“Ugh!” Deveney rolled over. Apparently her subconscious sided with Ti.
Should she listen?
Though she tried, sleep eluded her for hours, causing her to toss and turn. When it finally came, visions of a faceless, large, blond-haired man filled her dreams, as he often did. Was this the man who’d break her streak of bad luck?
Running through the clouds and into his arms, Deveney hoped he was the one meant for her.
* * * * *
The start of her day with a cup of apple-cinnamon tea turned out to be the brightest spot so far. Deveney rolled her shoulders, stepped off the bus and turned toward the second job possibility she found in the morning paper. The waitress position had already been filled by the time she’d arrived. Hopefully the part-time slot at the pet store hadn’t. She walked to the store located in the historic downtown district seven blocks up and three blocks over from her address.
Halfway there, she noted another billboard advertisement for the largest growing business in the area.
Prescott, Arizona, home of the world’s best senior citizen retirement villages.
Though she knew the senior centers always needed help, she feared something freaky would happen and she’d accidentally hurt one of the sweet elderly people. No matter how badly she needed a job, she just couldn’t bring herself to place a retired person in harm’s way. But if a job didn’t pan out in the next week… The unwanted image of a wheelchair flying and an old person sprawled on the floor flashed through her head and made her wince inwardly.
“Hope that pet shop job’s still open,” she stated under her breath, crossed the street and turned toward the store. To her recollection, not once had the weirdness within struck out at an animal. Hopefully they would be safer from her than people seemed to fare.
Two blocks over, Deveney waited at the corner for the light to change. A sparkle caught her eye and she turned to look. The late afternoon sun hit the large, mosaic crystal sign filling the front window with brilliant shades of colors. It dazzled and mesmerized, enticing her to step closer to the storefront.
The store’s name,
Supernatural Sensations,
stood out in the center of this array of marvelous handcrafted glass. When she pulled her gaze away, she noted dreamcatchers and crystals also hung in the window. Gorgeous miniature statuaries of different animals lined the window display. Many were shaped from stone and some appeared to be made of crystal. But it was the
Help Wanted
sign down in the lower left corner that commanded her attention.
Deveney bit her lower lip. What did she know of crystals and the supernatural? Then again, what did she know about pets? She shrugged, took a deep breath and entered the store. At least in here she wouldn’t actually hurt anything. Break it maybe, but possibly causing injury or death…a pet lived and breathed. The things in here were inanimate.
As if she’d stepped into another world, a calm surreal atmosphere surrounded her. Fragrant incense tickled her nose. Lined on the shelf to the left of the door sat jars of different shapes and sizes. Some contained creams, while others held powders and liquids. Each was labeled with unrecognizable signs or symbols she guessed told of its contents. Bags of incense and wonderful carved incense holders were on the lower shelves.
In the middle of the store, several stands containing books filled the rows. As she walked through them, she noted they were about Wicca, Voodoo, casting spells or reviving love. Those were only the titles she noted at a glance. She felt certain some of the books with darker covers were about death and things she didn’t want to know.
No one greeted her so she continued to peruse the store. For such a small space, it was packed with the oddest things she’d ever seen. Strange-looking dolls labeled Wangas seemed to watch her as she meandered around the place. Hideous masks decorated the walls, along with mirrors and brightly colored silks.
Odd-shaped fake—at least she hoped they were fake—shrunken heads hung from the ceiling as well as more of the brightly colored silks, giving the place an unusual appeal. Along the far wall to the right sat a tall glass case filled with more of the animal-shaped statuaries. The sight of a golden bear raised on its hind legs was the most beautiful piece and seemed to stare straight at her. It drew her in for a closer look. So close, she bumped her forehead on the glass before she realized what she was doing.
“Dummy,” she whispered as she rubbed the tender spot.
Turning on her heels, Deveney faced the rear of the store. A counter along the back wall caught her attention. Gorgeous jewelry filled the glass-enclosed case. The lower shelf was filled with crystal balls in several different colors and sizes. The upper shelf held earrings, bracelets and necklaces, the likes of which she’d never seen. A large pendent in the center of the case lured her over. The silver, seven-pointed star made her gasp. It reminded her of the birthmark on the inside of her thigh.
“That’s the Mystic Star.”
At the sound of the woman’s voice, Deveney jumped. Eyes devoid of normal color stared back at her. The irises and pupils blended, giving the set of orbs a haunted murky-white appearance. One would have thought she was blind, but it seemed she had no difficulty with sight. The pale woman came around the counter. Deveney noted her white hair went down past her rear. She wore a flowing, white eyelet dress that ended at her boney ankles. A brightly colored scarf cinched her waist and golden slippers covered her feet, giving a splash of color to her otherwise ethereal appearance.
“How can I help you, dear?” the woman asked, holding her hand out to Deveney. A large ruby ring was on her finger and numerous silver bracelets circled her slender wrists.
Heat filled her cheeks when Deveney realized she stared. “I—” Deveney stammered, licked her lips, then tried again as she grasped the elder woman’s hand. “I came in to apply for the job.”
A faint yellow glow surrounded their hands and Deveney froze. Part of her wanted to pull her hand away, but she couldn’t. The glow brightened to a phenomenal shade of sun gold. Was it a trick performed by the old woman?
“Ah,” the woman exclaimed. “You are of magical descent.”
“What?” Deveney tugged her hand free and clasped it to her chest. There were no lingering effects of the yellow glow on her skin that she could see. No visible markings of a trick powder the other woman might have used to perpetrate the glowing effect that had coated her skin.
“Your soul contains the energy of a powerful magi.” The woman smiled, showing a perfect set of white teeth. “I feel a greatness within you. Tomorrow you begin your training. The job is yours. Be here at eight a.m. sharp.”
Without giving Deveney a chance to reply, the woman turned on her heels and walked around the counter toward a door Deveney hadn’t noticed earlier.
“But I didn’t fill out an application,” Deveney managed to blurt, before the woman reached the door.
“Deveney, you don’t need one.”
Every ounce of moisture left her mouth when the woman said her name. Deveney knew she hadn’t given the woman her name, so how did she know it?
“We magi know many things, my dear.”
When the old woman winked across her shoulder, Deveney spun around and headed toward the door. The words “Don’t be late” followed her out into the street. How had she done that? How had she read her mind? It had to be a trick.
She didn’t slow down until she turned the corner for home. Winded, she stopped on the front stoop and dropped onto the top step. That ranked as the strangest job interview she’d ever been on. Deep breaths slowed the pump of her heart and eased the racing of her blood.
Leaning against the front stair railing, she rubbed at the cramps in her calves. She hadn’t power-walked like that in ages. And because of what, a strange old lady with a unique magic trick? They hadn’t even discussed salary.
There was no way she’d return there tomorrow.
* * * * *
At eight a.m. sharp, Deveney stood outside
Supernatural Sensations
. Not sure why she came, not sure how she got there, but for some reason, she was there. Though the sign on the door read
Closed on Sunday
, Deveney turned the knob and the door opened.
“Good morning, Deveney.” The old woman stood in the doorway at the back of the store waving to her. “Come in the back. I have a cup of apple-cinnamon tea waiting for you.”
Damn, the woman was good. Deveney shrugged as she closed the front door, crossed the store to the back, and followed the woman through the other door.
What did she have to lose? At least it was a job.
Chapter Two
Two months later
Alone in the shop, Deveney sat perched on the stool behind the jewelry counter, practicing the concentration skills Maven, her boss, taught her. Happiness filled her heart at the thought of all Maven accomplished with her. She snorted at the memory of being a non-believer as she focused on the feather duster. Maven had opened her eyes and made Deveney believe in the powers within her.
The first day with Maven nearly sent her scurrying home to hide under the bed. Deveney chuckled, remembering that feeling of fear. Maven’s insights to events that happened in her life were the only reasons she didn’t run. That and the most phenomenal apple-cinnamon tea she’d ever tasted. Deveney leaned over the fresh cup of hot tea on the counter in front of her and inhaled the enticing aroma, letting her thoughts linger on those timid first days with Maven.
Somehow, Maven knew about the odd events of destruction that happened whenever she got mad. The magi even knew of her failed attempts at sex. Just thinking about that portion of the conversation still caused heat to pool in Deveney’s cheeks.
Those colorless eyes didn’t seem soulless or scary anymore. Instead, Deveney saw a world of knowledge and wisdom when she looked into them. Gratitude rippled through her at being Maven’s apprentice. A smile tugged at her lips when she thought of her mentor. Without the wise woman’s help, Deveney would still be lost, ruled by
magical mischief
as Maven labeled it.
She hated to admit it, but the power that flowed through her veins still disturbed her at times. As she sat relaxing, she practiced her levitation skills and dusted the masks on the walls. It amazed her to watch the feather duster do the work without her lifting a finger. Instead, she controlled it with magic. Cleaning was a breeze this way.
She kept an eye on the door while she worked. If a customer walked in and saw that, Maven would have her head. Whisking the last mask clean, she returned the feather duster to the countertop.
These past few weeks turned her life around. If she’d just listened to Ti in the first place, she could have been laid by now. That thought made her panties moist. Uncontrolled magic cost her every boyfriend she’d ever attempted to have sex with, but now she knew she was close to being ready to try the feat of losing her virginity again. A shiver shot down her spine, causing her to breathe in deep to counteract the sensation.
She wiggled in her seat, enjoying the thought of possibly feeling a man nestled inside her. She lifted the cup and blew across the rim before taking a sip. The warmth of the tea sliding down her throat made her nipples pebble and she shivered. Sex was on her mind. But with whom?
Maven hadn’t been entirely helpful when she asked about sex. Instead, the answer added to Deveney’s frustration and caused her brow to bunch. “A woman of magical powers must find her lifemate in order to experience sex,” Maven told her. Deveney wondered if she’d ever find this man. “Without one who matches your powers, a magi’s full magical potential shall never be achieved,” her mentor had gone on to say.
How was she going to find this lifemate? Deveney sighed heavily. Did some sort of sign mark them as mates? And if it was on his inner thigh, like hers, how was she supposed to see it?
Heat filled her cheeks at the memory of Maven asking to see her mark. God, she nearly died from embarrassment that day. If it hadn’t been for Ti blabbing about it, Maven would never have known. Thinking back, Deveney realized the magi probably already knew it existed, since she knew everything else about her before being told.
“You were sired by a strong magi,” Maven said as she traced the symbol that had been on the inside of her thigh for as long as Deveney remembered. “It’s the sign of the Mystic Star.”
No matter how hard she tried, Deveney remembered little of her parents. They died in a car crash when she was young. With no living relatives, she’d entered into the foster care system. Trying to see the bright side of that situation, she decided if she hadn’t, she wouldn’t have met Ti. They instantly bonded as forever friends and without her Deveney didn’t think she would have survived.
Now if she could just get her friend to stop with the
I told you so
, her life would be even better. She rolled her eyes and took another sip of tea. She knew why this acceptance of magic thrilled Ti, basically because it proved Ti was right.
A sharp bolt of lightning and a loud clap of thunder jarred her from her thoughts. The sudden downpour that followed meant the possibility of foot traffic today was nonexistent for the little corner shop.
Deveney slid off the stool and went into the storeroom to make another cup of tea. After preparing her tea, she returned out front. In the beginning, the store gave her the creeps. Now it didn’t bother her. The wild-looking masks on the wall reminded her of spirits with wicked painted faces. She gave names to each of the shrunken heads hanging from the ceiling, thus making them seem more personable to her.
Deveney meandered through the store, absently enjoying her tea. As usual, she stopped and stared at the Mystic Star necklace. It seemed to call to her. Warmth filled her insides at the memory of Maven’s promise to give it to her,
if
she learned to fully control her magic. At the rate she was going, Deveney felt certain she’d be wearing that prize soon.
She smiled into her cup as she continued her walk. She knew the symbol on every jar, when at first she didn’t. That made her proud. She’d accomplished something, even if it was a feat of memorization.
At the front window, Deveney scanned the empty street. There wasn’t a sign of Maven returning from her errands. The severity of the storm made her concerned for her mentor’s well-being. Lightning flashed. Thunder rumbled and rain flooded the pavement. It gave the shop an eerie feel. A streak of light brightened the room and the masks on the walls looked alive, if only for the moment. Deveney gasped, then chuckled to herself, trying to squash the unwarranted fright. She knew this shop inside and out. There wasn’t an item in it she didn’t know by name, dusted at one time or another or refilled its place on the shelf when it was purchased.
No, there was nothing in this shop that truly scared her. Except…
She turned to face the back of the store. There was that closet in the storeroom. On occasion, she thought she heard odd noises coming from inside, but she never had the courage to open it. Maybe that was where Maven kept a pet. Her eyes widened at the prospect of what type of pet Maven locked in a closet. Glancing at the multitude of carved animals, it could have been one of many wild, exotic creatures. But locked in a closet… No, there wasn’t anything alive in there. Maven didn’t have a cruel bone in her body and to lock something up like that… Well, that was cruel to the max.
Curiosity got the best of her when she returned to the storeroom for another cup of tea. Deveney jiggled the closet door’s knob. It wasn’t locked. She bit her lower lip. Should she open it or not? Maven had asked her not to go in there, but why?
Open it
, the little voice at the back of her mind urged.
If she really didn’t want you in there, she would have locked it.
* * * * *
Maven’s spine stiffened as a vision sprang to life in her head. The sight of Deveney, standing at the closet door and the sound of the doorknob jiggle were as clear as if she stood there next to her young apprentice.
Oh no! She isn’t ready for that!
The magi gathered her cloak tighter about her shoulders and increased her pace. Not a person strolled the street in this torrential downpour other than her. She could use her powers to teleport the few blocks to the store. But in this dimension, world and time, it drained her powers dangerously low.
She couldn’t risk it. She needed the magic’s power to help Deveney. As it was, the negative energies of this time were already straining Maven’s magical strength. How anyone survived in this world amazed the magi.
In the limited amount of time since her arrival, she sensed magic in many beings. Yet no one used their powers. Either they didn’t know they possessed them or were afraid of being labeled as freaks. Maven couldn’t decide which. She learned it wasn’t considered the proper thing to do in this world of cars, money and computers. Maven forced her tired legs to work faster. The desperate need to reach Deveney urged her through the pelting rain and deep puddles on the sidewalks.
Maven had to get to Deveney before she opened that door.
She just had to.
* * * * *
Hesitation made her linger on the knob. Should she or shouldn’t she? It would probably be best if she waited for Maven to return and just asked what was behind the door. Would Maven tell her?
Probably not. It was then the little devil inside her took control and she turned the knob, opening the door. Darkness greeted her and she could not see. She groped the inside wall beside the door for the light switch, flipped it up and took a step back.
This had to be the largest closet she’d ever seen. When she stepped inside, she saw only one thing resided in it. A large, floor-length mirror stood in the center of the room. She searched, but found no caged animal. Nothing was there but the mirror.
The mirror’s stand was made of what she thought to be solid oak. It stood on four thick, curved legs with ball- and claw-footed designs as its base. Animals were carved in the ornate arms that ran up the sides, holding the eight-foot oval glass in place. It was finished in a dark oak stain.
Deveney circled it, tracing the magnificent artwork with her fingertips. Why was something so beautiful kept hidden in a closet? It needed to be displayed for all to see. Captivated by its beauty, she ran her palm up the side.
The breath hitched in her throat. A large bear head sat centered in the wooden pattern at the top. Its eyes seemed to stare down at her. With a shaky hand, she stood on tiptoe, stretched and brushed her fingertips lightly across the carving. Instantly, the mirror glowed a marvelous shade of blue.
Deveney stumbled backward, lost her balance and landed on her rump. What happened? What had she done? Was this caused by her magic? Oh god, how mad was Maven going to be when she returned?
Before Deveney could stand, an image appeared in the reflection. Her heart skipped a beat and her mouth went dry. It was a bear. Not just any bear, it looked like the bear from the case out front.
It stood tall on its hind legs. Deep-blue eyes glared down at her. Perfect white teeth appeared as it snarled. Thick blond fur made her fingers itch to touch it and test its softness. She bet it matched that of the silks on display in the store.
Her legs trembled as she stood and took a step. Heat warmed her skin when she stepped into the blue glow illuminating from the mirror. Funny, she wasn’t scared. A glowing mirror should have sent her running in hysterics, but it didn’t. Instead, it lured her forward until she stood within touching distance.
The image of the bear seemed to be alive. It shifted its stance. The closer she got, she saw the rise and fall of its chest as it breathed. Was this the creature she thought she heard through the closet door? Had Maven somehow trapped it inside this pane of oval glass?
Curiosity got the best of her, making the temptation too great to resist. She had to know if what she saw was real or a trick. Taking a deep breath, Deveney struggled to still the quake in her gut. Her hand shook as she lifted it to touch the image.
Every ounce of her hungered to stroke its fur, feel its texture between her fingers. Before she made contact, the bear stretched and yawned. Deveney jerked her hand back and touched her fingers to her lips. Should she do this?
What could it hurt to touch a mirror? Certain it was a trick, Deveney reached to trace the outline of the bear. Bright-blue light filled the room. Heat encapsulated her and she thought she heard Maven scream “No!” as stars shot behind her eyes. Though she tried to turn, she couldn’t. The sensation of falling through fire and ice prickled her skin before all went dark and she lost consciousness.
* * * * *
One minute, Tor stood at the ancient Mirror of Azure. The next, he lay on the floor with a woman in his arms. The force at which this woman shot from the mirror knocked him on his butt. Never had such a thing happened to him before. No one ever bested the great Tobjorn Artur in battle, and yet this fragile female managed to topple him to the ground.
He struggled to sit up. She lay sprawled on her side as he gathered her carefully in his arms. How had this happened? Where did she come from? In all his years, he couldn’t remember anyone, much less a woman, being transported through the mirror. Such use was forbidden.
It had to be the work of the magi, Maven. He’d have her head for this.
The feminine creature in his arms stirred. Her scent filled his hypersensitive nose. The fragrance tainted each breath with the ripeness of the mating essence. Tor swallowed hard. This wasn’t good. Obviously, Maven ignored his command and searched for mating material outside their realm.
When she shifted in his lap, he hardened for the first time in years. Apparently his shaft wasn’t dead after all. Tor snorted. But why did it react to her? He knew nothing of her origins.
Thick strands of strawberry-blonde hair were twisted in the fingers of one of his hands. The other, he realized, rested on one of her breasts. Unable to stop, he cupped the mound in his palm. Nice fit, full and plump, perfect for a man to suckle and nip. When he circled the nipple with his thumb, a soft moan escaped from the tender morsel in his arms, making his cock twitch.