Text copyright ©2017 by the Author.

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Chapter One

A square-rigger’s wind, bearing down like a vulture, pushed the pirate ship toward the demon’s island. Tackle clanged, and rigging lines rasped as cables slid and reset to adjust the sails. Canvas bloomed overhead, and the jibs shifted as the ship slewed in the wind, flinging up long plumes of spray in her wake.

Dread rooted in Cé Jackman’s heart. The island was the last place he wanted to be, but no one ever asked his opinion.

His captain Quinton Palmer looked through his spyglass, the wind rippling his red beard and his black trousers. He stuffed the spyglass into a deep pocket in his jacket that hid a host of knives and pistols. But even without the weapons, he could rip apart a man with his bare hands. He was taller and muscular than most men, but his temper was shorter.

He faced his crew. Victory flickered in his right eye. Nothing ever flickered in his watering left eye except for his many sins, which streamed down his scarred face. Palmer’s cruelty knew no bounds, and Cé had suffered the lash more than once to satisfy Palmer’s twisted lust for punishment.

Cé could make out the swaying palm trees and a monstrous, hairy tarantula lurking on the beach. Blood dripped from its fangs. He shivered, pitying the spider’s last victims. ’Twas one of Zuto the demon’s pets.

Zuto was worse than Palmer. Ce’s best friend, Leif Black, and his woman, Isabella, were being held prisoners on the island. Leif had been Cé’s only friend on board Palmer’s floating hell hole. He had offered Cé hope for something better than being a vampire-sucking pirate for eternity. It had made the living nightmare bearable. Neither Leif nor Isabella deserved to be a feast for Zuto’s blasted spider.

  The black-hearted demon wanted to kill their unborn child. Horrible even for such a soulless bastard. Cé gripped his sword tight, vowing silently to protect his friend’s babe.

For the eightieth time, he cursed himself for being a slave to the two arch-devils, but he’d no one to blame but himself. If he’d hadn’t tried to beat Palmer in a game of cards, he could have done honest work and opened up a carpenter shop in Tortuga rather than try to make a living the fast and easy way. Now, his gambling ways had earned him rank on Palmer’s miserable crew.

Palmer put down the spyglass. “Prepare to attack, men.”

His gruff voice sent his men to action. He was a cruel master, and if his command wasn’t followed immediately, he’d drag the poor soul down to the bowel of his ship where his screams would spur men to toil harder. Not one to be tortured, Cé followed his crewmates and drew on his vampire powers. Muscles shortened, and bones crunched, and hair shrunk as he changed into a bat. His teeth lengthened, and he rolled his tongue over his sharp fangs. He lunged into the sea air and soared into the blue sky. Wind whistled in his ears, and threatening rain clouds wet his furry body. Below, the rover ship grew smaller and smaller.

He saw Leif and Isabella run toward the sea, but the tarantula cut off their escape. They turned to flee into the thick jungle, but the demon stepped out from the vines and leaves like a menacing dark shadow. Their only choice was to huddle against a rocky cliff.

Taller than any man, the demon casually walked toward them, possessing no weapons and only wearing a beaded loin-cloth. Dread swelled in Cé’s heart. He could sense the demon’s carefully veiled power that was potent enough to bring down a fleet of pirate ships. The smug look on his face meant death to Leif and Isabella. Cé couldn’t take down the spider, but he might be able to buy Leif some time to escape. Heart pressing against his ribs, he stretched out his toes and opened his mouth, then attacked the demon Zuto.

Bolts of power zipped up his feet and shook Cé’s body. Waves and waves of pain hit him, but he clung to the demon, wrapping his wings around Zuto’s face. Cé gagged on the stench of his burning fur. Zuto cursed and dug his fingernails into Cé’s flesh. Agony gripped Cé and crushed his lungs. He bit Zuto’s skull, and sizzling blood raced into his fangs, burning hotter than lava. He lifted his head and shrieked.

Zuto stumbled into the jungle. Cé couldn’t endure the mind-tearing agony and loosened his grip—a deathly mistake. The demon hurled him onto the shore, spinning Cé around and around on the hard beach. Sand flew into Cé’s eyes blinding him. Grit scratched and ripped his flesh.

He lost control of being a bat—muscles twisted and bones crunched—and he transformed back into a man. Every time he took a breath, pain pulsed through him, and he couldn’t move. He groaned. What the hell had he been thinking? He’d been a mosquito trying to bring down a pissed-off tiger that could squash him with a stomp of a paw.

The ground trembled, and Cé froze. Shite, the spider!

“Cé! Look out!”

He recognized that melodic voice. ’Twas Isabella, the brave undine. She was a water nymph and a siren all molded into a slender flower.

He slowly looked over his shoulder. The tarantula fixed its eight glossy eyes onto him. Spit rolled off its fangs and splattered onto the sand, leaving puddles.

Move!

The word echoed in Cé’s mind, trying to pierce the fear that turned his muscles to stone.

Leaves stuck in his hair, the demon pointed. “Seize him!”

Cé jumped to his feet, but the spider was magically fast. Sticky strands wrapped around Cé’s legs, slicing into his flesh then slamming him onto the ground, crushing the air out of his lungs.

The beast dragged him across the beach. Terror rippled through Cé. He kicked and wiggled, but he couldn’t move. He pulled on the ropes, scraping his palms. He clawed his fingers into the sand, debris jamming up his nails. Sand pelted his face, blinding his eyes, and scratching his cheeks. The ground groaned, and a crack opened up on the beach. The spider slid inside, dragging Cé, screaming.

Icy wind rushed over him, blocking out his voice. He drew on his vampire powers, but ’twas useless. Something prevented him from changing into a bat.

Blackness filled the tunnel except for the beastie’s glowing red eyes. It pulled him closer.

Sweat slicked down Cé body, and he raised his fists. “Dona eat me, ye bloody beast!”

He bucked his body, but he could barely move.

Suddenly, the monster spun around faster and faster, flinging Cé like a fishing hook. The slick ropes unraveled, slicing into his flesh like sharp blades   

Cé stretched out his fingers, trying to grab anything, but all he touched was air. “No! Help me!” His shriek echoed off the walls as he flailed his arms and legs helplessly.

The darkness dimmed, replaced with sparkling lights. Stars! But just as suddenly as they appeared, they faded to a light blue sky. He whizzed through moist clouds and dropped toward the ground like a cannonball.

Gone was the salty sea, but he inhaled the fragrant smell of lavender. He fell toward a desert with sage brush, lavender bushes, and cacti.

He gritted his teeth and waited for the pain, always the pain. He smashed onto land, bones breaking, muscles tearing. Unable to move, he lay still, waiting for the agony to subside as his vampire powers healed him.

But no such luck. Stabbing agony seized his head, then he remembered no more.

Chapter Two

Pandora Athens couldn’t stifle her curiosity and was too determined to see where the Glacian starship had landed in the canyon. Her cousin Lacey warned her that her unquenchable thirst to know would be her undoing, but she couldn’t help it. When Lacey’s husband Frost had been forced to return to his home planet Glacier, Pandora had been away on an excavating trip to Greece, hunting for artifacts when aliens invaded Magic, New Mexico. She’d missed everything—the Learian lizard that had tried to kill Lacey, the fight with the evil scientists, the creation of the portal. While she was digging for the past, she’d missed the answer to the question of whether there was life on other planets.

She kicked a rock, hating that she was the only person in all of Magic, New Mexico, who hadn’t participated in the intergalactic war. She sighed and inhaled the soothing smell of sagebrush. New Mexico had so many types of sage, but her favorite was the purple Russian sage that looked so pretty against the desert landscape. She smiled at the small patch of hedgehog cacti that sported blooming purple flowers like top-hats. It was a warm day—a perfect time to go exploring.

“You will find something unexpected,” Topper said, as she materialized right in front of Pandora. She was Lacey’s sixty-year-old maternal aunt. Today her hair was a fiery red that clashed with her purple eyes.

Pandora stumbled over a twig. “Topper, what are you doing here? Afraid I am going to get into trouble?”

 “Girl, your middle name is trouble.” Amazingly strong, Topper grabbed Pandora’s arm to keep her from falling, then she laughed. The sound always made Pandora’s insides glow.

“Lacey wanted me to keep an eye on you.” She winked. “You’re not off to good start, are you? But you will find someone that you didn’t expect to find. Without their help, you can’t possibly undo what must be undone.”

Topper had the uncanny ability to make predictions, but she always spoke in riddles. Pandora frowned. “And what am I supposed to find?”

Topper’s face turned somber. “You must control your nature. Not every door should be opened. Not every door should be closed.” With that, Topper disappeared as quickly as she came.

Pandora shook her head. Topper loved appearing to residents with her riddles, then leaving them befuddled.

Trying to forget Topper’s annoying puzzle, Pandora followed the path to Hidden Canyon. Its rocky sandstone cliff had been able to hide Frost’s spaceship. He’d planned to destroy it, but his brother Idan and his best friend Coal and had kidnapped him.

But not before Idan had tried to kill Lacey. What a first class jerk!

She smiled as the sun warmed her face, arms, and legs. Her white tank top stuck to her skin, and she wished she’d worn a hat since her sunglasses only protected her eyes. She’d look like a raccoon. Dreaded freckles would break out across her cheeks. Too late now. She’d been too anxious to get to the site to worry about something as silly as a baseball cap.

She broke out in a quick jog. Lacey and Frost had told her not to explore, because it still radiated energy from his ship and could bring the wrath of the Reaction Team. The Reaction Team worked for the Star Rangers and eliminated any curious, primitive aliens. According to Frost, that meant her.

But their warnings had only piqued Pandora’s curiosity, not douse it. Besides, they were both off visiting Frost’s family on the planet Glacier and what they didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them. She didn’t see how going to the site would bring out the space team—unless there was something there.

She carefully jogged down the zig-zaggy path to the bottom of the canyon. She couldn’t see anything but the dry river bed. She slid her backpack off her sweaty back and unzipped it. She pulled out a bottle of water and took a swig. The cool water eased her parched throat, then she wiped the sweat off her brow with a rag. She had filled her backpack with two water bottles, plastic containers, a rag, power bars—everything except a hat.

The hair on her arms and the back on her neck stirred. This always happened when she encountered any kind of power. There was something here!

Excitement brewed in her chest. She blinked. As she stuck the bottle back into her bag, she saw what looked like a hand. Oh, God, had she discovered a dead body? Topper said she’d find a stranger, but never said a dead stranger. Her stomach tightened. This was not what she’d hoped to find.

She was jumping to conclusions. Someone could be hurt. She ran down the path, headed over to the outstretched hand, then skidded to a stop. A man dressed like a pirate lay face down. Purple and blue bruises covered his body. His tangled blond hair fell loosely across his broad back. His black pants were shredded, and blood ran down his legs and pooled beneath him. He had a sword sheathed in his belt and wore a leather baldric. She covered her mouth, and a lump formed him in her throat. There were deep scars on his back that reminded her of a tortured slave. Who would have done this to him, and why? Had his disguise gone terribly wrong? She couldn’t imagine the pain he must have endured.

Her hand shaking, she gently pulled on his shoulder. He released a mournful groan.

She jerked her hand back as if he were a hot stove. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

He didn’t answer, but at least he wasn’t dead.

Her palm had turned red as if she’d dipped it into paint. “Oh, God. I need to get you to a doctor.”

She snatched her bag and hurried around him. Crimson drenched the side of his temple and stained his shoulder. His lip was swollen and cut. Dried blood rolled down his chin. She pulled out the rag and poured some water into it, then gently dabbed his glistening face. “You need a doctor. You’ll bleed to death out here, or draw every coyote in Magic.”

She tied the rag around his head to stop the bleeding and pulled out a spell book. Unlike Lacey, Pandora wasn’t as gifted in magic, and sometimes her spells went awry. Lacey said it would come in time and that Pandora needed to trust more in her ability. That had been five years ago. As far as Pandora could tell, her spell casting was moderate, at best.

A sharp glare caught her eye. The sun glittered off a silver box with strange writing on it. She could read most of the languages on Earth and couldn’t decipher this one. She glanced at the unconscious stranger. Her heart quickened. Was this his? Maybe he wasn’t from Earth. Maybe he was from outer space, like Frost.

She picked up the silver box that fit in the palm of her hand. It was smooth like a business card holder but surprisingly heavy. She crossed her legs and sat the little box on her knee, then ran her finger around the edges. There was no latch to open it.

Her shoulders slumped. “Great.”

She licked her finger and quickly hunted for a spell to lift the poor stranger and to open the box.

“Toad’s toe, cat’s paw, open the door.”

A loud click made her jump. The silver box shook violently, then the lid slowly raised, revealing a bright white light. Pandora winced then shielded her eyes with her palm. Despite the hot sun, coldness numbed her body. When she exhaled, she could see her breath. The knee the box rested on turned to ice.

Prickles running along her arm warned of danger. She tried to shut the lid, but a sparkling white smoke poured out of the box, surrounding her like a fog. She choked on sickly sweetness, as if she were being smothered in honey. Tears swelled in her eyes, and she couldn’t breathe. It was as if freezing fingers closed around her wind pipe.

She clutched at her throat. Her spell book’s pages flipped forward and stopped. Through her tears, a single word darkened, blocking out the other pages. Power surged through her.

She croaked out, “Lamia!” Unbelievably, her voice was strong and clear.

The overly sweet cloud jerked away from her as if blown away by a strong wind. It snaked up the rocky cliff and darted out of sight.

Pandora wiped the tears off her cheeks and gasped for air. What had happened? What was worse, what had she released from the silver box?

The man moaned and opened his eyes. They were dark red, then faded to sky blue. “Where—” His voice was raspy and soft.

Pandora gasped.

He had long, gleaming white canines. Not shocking since many magic or dark creatures took refuge here, but none had been dressed like a pirate. This had to be a charade that had gone very, very wrong. 

She gripped his shoulders. “Are you a vampire? Are you from outer space? What was in the box?”

“Vampire. Dona know.” He strained to utter each word. His eyes fluttered shut, and his head slumped to the side.

Pandora looked through her book for a lifting spell. She hovered her hand over his body, barely touching him, then moved her palm back and forth along his long frame. She shoved it back into her backpack and flung the backpack over her shoulder. Just in case it worked, she had to be prepared. She cleared her throat and in a strong voice said, “Birds of a feather. Sparrow, Owl, Phoenix. Lift the fallen.”

Tingles swept down the trembling arm she held straight out. The man rose off the ground until he was at the tip of her fingers, and suddenly, he jerked back to the ground. He groaned, arching his back.

She winced, and guilt slammed into her chest. “I’m sorry. I’m not very good at this. Next time, I promise I won’t drop you.” She hoped she hadn’t just lied. She muttered the same incantation again, and this time, he stayed at arm’s length.

All she had to do to was get him to her Pathfinder, which was parked up on top of the bluff where the sickening cloud had gone. What if it was up there, ready to attack again? Or worse, flown up the SUV’s tailpipe?

She gritted her teeth, her heart beating fiercely. She didn’t have much choice and refused to leave the man down here for the cloud to kill. She braced her back and made the long trek to her SUV with her shaking arm stretched out and the man floating in the air, his arms and legs dangling. If she’d been Lacey, she would have been able to do this smoothly, and the man would have glided through the air like Sleeping Beauty. But Lacey wasn’t here, and she was the man’s only hope.

A horrible scream rattled off the canyon walls. Pandora’s hope fled, and her patient slammed to the ground.

Chapter Three

Cé flung open his eyes to bright sunlight. Pain shot through his body as if he was down in Palmer’s hell hole being tortured.

It hadn’t been a dream. He wasn’t at sea. He lay in the shade of an arid pink and rocky landscape. His head was cradled on something soft. He stared up at a woman with brown hair pulled back into a queue, and she had brown-colored spectacles covering her eyes.

She brushed his hair off his hot face. “I’m sorry, I’m so so so sorry. Are you okay?” Her voice was feminine and desperate.

He realized she cradled his head in her lap. Her complexion was tanned, and he could count the freckles across her pert nose. He was surprised that she didn’t use mercuric salt and rice powder to hide her imperfections like most gentle bred English women. But she didn’t seem to have the slightest care. She pulled out a handkerchief and poured water onto it from a flimsy clear bottle.

He’d learned long ago that kindness was never given freely. He raised himself up on his elbows. “Bloody hell, what the hell did ye to do to me?”

She blushed, turning her brown cheeks to a warm ruddy. “I...I...I was performing a spell that didn’t go very well. I heard somebody scream and lost concentration. I didn’t mean to drop you.”

Lord, he hoped the damn spider hadn’t snatched anyone else. Unless of course, it was Palmer—the cod-sucker. He lifted his eyebrow. “Yer a witch?”

She lowered her head. “I’m afraid I’m not a very good one.”

“Dona worry. I’ll survive.” He slowly pushed himself to a sitting position with the lass trying to help him. A scent of saturating sweet confections overwhelmed him and made his stomach shift uneasily. “God, what is that smell?”

She stiffened, and her face turned five shades of red. “I’ve been hiking, and I can’t—”

He shook his head. “I dona mean ye.” He sniffed. “It smells as if honey smothered this valley.” He looked at her. “Dona ye smell it?”

She avoided his eyes. “I guess so.”

Cé had seen that guilty look too many times. Every time a fool lost his wages in the gambling hall. He didn’t know what she was hiding, but she was hiding something. “What’s yer name, lass?”

“Pandora Athens. Yes, my mom was into Greek Mythology.”

“I dinna say anything. ’Tis a name to be proud of. My name’s Jackman. Cé Jackman.”

 “Nice to meet you.”

She dabbed his back with the cloth, and although it stung, he’d liked her soft touch.

Her smile melted the pain better than the rag she used to mop his face. It had been so long since anyone had cared about him. This little witch must want something. He sighed. He’d soon find out. He swallowed, but his throat was drier than this desert. He looked at the bottle filled with water lying slumped over on the dirt and licked his parched lips. “Can I have some water?”

“Yes, yes.” She grabbed her bag and pulled on a tiny lever that made a zzzz sound. He’d never seen anything like this. She reached in and pulled out another clear bottle with a white cap.

He examined it. “How do ye open it?”

She blinked. “You don’t know how?” She chuckled as she took it and twisted the cap. “Here.”

He took it, and this time, he did a double take. He had seen all kinds of women: all shapes, all sizes, with or without corsets, silks, and buntings, that suggested seductive, chaste, and flirtatious...but this one was shamefully dressed, only wearing a shift and a man’s cut-off trousers. Not even Captain Kane O’Brien’s woman would wear such revealing attire. It had been three lonely months since he’d been to port, and he had to fight every pirately depravity not to take the lass. “Why are ye out here half-naked?” His husky voice shook with desire.

“Excuse me?”

“’Tis na proper for a lady to wear only a shift and cut-up men’s breeches.”

She stiffened. “For one thing, it’s over a hundred degrees. And this is not a shift. It’s a tank top, and these are not cut-up trousers—they’re shorts. Why are you dressed like a pirate? Did you just come from a Halloween Party? It’s the middle of July.”

“I dona celebrate such pagan festivals. I am a pirate.” He took a long swig of the water. It didn’t have the normal, bitter sediments, and it was cool and fresh. He’d never tasted anything so pure.

She frowned. “You’re putting me on. You’re not from around here, are you?”

He put the bottle down that he’d accidentally crushed in his hand. He’d never encountered anything so delicate. “I am from the seventeenth century, if you must know.”

“Really? That’s pretty cool. How’d you get here?”

“Yer not surprised?”

“No, this is Magic, New Mexico. Strange things happen everyday. So, how’d you get here?”

“A demon’s time spider flung me through time.” He looked around, hoping the beast wasn’t hiding in the dark shadows.

“A time spider?” She scanned the canyon. “It must have been big.”

Her voice was uneasy, and he’d no doubt she’d run screaming if she saw the beastie. Not wanting to think of it, he asked, “Can ye get me back home?”

She hesitated. “I don’t know. I’d have to look in my spell book. You like being a pirate?”

“I have unfinished business there.”

“What will you do if you finish it?”

The corner of Cé’s mouth lifted into a bitter smile. “I’d give anything to be given a chance to be a carpenter again, to be a man.”

“You don’t like being a vampire?”

“Ye ask many questions.”

“Oh, sorry. My curiosity always gets me into trouble. Are you missing a silver box?”

“No. Why?”

“Just wondering.”

She was holding something back, and he needed to see her eyes. He had talent for knowing when someone was lying. “Is there something wrong with the sun? Why do you hide your eyes?”

“Oh, these are sunglasses.” She took them off. “They shield your eyes from the sun’s rays.”

Instead of being shifty, her eyes were the gentlest, curious brown he’d ever seen. He was tempted to count the patch of freckles on her cheeks. He wanted to gaze into those warm eyes, but then she put her glasses back on, dousing the warmth. “Can you walk?”

Cé glanced at his bloody legs. “I can. Slowly.” If he had to, he could change into a bat and fly.

She clutched his arm. “I’ll help you.”

“Thanks.” He didn’t need help, but he liked her walking next to him. He pretended to lean against her. ’Twas not a total lie. His legs hadn’t completely healed, and each time he took a step on the rocky path, pain jarred up through them. He took deep breaths as if his lungs couldn’t get enough air. Agony throbbed in his side. He must have a couple of broken ribs. Hell, he was a bloody mess.

Halfway up, he put his hand on the wall. “Wait a minute. I need to catch my breath.”

“Your color is pale.”

“Dona worry, lass.” At least, he hoped he would heal.

“Take as long as you need.”

He inhaled deeper. “At least the damn sickening stench is gone.”

“You’re right. It’s gone.”

“What grows here that’s so sickly sweet?”

“Nothing. I’ve never smelled anything like that.” Her voice faded, and she wrinkled her nose.

There it was again. She was lying. He wanted to call her out, but he inhaled her feminine scent—a budding rose. For once, he didn’t want to think of lies. Her cheeks reminded him of the soft petals of a pink rose. A glisten of sweat seeped down between the valley of her breasts and the tank top—as she called it—hugged her amble bosoms, and thin waist, leaving nothing to a man’s imagination. Her attire was more revealing than the brothel whores’, and she claimed this was normal dress for woman. This was definitely a strange land where temptation ruled and a man had to battle his demons to keep from taking what he wanted. And he wanted his sexy little rescuer.

Unease swept over him, and he eyed her suspiciously. “Where are we going?”

“To my SUV. It’s parked in the lot nearby.”

“What’s an SUV?”

“It’s a car.” She held up her palm. “A type of carriage.”

“Grand. I dona think I could walk much further.”

“Let me help you.”

Pain throbbed in his back. He shook his head. “No magic.”

“I promise.” She saluted him. “Scout’s honor—no magic.”

He wasn’t sure he totally believed her. “No tricks.”

“I said I wouldn’t,” she said, as she slipped his arm over her slender shoulder.

He tried not to bear too much weight on her, but his misery intensified, and he slumped next her. She wavered but braced her boots, and side by side, they edged along the trail. Sweltering heat beat down on him, and he wanted another bottle of water out of her knapsack, but being indebted to someone was not of his nature. He skidded on some loose pebbles and nearly brought them both to the ground.

“Sorry, lass.”

She clutched his arm. “We’re almost to the top. You can rest at the edge, and I’ll drive my SU...I mean carriage.”

He nodded and forced his trembling legs to move. Blood thumped between his temples, and he gasped for breath. Damn Zuto and his pet spider. He didn’t want to think of them. Only a few more feet...

When they reached the top, he froze. There were flashing red lights on top of a metal carriage and a tall muscular man inspecting two other metal carriages. He’d never seen such strange devices. They looked like they could crush a human. “What are those things?”

“My SUV. Cars.” Pandora put her hand over her mouth. “Oh, God, Theo! Something’s wrong. Lisa’s truck is parked next to mine, but I don’t see her.”

Cé scanned the scene. A man inspected one of the metal carriages, then got on his hands and knees and looked underneath. With his vampire smell, Cé knew what the man had discovered—a human.

A dead human.

Chapter Four

Pandora’s chest tightened at the crime scene unfolding before her, complete with flashing lights, a sheriff, and a distinctive sweet, metallic smell that made her grimace. Theo, Magic’s town sheriff, squatted and looked under Lisa’s blue Chevy. He had his large hand on the bumper as if to balance his large frame.

Lisa Curtain had been Pandora’s best friend since junior high. They’d been inseparable, always getting into trouble. Lisa was a psychic, and her visions always led her and Pandora to all kinds of trouble—from knowing the answers on a geometry quiz to finding out where the werewolves would gather to do their secret initiation. Lisa was a short, round butterball—no matter how many diets she went on. But she dressed cute and never lacked dates.

With her abilities, she would have known Pandora had decided to go on a hike—probably even knowing when Cé the mystery pirate would have arrived. Lisa was powerful, and her forecasts had never been wrong. But where was she?

“Theo!” Pandora waved her arm.

Theo glanced over his shoulder. His hat and usual dark sunglasses hid his face, but he wore a frown that made her pause. He held up his hand. “Pandora, stay where you’re at.”

His hard voice piqued her fear. Theo never talked in such a gruff manner unless there was something seriously wrong. The last time he had done so had been when Frost the Glacian had arrived and outwitted him in his jail. A shape-shifting dragon, Theo didn’t like to be made a fool of.

Her chest constricting, Pandora lowered Cé to the ground. “Wait here, please. I have to find out what’s wrong.”

Cé tightened his grip on her arm. “He said for ye to stay here. I dona think ye should go over there.”

She wiggled to get away from his cement-like grip. “That’s my best friend’s car, and I’m going to find out what happened. Now, release me.”

Cé wasn’t looking at her. He watched Theo intently. “Pandora, please stay. ’Tis not safe over there.”

His low voice lifted the hairs on the back of her neck.

Like always, she pushed the warning signs back. “I’ll be fine. Believe me. Theo would never let anything happen to me. Now, please, release me.”

He glanced back at Theo, his stare intense, and Pandora felt his grip lessen. She jerked her arm quickly and bolted toward Theo, who now stood in front of Lisa’s car like an unmovable boulder.

Cé lunged for her, his fingers scraping the back of her shirt. “Pandora, no!”

Her heart jolted at his fierce words. Something was wrong. And it obviously had to do with Lisa.

Theo leapt toward her, but she ducked low and missed his huge swinging arms. She reached Lisa’s car and skidded to a stop, dust flying around her feet. A limp hand lay out from underneath the car. A snake ring was on the middle finger. She knew that ring. She put her hands over her mouth. “Lisa.”

Her usually tanned hand was so white, ghostly white.

Tears welled in her eyes, and she couldn’t breathe.

Strong arms wrapped around her. “Pandora, I’m sorry. I didn’t want you to see this.”

“What happened?” Her voice choked.

“I don’t know—yet. I’ve called in my lab boys, and we’re going to find out. She hasn’t been dead that long.”

She whirled around. “She’s dead. You’re sure?”

“I’m sorry, Pandora. She’s gone.”

Pandora broke down and cried. This must be what Topper had warned her about. She had to undo what she’d done.

Theo held her and rubbed her back. For such a hard-as-nails sheriff, he was surprisingly gentle.

“Who is your friend?” His voice rumbled against her head.

She pulled away slowly. She’d forgotten about Cé and wiped her tears. Topper’s riddle said that she wouldn’t be able to complete her task without a stranger—one that wanted to go back to his time. She cleared her throat. “His name is Cé, and he’s a pirate.”

“I can see that.”

Cé hobbled toward them, his legs still bloody. He stumbled and fell.

Pandora glanced at Lisa’s hand and closed her eyes. “I better go help him.” She felt like a yellow-bellied traitor, yet she couldn’t be with Lisa and didn’t want to know how she’d died. Theo had been looking underneath the car. Had there been blood?

Theo released her. “I’d like to talk to him.”

She rushed over to Cé, who had managed to drag himself to a standing position. Cé allowed her to slip underneath him and wrap his arm around her shoulder.

“Theo would like to talk to you.”

“Aye, I am sure he does.”

Cé couldn’t have killed Lisa. He was down the ravine hurt, right? Lisa came after her. She didn’t even know that Lisa was coming. What if he wasn’t here alone?

She looked around. “The time spider couldn’t still be here, could it? How big is it?”

“Monstrous size,” he panted. “Believe me, lass, if ’twas here, ye would not miss it.” His body was sleek from sweat. He looked down at her, and his eyes filled with sorrow. “I am sorry about yer friend. Ye were close?”

Unwanted tears snaked down her cheeks. “Since junior high. She was my best friend.”

“I’m sorry, lass. ’Tis hard to lose someone ye care so much about.”

She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Thank you.”

Squad cars and an ambulance rolled down the road, tires making dust clouds. The coroner’s white van made it official. Lisa was dead. She wasn’t ever coming back. They would never go to Starbuck’s together for an early morning chat, take a hike along the desert hills of New Mexico, or watch horror movies until dawn.

Theo’s men got out of their cars and approached Lisa’s. Pandora wanted to run over to see Lisa’s face. God, she hoped she’d died of natural causes. Lisa was overweight, but otherwise healthy. Why was she hiding underneath her car? Was she hiding from someone or something?

Maybe Cé was wrong. Maybe his time spider was here and had killed her. What if it hadn’t been the spider, what if it hadn’t been the smoke? Smoke couldn’t kill. But she couldn’t shake the feeling it was unnatural. If it had been the smoke, then it was her fault Lisa was dead.

Cé didn’t say anything else, and she directed him over to her SUV that was parked beside Lisa’s. She reached into her back pocket and pulled out her keyless remote.

He stopped and reached for his sword. “What was that sound?”

“Cool it, pirate. It was my keyless remote that unlocks my car doors.” She opened the door and realized he had pulled out his sword. “If you don’t put that away, Theo’s liable to toss you in jail.”

“You’re right.” Theo came up behind Pandora. “Who are you—friend?”

Cé squinted his eyes at Theo. “Jackman. Cé Jackman—friend.”

Theo took off his sunglasses and gave him a cold stare. “What happened to your legs?”

Cé motioned with his hand down his cut and torn legs. “I obviously fell.”

His short and rapid response didn’t improve Theo’s disposition.

“Your wounds don’t look like they happened from a fall.”

Cé leaned his head back on the seat. “Dona ye have something better to do than question me?”

“Actually, I can’t think of single thing I have to do. Now, you have a choice. You can answer my questions here or you can answer them down at the station. Your choice.”

Cé lifted his head and scowled. “What do ye want to know, lawman?”

Theo cast his gaze. “What is your business here?”

“I dona have any business here. I am stuck here.”

“Meaning?”

Cé rubbed the bridge between his nose. “Ye wouldna believe me if I told ye.”

Theo crowded Pandora away out of the doorway with his large frame. “Try me.”

“A gigantic time spider flung me through time during a battle with a demon. Believe me now, sheriff?” The sarcasm wasn’t going to endear him to Theo.

Theo folded his arms across his chest. “Pandora, did you see a supposed gigantic spider?”

“No,” she said slowly. “I didn’t.” Not that she wanted to. She almost confessed about the gaseous cloud she let escape, but guilt weighed heavy on her. She wasn’t even sure it was the cloud.

Ray Sterner, a werewolf and the local coroner, approached Theo. He was a short, round man and wore black-framed glasses. “Theo?”

“What do you have, Ray?”

“I can’t be sure, but it looks like she bled to death. Her skin is white, and her lips and fingernails are blue. I couldn’t smell any blood.” He scratched his head. “Strangest thing, though. I couldn’t find any wounds.”

Pandora put her hand over her mouth to keep from crying out. Ray had the best sense of smell in his pack. If there was no blood, Ray would be able to determine so.

Theo frowned. “But it takes a human several hours to bleed out. Pandora, did you see Lisa’s car?”

She lowered her hand. “No. I didn’t even know she was coming. If I had known, I would have waited.” She crossed her arms tight. “If I’d been there, maybe she’d be alive.”

“Or maybe you’d be dead, too. We don’t know what killed her. When did you get here?” Theo asked.

Pandora shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe an hour and a half ago.”

Theo looked at Ray. “Wouldn’t it take longer for a human to bled out?”

“Unless the aorta artery was cut, it would have taken at least twelve hours. I suspect something paranormal attacked her.”

“You mean a vampire?”

Ray put his hands in his white doctor’s jacket. “Normally that’s what I would have thought, but there are no bite marks. If it’s a vampire, then it’s not your typical vampire.”

Theo turned on Cé. “Is there anything else you want to tell us? Do you possess any powers we should be aware of?”

Cé’s brows deepened. “Vampires? You dona seem to be uncomfortable with vampires being real.”

“That’s because they are,” Ray answered. “Just like I’m a werewolf.”

“I’m going to ask you again, pirate, do you possess any other abilities I should be aware of?”

Cé slowly arched his eyebrow. “First tell me what ye are?”

Theo removed his glasses, and his eyes turned gold. “I’m a dragon shape-shifter. And you?”

Cé put his hands on his hips. “I’m a vampire. If ye’re asking, sheriff, if I had anything to do with Pandora’s friend. I dinna. Besides, I would leave marks. I was down in the ravine. In pain, tryin’ to figure out where the hell I was and trying to figure out a way back home.”

Theo narrowed his eyes into slits. “So, you say.”

Pandora avoided Cé’s eyes. She’d told him that she couldn’t get him back home, but that hadn’t meant there wasn’t a way. She just hadn’t wanted him to leave. Not until he helped her destroy the cloud. Topper had said that she needed a stranger’s help, and her predictions were never wrong.

Cé motioned with his arm. “How do ye know ’twas not one of yer so-called vampires?”

Theo pulled out a pair of hand-cuffs. “Because we have rules. No vampire has ever committed murder here until you came along. I’m putting you under arrest on suspicion of murder.”

“Bloody hell,” Cé mumbled. “I’d like to see ye try—dragon.”

Pandora could practically see the imaginary line being drawn between the two Neanderthals. “Will you two stop? We have to find what happened to Lisa.”

They both stared at her with suspicion.

“We?” They both said at once.

She stuck out her chin. “Yes. So, don’t try and stop me. Lisa was my best friend.” Especially if Pandora had been responsible. It was her duty to bring the killer to justice.

Chapter Five

Cé was in no mood to fight with another dragon. He’d just left two arrogant dragon-shifters and had no intention of battling a third.

“Get out of my way, sheriff.” Despite his throbbing pain, he drew on his vampire speed, but he wasn’t fast enough.

The sheriff grabbed his arm, and the next minute, Cé’s hands were bound behind his back in chains. He yanked, but his wrists wouldn’t budge.

“Don’t bother,” the sheriff said, as he wrapped his hand around Cé’s arm. “They’re enchanted. You’re my prisoner until I get some answers.”

His smugness brought out the worst in Cé. He wasn’t going to be tortured again. Ever. He jerked his upper body, ripped his arm out of the sheriff’s hand, and took five steps. Sharp agony shot up his legs, paralyzing him, and he collapsed.

Theo easily overtook him and dragged him to his silver carriage.

“Theo! No!” Pandora cried. “Leave him alone.” She ran along side of them and blocked the sheriff’s path.

The sheriff skirted around her and scowled. “Pandora, don’t interfere,” Theo growled. “You can visit him later if you want. But for now, he’s my prisoner until I get the answers I need.”

Her concern touched Cé. It had been so long since any woman had cared for him. Mostly women only cared about his golden coins.

“Watch your head,” Theo said as he maneuvered Cé into the backseat.

There was a metal barrier between the backseat and front seat, and even if Cé had wanted to attack Theo, he couldn’t.

The sheriff slid into the front. “Now, you behave, pirate. And you and I will get along real well.”

Cé glared. “What if I dona?”

“Then I suspect you won’t be getting out any time soon.”

Pandora ran along the car as if she wanted to stop the carriage. She looked so beautiful with her carefree hair that blew around her, and he couldn’t get over her long muscular legs. This wasn’t a frail female, but a strong siren.

With that, neither spoke as Theo drove. Cé forgot about where he was going, intrigued by the carriage. It rode much smoother than a horse-drawn buggy. No flies or bugs buzzed around his ears. Cool air brushed over him. Usually, in a carriage the heat was suffocating. But this was actually pleasant. His body temperature cooled, and he stopped sweating. He could breathe.

More metal carriages zoomed past them at speeds that a horse and buggy couldn’t possibly manage even with twelve horses at a full gallop.

“Sheriff, what do you call this carriage?”

Theo glanced in a rear view mirror. “Excuse me?”

“What we are ridin’ in? What do you call it?”

Theo raised his eyebrow. “Seriously? A police car. Are you playing games, boy?”

“No. I have never seen one before.”

“You’ve never seen a car?” Theo’s voice was riddled with sarcasm.

“We just established that.” Cé lowered his voice and stared out the window.

Theo asked some questions, but Cé refused to answer. His legs still hurt, and now his wrists bound behind his back were beginning to throb. He was damn tired. Without blood, it would take him a few days to heal. He doubted that the jail’s menu included blood.

He closed his eyes and laid his head back on the leather seat. After the battle on Zuto’s island and time travel with the demon’s hideous spider, all Cé wanted to do was sleep, but Pandora’s sexy scent teased other parts of his body, and sleep was the last thing he wanted.  As soon as he’d healed, he’d escape and find a way back to the sea. Seafaring and pirating were all he’d ever known. It wasn’t a life for Pandora. She was of the gentry, and he wasn’t worthy of her. But there was something else. He wasn’t sure he could trust her. He’d known too many taken in by a beautiful woman only to end up with a knife in their back.

The last thing he wanted was a half-naked woman tempting him. Temptation had landed him a slave on board Palmer’s ship. He wasn’t about to fall into the same trap, no matter how beautiful the woman.

The silver carriage stopped. “We’re here.”

Cé opened one eye.

Theo took off his glasses and stared at him with golden dragon eyes. “You’d better behave, vampire. This is your one and only warning.”

As hard as Theo tried to intimidate him, he failed compared to Quinton Palmer. Palmer was an expert on torture, and Cé had the scars to prove it. Unless Theo’s jail was filled with the rack, thumb screws, and chains, his threats fell on deaf ears.

Theo opened the door and helped Cé out of the car. He clasped his arm and escorted him into the jail, but ’twas not like any jail, he’d ever seen. He walked into a room with bright lights and winced. There were several silver machines sitting on three desks. The machines had small words etched on the glass that would have taken a patient and gifted craftsman hours to inscribe. Before pirating, he’d been a poor carpenter and appreciated the hard work from other artisans.

Theo hit a button on a device, and the words disappeared.

“Why would ye destroy such detailed work?”

Theo frowned. “What are you babbling about, vampire?”

Cé tilted his head toward the machine. “It took a great deal of work to carve those words—”

“They are computers, pirate.” He tapped the glass. “This a screen. There’s nothing on it.”

Cé stared in wonder. “What—”

“Forget it. I don’t have time to catch you up on technology.”

Cé shrugged, then wrinkled his nose. “What’s burning?”

“Damn it, my deputy forget turn off the coffee machine,” Theo mumbled.

The tile floors were clean, and Cé didn’t detect any human excrement. If burnt coffee was the worst smell in this place, he could live with it. Not like the brig on board Palmer’s ship. Absent was the stench of dried gore, rust, and endless despair.

“This is yer jail?”

They walked past the desks to a metal door with a small square window. “I’ve had enough of your smart comments. It might not be as big as the one in Albuquerque, but it serves its purpose just fine.”

Theo took a jangling key ring off his belt. He inserted a key into the lock, and it clicked. The metal door slid open as if by magic. Finally, something Cé could relate to: bars, cells, and cots. Once again, he couldn’t believe how clean they were. There was even a sink and a metal seat.

“I’m yer only prisoner?”

“For the moment,” Theo growled. “Most residents are law-abiding here. It’s you outsiders that give us all the trouble.” He unlocked the first cell door and gestured for Cé to go inside.

Cé acted the compliant prisoner and allowed Theo to take off the handcuffs without a fuss. His stomach growled. He wanted to eat, but food would be tasteless unless he satisfied the blasted curse first.

He frowned at the metal seat that had a wide hole in it and water at the bottom. “What do ye call that, sheriff?”

“It’s a john. You take a shit or piss in it.” He reached over and pushed a button on the wall. The water swirled around and disappeared.

Cé collapsed onto the cot that was surprisingly soft. His legs throbbed, and he needed blood to heal. He rested his head in his hands and closed his eyes. Weariness, pain, and hunger gripped him.

“You really aren’t from around here, are you?”

“No, I’m not.” Cé lifted his head and sighed. “How long am I in here for?”

“Until I find out what the hell’s going on. These bars are enchanted, so escape is impossible—even for a vampire.” Theo cast his gaze over him. “You don’t look so good. Are you hungry?” His voice had lost his harshness and he sounded as if he cared.

Cé thought he must be imagining it. Kindness had never been a quality any of his former jailers had possessed. “I am sure ye dona have what I need.”

Theo snorted. “Of course, I do. You need blood.”

Cé didn’t answer him and slid back on the cot. He was done with this tiresome conversation and folded his arms across his chest. He closed his eyes, dismissing the noisy lawman. He wasn’t going to get any blood obviously, but at least he’d get some sleep—unless the good sheriff decided to torture him.

Luckily, Theo didn’t persist in his questions and quietly shut the door. The lock clicked.

Cé wanted to sleep, but all he could think about was a half-naked dark-haired beauty that smelled of coconuts. He couldn’t get over the pain in her eyes at the death of her friend out of his mind. He had wanted to pull her into his arms and comfort her.

He frowned. What had killed the woman? The man that the sheriff called a coroner said there were no marks on the lass. What could drain a human without leaving puncture wounds? Not even Zuto’s great spiders or any vampires he knew could accomplish this. This was a strange and terrible place.

“She needs your help, pirate.”

Cé opened one to look at the strangest old woman with bright, fiery red hair and purple eyes. “Who the hell are ye?”

“My name’s Topper. Pandora’s gotten herself into trouble, and she needs your help.”

He rested his forearm on his forehead. “Grand, another witch. So, why do I need to help her?”

“I’m afraid Pandora didn’t listen to my warning, and now, the inhabitants of Magic, New Mexico, are in grave danger. She will not have many friends here. She can’t do this alone. She needs a champion.”

He grimaced then stared up at the ceiling. “I’m no one’s champion.” He couldn’t hide the bitterness in his voice.

“I know who you are, pirate. You must forgive yourself to help her or you will leave her to a life of loneliness and despair.”

Witches were so damn meddlesome, and this one must have fallen into a vat of red dye that had turned her mind into jelly. He grated his teeth at her absurd prediction. “Find someone else to pester, witch.”

When she didn’t answer, he moved his arm. The woman had left as quickly as she arrived. This place had more magical creatures than his time. All he wanted was to be left alone. Rescuing a curious girl was not in his plans.

Soft footsteps walked across the tiled floor, and Cé stiffened. More questions?

“Here.”

Cé forced himself to open his eyes.

Theo held a clear bag filled with crimson liquid.

The spicy smell sent Cé’s senses reeling. The hunger rose in him, and he forced himself to remain on the cot. His nostrils flared, and his fangs lengthened. He clutched the mattress tight, trying not attack the sheriff.

“I know you’re hungry, vampire.” He tossed the bag into Cé’s lap. “Drink.”

Hating himself, Cé picked up the bag and sank his fangs into it. He expected the blood to be cold, but to his surprise, ’twas warm. He avoided looking at the sheriff as he drained the bag dry. Blood seeped down his chin, and he wiped his mouth dry.

“You’ll find one bag will satisfy your hunger.”

Cé didn’t answer him, but ’twas true. The hunger faded. His fangs retracted, and he could breathe easier. The throbbing in his legs lessened, and the soreness in his muscles faded, but weariness still gripped him. He wanted to sleep for a month and wake up in another place, another time, another era.

He heard Theo walk away and then he snatched what he wanted—sleep.

***

A thick fog rolled over Pandora, and she shivered. Brittle cold soaked into her bones, and it wasn’t just from the fog. Something was in the fog. Something evil.

Her heart thundering, she couldn’t see and struggled to breathe. She stretched out her hands to see where she was going.

“Pandora, help me!”

Pandora froze, recognizing the terrified voice. It was Lisa. Hope surged through her. Lisa was alive!

This time, Pandora would save her. She wouldn’t be late. She’d get there in time.

“Lisa! I’m coming.” She ran as fast as she could toward the whimpering cries, but her legs suddenly became made of lead, and she couldn’t move. She was barefoot and sinking into the ground all the way to her knees.

A voice echoed in her mind, “You can’t do this alone.”

“Topper? Help me! We have to save Lisa.”

But it wasn’t Topper’s help that she needed. She needed a pirate’s help, but he wasn’t here.

The scream grew louder, closer.

A loud agonizing scream jerked Pandora awake. She kicked her sheets to get free. “Lisa! Lisa!”

For a minute, she didn’t know where she was and took big gulps of air. She sat up trembling, tangled in her sheets.

Fogginess still plagued her, and she was soaked with sweat. Another yell stilled her heart. But this one was masculine.

The shrieks hadn’t been a dream. Someone was in trouble, but it wasn’t Lisa. Lisa was already dead.

The same man cried out in agony.

Pandora flew out of her bed and raced to the window. She pulled back her plantation shutters and froze. A sparkling cloud covered her milkman—Frank Blair. He had his hands around his throat as if he was trying to breathe. His cute little pink cheeks changed to a ghastly white that matched the color of his beard.

She pounded her fists on the window pane. “Frank! Frank!”

But the little gnome collapsed onto his knees.

She called upon a spell she heard once. “Rain, horny toads, wind.” She pressed her palms against the glass. Suddenly, the wind picked up and swished around the cloud. Grass moved and dirt flew into the whirlwind. Frank’s clothes rippled and white beard flipped up into his face, but the damn cloud hadn’t moved.

Her spell wasn’t strong enough. She hadn’t the power of Lacey. She raced through the ranch house. “Hang on, Frank!”

Malevolence crept into her room like a black-widow spider.

On instinct, she drew on a protection spell that Lacey had taught her when they were little.

“Sweet cherries, bumble bees, angel’s wings.”

Energy swelled in her chest, and her heart pumped stronger. Her skin tingled as a golden aura of protection encased her trembling body.

The malice attacked.

A force slammed into her—a wind of evil.

She staggered and fell back onto her bed, landing flat onto her back. She couldn’t breathe or move. Her heart stopped.

Something foul imprisoned her on the bed. It felt as if icy fingers squeezed her neck. Panic seized her. She clawed at her throat but couldn’t feel anything except her own skin. Blood swelled behind her eyeballs. Black dots warm in front of her, and her chest burned for air.

You will not stop my hunger. Or I’ll kill you.

Pandora wasn’t even sure the foul voice was even real. She tried to scream, but only released a tiny squeak. Tingles slowly gripped her hands and they numbly fell slack to her side.

Die, die, die.

Ignoring her excited heart beat, Pandora pushed away her terror and concentrated; breathe, breathe, breathe.

This is only a warning if you try to imprison me again.

But then just as suddenly, the presence was gone.

She put her hands at the bottom of her throat and coughed hard. Tears blurred her vision as she greedily sucked in air. She forced herself to push off the bed and shook her head.

There was nothing in her room, but she could feel the imprint it had left. If she hadn’t used the protection spell, she would have been dead. She’d never felt anything so foul, so evil, so powerful.

Whatever the presence was, it hadn’t liked either of her little spells. Had she almost imprisoned it? She didn’t care and jumped off the bed. She raced outside to help Frank. She didn’t know what she could do but maybe she could pull Frank out of the cloud. She whipped open the door and skidded to a stop.

The sparkling cloud was gone. Frank laid next to his basket of milk bottles. His small black eyes bulged as if he died from terror.

She walked around his lifeless body and gagged, choking on the same the sugary sweet odor she’d smelled at Lisa’s crime scene.

Frank’s jolly pink cheeks had turned deathly white as if all the joy had been sucked out of him—just like Lisa.

Tears clouded her eyes, and she sank to her knees. “I’m sorry, Frank.” She hung her head. She was such a pitiful witch—an embarrassment to the sisterhood.

He’d never smile or make jokes again. He was such a jovial gnome and a great milkman. This was all of her fault. If she hadn’t opened that silver box. Now somebody else was dead, because of her insatiable curiosity.

She had to do something.

She dragged herself  back inside to call Theo and confess her sin. He had to let Cé go now. She needed his help to destroy this thing. He wasn’t obviously responsible for Frank’s and Lisa’s death. Who would be next?

Chapter Six

Cé startled awake to the smell of coffee and bacon. Theo held a tray of bacon and eggs, and a mug of coffee.

“Are you hungry, vampire? Or do you need a bag of blood?”

Cé’s growling stomach answered first. “No, I could eat.” Understatement of the year—he could eat a horse. He still couldn’t believe the treatment he was receiving. When his captain locked him up, he was lucky to get a swallow of water let alone a full breakfast.

“No tricks.” Theo put the tray down, then opened the cell. He placed the tray at the edge of Cé’s bed.

Cé stared at it and licked his lips. “I swear I willna.” He snagged the tray and gobbled up three pieces of bacon before Theo closed the door.

“Theo! Theo!” Two dark haired boys, one wearing a tall, black hat and the other wearing a curved white one, raced into the cell.

The sheriff glared. “What the devil are you two doing in here?”

“We heard you got a real live pirate in your cell!”

A man dressed in a uniform similar to the sheriff’s rushed into the corridor, but he was a foot shorter and had pale skin that Cé would swear had never seen the sun. Cé remembered him from the first crime scene.

“Sorry, sheriff.” He put his hands on either side of the young boys’ shoulders. “I couldn’t stop, them.”

The one wearing the white hat jerked away from the deputy. “Are you really a pirate? I’m Jonah.”

“I’m Joseph.” His hat tipped up, and a green lizard peeked out. “And this is my pet lizard—Larry.”

It had been so long since he’d heard the merry voices of children. Usually, children ran screaming when he and his crew arrived at port. Cé curled his lips into a smile. “I am, but I used to be carpenter.”

“Cool!” They both cried out.

“We love to play pirates,” Jonah said. “Have you been in many battles?”

“Too many to count.”

“Okay, boys.” The deputy clasped each arm. “It’s time for you to leave.”

“Ah, come on, Theo.” Joseph wiggled underneath the deputy’s grip. “Let us stay—please! Can you whittle something for us, pirate?”

“A sword, a sword.” Jonah grabbed the bars and shook them. “You gotta set him free, Theo.”

Theo shook his head. “No.”

Cé winked at them as they were escorted out of the cell. “’Tis nice to meet ye two lads.”

Theo leaned against the wall. “Blasted kids. Those two are always getting into mischief.”

Even with his scowl, Cé could tell the sheriff cared about them.

The deputy came back inside without Cé’s two admirers and wearing a grim look.

The sheriff frowned. “What is it, Martin?”

The man slit his red eyes into narrowed slots. “There’s been another murder. Frank Blair.”

Cé put down his cup of coffee. “What happened?”

But the man ignored him. “Pandora went out to get her morning paper and found him dead on her lawn.”

Fear chased away all of Cé’s hunger. He shoved the tray aside and raced to the door. He rattled the cage so hard that bits of the ceiling fell to the floor. “What about Pandora? Where is she?”

The deputy scowled. “Who the hell are you?”

Theo put up his palm. “Stop it. Cé, this is my deputy, Martin Kane. He’s a skin walker.”

Cé looked at him uneasy. “Which is?”

“I can change into any form I want.” Martin stared at the discarded bag on the floor. “Vampire.”

Cé wanted to strangle the self-righteous codfish. “Where is Pandora?”

Martin tilted his head. “She’s waiting for us at the ranch.”

Drawing on his vampire strength, Cé tried bending the bars, but it was useless. He slammed his fist on the metal. “Sheriff, you canna keep me here.”

Amusement glittered in Theo’s red eyes. “Apparently, I can.”

Cé leaned his forehead on the bars. Pandora had to be in trouble, and he was stuck in this vampire proof jail. “Please, let me out. You know I didna kill anybody. I was locked in here all night, but I have some information that might help ye in yer investigation.”

“Tell me.”

Cé met the sheriff’s skeptical gaze. “’Tis not information, I have to show it to ye.”

A lie, but he didn’t have a choice. He had to see Pandora.

“Why don’t I believe you?”

Cé shrugged. “Dona. But ye’ll be sorry.”

After a few long minutes, Theo pulled the metal chain off his belt. “Fine. I’ll take you to the scene, but in handcuffs.”

Cé allowed him to cuff him again and escort him out of the jail. If he’d known where Pandora lived, he would have rushed him, but he was forced to be the model prisoner again. His vampire senses tingled, and dread settled in his gut. This was only the beginning.

Chapter Seven

After calling Theo and talking to his excitable deputy Martin, Pandora came out and sat in a wooden deck chair. The morning sun crept over her patio, but if it failed to take away the chill rushing over her. She shivered then rubbed her arms. She had no doubt what Ray Sterner would say when he examined Frank. She’d bet all his red blood cells had been drained, leaving an empty shell. Just like Lisa.

Lisa. Her heart broke all over again, and she choked.

Sirens screamed in the distance. Dust swirled around in the air as police cruisers and an ambulance sped down the dirt road. Out of the dust storm, the coroner followed, announcing her failure as a witch. Witches were supposed to save people—not watch them die.

She waited for the cars to pull into her driveway. Tingles swept down her arms and legs. Even with squeezing her toes, numbness set in.

Theo got out of the first car then unlocked the back door. “What is that sickly sweet smell?”

“It was whatever killed Lisa,” Pandora said. “It was the same smell that covered her body.” Her voice cracked, and she took a deep breath, trying not to burst out sobbing. Her eyes misted anyway, and tears slipped down her cheeks.

Lisa would have told her to tell her handsome pirate how he could return back to his own time. Pandora shoved that thought away.

“I promise we’ll find the killer,” Theo said as he opened the car door.

Pandora hurriedly wiped the wetness off her face. “I miss her so much, especially her laugh.”

He reached inside and pulled Cé out.

She called, “Cé!”

He flashed her a smile that was between amusement and seduction, and her insides turned into goo. God, he was handsome. Her heart skipped three beats, and she forgot to breathe. She remembered how he had held her hand. He had smelled so good, and all she’d wanted was for him to wrap those muscular arms around her and tell her everything would be okay. She shook her head. She shouldn’t be fantasizing about Cé.

The sun glistened off his bronze skin, and his blond hair seemed thicker. His muscles were more defined, but then she noticed his hands were behind his back.

“Theo,” she said as she forced her numb legs to move. “Why is he wearing handcuffs?” She hurried past Frank’s still body, unable to bear looking at it a second time, as deputies took pictures of the corpse.

She clenched her fists and glared up at Theo.

Theo gave her a deep frown. “Because he’s still my prisoner.”

“Greetins, lass. ’Tis good to see you,” Cé said. His husky voice made her squirm.

She couldn’t tear her gaze from Cé’s sky blue eyes. She’d never seen anyone with such beautiful eyes. Had he cast some kind of spell on her?

Pandora groaned. The two most mischievous residents appeared out of the dust settling on the road—Jonah and Joseph came riding up on their bicycles.

“Theo.” Martin nodded.

Theo turned around. “Boys, this is no place for you.”

Jonah ignored him and rode up next to the car. “Joseph, the pirate’s here!”

Cé bowed slightly. “Nice to see ye both again.”

Theo glared. “You boys need to go home. This is a real live crime zone.” He stuck his thumb out. “Now, leave.”

Jonah discarded his bike and raced toward the body. “Joseph, it’s Frank! He’s dead.”

Martin grabbed his arm. “Jonah, you’re going to contaminate the evidence. Now, go home.”

Joseph peered around his squirming brother. “What killed him?”

Martin flashed Cé a cool look. “None of these murders happened until the so-called pirate came to town.”

She faced Martin. “He wasn’t even here when poor Frank died. Can’t you release him?”

Theo rubbed his chin. “I reckon.” He unlocked Cé’s cuffs. “But he’s coming back to my jail until I know what the hell is going around here.”

Cé rubbed his wrist, then clasped Pandora’s chin. “Ye’re a clever, lass.” He looked at Frank. “What is that? I’ve never seen anythin’ that small.”

“He’s a gnome,” Theo said, as he walked around the little man. “Frank was a well-respected community member.”

“He was our milkman,” Jonah piped in. “He always brought us the best chocolate milk.”

Pandora pulled away from Cé. He and everyone else would hate her for what she had done, but at least Cé wouldn’t be accused anymore.

Her heart beating hard, she avoided looking at Cé and concentrated on Theo. “He didn’t do anything. It was my fault, Theo. There was a—” She cleared her throat. “A silver box next to Cé. I thought it was his, and it was so beautiful I had to find out what was inside.”

“Do you still have it?” Jonah asked.

Pandora ignored everyone but Cé. She didn’t want him to be mad; she wanted him to understand.

He clasped her arm and turned her around to face him. “So, what was inside?”

She stared into the inky darkness of his pupils, and a disquieting warmth crawled up her spine. Sweat trickled down her back as she felt all eyes on her. “A...a...sparkling white cloud.”

“Was it from outer space?” Joseph stared up at the sky.

“Yeah, dummy.” Jonah rolled his eyes. “We don’t have any man-eating clouds in Magic.”

Theo knelt at Frank’s body. “You’re saying a cloud floated down from the sky and killed Lisa and Frank?”

His sarcastic drawl sent her cheeks flaming with anger. She crossed her heart. “A cloud, I swear.”

“Uh-uh.” Theo turned Frank’s head as if searching for bite marks.

“You don’t believe me, do you, Theo?” She hissed an impatient puff.

“Nope.” His short answer cut any hope that she’d get any help from his department.

He continued examining Frank’s body as if she hadn’t even said anything. She bristled at his assumption that she was being an attention-seeking narcissist. True, she’d done some exaggerated feats when she was younger like turning her enemies into lizards or dumping a bunch of snow so school would close or running faster than a car to scare the tourist, but this wasn’t performing to get attention. People were dying, and no one would listen to her.

“We do, Pandora.” Joseph wrapped his arms around her waist. “We’ll help you look for it.”

She hugged him and smiled. “No, it’s too dangerous, boys. Promise me you won’t do anything.”

“She’s right,” Theo said. “You’re both going to go home.”

Pandora scowled. “You don’t believe me anyway.”

He stole a glance at Cé. “We have never had that kind of trouble before, but we do have a rogue vampire. And you seem to be smitten.”

Shock, anger, and embarrassment ricocheted off her like a dinging arcade game. “You actually think I would kill people to protect a dreamy vampire?”

Cé blinked his eyes, then the corners of his mouth curled up into a deep smile.

Pandora groaned inwardly. Every sense was aware of Cé—his masculine smell, his eyes twinkling with mischief, and her skin tingled with thoughts of his tongue and rough hands on her skin. A glistening of sweat trickled down her temples, and she could feel the blood rising warmly beneath her skin. She focused on Theo to keep Cé from knowing how much he affected her. She needed his help to capture or destroy the murderous cloud, not to seduce a sexy pirate.

Theo wiped his hands on his thighs. “Yeah, I do.”

Cé’s heartbreaking smile disappeared, replaced by a frown and a menacing stance that made him look every inch the blood-thirsty pirate he was. “I told ye, sheriff, I didna kill anybody.”

“We’ll see. But for now I want to know where you’re at.”

She made one more attempt to convince the sheriff. “Theo, more people are going to die if you don’t listen.”

“So, you want me to put an APB out on a sparkling cloud?”

Her patience thermometer was about to explode.

Jonah and Joseph got on their bikes. “We’ll find it.”

“Will you two go home?” Martin pulled out his walkie-talkie. “Or do you want me to call your parents?”

Their faces pale, the two boys looked at each other, then pedaled on their bikes as fast as they could. Last time they’d gotten into trouble, their father Simon had locked them in their rooms for a week, which would have been pure torture for the rambunctious adventurers. She hoped they wouldn’t investigate, but their curiosity was worse than hers.

Pandora looked between all their faces. Theo continued to examine Frank and ignored her, but not Martin. He had a look of disgust. In his book, he’d already judged and convicted her. Lastly, she glanced at Cé, and her heart sank.

Cé gave her a glare that erased any hope that he believed her. “Ye think there’s a murderous cloud killing people?”

“Please believe me. I need your help.”

“Since I’m stuck here, I’ll help ye. And to prove to your sheriff I’m innocent.”

She looked at the ground and wrung her hands. “I didn’t know what was inside. I thought...I thought...”

Cé didn’t answer and brushed past her. He walked over to Theo. “No bite marks again?”

“Not that I can see.”

Cé sniffed. “I canna detect any blood. Have you ever had anything like this happen before?”

Theo shook his head. “No. We’re a peaceful town, and I plan to keep it that way.”

Martin spit on the ground. “Pandora, how many times has Lacey told you to curb your nosiness?”

Pandora broke out in a hot sweat of shame, and she stared at the red nail polish on her toenails, wishing for the eighty-fourth time that she hadn’t opened that silver box. More than ever, she desperately needed Cé’s help.

The black car came to a stop. Ray Sterner got out. “Damn, Theo. This is becoming one nasty spree. We haven’t had a murder since Gasper.”

Gasper had been a lizard species from outer space and had gone on a killing spree until Lacey had used her magic and shrank him down to six inches. Destroying the cloud would be child’s play for Lacey, but she was visiting her in-laws in another galaxy and wouldn’t be back for at least a month. It was up to Pandora.  Why couldn’t she possess the same power and shrink the cloud down to the size of a raindrop? Every time she used hers something went awry.

Ray clutched his black bag and stuck his nose into the air and sniffed. He flashed his gaze around as if he couldn’t make up his mind on whether he should move or get back into the car. He walked over to Frank, shaking his head. “It’s not natural, Theo. Not natural at all.”

He knelt next to Frank’s dead body and pulled back Frank’s eye lids. “He’s damn cold, as if he was frozen. His blood vessels in his eyes burst, meaning he was strangled, but I’d wager all his blood has been drained.”

“I figured that, Ray,” Theo growled. “But what the hell is it? What exactly did you see Pandora?”

“I told you—the cloud hovered over Frank, and then it sparkled. It’s evil, hungry. I could feel it.” She glared. “I know none of you believe me.”

Not waiting for them to respond, she walked over to her porch and sat on her swing, trying to figure out what to do next.Theo, Martin, and Ray walked around Frank and stopped focusing on her. Cé stood under a tree with a faraway look in his eyes.

The quietness allowed what she’d just witnessed to seep into her mind. She’d watched a friend die—saw him take his last breath, saw the light go out of his eyes, heard his struggled gasps.

Then the killer had turned on her.

Her hands shook uncontrollably, and her bones shivered. She felt so alone, and her constricted, cutting of her air. She rubbed her trembling arms. Her friends were dying all because of her.

She caught Cé watching and gave him a reassuring smile, trying to be brave. But she couldn’t shake what she had seen. She wanted someone to hold her and tell her it was all a nightmare. That tomorrow, everything would be all right. Frank and Lisa would be alive, and they’d all have a good laugh.She needed someone to tell her this, anyone—even a stranger.

As if reading her mind, Cé walked toward her.

Theo blocked his path. “Where do you think you’re going?”

Cé met his threatening gaze. “The lady looks distressed. I’m just going to sit next to her.” Cé stood closer. “Are ye goin’ to stop me?”

Pandora rolled her eyes at the male dominance game.

Theo put out his arm out and allowed Cé to pass.

Cé stood in front of her, casting his shadow over her and blocking her view of Frank’s company. “Want some company?”

She wiped her cheek. “Sure.” She leaned back in the swing. “I just can’t get Frank’s cries out of my head. He sounded so scared.”

He sat alongside her and rubbed the back of her neck. “There was nothin’ ye could have done, lass.”

“Yes. There was. My spell should have worked.”

Neither of them spoke. They watched them load Frank’s small body onto a gurney and wheeled him to an ambulance.He patted her hand, then gently picked up her wrist. “What are these marks?”

The concern in his voice touched her, and some of her frustration diminished.

“What I don’t—” Her voice died as she looked at her wrists. Three long purple bruises circled her flesh. She frowned. “I don’t know how they got there.”

He gently pushed her hair back. “Ye’ve even have them on yer neck. Did someone try to strangle you?”

His slight caress made her shiver, and she couldn’t stop staring into his deep blue eyes. “I...I...tried to cast a spell to help Frank, but it wasn’t strong enough.”

Anger flashed in his eyes. “Strong enough to piss something off. What the hell happened?”

“I don’t know. Something pushed me back onto my bed, pinning me there. I couldn’t move. It was terrifying. I can’t help but think of what Lisa and Frank must have gone through.” Her voice grew smaller. The cold terror and guilt crept up her spine, and she shivered.

He draped his arm around her and hugged her. The fear dissipated. She laid her head on his shoulder, and taking a deep breath, inhaled his masculine scent. It soothed the tension in her muscles.

“Even if you canna send me back, I promise I willna let the creature harm you.”

She looked up into his determined face, and his protectiveness warmed her heart. “I believe you.”

He pushed back her hair then he kissed her briefly on the lips—a soft brotherly kiss. Disappointment weighed heavy on her shoulders. She wanted so much more than friendship. Normally after a disappointing meeting with a cute guy, she would have called Lisa. Lisa would have made her feel better—saying the guy really wanted her or the guy didn’t know what he was missing or the guy was a jerk.

But Lisa was gone.

Chapter Eight

Cé cursed himself as he turned away from Pandora’s sweet lips. This wasn’t the right time to seduce a warm and tempting woman—not with a corpse and the sheriff and his men watching their every move.

Pandora rested her soft hands on his chest, and the morning sun made her skin glow. He stole a glimpse down her shirt and caught the mounds of her creamy breasts. Her hair was disheveled as if she’d just woken up. Her sleepwear was as scanty as her day clothes. She had on a half shirt and the shortest trousers that he’d ever seen. What caught his eye was the sun glistening off a diamond stud piercing her flat belly button. He wanted to lift her shirt and gaze at her full breasts and move his hands to cup her smooth buttocks. He closed his eyes and ground his teeth, for he could feel himself growing, thicker, fuller with each tiny movement and sweet sigh she made. The captivating woman tempted every bad pirate impulse he possessed.

The sheriff and his men gave him a disapproving scowl. This wasn’t the time to try and seduce such an enticing lady, but it had been so long since he’d been with one that his judgment had left him. He wanted to get as far away from Pandora, but she still trembled, and he couldn’t leave her frightened.

“I’m sorry I kissed ye, lass,” he mumbled. He winced at the red finger marks around her slender neck. “I dona know what came over me.”

“I wasn’t complaining, but we shouldn’t be doing this. Not after what just happened. Not after Frank. Not after Lisa.” Her voice cracked, and she stopped tracing her fingers in his hair. “Will you do something for me?”

Her seductive voice and the tears shining in her eyes could have coaxed him into the fires of hell. He caught his breath in his throat. “What?” The single word sounded more like a grunt than an answer.

She quickly dropped her hands to her side and lowered her head. “Theo won’t let me investigate what happened to Lisa and Frank, but I need to find out. Will you help me find their killer?”

Her soft plea sent tingles of desire sweeping down the back of his neck. “Aye, I will, lass. I promise.” His lust squashed any hint of reason.

Theo tipped his hat up. “If you two love birds, could get back at the event at hand?”

Cé clenched his teeth tightly to keep from growling at the sheriff’s retort.

Pandora pulled away, and her cheeks were flushed. “I don’t know what I was thinking.” She looked down. “I...need...to...get dressed.” She hurried into the house.

Not on my account.

He kept the thought to himself. Normally, he would make a slur. After all, he was a pirate who hadn’t had a decent woman in a long, long time.

Cé crossed his legs uncomfortably, hoping no one noticed the bulge in his breeches.

Ray aimed a small black box at the little body. Each time he moved there was a soft click.

Cé watched, not really paying attention. All he could think of was the taste of Pandora’s lips and how perfectly she molded against him. Suddenly, a flash came out of the black box, and Cé jumped back on the swing, slamming his head on the wall.

“What’s he doing?”

Theo chuckled and shook his head. “Taking pictures. Why the hell are you so nervous?”

Cé glared, rubbing the back of his head.

“Pandora caught his tongue.” The deputy snickered.

Cé got out of the swing and headed toward the deputy. Through the white grate of his teeth, he released a sharp hiss. “Dona talk about her like that.”

The deputy stopped smirking at the warning growl in Cé’s voice.

The door slammed shut and jerked Cé’s attention back to the house. Pandora strolled outside wearing a plaid blue shirt tied right below her full breasts and a pair of cut-off blue trousers that revealed her smooth, firm legs. She was determined to test what was left of his honor.

She lifted her delicate eyebrow slowly at his open stare, and a rare twinge of guilt prickled Cé’s conscience. He’d never turned his eye from a beautiful woman, but this one made him feel like a school boy trying to peek under the teacher’s dress.

She motioned with her hand. “Come with me. I need to talk with you.” She glanced at the yellow markers on the pebbled ground. “I can’t be out here anymore. Will you please come inside?”

Cé brushed past the deputy and the sheriff.

“Don’t plan leaving town, vampire.” The sheriff’s warning voice didn’t even put Cé’s hackles up.

Compared to the nightmares back home, the sheriff’s threats came up short. Cé didn’t answer him. Where the hell did the blasted man think he was going to go? He was in a supernatural place in an unnatural time. It wasn’t like  he was going to be rescued anytime soon. No, the real question was if the past caught up with him, would he want to return to an ocean of pirates, vampires, and demons?

He hurried toward Pandora. She looked so small and frail on the porch, and she kept rubbing her arms as if she was shivering.

Once inside, he put his hand on the wall and crowded her against it, disturbingly aware of her sensual scent. “Ye have me. What is it ye want?”

“I want you to help me find the creature that is killing my friends.”

“Why me?”

She licked those luscious lips. “Because—” She lowered her voice. “It’s my fault. I have to stop it.”

“Your friends willna help ye?”

“That’s the problem. My cousin Lacey is always fixing my mistakes,but she’s not her. Why did she have to be five light years away? Don’t you understand? We have—”

He ran a finger down her smooth cheek. “We?”

“Yes, we have to stop it. When it attacked me, I could feel it’s intelligent, evil, and hungry...really hungry. It won’t stop.”

“Ye could sense that?” he asked slowly, not sure he believed her. “A vampire cloud? How could this be possible?”

“I know it sounds strange, but there’s something else. It...it...talked to me.” She put her hand on her neck as if protecting it. “It was hungry, then it tried to strangle me.”

He clasped her clammy hand. “Why would it try and strangle ye but drain that poor bastard lying over there?”

She deepened her brow. “I don’t know...Maybe because I tried to use a spell. Wait a minute.” Her eyes flared with excitement. “The silver box! It was afraid I could put it back in the box. It’s gotta be.”

He could feel her rapid pulse as the excitement burst within her. She was such a passionate woman, and all he could think about was how he could unleash her fervent passion in the throes of ecstasy and listen to her call out his name.

“Come on,”—she wiggled her hand to get out of his strong grip—“it’s in my bedroom! We have to find it.”

He groaned inwardly. Her bedroom was the last place he should be—unless Pandora wanted to find herself flat on her back.

“I’ll stay here and wait for the sheriff.” A lie but he didn’t trust himself. Besides,he didn’t think there would be any danger for her hunting for this object. Not with him in the house.

He sat in an overstuffed chair. Her home was filled with warmth—hardwood floors, tan walls, stuffed furniture, and reddish-colored lamps.

Pandora ran down a hallway with a small slender silver box in her hand. “I found it!”

It didn’t look like anything special just a smooth box that would fit in the palm of his hand.

“Let me see it.”

She sat in another cushioned chair opposite of him and handed it to him. Her slender fingers brushed over his, sending desire pulsing through him. He was amazed her slightest touch could bring him to his knees.

He turned it over then flicked the clasp, but it wouldn’t open. “Seems to be stuck.” He turned the switch but it wouldn’t move. He drew on his vampire strength, but it wouldn’t budge. “Are ye sure this opens? I canna open it.”

She stretched out her hand. “Really? Let me try.”

Amusement flickered through him. “I’m a vampire. If I canna open it, how do ye—”

Her dark eyes narrowed at the mockery, and those pouty lips turned into a tantalizing frown. “I’m not helpless, pirate.” She snatched it out of his hand and moved the latch with her thumb. The lid snapped open, and cool air whished around them.

Chills cooled Cé’s blood, and dread prickled his skin. His strength had never failed him before and he’d bested many of the crew in contests of vigor. He frowned. “There’s somethin’ not right with that.”

“You don’t understand. It has to be because of my magic. I cast a spell, and then the lid opened.”

“That’s when ye released the cloud.”

Her excitement faded from her eyes, and her shoulders slumped. “Yes, we covered that. I was curious—that’s all.” She wiped her cheek. “I didn’t mean for anyone to get hurt.”

He lifted her chin, and the tears on her long eyelashes tugged at his protectiveness. “I know. We’ll stop it. I promise.” He had no intention of her getting near this thing, but telling her he’d face it alone would be another battle of wits.

“Thank you.”

A strand of her disheveled hair fell across his finger. He noticed that her shorts had accidentally slipped lower and her shirt clung to her breasts. He forced himself to move away. “I suggest ye put on something less revealing or I’ll never be able to concentrate.”

She laughed. “Can’t get your mind out of the gutter?”

“There’s only so much a pirate can take.”

“I wouldn’t want to torture you.” She turned and disappeared down the hallway, then closed a door.

He leaned back, then the chair then it flipped back on its own. He jumped out ready to battle with an angry spirit. A soft chuckled caught his attention.

The sheriff leaned against the doorway. Cé hadn’t seen him slip inside which was unusual. Not many people could sneak up on him, but when it came to Pandora, even his vampire senses were distracted.

Theo’s lips turned into an amusing, annoying grin. “I take it you have never seen a recliner.”

Cé glared. He’d like nothing better than to attack the galling sheriff, but he’d no intention of being flung back into his vampire-proof jail. “What do ye want?”

“We’re done with the crime scene. Where’s Pandora?”

“Changing. Why?”

“Good. Let me give you another warning. It’s true, I do not have enough to charge you now, but if another dead body shows up, you’ll end up back in my guest house.”

“When this last one was killed, I was locked up.”

“Doesn’t mean you don’t have a partner or you know something you’re not sharing..”

His persistence in hanging these deaths on Cé wore down the last of his nerves. He refused to be locked up in a cell over a crime he’d nothing to do with. “Ye always show this much hospitality when a stranger visits yer miserable town?”

“Only when bodies start dropping all over the place.”

“Theo, why do you keep hounding him? I told you who the killer is.”

They both turned, and Cé groaned inwardly. He’d asked her to put on something respectful, but the woman was determined to test his will. She wore the same blue shorts and had put on a tight, sleeveless shirt that had a low v-neckline.

“Because I don’t believe your story, Pandora,” Theo said, as he opened the screen door. “Only a vampire could do these murders. And it’s none of our people. I am telling you, just like I told him—another person ends up dead, and he’s back in my jail. Got it?”

Pandora folded her arms under her chest. “But it’s not him. I swear.”

Theo tipped his hat then left.

Pandora and Cé silently watched the metal carriages drive away, throwing dust up into the air.

Cé put his arm around Pandora. “I guess we better hope this thing doesna kill anybody else.”

“So, you believe me?”

“I only know I didna do this, and I’m not about to rot in a cell for somethin’ I didna do.”

Chapter Nine

Pandora caressed his scarred back with her hand, feeling the tension in his muscles. “We’ll prove Theo wrong. I promise.”

He turned his gaze to her. “What do ye suggest we do next?” His voice was ragged with anger.

He was a man used to being shoved down again and again, but for a moment, she saw passion and desire reflect in his eyes, and he held her closer. She turned around in his arm, pressing her body against his. She could feel his heart pounding as hard as hers. Wanting to taste his strength, she parted her lips. A vein throbbed in his temple, and he gritted his teeth.  It was as if he was battling to stay a gentleman. He put his arm down and backed away. The moment slipped away.

She stuffed the silver box into her back pocket. “We should go.”

He folded his arms across his broad chest. “Where?”

“I think we should go back to Hidden Canyon. That’s where I first found you and the box. There might be another clue up there to show us how to trap this thing.”

“What if there isna? Then what?”

“I don’t know. Don’t you get it? It’s my fault these people are dying. You’re a pirate. You’re used to death. I’m not!” Dreaded tears slipped down her cheeks, and her vision blurred. Her body shook with grief, anger, and fear. “It’s my fault. Lisa and Frank are dead because of me. I have to fix this. I have to make things right.” She broke out into hiccups, feeling like a helpless female.

Strong arms wrapped around her and held her close. “No one gets used to death.”

His voice had lost its anger and had turned sad as if he was tired of watching his friends die.

“I’m sorry.” She hiccupped. “I know you’ve had a hard life.”

“Shhh.” He kissed the crown of her head.

He only held her and didn’t try to seduce her. His skin smelled so good, and she wanted to feel his lips and hands on her body, making her forget the terror of the last two days, but people were dying—dying because of her.

She eased out of his arms and wiped her cheeks.

He clasped her hand. “Feel better?”

“Yes,” she said shyly. “Sorry for my damsel-in-distress meltdown.”

He pulled her close and kissed her on the lips—this one was longer and definitely not a brotherly kiss. He pushed open her mouth with his tongue and indulged in exploring, becoming possessive and domineering, reminding her this was a man used to taking what he desired. Her body shook with need, but as much as she wanted his lips and hands on her hot skin, she wasn’t ready. Not yet. Not with this dark cloud hanging over her head. She put her hands on his chest to push him way, afraid he wouldn’t release her, but he surprised her.

With a heavy sigh, he stopped and exhaled a warm breath against her cheek. “Dona be sorry for bein’ upset. You wouldna be human if ye didna.”

She backed away before they were a tangled mess of heat and flesh. She held his hand tight. “Thank you.”

The song “What’s This?” from The Nightmare Before Christmas jingled loud. Immediate dread slammed into her gut.

He scowled. “What is that annoyin’ sound?”

“It’s my cell phone. Something’s wrong. I can feel it.” Her hand shaking, she grabbed her phone out of her purse.

“Hello?”

“Pandora, there’s been another murder. I’m sending Martin to pick up the vampire.”

Theo’s hard voice turned her to ice. She put the back of her hand on her forehead. “Who?” Her voice was very small—afraid who had been next.

“Sam Nelson.”

The blood drained from her face and the twinge of guilt surged through her at the sweet moment she’d just endured. Sam was the oldest resident in Magic. He was a warlock that had escaped prosecution from the witch trials in Europe and Salem. He was the gentlest man she knew. Her chest hurt, and she struggled to talk. “Cé didn’t do it, Theo.”

“Yeah, I know. But he might know who did.”

Pandora hung up. “We’ve got to get out of here.”

Cé opened her plantation shutters. “I figured. There’s a huntin’ party out for me?”

“Yes.” She opened her purse to grab her keys, but they weren’t there. “Shit, where are my car keys?”

“Where did ye leave them last?”

She searched her pockets, but they weren’t there. “Um, I don’t know. I can’t remember.”

He shook his head, reminding her of Lacey, who was always nagging her about her damn keys. She wanted to punch him. Lacey was always telling her to put her keys in the exact same place so she could find them. But she never did.

She looked around her usual familiar places—the coffee table, the end table, the kitchen counter.

Nothing.

“God, why is this happening now? We gotta go. Theo or Martin are coming.”

As if on cue, a siren wailed outside.

She slammed her arms to her side. “Damn it!”

“We’re goin’ to escape my way.”

Before she could ask what he meant, he lifted her into his arms and raced out the back door. She didn’t have a chance to lock her door, grab her cellular phone, or her purse. Theo would think foul play had fallen on Pandora and blame Cé.

The siren grew louder.

Her heart pounding, she wiggled in his arms. Adrenaline thundered through her veins. “Let me go. We have to run or hide.”

He laughed. “Ye’ll see I’m full of surprises.” He cradled her close. “Hang on.”

His eyes turned red, then he sped across her yard into the desert faster than a freight train. Her hair whipped around her face, and she couldn’t breathe. She looked over his shoulder to see the speeding police cruiser fall into a whirlwind of dust.

Chapter Ten

Cé held Pandora close as he raced across the desert. He could still taste her on his lips, and her face was chaffed where he had kissed her. She smelled clean and earthy—not dirty and perfumed.

“Cé, please stop. We lost them—for now.”

He stopped and lowered her to the ground. Her cheeks were flushed from the run; her eyes shone as she looked up at him. Despite his best efforts, he couldn’t prevent himself from kissing her briefly on those delicious lips. She swayed, and he caught her arm.

“Thanks.”

Her hair was a tangled mess, but she quickly combed it with her fingers into a wavy locks.

“Wow, I’ve never moved that fast. I don’t even remember our vampires moving as fast as you.”

“They probably werena cursed by a demon.”

Color had returned to her face, and the sun highlighted the ruddy glow of her skin. Her eyes widened. “A demon did this to you?”

Dread crawled up his spine at the thought Zuto would drag him back. Now for the first time, he wasn’t sure he wanted to return. Serving a blood-thirsty captain and evil demon had made his life a living hell. “A very crafty, evil one. He cursed a lake, and we drank from it.”

“What—”

He held up his hand. “I dona want to talk about him.”

She pulled out the silver box and opened it again. “Maybe I missed something.” The dark brown of her eyes sparked with light flecks of excitement. Where there had been confusion a few brief moments ago, a depth of determination now stole his breath away.

The same evil feeling sank into his bones. The sooner they got rid of this thing the better. “Pandora, I think we need to return to the place where ye found this thing.”

She slowly turned her gaze. “That is as good as any other place. But first, we need to look around where Lisa was murdered. Maybe there’s something Theo and his men missed.”

“He was looking for evidence of a vampire—not some murderous cloud.” An endless barrage of sage brush, cacti, rugged hills, and sparse trees failed to give him the faintest hint of what direction to go. “Where is the ravine?”

She pointed north. “Over that hill.”

As far as he could tell, without his vampire speed, it was at least a two-hour hike if they didn’t take any breaks. “If we walk, I fear we will be caught.”

She snapped the box shut. “I know. Go ahead and be The Flash.”

“The flash? Who is this?”

“A movie hero.” She motioned with her hands. “Come on, let’s get this over with, and I’ll try not to lose my cookies.”

He hadn’t even realized she was carrying any confections. “We’ll be there before ye know it, lass.”

Before she changed her mind, he whipped her into his arms and ran faster than he ever had before. Wind and sand lashed around them. The landscape became a blur of green, gray, and red. Tingles brushed over him. It always happened when he sensed something dangerous was coming. It was getting closer. And closer.

A screech of pure fear stopped his heart, and he skidded to a halt.

Pandora’s flying hair settled around her shoulders. “Why—”

Another cry jerked her attention. She grabbed his arms. “Cé—that’s Jonah!”

Without another word, Cé flew across the desert, his feet barely touching the red, pebbled earth.

Jonah came running toward them. “Pandora, the cloud—” His voice croaked. “The cloud has Joseph!”

Startled, Cé put Pandora down slowly. His first thought was that Pandora hadn’t been lying. A short distance away, a sparkling cloud covered Joseph like a shroud. The second paralyzing thought was that Joseph was dying—his blood was being drained.

Pandora raced toward the boy, drawing Cé out of his trance. He yanked her back. “No! It will kill you. Stay here!”

“But—”

Joseph and Jonah were not her children, but he could feel the love she had for them. Her eyelashes wet with tears and her face stricken, she looked at him with the panic of mother about ready to lose a child.

“I can’t let them die. It’s my fault.”

He ignored her and sprinted toward the boy, who was on his knees and holding his throat as if someone was choking him. His face had turned gray, and Cé could feel his life force leaving his body. That wasn’t the only feeling that pressed upon him—evil darker than the demon’s slapped him like an icy wave, trying to beat him back toward Pandora.

Cé felt a knot grow tight in his chest and cut off his air. He lagged as if he had stepped into quicksand and had to drag his legs up high to move. He gritted his teeth and drew on his vampire strength, battling the malevolence. He refused to let that cheerful boy die.

He needed to do something quick to throw the thing off balance. He transformed into a bat, and for an instant the pressure vanished. He was three times the size of an ordinary bat and as strong as an eagle. He soared into the white cloud and gagged, as if he’d crashed into a barrel of overly sweet honey. He clawed at an invisible presence and thought he heard a curse.

The evil fought back. Claws tore through Cé’s fur and flesh. Pain rippled over his body. His wings faltered, and he spiraled toward the ground. It was as if millions of tiny fangs dug into his flesh, drinking his blood. If he had been a normal bat, he would have died quickly.

But he was a vampire and not easy to kill. This wasn’t true with Joseph. He had collapsed onto all fours and struggled to breathe. In a few minutes, the poor boy would be dead.

Blocking out the agony, Cé unleashed his claws and clasped Joseph’s shoulders. Drawing on every ounce of strength he possessed, he flapped his wings to drag the boy out of the suffocating cloud. He could have benefited from Leif’s dragon abilities to help him, but Leif was in another place, in another time.

Put that away.

A foul voice hissed in his ears, and the grip preventing Cé to move lessened.

That was the sliver opening he needed. He dug his talons deeper into Joseph’s flesh, ignoring the boy’s moan, and flew out of the cloud. Fresh air filled Cé’s lungs, and he could breathe. He had to get Joseph away from here or he’d die.

He quickly transformed back into a man. He glanced over his shoulder, and the cloud hovered then slipped into a ravine. Pandora and Jonah both reached him, each gasping for breath.

“Cé, your chest!” Pandora cried, as concern and fear flashed into her eyes. “What happened?”

A long deep scratch ran down the length of his chest as if a sword had swiped his flesh, and three ugly scratches throbbed on his arm. Every time he took a breath, blood oozed from the grisly swipe down his chest. He didn’t answer. It didn’t matter. All that mattered was Joseph.

“Joseph?” Jonah asked as tears welled in his grief-stricken face. “Pandora, he won’t die, will he?”

“Not if I can help it,” Cé said, as he cradled Joseph’s limp body to his chest. “He needs a surgeon. Where is the nearest one?”

Jonah whipped a tear away from his cheeks. “A surgeon? Joseph needs an operation?”

“I don’t know, honey.” Pandora put her hand over Joseph’s forehead. “He’s cold, really cold. I think he’s going into shock.”

Doubt and dread tore at Cé’s heart. He could sense the evil lurking, waiting. If he left Jonah and Pandora, they’d be vulnerable, but if he stayed, the boy would die.

As if sensing his hesitation, Pandora held the silver box in her hand. “Go, Cé. I don’t think that thing will attack as long as I have this. It’s afraid of it. I just wish I knew how to use it.” She kissed Joseph’s forehead. “You need to take care of him. Hurry, please.”

“Look!” Jonah pointed. “I see red lights flashing. It’s Theo!”

Relief eased the tension in Cé’s heart. Joseph groaned, and his lips turned bluer. “I canna wait for him. Tell Theo what happened. He just might believe ye this time.”

Weariness weighed heavy on Cé’s body, and the demanding hunger returned. His throat turned parched as if he was dying from thirst. His muscles and skin contracted, and he felt overly stretched in his own body. His vampire strength was fading. He needed blood badly. He hurried toward the flashing lights, leaving Pandora and Jonah behind, and prayed he wasn’t making a deadly mistake.

It wasn’t Theo behind the wheel, but his deputy—Martin. He must have trailed them from the house. Too bad the bastard hadn’t gotten here earlier. Maybe Joseph wouldn’t have been hurt so severely.

Martin slammed on his brakes, then got out of the car, wielding a gun. “Stop right there, vampire. This gun is loaded with magical bullets powerful enough to drop a vampire.” Shock and anger flashed into his narrowed eyes. “What did you do to that poor boy?” His accusatory tone snapped Cé’s attention.

“I didna hurt him, ye bloody eejit.”

Wetness spread across Cé’s chest and mingled with Joseph’s. Crimson leaked from his arm onto Joseph.  Joseph’s shirt was ripped, and blood seeped from deep wounds onto his shoulders. He flushed with guilt. Joseph was bleeding profusely, but not from the cloud, but from Cé’s talons clutching and tearing into his small frame.

“The cloud—”

“The damn cloud again,” Martin growled. He talked into his shirt collar that had some kind of device snapped to it. “Theo, this is Martin. I found the pirate. Send an ambulance. The bastard attacked Joseph.”

Fuzziness swirled in front of Cé’s eyes, and his legs wobbled. “He needs blood.” His voice had turned into a tired gasp.

“I can see that vampire. What kind of creature are you to attack such a loving boy?” He drew back on the trigger. “I oughta shoot you now and ask questions latter.”

An angry screech sent hope surging through Cé’s veins. For a brief moment, he thought it was Leif and he’d come through time. But this was a bluish-green dragon not red.

“Good, the sheriff’s coming, and he’s liable to burn you to a crisp after what you did to that poor boy.”

“I told you—I didna hurt him.” The deputy and the gun turned into murky circles that spun around him. He swayed, his vampire strength deserting him, and he collapsed onto the pebbly ground into a crumpled heap. Voices shouted around him. He moved his lips to vow his innocence and insist they get Joseph to a surgeon, but only a groan escaped his throat. His eyes fluttered shut, and he remembered no more.

Chapter Eleven

Pandora stared at Cé’s sleeping form in the hospital bed. A bandage was wrapped around his muscular torso and nasty-looking stitches were on his right arm. An IV attached to a plastic bag filled with blood pumped into his still hand. His sunken cheeks and gaunt face had lost their ghoulish color, but he’d been unconscious for the last couple of days. She laid her head on his broad chest to make sure he was breathing. He’d have a deep scar on his chest that would match the others on his back. Or would he? He was a vampire—an incredibly strong vampire—and that creature had almost killed him. What the devil had been in that vicious cloud?

She’d tried using a spell to save both him and Joseph, but as usual, her magic had failed her. When she opened the box, she felt a quiver of fear run over her that emitted from the cloud. Whatever it was, it feared the box. If only she could figure out a way to use the damn thing, she might be able to capture or destroy the creature.

Murmured voices and soft footsteps walked past Cé’s room. She was the only one in here, but on the other side of the wall, Joseph had an army protecting him. He’d required a fifth blood transfusion. He was lucky to be alive. If it hadn’t been for Cé, he would have surely died. She had a horrible time convincing Martin and Theo, who both wanted to decapitate him without a trial. Luckily, Jonah had a better time convincing them, and they held off on the execution.

Cé had risked his life to save Joseph. He’d changed into the biggest bat she’d ever seen, then snarled and battled an unknown darkness in the cloud all to rescue a little boy he didn’t know. For a ruthless pirate, he had a heart that outshone any cruel deed he’d ever done. Her feelings had deepened for him at this selfless act. Not many men would have sacrificed their own skin to save a child.

She’d been so mad at Martin for being such a thunderhead. He’d apologized a zillion times for not realizing that Cé had been wounded.

She wound her fingers through Cé’s rigid ones. “Wake up. Please wake up.” Her brittle voice cracked. She laid her head down on his bed and prayed for him to live, for forgiveness, for help.

She felt movement in his stiff fingers and jerked her head up. Something hot and stinging welled in Pandora’s eyes, turning his blond hair and hospital bed into a blur.

He watched her with hooded eyes. He blinked a second time, and third, as if trying to fight a fogginess threatening to overtake him. “Where am I?” He moved his lips, but she had to strain to hear his husky voice.

She released a sound that was a mix of a laugh and a gasp. “In a hospital. You’re alive.”

He took a deep ragged breath. “I told you. I’m not that easy to kill.” Despite his arrogance, his voice was weak and his face pale.

“Oh, really? You’ve been unconscious for forty-eight hours.”

Cé’s reaction to her sarcasm was to tighten the lines around his mouth. He closed his eyes, and fear stabbed her heart.

“Cé?” She held his hand with both of hers.

His long black eyes lashes closed, then opened again. “I canna remember what happened.”

“You fought the evil in the cloud. Blood burst inside the cloud. You were bleeding and so was Joseph.”

He squeezed her hand. “Dona worry. I’ll live.”

She kissed his knuckles. “You had that big slash on your chest, and you were so pale, so deathly pale.” She cleared her throat to keep annoying tears at bay. “Then...then you passed out.”

There was a soft knock on the door, and Joseph’s and Jonah’s parents, Tory and Simon, walked into the room. The twins had Tory’s dark hair and their father’s intense eyes.

Tory clapped her hands together. “You’re finally awake. Jonah told us what you did for Joseph.” Tears glistened in her eyes. “I just came to thank you for saving my son. I can never...repay you.”

“We’re indebted to you,” Simon said as wrapped his arm around his wife’s waist and held her close. “This beautiful woman is my wife Tory, and I am Simon. If there’s anything we can do, all you need to do is ask.”

Tory gave Pandora a knowing smile. “Pandora hasn’t left your side for a minute.”

The beginnings of a defensive flush crawled up Pandora’s throat, but before she could protest, the doctor walked in.

“I heard you were awake. I’m Dr. Silvers.” She was shorter and slimmer than Pandora. Her loose blond ponytail swished back and forth as she moved. She picked up Cé’s chart with her slender fingers and took a red pen out of her white jacket.

One of Cé’s blond eyebrows took a mocking slant. “You’re the surgeon?”

“I’m not a surgeon. I’m the resident doctor on call.” Her voice was considerably patient, and she smiled. “Your color looks better. How are you feeling?”

He shrugged. “I’m a vampire. I’ll heal. It just takes time.”

“Of course you are, and I’m a werecat.” The pupils in her green eyes grew long, then changed back to normal. “But your body was completely drained, and you weren’t responding to the first two blood transfusions. Has this ever happened to you before?”

“No.”

Dr. Silvers’ face grew concerned. “I was afraid of this. I fear this thing that you fought has gone into hiding. You must have weakened it somehow, but if it’s like any other animal—hunger will drive it out.”

Pandora hung her head. “More people will die.”

Tory’s face paled.

“I need to return to Joseph.” She quickly exited with Simon on her heels.

The doctor checked the IV, then checked Cé’s vitals. “You’re on the mend, but I think you need to stay in for another day.”

Cé snorted.

Dr. Silvers glared. “You’re too weak to take on that creature, vampire. Pandora will see that you stay in bed. She hasn’t left your side for a moment. If you’ll excuse me, I have some more rounds to make.” She quickly exited as fast as she had entered.

He lifted Pandora’s hand and kissed the inside of her palm. “You’ve been here the whole time?”

His soft lips sent shivers down her arm, and she forgot what her answer would be with the warmth spreading down to her belly. He pulled her toward him, and she lost herself in deep blue eyes filled with desire. He kissed her hard enough to suck the breath from her mouth.

She broke off the kiss. “We shouldn’t—”

“Do what?” His breath was warm and spicy on her cheeks.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

“You...just...woke up.”

“Aye, I’m hungry, too.”

She glanced at the almost empty IV bag. “But you’ve had blood.”

“I didna say I was hungry for blood.”

He threaded his fingers through her hair, then silenced her protest with a kiss that was longer and sensual than the last one. His mouth was warm, his tongue hot and moist, and he chased away any doubt that he was weak.

She startled when he slipped his calloused hand under her shirt and cupped her breast, his thumb caressing the bud of her nipple. The skin across her chest tightened, and she moaned with need.

A throat cleared that stopped the kiss. Pandora whirled around. Blood rushed to her face as the sheriff leaned against the doorway with a silly-ass grin on his face.

“I see you’re on the mend—vampire,” Theo said, dragging Pandora’s thoughts away from kissing more than Cé’s salty lips.

The passion in Cé’s eyes faded, replaced with a warrior’s steady gaze. “Has anyone else died?”

People were dying—people she cared about—and her mind kept wandering to sweet lips and hot hands. She held her breath, afraid of what Theo would say.

Theo shook his head. “No.”

She exhaled a jagged breath, then slumped into her chair.

“But I have a bad feeling all the way down to my claws.”

“Maybe it’s hiding, because of this.” Pandora pulled out the silver box out of her back pocket. “I think it’s afraid of it.”

Theo walked over and examined it. “Doesn’t look threatening. There’s no markings on it. Could be anyone’s.” Theo handed it back to her then, headed back to the door. “My men and I are going to search for this thing.”

After he left, Pandora rubbed her thumb over the smooth box. “I think he’s wrong. There’s something about that ravine. I know there is.”

Cé seized her hand and squeezed tightly. “Promise me ye’ll not go there without me.”

“Ow.” She frowned. “All right, all right. I promise.”

He stared at her with such intensity that she squirmed.

“I said I promised.”

He sighed and took a deep breath. He ran his free hand down the bandage wrapped tight around his chest. “’Tis still tender. I dona understand why I am so weak. I’ve been wounded before, and this has never happened before. ’Tis like all my energy and strength have been drained.”

It was apparent by his pale and taut face that the wound must be incredibly painful, and she’d just kissed him.

She brushed his hair and kissed his forehead. “Sleep, Cé. I promise I won’t leave you.”

“I’ll just close my eyes for a few minutes.” His voice trailed off as slumberland overtook him.

His chest rose and fell and soft snores escaped his parted lips. He’d been so brave fighting to protect a young boy he hardly knew. She didn’t know what he’d been like in his previous life, but here, he’d shown what kind of man he really was, a man she could fall in love with.

What if Dr. Silvers was right and Cé would die if he battled the creature? Her throat closed at the thought of the last remaining energy being drained from him. She bit the inside of her lip and pulled out the slim case, then wracked her brain for a spell. One came to mind, one that she’d used to discover her Christmas presents when she was a little girl, but it was too simple.

Cé’s face grew paler and contorted as if pain wracked through his body. Despite his bravado, he wasn’t infallible.

She clutched the small box tighter and through clenched teeth murmured, “Cotton willows, icy waters, kitten whiskers.”

Strange symbols slowly appeared on the box, and the lid opened. A bright light filled the room as if ten thousand candles were lit, and she shielded her eyes. As quickly as it lit up, the light doused. No wonder the evil feared this. The illumination would torture any darkness.

Cé released a long snore. 

She slowly let go of his hand, then kissed him on his parted lips. “Sleep well, my pirate.” She snatched her purse and stole one more glance at Cé. Guilt pierced her heart for breaking her promise, but she had to do this.

Bracing her shoulders, she drew on every ounce of bravery she possessed. Before she lost her nerve, she left without a sound. She hurried down the hallway and slipped past Joseph’s crowded room, avoiding curious glances or annoying questions. She jogged past the busy nurses’ station.

Then she fled the hospital to face the evil that waited for her in the ravine.

She started this. She had to finish this.

Chapter Twelve

Pandora drove her SUV back to the scene of the crime. The sun was halfway to the cliffs, its rays highlighting the red and pink rocks. She would have rather come tomorrow morning instead of facing the shadows of the night, but Cé’s strength might have returned. He’d insist on coming with her. It wasn’t a chance she was willing to take. She refused to have one more person die because of her stupidity.

The little box remained open, but with no instructions on how to use it, it was useless.

She parked her SUV. “Here goes nothing.” She picked up the box and walked toward the ravine.

Theo had said that his men had scoured every inch of the canyon and had moved their search south of here. He was wrong. The thing was here. She could feel it. The once clean air had an underlining thickness, and the hair on the back of her neck stood straight up. Goosebumps roamed up and down her limbs. Every nerve and every pump of her heart begged her to turn around and get in her SUV and drive away to safety.

She thought of Cé and the many battles he’d fought. Looking into his eyes had been like venturing into a world of salt and sea spray, of endless battles between pirate ships, of smoking cannons, and of blood-curdling violence. Yet with all the turmoil, he had survived, only to be brought to his knees by a mysterious cloud. Magic, New Mexico, was filled with fairies, gnomes, vampires, dragons, and other worldly creatures, but not murdering clouds. Whatever this thing was, it wasn’t of earth.

She frowned, then looked around. Her boots crunched on the pebbles, and sweat dampened her clothes. She held the box in front of her, hoping it would act like a beacon and draw the evil out of hiding. 

“I think Cé was lying closer to the trail head,” she mumbled to herself. She walked over to a sparse trail that weaved up the cliff she’d just come down.

Suddenly, the box trembled in her hands, and she had to hang on tight to keep it from flinging out of her hands.

In a surprisingly loud voice, she said, “Sweet cherries, bumble bees, angel’s wings.”

Engery surged through her, and the same glow flowed through her. The gold aura formed around her like a cocoon. The image of Cé’s drained body formed in her mind, and she hoped it was enough to protect her. But she couldn’t stop now. “Where are you? Show yourself, you coward.”

I am stronger. Your little spell is useless. You will die.

The foul words turned her blood to ice, and she shuddered, but she forced herself to remain where she stood. Of course, the cloud had fed on Cé. Vampire blood must have made the cloud more powerful, more lethal.

Something moved out of the corner of her eye.

An orange-colored haze lifted off a cliff.

“So, you can change colors?”

The box rocked in her hand, and a lightning bolt shot out of it. The cloud hissed, then returned to a sparkling white.

You don’t know how to use that.

A screaming roar stomped out her thoughts.

The evil screeched and shot into a nearby cave.

Rocks and pebbles jumped around as if an earthquake erupted. The wind whipped around, flattening the sagebrush, and a whirlwind of dust flew into Pandora’s eyes. Fiery heat blazed down on her as if she stood too close to an overheated engine.

Blood drummed through her veins. Her heart beat wildly. She choked on sand, and dirt flew into her mouth. Pandora put her arm over her forehead and stumbled backward.

A winged spaceship landed several yards away, crunching on the rocks and squashing sage brush. Pandora recognized it as the same one Frost commanded from the planet Glacier. It was a little bit bigger than the Navy’s lightning II fighter jet, but obviously more powerful and could move up and down like a helicopter. The engine died, and a door opened.

Pandora’s hands and face stung from the flying debris that had cut into her flesh.

A row of stairs flopped down to the ground from the doorway.

You do not know how to use the device. The voice taunted her.

A man with short, white hair strolled down the stairs. He looked every inch a pirate with weapons on his side, but instead of a pair of trousers and a shirt, he had on a sparkling gray jumper and a belt with a phaser. It was Frost’s older brother Idan, and like Frost, he was a fierce Star Ranger. Or at least, Frost used to be until he retired to play house with her cousin Lacey.

Idan sported the same white hair and light glowing blue eyes as Frost. Glacians possessed the ability to adapt to extreme cold temperatures, and they could freeze their enemies by the slightest touch, making them bad ass Star Rangers.

Idan had a deep scowl, and his icy eyes could freeze the canyon’s little creek. He stepped down the stairs. “Pandora, I see that once again your curiosity has doomed us all. Why the hell are you glowing?”

Pandora grimaced. “I used a spell to call up a protective aura.”

He rolled his eyes. “An aura is useless against this creature.”

She wanted to protect, but now wasn’t the time. “Idan—the silver box is yours? The cloud came from Glacier?”

“No, it was a prisoner that—” Pink glistened on his cheeks. “In the excitement of forcing Frost to go back to Glacier, the prison cell must have fallen out of my pocket. I only discovered recently that it was missing. I was on my way to retrieve it when the warning signal beeped that the prisoner had escaped.”

A rumor of the fight between the two brothers tugged at Pandora’s mind, and she raised an eyebrow. “So, you dropped it?”

Instead of answering her, he narrowed his eyes and held a phaser in his hand. “You are hereby remanded to the custody of the Coalition under violation of the Star Act Amendment under section twelve of releasing a dangerous fugitive without proper authorization.”

“I can’t believe this. You’re arresting me?”

“Yes.” He motioned with his fingers. “Give me the imprisonment cage.”

She looked at it closer. “How does it work?”

“The light is specially designed to immobilize and absorb a Mistonian.”

“That’s what the cloud is called—a Mistonian?”

“Yes, it feeds on blood, and the stronger it gets, the more abilities it has to subdue its victims. I had it trapped in the cage when I came to this primitive planet to retrieve my brother.”

Pandora grinned hugely and held the cage just out of his reach. “That was careless of you. Does the Coalition know? I doubt its worthy of a great Star Ranger.”

Anger shot into those blue eyes, and he lunged. “If you give me the cage, my mistake will be remedied.”

“Idan, no!” Pandora realized her mistake too late. She held on tight with both hands, but she was no match for his brute strength.

He ripped the cage out of her hand, and it slammed shut. He ran his thumb along the edge, and his light brows crammed together. “What the devil—something’s wrong.” He gave her an accusing stare. “What did you do?”

She avoided those hard eyes. “I...I...cast a spell.”

He muttered words she didn’t understand under his breath, but there was no doubt by his tone and deathly scowl that they were an angry curse. “You don’t realize what you’ve done, do you?”

She shook her head as shame cut off any rebuff.

He nearly stuffed the box right under her nose. “I can’t use this to re-capture the Mistonian.”

Prepare to die. The mocking voice had gotten closer, as if the creature had been hanging on their every word.

“Idan, did you hear that?”

She turned on her heel and looked at the New Mexican landscape with red and orange rocks, shrub bushes, and cacti. A wave of a mirage moved under a shadowed cliff.

“Hear what?”

“Look.” She pointed toward what looked like a moving cliff. “The Mistonian was listening.”

Idan grabbed her arm. “We’ve got to run.”

“You don’t have any weapons to stop it?”

“I did, but you contaminated it.” His condemning voice pushed her into action.

The Mistonian darted toward them faster than the wind making the cliff, brush, and cacti look like they were rolling waves.

“I got it open before. Give it to me, Idan. Hurry before it’s too late.”

“You’re crazy, woman!”

“Pandora!”

Pandora groaned at the angry familiar voice. Cé had woken up and escaped from the hospital somehow. A blur of dust headed straight for her and Idan. When Idan turned toward the voice, he lessened his grip and yanked her arm. She seized the box and ran toward the Mistonian. She wouldn’t let either man die.

“What are you doing?” Idan called behind her. He was right behind her, and she could feel his warm breath on the back of her neck.

With a loud clear voice, she held up the box. “Cotton willows, icy waters, kitten whiskers.”

Like before, the lid slowly opened. The strange light streamed out, but not before the Mistonian overtook her. The same sickly sweet smell choked her, and she couldn’t breathe.

“Sweet cherries, bumble bees, angel’s wings.” Her voice lost its punch. Her strength faded and the golden aura around her dimmed. She could feel her blood draining slowly. Cold hands circled her throat, cutting off any air, and her eyes bulged. The landscape and Idan’s concerned face circled around her eyes as her head grew dizzy. Her heart beat fiercely.

“Stay alive, Pandora!”

She recognized the angry voice—Cé. She tried to yell for her help, but her legs gave away, and she landed hard on her knees. Pain bolted through her.

A fast blur rushed into the thickness of evil threatening to kill her.

“Get out of here!” Cé ordered. He whirled her around and dug his fingers into arm. “You need to leave!”

As much as she wanted to, she was trapped, and all she could do was claw at her neck to try and breathe.

Cé fought like before—his arms flying wildly around, his teeth bared. Blood squirted into the air, and wetness splattered the side of her face.

The chokehold disappeared around her neck, and she gasped for air, but she wouldn’t let him die. His stubbornness could be the death of him.

“Push the button inside,” Idan yelled. He sounded far away as if a wide chasm separated him.

Suddenly, an angry scream and hiss echoed in her ear, then unbearable agony cut into her chest as if three hot pokers all scratched her at once.

She cried out.

I’ll kill him.

Ignoring the pain rippling through her, she hunted for the button. She hadn’t seen it, only blinding light. With determination, she pressed her thumb inside the box and something clicked. Tingles swept up her trembling arm like soft feathers caressing her skin.

A gust of wind whipped around her and Cé. Dirt, pebbles, twigs, and dust scratched her face and stung her eyes. The evil screeched, and the box flew out of her hand.

“No!” She put her arm over her eyes as she wildly searched for it. The box spun around faster and faster, and the whirlwind was sucked into it.

The evil withered as the wind died down, then a loud click split the deathly silence.

“You did it,” a distance voice said.

Pandora thought it might have been Idan, but the fuzziness in her brain mixed her judgment up.

“Lass, what have you done?”

That same accusation bruised her pride. She opened up her mouth to argue, but her lips wouldn’t move. Strong arms held her against a broad chest. She inhaled the warming smell of salt and sea air before she passed out.

Chapter Thirteen

Cursing, Cé quickly lifted Pandora’s limp body and cradled her next to his chest. Her face was so very pale, and her breath was too shallow, as if her life force was slipping away. She needed blood. His breath strangled. He’d never met anyone like her. The thought of losing her left him with a plummeting sensation that reached into his chest and turned his blood to ice.

He trampled up a path of red and orange pebbles and rocks. The setting sun turned the clouds pink and purple, and the jagged cliffs cast long shadows and turned his skin cool, but not Pandora’s—hers was boiling hot.

When he reached the top, he drew on his vampire strength and sped down the black road. Pandora’s hair flew around his face, tickling him. He willed her to wake, but her long eyelashes remained stubbornly closed.

He whispered into her ear. “Dona die on me, lass.”

He passed adobe houses, stores, and flats then cursed under his breath. He’d forgotten where the surgeon was located since all the roads and buildings looked alike. He cursed under his breath. He had no time to waste searching down endless roads. Pandora’s face had turned ashen, her lips blue. He followed the road back to the jail. Theo would know what to do.

A whining screaming sound nearly brought him to a terrible skid. Flashing red lights raced toward him, and he bared his teeth until he realized it was Theo driving wildly in his car.

Theo skidded to a stop, tires squealing. He jumped out of the car. “What the devil are you doing, vampire?”

Cé nestled Pandora to his chest, feeling her faint heartbeat next to his rapid one. “She’s hurt. She faced the cloud alone.” He was surprised at the depth of emotion in his gruff voice. He was a tough crusty pirate, but now, he was a broken down man. She’d risked her life for him. He still couldn’t get the image out of his mind. He’d never seen a female face a deadly foe with such determination.

“We’ve got to get her to a hospital.” Theo helped Cé lay Pandora’s unconscious body in the backseat.

Cé cradled her head in his lap and pushed her hair out of her face.

Theo glanced in the rear view mirror as he gunned the motor. “What she was thinking?”

Cé stiffened and pursued his lips, struggling to keep from unleashing his vampire powers from exploding forth and attacking Theo. “The silver box she possessed captured the creature. dona ye get it? She sacrificed herself to save all of us.”

“I’m sorry, Cé. I meant no disrespect.”

They rode in silence except for Cé’s thundering heart sending blood pumping in his ear like a cannon. No woman had ever mattered to him, and he couldn’t bear to lose her. He’d lost so much in his small life and now, something precious was about to be snatched from him. He glanced above, and he who never prayed, reached deep inside of his heart.

“God,” he whispered. “I’m askin’ for forgiveness for my sins. But dona punish Pandora for my deeds. Please let her live. She’s given me hope when all was lost. Please hear me.”

Theo pulled into a parking space next to the familiar adobe building with a sign that Cé had escaped. Unlike the hospitals back in London, the outside had a neat manicured lawn and flowers planted in a bed.

But on the inside, the hospital had the same medicinal and vinegar smells he could do without. Theo had barely brought the car to a stop when Cé  kicked open the door.

“Vampire, I haven’t—”

Not wanting to listen to more of the sheriff’s tirades, Cé held Pandora’s limp form and raced into the hospital. There was a nurse and an orderly at the front desk busy talking to an elderly patient.

Cé looked down at Pandora’s glossy eyes, and he swore at the uselessness of the prayer. “Help me, please help me!”

The desperateness in his voice jerked the orderly head’s up, and he rushed toward them.

He examined Pandora. “What happened?”

“She was attacked and lost a lot of blood.”

“I don’t see any wounds,” he said as he examined at Pandora’s dusty clothes.

“Trust me, she has them.” Theo walked into the emergency room. “She’s going into shock and needs a transfusion.”

The orderly grabbed a metal wheelchair. “Put her—”

“No, I’ll carry her.”

Theo clasped his arm. “Cé, you need to let them do their job.”

Cé opened his mouth to argue, but Theo’s logic penetrated his fearful emotions, and he carefully put Pandora’s body into the chair. She slumped to the side like a rag doll, and he expelled a harsh breath.

Theo put his hand on his shoulder. “There’s nothing you can do, but wait.” Instead of his usual condemning tone, Theo’s voice was filled with compassion, and Cé reluctantly followed him to the hard metal chairs in the waiting room.

He sat and rested his head in his hands, trying to keep the warring emotions of anger, fear, love, and hate under control. He wanted to lash out and rip the flesh of someone to forget the pain brewing in his heart. He’d experienced unbearable agony on board Palmer’s ship, but this was so much worse. That had only been the torture of the body. He was immortal and would heal.

But this was of the soul. He didn’t know when Pandora had wormed her way through his tough exterior but she had nestled in like a ray of sunshine that melted the icy shield he built up to protect himself from his nightmare life. She’d left him vulnerable to pain that he wouldn’t be able to cure.

The next few hours were the longest in his life. A crowd of people had started to fill up the waiting room, including Idan who he’d discovered was from outer space. Such information would have piqued his interest, but he didn’t care. The only thing that mattered was Pandora.

Jonah entered the waiting room. “Cé!” He ran over with his arms stretched out wide and hugged him.

Cé returned the affection and held him tight, drawing on his strength to maintain control.

 “Pandora will be all right. You wait and see.”

Jonah’s musical voice gave Cé hope. He slowly released the boy, then ruffled his hair. He wanted to answer him, but his throat closed, and any words that would have escaped would have betrayed the grief inside him.

Topper walked over. She’d changed her hair to a bright green and had blue eyes. “Don’t worry, pirate. Your true love will survive. The question will be, is your love strong enough to keep you here? We have the power to send you back to your time. All you have to do is ask.”

“What?” Her words stunned him. Her prediction of love and the fact that Pandora knew he could be returned to his time. Why had she lied to him? How could he love a woman who hid the truth from him? But then he wasn’t a saint, either. He’d never said he loved Pandora. He wasn’t even sure what that was. Hell, he wasn’t sure what that meant anymore.

Go home? Topper said they could send him back to his captain who would take out his vengeance on Cé. He’d be branded a traitor. Based on his deeds, he doubted Kane O’Brien would want him on his ship.

Either time, Cé was an outcast—and alone.

Looking around the room of strange people who gave him curious looks—some even hostile—he’d never be accepted.

He couldn’t sit anymore sifting through questions without answers. Topper sat in a nearby chair, watching him with twinkling eyes as if she knew all the answers.

He paced back and forth, and more than once, he tried to burst through those double doors to find out what was bloody happening to Pandora, but Theo had managed to subdue him. He sat in the hard chair and waited for an eternity. Leaning his head back, he closed his eyes, squeezing them hard enough to keep the smallest hint of water shine from leaking beneath his lashes.

“Mr. Jackman?” a soft voice called.

Cé jumped to feet and raced over to the petite nurse.

She gave him a reassuring smile and gestured with her arm. “You can see her now. She’s asking for you.”

He struggled to get the question out, afraid of what the answer would be. “How is she?”

“It was touch and go, but she’s out of the worst of it.” She motioned with her arm. “If you’ll follow me.”

“See.” Jonah smiled. “I told you she’d be okay. Pandora’s a fighter.”

Cé saluted him since his throat was closed up and he felt tears glisten in his eyes.

He trailed the nurse through the double doors into a busy brigade of nurses at a round station with monitors that beeped and pulsed.

The petite brunette nurse glanced over her shoulder. “I’m Betty and will be her nurse tonight. She’s very weak, and she’s had five pints of blood. We’ll be moving her to a room up on the third floor.”

Meaning Pandora was still not completely healed. Now wasn’t the time to ask her why she’d lied.

Pandora lay propped up in a bed, her face whiter than the sheets. Her eyes were dreary and had lost their usual spark. Tubes were in her nose, and an IV tube hooked up to her left hand. He gulped back the fear and masked his face.

He slipped into a stool next to her bed. “Pandora?”

“Hey, you’re okay.”

He clasped her unusually cold right hand. He could barely feel any warmth. “How are ye feelin’?”

“Tired. I wanted to see you.” She lightly squeezed his hand, but the pressure was so weak. “Promise you won’t leave?”

“I willna leave.” He leaned over and kissed her icy forehead. He buried his lips in her throat, in her hair, in her soft womanly scent, wishing he could save her, but powerless to do so.

Unlike him, she wasn’t immortal, and death preyed on her mortality like a vulture. The worse part was there wasn’t anything he could do. With all his vampire powers, he lacked the power to heal—only to kill.

Chapter Fourteen

Pandora stirred, waking slowly. Her face was pressed into her own thick dark hair and when she opened her eyes, the first thought that plagued her mind was being suffocated in honey. She couldn’t get that retched smell out of her mind. The other was being cold, so very cold as if she’d fallen through an icy pond in the dead of winter.

She’d had a dream that her pirate had been at her bedside, but her mind had been fuzzy, and she couldn’t distinguish what was real or what wasn’t. All she knew was the crushing smell of sweetness and the everlasting numbness in her body from the cold. She shivered and moaned, wishing there was a window nearby so she could feel the warmth of the sun on her face.

She heard light footsteps on the tile floor and braced for more prodding and poking from her nurse Betty.

“Pandora?” Instead of a feminine voice, a husky male one chased all the demons haunting her away.

She turned to look into concerned blue eyes that warmed her frozen heart. “Cé?” Her voice sounded garbled as if she had sand stuck in her throat.

“Aye, ’tis me.” He looked awful. His blond hair was tousled into a mess as if he’d been running a rake through his locks. The bags under his eyes were so red and burly it looked as if he’d gone on a drinking binge. He picked up her hand and kissed her knuckles. “I’m here.”

She swallowed hard. “I thought you were a dream. I called for you.”

“I know. I answered ye. Did ye not hear me, lass?”

“No, I didn’t.” His face turned foggy as tears dampened her lashes. “All I could feel...was that sickly sweet cloud, and its laughter chilled me to the bone.” The images of the horror silenced her voice like a whistling wind, and she trembled. “I...just want to...forget.”

The weight of the bed sank as Cé climbed onto it. “Then let me help ye forget.” He held her close, his strong arms protecting her from the evil. His large frame offered heat where the thin hospital blanket had offered none. She sighed and snuggled next to him.

“Yer so cold, darlin’.” He caressed her arm repeatedly, and his touch thawed her numb arm. He kissed the top of her head; his warm spicy breath made her feel like she was home. “Go to sleep. Remember I am with ye. Ye have nothin’ to fear.”

She closed her eyes. For the first time, her limbs didn’t tingle with cold, and blood pushed through her veins.

***

Pandora woke with a start. A soft masculine snore drew her attention to the chair next to her bed. Cé was fast asleep—his head leaned back on the chair and his long legs stretched out before him. His tousled blond hair hid his chiseled face, and his rumpled clothes suggested he’d kept his promise and stayed by her side. She’d slept peacefully and inhaled the salty sea rather than sickening honey.

Soft footsteps echoed outside the door and Pandora waited for Betty or another nurse to enter to check on her vital signs.

But instead of a nurse, Topper came in looking like she had a Christmas tree for hair. “Good morning,” she said in a hushed whisper. She tilted her head. “I don’t want to wake your brave pirate.”

By the look of merriment in Topper’s eyes, Pandora had no doubt that she was going to turn her world upside down. She pushed the button to make the bed move into a sitting position. She felt stronger and warmer than she’d had the last night, but her strength hadn’t completely returned.

“I told him, dearie.”

Pandora glanced at Cé’s sleeping form which hadn’t moved nor had his long gentle snores lessened. “Told him what?”

“That he could go home, of course. You can’t keep him here under false pretenses, Pandora, no matter how much you love him. He’s got to make his own choice. And when the time comes, you need to let him go.”

Pandora’s mouth fell open, and she was too stunned to argue. In a split of an instance, Topper had sent Pandora’s world into a heap of wretched mess. Love? That word hadn’t even entered her mind. Topper knew about true mates, but Pandora hadn’t even registered that Cé could be hers.

An overwhelming sense of loss gripped her at the thought of never seeing him again. He was the only one who’d stood by her during this whole mess of the Mistonian. He’d defended her, fought for her. No man had ever done anything like this for her. They always left because her curiosity got in the way.

Topper waved her hand. “Ta, ta, love.” She left as quickly as she’d entered.

“Ye knew I could go home and didna tell me?” He drew in his legs.

Pandora jerked her head. Cé must have heard every word. Her heart withered in fear at his even voice. “I’m sorry.”

He shoved the hair out of his face, and his hard blue eyes killed any excuses she had for not telling him. She’d been so focused on getting his help to imprison the Mistonian.

“I’m sorry. I should have told you. Of course, you want to go back. You’re a pirate.”

He looked at her as if waiting for another answer. “Is that all I am to ye?”

Before she could answer, the doctor came in to check on her. “I’m Dr. Mason. How are we all doing?” Her cheery voice did nothing to pierce the heavy veil of gloom that had fallen over Pandora.

Pandora opened her mouth and choked. She cleared her throat and shook her head. “Better, much better.”

Cé got out of the chair and leaned against the wall, watching the doctor ramble on about how Pandora was going to be released. The doctor left with instructions for Pandora to have plenty of bed rest, and in a few days she’d be good as new—except for her cracking heart.

“I’m glad yer goin’ to be well, Pandora.” His words were stiff.

“Cé—”

He held up his hand. “If ye’ll excuse me.”

“Wait!”

She tried to get up, but she was hooked up to the damn machines.

***

It was two hours later before she was released from the hospital. A nurse wheeled her outside where Theo waited for her in a squad car.

“Looking good, Pandora,” he smiled.

“Thanks for picking me up.”

“It’s the least I can do for what you did.” Theo would keep beating himself for doubting her, but he wasn’t the one she was worried about.

“You don’t need to feel guilty, Theo.” She looked down at her wringing hands. “Do you know where Cé is?”

Theo pulled away from the hospital. “The last I saw him, he was talking with Topper.”

“Oh.” The last person she wanted him to talk to. She put her forehead against the glass, wishing she’d given him the answer he wanted. Be honest—what she wanted. But no, she’d been a coward, afraid he’d reject her like all the other men.

They rode in silence to her house. He parked in her driveway, then open the door for her to get out. “Do you need any help?”

“No, that’s okay.” She patted his hand. “Thanks again for the door-to-door service.”

Pandora headed toward her door with a heavy heart. She sat on her couch with the sun on her back. It failed to thaw the coldness thumping through her. She refused to be one of those hapless females who waited for a hero to return. This wasn’t a fairy tale, and she was in jeopardy of losing a man she could easily spend the rest of her life with. The realization was a spur that got her to jump off her couch and run out the door.

There was only one place the residents of Magic would gather to open the portal to send Cé back home. She had to get there first and convince him to stay.

Chapter Fifteen

Cé sat in a gazebo, staring at the setting sun. This was a beautiful place with the changing purple, pink, and orange clouds that hung around desert mountain peaks. It was different than the lush green mountains in the Caribbean. He missed the sea. He was a pirate, and pirates lived in the ocean—or at least that was what he told himself.

His chest tightened at the thought of seeing Quinton Palmer and Zuto again and being on board a ship that stank of death and dread. He was weary of being a slave, of being tortured, of being lonely. But Palmer wasn’t the only vampire ship. His best friend Leif had joined Kane O’Brien’s. Maybe he could convince the fierce captain that he’d be worthy of being a member of his crew.

Here, he hadn’t lived in fear. He actually had learned to like Theo—the shapeshifting dragon. If things would have been different, he might have called him a friend.

Cé propped his elbows on his knees and rested his forehead against his closed fists. If Pandora had given him the slightest indication that she wanted him to stay, he might have reconsidered. She hadn’t even looked distressed that he could return to his own time. They’d defeated the Mistonian, and now, she didn’t need him anymore.

What a fool he’d been to think a gentry lady would want him. He didn’t belong here and needed to go back to his own kind.

Topper had said that when the sun completely set, the residents of this place would gather and open a portal to send him back to the seventeenth century. He’d hoped Pandora wouldn’t be one of them, watching him leave with indifference in her eyes.

He inhaled the intoxicating scent of coconuts and froze. The only person he wanted to hear from broke through his thoughts.

“Cé?”

He set his jaw in a tight and raised his head. “What do ye want, Pandora?”

“I’m sorry. I should have told you. I wasn’t thinking. I just needed your help so desperately.”

Once again, not what he wanted to hear. He wished the grass would split apart and the time spider would yank him back home so he didn’t have to listen to her reject him. “Ye said what ye had to say.” He kept his voice wooden like he used to when Palmer or Zuto would lash out at him. Apathy had kept people from hurting him.

People, including Topper, gathered in the middle of the park and formed a circle around the gazebo. Pandora wet her lips, and a wild desperate look flashed in her eyes. Topper motioned for him to come toward her. He brushed past Pandora and hardened his heart. He was going back and needed to forget what could never happen.

Pandora clasped his arm. “Cé, please don’t go.”

He didn’t even look her. “Why?”

“Because I want you to stay. You’ve had a hard—”

“I dona need your sympathy—wench.”

She slowly dropped her hand. “I didn’t mean that.”

He was done waiting and started to head toward Topper, who had a simpering smile on her face that made him curl back his lip.

Pandora darted in front of him stood on her tip-toes and kissed him. Not quickly, but a kiss that soothed his anger. She parted his mouth with her tongue, sending blood tingling through his veins even as her hands moved lower and slipped under his shirt to spread her fingers across his naked flesh. Anger forgotten, he indulged and returned her passion with a fervor of his own. He wrapped his arms around her small frame, crushing her to his body. His flesh hardened, and he wanted her. His lips, his tongue ravaged her with an urgency, wanting to suckle every inch of her silky skin.

The lust overwhelmed his good sense, and he lifted her into his arms and headed back to the gazebo. He laid her down on the bench and stretched on top of her. She raked her hands in his hair.

“I cann’t bare for you to leave,” she murmured. She pressed her hands against his cheeks, her eyes shining with moisture. “Please, please stay with me.”

“Ye want me to stay?” He crinkled his brow.

“With all my heart.”

He inhaled her sweet breath that melted the last of the hardness in his heart. “Yer wish is my command, my curious lady.”

She smiled, and he covered her mouth as his hand cupped her breasts. He wanted to taste more than her luscious mouth, and he slipped his hand into her shirt and squeezed her nipple. She released a groan that made him want to unbuckle his belt and take her hard and furious.

A deep “ahem” brought their fervor to a halt.

He glanced over his shoulder to see Theo leaning against the post with his eyebrow arched. “I take it, pirate, you’ve changed your mind.”

Cé heard Pandora suck in her breath, and he flashed her a reassuring grin.

“Aye, I’ve decided to stay.’

He motioned with his hand. “Then I have to ask you to take your affection elsewhere.” Instead of anger, his voice echoed with merriment.

Cé stood laughing and pulled Pandora to her feet. Her cheeks had the same blush of the pinkish clouds overhead, and her disheveled hair left little doubt what was about to happen in the gazebo.

“Yer right, sheriff. We’ve some unfinished business to take care of.” He winked at Pandora, making her cheeks bloom to a bright red.

Topper came alongside Theo. “Well, I’m glad that’s settled. It’s about time you two birds realized you were meant for each other.” She waved her hand. “Now, shoo.”

Cé didn’t waste any time following the witch’s order. He scooped Pandora into his arms and drawing on vampire speed, whisked her out of the circle and took her back to her house. He didn’t stop until they were inside and in her bedroom.

Breathless, she clung to him. “Don’t know if I’ll ever get use to that. ” She looked at him slyly. “I’ve dreamed of this moment. To feel your hands and mouth on me.” Her voice was heavy with desire.

He brushed her hair out of her eyes. “I canna tell ye how much I wanted to hear those words.”

Her face brightened. “You did?”

“Aye, I did.” His hands trembling, he slowly lifted her shirt off her lovely body. “God, yer beautiful.” He lifted a strap. “What is this that ye wear?”

“A bra.” She laughed as she unclasped it. Cool air washed over her as she wiggled out of it. The skin across her breasts tightened and her nipples budded at his heated gaze.

“Lass, yer beautiful.”

“And you’re my handsome pirate.” She led him to the bed. “Now, it’s my turn to show you how much I want you.” She had a wicked gleam in her eye and unbuckled his belt, then took it off. “Will you let me lead?”

He nodded wordlessly. His body turned to iron. She slid off his breeches, and he watched her. His breath stuck in his throat as her silky hair caressed his trembling legs. She took his flesh in her mouth and licked, suckled, and kissed him while her soft fingers caressed his full sacks.

“Dear Christ.” He threw his head back as he arched his hips, allowing her to take more into her mouth.

She looked up at him.  “We’ve only begun, pirate. I can give you a million different ways why I want you to stay.” She slid her lips down his flesh and kissed the tip of it.

Each time she pleasured him, his breath came harsher than the one before.

“My turn.”

With one hand, he lifted her off him, then gently rolled her onto her back. He took her nipple into his mouth and suckled while she withered with passion beneath him. She held his head against her breast and arched her back, allowing him to feast more on her flesh. She threaded her fingers through his hair like a starved temptress.

He slid one hand down her thigh to her silky curls and traced his finger along the folds of her flesh. She was wet and slick. He inserted a finger into her moist core, feeling her thighs tighten around the intrusion. She arched her hips against his hand. Lord, she was as eager as he.

Astonished by the overwhelming feeling rushing through him, he took several long breaths, afraid he wouldn’t get enough air.

 “I’ve never been with a lady.” His deep voice hushed int a whisper.

She trailed a finger down his hot face. “Are you disappointed, my pirate?”

“No, ye’ve stolen my heart.”

She moved her finger down his nose and lingered it on his mouth. “And you mine.”

Something in the timbre of her voice turned his body to iron. Blood pulsed down between his thighs, and he wedged his hips between hers. She was giving him a gift that he never thought possible—herself. There was no demand for coin, no filthy conditions, no bawdy chatter. Truth: he’d never thought he deserved anything better—until he met Pandora.

She accepted him for who was, had even sacrificed herself to save him. He wanted to please her, wanted to indulge in her every desire, wanted to hear her cry out his name again and again.

***

Pandora slipped her hands down his neck to his broad back marveling at the strength of his muscles. She frowned at the thick scars that told the story of the pain he must have endured and silently cursed the merciless bastard who had done this to him. She shuddered, thinking of the cruelty in his world.

He lifted his head. “What’s wrong?”

She followed a scar on his back, wishing she could heal his wounds. “I keep thinking of the bastard who did this to you.”

His eyes clouded. “Dona.”

“Didn’t he have any mercy?”

“No.” Pain and horror echoed in that word.

“I promise you won’t ever have to go back there.”

He leaned his forehead on hers. “’Tis not that easy, Pandora. The demon can send the time spider after me at anytime. Zuto’s very powerful and—”

She put her finger on his mouth silencing him. “Haven’t you figured out the power here yet?”

“I know of the power here—”

“No, you don’t. We will form a portal tomorrow that will keep that pesky time spider banned forever.”

He lifted his head. “Ye can do that?”

She laughed. “Of course, we can. This is Magic where anything is possible.” She wiggled her hand down to his balls and smiled at his quick intake of breath when she caressed them. She rubbed herself over his engorged head. “Now, where were we?”

He gave her a melting smile. “Taking ye to paradise.” Cé made good on his promise. He lifted his hips and drove his flesh inside her, surprising her at the depth he’d gone.

She clawed at his back. “Harder.”

He gave her what he wanted and thrust his hips in a frenzy that slammed the headboard against the wall, knocking pictures onto the floor. Pandora’s pleasure was explosive, and she clutched him tight, letting him ride her until he was satisfied. His release was hot, spilling inside her and down the inside of her thighs.

He collapsed against her. “It’s been so long,” he gasped.

“We have the rest of our lives to make sure you’re never on furlough again—pirate.”

“Aye, we do.”

His voice was husky, and lust filled his eyes.

Pandora felt him grow hard and waited in anticipation. For the rest of the night, they pleasured each other, finding out each other’s secrets and knowing they were both safe in Magic.

Dear Reader

I’m delighted you decided to read A Touch of Curiosity, which is part of SE Smith’s Magic New Mexico. I loved SE Smith’s world and was very excited to be part of this launch.

This is the second time I have written a time travel story. Just in case you haven’t guessed, I’m a pirate girl. I have written four books about vampire pirates. I also have a contemporary paranormal series about the angels of death.

I love to hear from readers. I am on all the social media sites, (Facebook, twitter@mlguida2 and Good Reads). I respond to emails at author@mlguida.com, Facebook posts and tweets, so don't hesitate to contact me. If you’d like to contact me, you can reach me on my website http://www.mlguida.com/contact/ or you can follow me my blog http://www.mlguida.com/blog/ 

Book loaning and reviews are ways that readers can help authors get the word out about books they love, so don’t hesitate to spread the word about A Touch of Curiosity. I appreciate all reviews, whether positive or negative.

If you’d like to receive a new email release or sign up for my street team, please sign up at http://www.mlguida.com/ 

Sincerely,

M.L. Guida

Other Books by M.L. Guida

If you’ve enjoyed A Touch of Curiosity, I have three other series that you might enjoy. The first one is Legends of the Soaring Phoenix, the second is the Angels of Death series, and the last is Vampires on Holiday.

The first book of the series is A Pirate's Curse. Like a dark angel, Captain Kane O'Brien rescues Hannah Knight and her father from drowning after vampire pirates murder their crew and sink their ship. Struggling to control and hide her telekinetic powers, Hannah discovers the honorable and bold captain possesses his own secrets.

Every full moon, Kane turns into a vampire. Finding out Hannah not to be the cabin boy she resembles, but a beautiful, luscious woman, tempts all his appetites. Desperate to be free of his curse, Kane considers handing Hannah over to a demon. But after Hannah uses her power to save his ship from his immortal enemy, Kane can no longer deny his attraction and vows to protect Hannah with his life.

To find true love, they must combine their powers to defeat evil vampires, thwart Hannah's misogynist fiancé and escape a crafty demon.

        The second book of the series is A Pirate’s Revenge. Cursed by a demon, William O’Brien changes into a dragon with mystical powers he can’t control. In dragon form he becomes a ravenous beast with the power to destroy the crew of the Soaring Phoenix. He’s forced to make a decision: leave the ship or face killing the crew. 
But before he can go, he discovers a new menace hunts him. The God of the Underworld has released a female demon, more deadly and evil than before, with orders to capture William and combine his powers with a male witch in order to destroy the crew of the Soaring Phoenix. 
Mariah Fey, a talented witch, wants only to save her brother from the bowels of the evil pirate ship, the Fiery Damsel. If William will trust her, she can teach him how to harvest his gifts, control his abilities and together their true love can defeat their enemies. 

       A Pirate’s Obsession is the fourth book in the Legends of the Soaring Phoenix Series. Losing his hand to a demon means Ronan Macmillian is desperate. He’ll do anything to avoid being a cripple, even sacrifice to the same demon an innocent, beautiful undine.

Angelica knows Ronan is her mate and is determined to show him he’s a warrior, even if he’s maimed.  She must forsake the sea life she’s always known, and stay out of the clutches of a clever demon, to win the pirate she loves.

But when Ronan meets the beautiful Angelica, restoring his hand and handing over the undine becomes complicated.  If he fails to obey, the demon promises he’ll make him a monster and not even the crew of the Soaring Phoenix will be safe.

Will Ronan betray his honor and his heart and deliver Angelica over to the demon? Or will true love prevail and win Ronan and her life?

    A Pirate’s Bane is the fifth book in the Legends of the Soaring Phoenix Series. Imprisoned. Hated. Desperate. Water Elemental Isabella is a prisoner on board the dreaded Fiery Damsel pirate ship. Her choice is mate with pirate Leif Black or die. A demon wants their unborn child to complete a deadly spell. Leif is her chosen mate, and she must use all of her power to resist him for their sake and their unborn child.

Leif Black has problems of his own. He has kept his sisters hidden from the crew of the Fiery Damsel and never told them that he is a vampire. Love is the last thing on his mind. But the determined demon is one step head of him and curses him. He’s now possessed by a dragon spirit, and he’s unable to control his powers, especially his lust for Isabella. Her sweet song awakens something inside him that he’d long forgotten.

Isabella and Leif fight to deny their forbidden love, but destiny won’t be defied. When the lust proves to be too strong, they must work together to protect their child and trust each other to defeat the evil demon.

Legends of the Soaring Phoenix Box set contains the first three books—A Pirate’s Curse, A Pirate’s Revenge, and A Pirate’s Agony.

I also have a paranormal Christmas series called Vampires on Holiday. The first book is A Vampire’s Christmas Wish. Master vampire, Janus Morano, has searched for centuries to find his lost soul mate. When he finally discovers his true love on Christmas Eve in Hawaii, she doesn't know him, doesn't remember her previous life, and doesn’t want him. Janus must get her to remember him and their love, but nothing comes easy with Deirdre Hahn. 

Deirdre is drawn to the mysterious dark stranger, but she came to Hawaii with Brandon Delaney, to heal their broken relationship. Brandon has promised to never beat her again, bending over backwards to be Prince Charming. But the promise is broken.

Deirdre escapes Brandon’s clutches and her only hope is the mysterious dark stranger. Janus vows to help her but soon she discovers his dark secret. He's a vampire...a vampire searching for her.

Now Deirdre is caught between two desperate men. Not sure who to trust. In order to save her future she must accept her past and when her Hawaiian vacation falls apart and she’s kidnapped, she must learn to trust Janus or die on Christmas.

The second book is, A Vampire’s Fallen Christmas Star. It’s the week before Christmas but the last thing Jayden Kye wants to do is celebrate. He blames himself for his twin's brother's death. He hikes up to Rainbow Lake to make peace with him, but Jayden slips down a snowy embankment and impales himself on a tree. He is dying. 
Eleanor Baines has been a vampire for over a hundred years but she’s never been tempted to turn a human before. Now, facing the sexy rock star, she has a choice, let him die or let him live. 
Now, she finds herself with a head-strong rock singer who breaks all the rules. 
Jayden discovers everything he thought he knew is wrong. His best friend and lead guitarist are legendary vampire killers bent on killing him and Eleanor. He must learn to trust Eleanor, a total stranger, to survive. When his manager kidnaps Jayden’s mother and threatens to kill her, Jayden is forced to kill his best friend, or hand over the woman he loves. 

I have another series called Angels of Death, and it a contemporary, paranormal series.

Betrayal is the first book in the series. Scythe tracks his demon brother to Serenity House, a drug and alcohol treatment center. His brother wants to destroy the director, Heather Bowen, but Scythe is shocked to discover she is his angel-mate and now, he must not only save his brother's soul, but stop him from killing the woman he loves.

The second in the series is a novella, Deception, What is an Angel of Death supposed to do when a demon holds the key to her whole existence?

Time is running out for Poison. The Archangel Michael has ordered her to retrieve an evil board and the woman who is it’s victim. It’s a test—and if she fails she will be kicked off the squad and be shooting arrows with Cupid.

But she has a problem—Ringmaster. The demon got there first and possesses the board and the woman. He’s offered Poison a sinful proposal:  Sleep with him and he’ll hand over the board and the woman. Or she can go back to Michael empty handed.

Ringmaster has had a hunger for his little angel ever since he first saw her. She changed him form being hell’s favorite trickster to a love sick hell hound. He has to know if what he feels is for real. One hour is all he asks. How can his sweet angel say no?

The third book in the series is Punishment. Fallen angel, Blade, is determined to seek revenge on the archangel Raphael who cursed him to be human. Unless he repents, he’ll be forced to live his life as a pitiful human. He’ll be mortal and powerless—easy pickings for an angel assassin to pick off. He uses an Ouija board to contact a demon to restore his powers only to stir Raphael’s wrath. Raphael burns his hands forcing him to go to the hospital where he meets an angel of mercy—Abigail Malcolm. 
Abigail is a nurse and possesses the power of healing, but it hasn’t been a gift. Her healing powers failed to heal her drug addicted family. Her mother and sister are dead and her brother blames Abigail for their deaths. To make matters worse, a mysterious man—a demon—has given her brother a board to contact his mother, but there’s a secret price—he’ll soon turn into a zombie and lose his soul. 
She must trust Blade, the same fallen angel who murdered her sister. But to defeat the demon and save her brother, they must work together and soon discover true love can stop the devil. 

The fourth book in the series is Cupid. Cupid, has a terrible secret—she’s color blind. After accidentally shooting her intended target with an aversion arrow, she tries to fix it by a shooting a passion arrow. But Lethal, the sexy angel of death she has had a crush on forever, blocks her path. Shot by passion's arrow, he now thinks he’s in love with her. 

Lethal knew Cupid was his angel-mate from the moment he saw her. He’s never claimed her because an angry demon promised murder. But when she shoots him with the arrow he can’t keep his true feelings hidden any longer.

The demon makes good on promise and pursues Cupid, but not to kill her. She has a hidden power he wants, one that Cupid doesn't even know she has. Only true love can unleash her power and by working together, their love will crush the demon bent on destroying them.

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