words for your little witch?”
Miki forced herself to keep her focus on Tilda. She couldn’t afford to break concentration, and even though she knew it’d taken a great act of love to break that spell, she still wasn’t completely confident in Gideon’s acceptance of that love.
Then he stepped over, aligning himself next to her. He thankfully kept his hands to himself, but she could feel his support all the same.
“Whatever you do to Miki, you’ll have to do to me, too,” he informed Tilda.
The other woman gave a mocking laugh. “Unlike in that pitiful little town of yours, you’re not calling the shots here, Gideon.”
There was a shuffle of sound and Miki felt the air moving around her. Warmth closed in, soft and supportive.
“Whatever you do to Miki, you’ll have to do to us, too,” Deloris said from over Miki’s shoulder.
That’s when she realized they all stood behind her. To show their loyalty. They all believed she was powerless, and still they chose to fall with her rather than let her fall alone. Miki fought back tears at the implicit love and trust.
Knowing she couldn’t hold on much longer, she lifted her chin and pulled the power into a tighter coil.
“Tilda Frost, I call you here, to stand trial for pain to those I hold dear. Your magical power I strongly bind, the more you fight, the tighter this spell will wind. Your magic’s gone, you’re now done. This binding compounds three times three, as the land you abused abjures thee. Karmic debt will now find you, until you repay what is due. By powers of Earth, Air, Fire, and Sea, my will is cast, So mote it be.”
Tilda’s derisive laughter echoed across the lake. Miki just smiled and raised both hands, palms up, until they were shoulder high.
She met Tilda’s bitter gaze and, holding it prisoner with her own, she snapped her fingers and let the energy loose.
Like an overwound spring, the magic flew with a flash of purple sparks and shimmering lights. The clap of thunder drowned out the gasps and Tilda’s scream.
Miki considered, then snapped her fingers again. Tilda, so pale she seemed translucent, flinched.
“You have a car and your belongings waiting. Not because I’m nice or anything. But this way you’re gone and the good people of Rossdale don’t have to look at your bitchy face while you find a way to get out of here.”
Tilda sputtered, tried to zap them all a few times with her bound powers before giving up with a howl. When she saw the vicious looks on the faces around her, she gasped out a few threats, then turned and ran. A minute later, they heard a car start.
“Ding dong, the witch is gone,” Fred chanted with a slightly hysterical laugh.
“No,” Gideon corrected, pulling Miki into his arms. She sank into his warmth with a giggle of her own. “The bitch is gone. We’re keeping the witch.”
His mouth claimed hers before Miki could respond. The cheers and whoops of joy faded into a soft buzz as she gave herself over to the overwhelming love she felt for Gideon.
Much too soon, he pulled back and, with a deep sigh, looked down into her face. Miki’s heart melted at the emotions she saw in his eyes.
“Thank you,” he said.
“Hey, it’s my town, too. I have an ugly potato to prove it.”
They laughed, then arm in arm, turned to watch the cultists and townspeople’s reunion. A few men Miki didn’t recognize were wrapping a rope around the peacock’s neck. One approached the couple, despite the look of terror on his face. His gaze quickly slid away from Miki to latch onto Gideon.
“If you can change him back, it’d be appreciated. He’s got some information on a mineral strike that by rights belongs to your town.”
Gideon glanced down at her and Miki gave a nod. Reversing his transfiguration wouldn’t be hard. Hell, after gaining Gideon’s love and fighting off Tilda’s curse, she didn’t think there was anything she couldn’t handle.
“I can change him back, I just need to catch my breath first.”
Before Gideon could reply, Deloris stepped in front of them, her face pinched and disapproving. Miki frowned. She’d thought she’d gained Deloris’s support, but maybe she was wrong?
“Well?” the older woman demanded, her eyes fixed on her son.
“Well, what?”
“You’re mayor of this town. What do you have to say to the woman who saved it? I think you owe her something other than a pitiful little thank you.”
His jaw clenched, then he nodded. “I’d have preferred some privacy, but seeing as this is Rossdale I suppose she should get used to the lack thereof.”
Before Miki could ask what he meant, Gideon turned to her. His hands heating her shoulders, he waited until everyone quieted, forming a circle around them. Miki glanced around, nerves suddenly stabbing at her.
“Miki, I...” He looked at the people surrounding them and grimaced. “I love you. Not just because you saved my town and my virtue, but because you’re the most amazing woman I know.”
Miki pressed her lips together to hold back her cry of joy. She couldn’t hold back the tears streaming down her cheeks though.
“You’re a part of this town. You’re meant to be here. The prophecy requires love, faith, and magic. You’ve taught me the real meaning of all three. I’d love you if you weren’t a witch.” He brushed the back of his hand over her cheek before reaching down to raise her fingers to his lips. With a warm kiss across her knuckles, he told her, “But your magic is as beautiful as the rest of you. And that’s saying a lot, since you are the most beautiful soul I’ve ever met.”
Then he released her hand and stepped back. Miki’s heart climbed to her throat as Gideon dropped to one knee and reclaimed her hand.
“Mikaela Lansing, I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life showing you the magic of that love. Be my wife.”
Marry another mortal? Eyes huge, Miki imagined what her life would be like now, what her marriage would mean.
Crazy. It’d be absolutely crazy.
And she’d love it. Giddy and lightheaded, she laughed and threw herself into his arms. This time the cheers didn’t fade into the background, but surged around her like a song of joy.
“I’m going to want little witches,” she warned through her tears.
“What better place to raise them than a town founded on magic?”
—The End—
About the Author
Tawny Weber
New York Times and USA TODAY Bestselling author of more than thirty books, Tawny Weber writes sassy, emotional romances with a dash of humor, featuring hot alpha heroes. It’s all about the sexy attitude! A fan of Johnny Depp, cupcakes, and her very own hero husband, Tawny enjoys scrapbooking, gardening, spending time with her family and dogs, and hanging out with readers on Facebook.
Fans are invited to check out Tawny’s books at her website, www.tawnyweber.com. For extra fun, join her Red Hot Readers Club for goodies like free reads, complete first chapters, recipes, insider story info and much more.
Connect with Tawny:
Twitter: @TawnyWeber
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TawnyWeber.RomanceAuthor
Website: www.tawnyweber.com
Additional Books by Tawny Weber
SUGAR AND SPICE: A Karma Café Novella - Book One
SWEET NOTHINGS: A Karma Café Novella - Book Two
QUEEN OF HE
ARTS
Family Stone Romantic Suspense, Book Six
Shelley
by Lisa Hughey
Dedication
I loved writing Shelley’s book. From the moment she appeared on the page in Jess’s book, I started thinking about her. About all her sacrifices and the things she endured to make sure her kids were launched into the world successfully.
The traditional romance usually features characters in their mid to late twenties, sometimes early thirties. The construct behind that makes sense. It’s a time when men and women are ready to settle down and potentially have children. It’s logical.
But what about all those women out there who didn’t get their happily ever after when they were younger? Women and men don’t shrivel up and die after age thirty-five so why should romance characters? I loved that both Shelley and Ric had some mileage on them but were still open to the possibility of love. I hope you did too.
Acknowledgments
I’m pretty lucky to have a talented group of writers as my work support system. Thanks to the Pens Fatales for our random email exchanges on everything from business to personal and happy to snarky.
Thanks to AC James for all sorts of things…far too many to name. It’s amazing how much one simple email changed my business life. I’ve learned a lot and had tons of fun.
Huge thanks to Adrienne Bell and LGC Smith for our weekly meetings.
Ginormous thanks to Cecilia Gray for our weekend writing marathons and always, always sharing your business knowledge with me.
As always, thanks to Kim and Jennifer at The Killion Group for everything! Thanks to Amy Atwell at AuthorEMS for dealing with the challenges of uploading to the more difficult vendors.
Holding Out For A Hero: SEALs, Soldiers, Spies, Cops, FBI Agents and Rangers Page 85
