Magic, New Mexico: Touch of Deceit (Kindle Worlds Novella) (The Magic Mirror Book 2)
Sylvia McDaniel
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.
For more information on Kindle Worlds: http://www.amazon.com/kindleworlds
Touch Of Deceit
The Magic Mirror Book 2
Sylvia McDaniel
Virtual Bookseller, LLC
Contents
Blurb
Also By
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Also By
About the Author
To S.E. Smith for your friendship, your patience and your love of musicals…heehee.
Petunia Blanchet’s life revolves around more than a magic mirror and her family’s desire for her to find her true love. No, she is more focused on revenge - plain and simple. She doesn’t have time for a stranded alien, though she could use his help in learning how to fight.
Jaqarg’s life is in ruins. Framed for a heinous crime, his flight to return to his planet to prove his innocence is short lived when his space pod crashes near an unusual town called Magic. Forced to destroy his only chance at redemption, he must rely on the beautiful sorceress that rescues him.
Join the adventure when a sorceress seeking vengeance and a stranded alien discover that not even a witch’s curse can hide the secret the magic mirror is determined to reveal!
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Also By Sylvia McDaniel
Western Historicals
A Hero’s Heart
Ace’s Bride
Second Chance Cowboy
Ethan
American Brides
Katie: Bride of Virginia
The Burnett Brides Series
The Rancher Takes A Bride
The Outlaw Takes A Bride
The Marshal Takes A Bride
The Christmas Bride
Boxed Set
Lipstick and Lead Series
Desperate
Deadly
Dangerous
Daring
Determined
Deceived — Coming Soon!
Scandalous Suffragettes of the West
Abigail
Bella
Callie – Coming Soon
Faith
Mistletoe Scandal — November 2017
Southern Historical Romance
A Scarlet Bride
The Cuvier Women
Wronged
Betrayed
Beguiled
Boxed Set
Box Sets
Courting The West
Wild Western Women
Wild Western Women Ride Again
Wild Western Women Spring Into Love
Wild Western Women Mistletoe, Montana
Contemporary Romance
My Sister's Boyfriend
The Wanted Bride
The Reluctant Santa
The Relationship Coach
Secrets, Lies, & Online Dating
Return to Cupid, Texas
Cupid Stupid
Cupid Scores
Cupid Dances
Cupid Help Me!
Cupid’s Heart
Cupid’s Song
Short Sexy Reads
Racy Reunions Series
Paying For the Past
Her Christmas Lie
Cupid’s Revenge
Science/Fiction Paranormal
The Magic Mirror Series
Touch of Decadence
Touch of Deceit
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Chapter 1
Jaqarg Tennan, chief of Intergalactic Security of the planet Bierilla refused to run any longer. Dazed and confused and drugged against his will, he'd let his best friend and second-in-command Stryhn convince him to leave his beloved homeland instead of facing his accusers. Now, forty-eight hours later, he knew escaping the scene of the crime had been a mistake.
As a warrior, he should have stood and fought. Even when a situation appeared hopeless, he'd been taught to fight for the law. In a moment of weakness, he'd forgotten all his training and fled.
But now his thinking was clear, the drugs were out of his system and he'd made the decision to return home. He reset the course of his space pod, the craft changing direction at his command, heading toward Bierilla. Home. Home to face whatever fate dealt him and clear his name.
A warning light flashed and he glanced at the radar. A meteor shower was headed straight toward him. If he'd been in one of the Bierilla fleet ships, he could have weathered the storm, but a single engine pod could not withstand the battering of rock. And if there were any large boulders, he'd be doomed.
He changed direction and gave the engine throttle full power away from the oncoming storm. A few rocks hit the tail of the small craft, making a thudding noise, but then it was silent. He breathed a sigh of relief. He just wanted to get home.
Changing the course of his ship, he aimed once again at Bierilla and then noticed his heading indicator didn't match the coordinates he'd set. He typed in the correct numbers and still he traveled in an unknown direction.
The rocks hitting his pod must’ve done physical damage to the steering louvers at the rear of the pod. Resetting the instruments did nothing.
With startling clarity, he realized there was nothing he could do to change his course. Something was wrong with the guidance system and he was at its mercy as to where he would land. And contacting Stryhn was out of the question or others would think his second was in cahoots with him.
With a sigh, he checked the directional compass. The tiny pod was locked into a setting taking him to earth. A primitive planet populated with humans. If he survived the landing, maybe he could find some way to repair the pod. Double checking the controls, the craft was flying itself and all he could do was hang on for the ride.
Glancing at the calculations, he extrapolated where he would land. Magic, New Mexico.
Tightening his straps, he gripped the chair and prayed for a safe landing. The touchdown was totally out of his control.
Standing in a field not far from the school, with mountains around them, Petunia Blanchet of the Blanchet coven glanced around at the group of young students and smiled. Teaching them the use of good magic made her happy. If they used the lessons for bad... The council of witches would deal with anyone who used their magic for evil. And no sane witch or mortal wanted to face the tribunal.
She twirled around in her robe, wand in her hand, and gave the children a curtsy.
"Good merry afternoon to all of you," she said smiling. "Today we're going to learn how to use a holding spell."
Yes, it was a little on the dramatic side, but it always managed to grab their attention. This was her favorite time of day when she could forget her past and spend time with the future.
Walking in front of the eager young minds, they all gazed at her expectantly. "A holding spell can be used when you're being threatened. If someone tries to harm you, cast a holding spell and run. It only lasts about five minutes,
and then once again, they'll be in hot pursuit.
“Or you can use it to stop danger. Again, as we've been learning, you never use any kind of spell unless you absolutely must. Only when you or a family member are in danger."
"Miss Petunia," a young girl called, waving her hand, bobbing up and down.
"Yes, Tabitha," she said. The girl was the most curious of her students and couldn't wait to get to the next level.
"Are we going to practice this spell?"
Petunia loved her eagerness. "Yes, on frogs."
The children all glanced at one another and giggled.
"But won't they jump?"
"Exactly. When I release them, you will practice your spell that keeps them from getting away," she said, glancing at each student, pleased at their response to learning. "Now, here is the spell, and I want you to practice saying the words without using your wand. The main thing is to get the rhythm down."
She licked her lips. "Now repeat after me, Etherid Banactum move no more."
The children said the words aloud. "Again."
After they practiced the phrase several times, she added the wand.
"Now when you say the words, I want you to point the wand at your frog and concentrate. Let me show you."
She picked up a small frog and sat it on the ground in front of her. The animal began to hop away and she pointed her wand at the amphibian. "Etheric Banactum, move no more."
The frog froze mid-leap and the class gasped. "That is a freezing spell. Now let's see you try."
Handing out the frogs, her back facing the meadow, she felt a zing travel up her spine. A warning, but not of danger. Someone approached. Someone not from Magic.
Giving the last frog to a young boy in class, she whirled around.
The man's frosty blue eyes seemed to glow, his chin was firm, his jaw strong, and his lips full and ripe, and she had the weirdest thought. What did he taste like? Dark hair crossed his forehead and his walk was determined. There was a glimmer about him that let her know he wasn't human. Not unless he'd found some new sparkled paint that shimmered. Yet, his skin tone was a dark tan like a Hawaiian.
The man was not only handsome, but there was something that made her breath catch in her throat. Then she remembered the children.
"I demand that you take me to your space lab," he said, his eyes glistening.
He could demand all he wanted, but right now she was teaching a class and until these children learned how to do this spell, he could wait.
"After I'm finished with the children, I'll help you get to where you're going," she said, giving him her stern teacher look. She turned back to her students. "Let's do this together."
The alien stepped beside her. "I'm Jaqarg Tennan from the planet Bierilla. I command you help me."
Demand, command, enough already. This was her favorite part of the day and she wasn't going to drop everything to fill this spaceman's desire. He could learn a little patience.
Turning, she began the chant, pointing her wand at the big man who now stood close enough she could smell the spicy scent that flowed from his rock hard body. "Etheric Banactum, move no more."
He froze, mouth open, taking a step toward her, his hard muscles defined like granite in his space outfit. His clothes were made of a material she'd never seen before, but clung to him like a second skin.
The children giggled. She whirled around to them. "And that is how it's done. Now what about your frogs?"
She went to each child's critter and looked at the animal frozen in mid-jump or just sitting unable to move. A sense of accomplishment filled the empty spaces in her heart, giving her reason to continue. This was why she taught.
"Tabitha, what happened?" she asked, watching her chase the loose reptile.
"He tried to kiss me just as I went to say the words. I forgot them."
The children all laughed.
"Frogs don't kiss," one little boy said, rolling his eyes.
"Where do you think the legend of Prince Charming comes from," Tabitha replied, her voice rising as she wrapped her hands around the frog.
"That's not true," he shouted. "That's a silly girl's tale."
"It is true," Tabitha declared.
This was going nowhere and she wasn't about to get into this debate. "Stop."
At the tone of her voice, her students gazed at her. Knowing it was time to focus, she said, "We will release the frogs and try again."
Like a bad nightmare, she saw the ogre from town running toward her, his short little legs going as fast as they could. Frowning, she knew he couldn't be bringing her good news. And then it dawned on her like the afternoon sun coming from behind a cloud.
The alien. The parade of black Tahoes would soon be speeding through town, searching.
"Children, release your frogs and we will do this again during tomorrow's class. Until then, you're dismissed. Now get home to your parents, we're under a code yellow."
The dreaded NSA would begin their witch hunt, literally, and she would have to make certain that no spells were cast while they were in town.
They all groaned and the ogre reached her side. He frowned at her. "How did you know?"
"You don't usually come bearing good news and I have him," she said, turning and pointing to her frozen alien.
"Take him home and hide him. They're here in town searching," the ogre said and then hurried away following the children into the city, rushing them along.
Shaking her head, she stared at the big alien. He wasn't bad looking for a male species from another planet, though he could certainly cause her a lot of trouble.
Flicking her wand at him, she said the words that broke the spell. As he began to move, she glanced back at him. "Come on, big guy. I've got to hide you or you're going to be dissected."
"Dissected," he said, shaking and moving his stiff body, staring at her with an uneasy expression on his face.
"Yes," she said, walking toward the road that would take them to her little house in the city of Magic. "Cut open and analyzed like a frog from biology class."
Chapter 2
On the way into town, the alien kept up with her, stride for stride. "What did you do to me back there? I couldn't move."
"I'm a witch. I cast a freezing spell on you. It didn't hurt you."
"All I needed was for you to take me to your space repair station," he said, his voice curt and demanding.
"And I was busy," she said. "You're a tad bit bossy."
"I'm head of security. My warriors respond when I command them."
"Well, I'm not one of your warriors. You're not in Kansas anymore," she replied, thinking how long before she could rid herself of this alien warrior.
"Kansas? I don't understand. I'm from Bierilla," he said confused.
"Yeah, you've told me. It's just an expression we use on earth."
Walking up the steps to her little house, she opened the door for him. "Get in here, Jaqarg from Bierilla, unless you want to be chopped steak."
"Your planet is barbaric," he said, stepping inside.
"I couldn't agree more."
Shutting the door of her home, she finally had the chance to study her alien. When she looked at him, she knew the word warrior fit him well. Muscles rippled when he walked; he was tall, his frame stocky with solid strength and his chest broad, his shoulders wide and hips solid. He looked like a fighter. Just great.
Yet, his eyes were kind and gentle, though they sometimes glimmered and glowed with an iridescent frostiness. And she knew without a doubt, they could change and radiate his warrior's strength. This was not a creature to mess with and yet she wasn't afraid. Actually, just the opposite.
Warmth trickled through her at the handsome hunk of flesh standing before her. He kind of turned her on.
"Why are you here?" she asked as she watched him assessing her home.
"My pod crash landed here. I need to find a tyrochromaticon or make one in order to continue to Bierilla."
Her doorbell rang and sh
e wondered who would be coming to see her with the government on its way. What if it was them? What if it were the NSA?
"Go into my bedroom. There is a hidden door beneath my bed. Crawl down there and stay until I tell you it's safe to come out."
"I'm not hiding from anyone," he said with defiance, pulling his shoulders back and his chest out.
Good Lord, stupid testosterone must exist on every planet.
"Great! I know you're a big-time he-man space alien who can defend himself. But unless you want to be sliced open and all your parts examined, I suggest you take cover."
He frowned at her, his eyes glistening with that frostiness, both intriguing and a bit of a turn on. Oh, that's just wonderful. No warlock had intrigued her and suddenly some male species from another planet arrives and her attraction radar goes off the charts.
Perfect timing. Well, if the government found him, it wouldn't matter. He'd be in pieces in a specimen jar.
"I'll go into the bedroom, but I will not hide."
She watched him disappear into her room. Thank God, she'd made the bed and picked up her clothes this morning. She wasn't known for being the tidiest witch in her coven.
The doorbell rang again and she hurried to the door. Peeking through the portal, she saw Destiny, one of the fates. She'd arrived on her motorcycle and Petunia knew the vehicle could travel faster than the speed of light and if she wished, could not be seen by mere mortals.
Petunia yanked opened the door. "Destiny, what are you doing here?"
"Your alien," she said, walking into the house. "The NSA is about to arrive and they're going to track him to your house. He has an identity chip implanted in him. He probably doesn’t remember it’s there. On his planet, it’s used to identify families and bloodlines. You have to remove it. It transmits a beacon.”
"Me?" Petunia said, her blood turning cold, her chest tightening with revulsion. "I can't stand the sight of blood."
