Crystal Enchantment: Magic, New Mexico, #54

By Evelyn Lederman

Eden's Dragon, not a serpent, tempted Adam into biting into the apple. The male offspring of the original female dragon shifter, the Brethren, vowed to rid the world of their seductress sisters. Fearing for the lives of her daughters, a mother casts an enchantment to transform her offspring into dragon figurines. One day each year, the daughters materialize. If in the twenty-four-hour period they find their true mates, the enchantment will end. For only with their powerful mates by their side will the female descendants of Eden's dragon defeat the Brethren.

 

At midnight on Halloween in Magic, New Mexico, a crystal dragon once again takes her human form. A lion shifter from a parallel dimension claims her as his own. If they are true mates, the enchantment will end and together they will face the danger that has plagued the women for centuries.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Evelyn Lederman
• Release date: Oct 27, 2020
• ISBN: 9781386522829

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

The mayhem of Halloween in Magic, New Mexico, had transitioned from the youthful, costume-wearing trick-or-treaters to adults losing their inhibitions for one night each year. Little did the tourists know the vampires, witches, and other supernatural creatures they partied with were the real deal.

Randall Flando had come from a parallel dimension of shifters and still reveled in Magic’s varied population. He found his new world refreshing with the tolerance and welcoming attitudes of its citizens. The closed-minded ways of his former home’s elders caused many of the younger feline shifters to follow the jaguar alpha Danyal to this realm.

Why don’t you go out and join the others, Randy? He cringed at the nickname his alpha’s mate Pati always used when she addressed him. That outfit Lara is wearing might as well be an invitation into her bed.

Lara LaRue did not bother to hide her desire to have him. She did not possess a subtle bone in her perfect body. The more Lara came on to him, the more undesirable she became in his eyes.

He looked into Pati Zabare’s green irises—jaguar eyes. It is not my scene. I figured tonight presented the perfect opportunity to deliver the new cabinet to the shop. The glass doors can be locked to prevent anyone’s sticky fingers from taking any of your more expensive items for sale.

Instead of continuing to converse with the short blonde, he returned his attention to setting up his latest project. He hoped she would get the message and join her mate at whatever party they would attend. His concentration focused on setting up the hinges for the glass panel just right, allowing it to close perfectly and be locked.

The occasional tourist who attempted to shoplift would be quickly discovered by the supernatural shop workers. With a store full of jaguar shifters, the slightest change in a customer’s rate of breathing or scent would quickly be detected.

I have just the item. Pati reached into an open box, pulled out a crystal figurine and placed it on the counter. Isn’t she beautiful?

He focused on the six-inch crystal dragon. Describing it as beautiful did not do the piece of art justice. The little light illuminating the room shimmered off the dragon’s wings. A master must have sculpted the piece because it looked poised to take flight any minute.

He took the object and held it in his large hands. She is warm. I would have thought the crystal would be chilled by your tendency to lower the air-conditioning below anyone’s comfort level.

Pati shrugged, discounting his usual complaint. With all the overheated male jaguar shifters who work here, I had to do something to protect our female customers.

His alpha’s mate always tried to get a rise out of him. Tonight, the focus of his concentration had been on his latest work and now on the figurine. Pati would have to find another way to amuse herself.

Randall ran his finger down the dragon’s scales. How had the artist managed to sculpt the gradation of the wings? He could feel the texture of each individual scale.

How much are you selling her for? he asked. Until this point, he had not used his employee discount for anything frivolous.

Nothing in this world or the one he had left had ever excited him as this little figurine did. Carpentry was his one passion, but he gave away or sold all his works. His apartment stood bare, free of anything that defined him.

For whatever reason, the figurine spoke to him. He felt an overwhelming need to possess the object.

Pati’s probing eyes examined him. It felt as if she searched for secrets he kept protected within his soul.

She’s yours, Pati said. It’s nice to see you passionate about something. If you went out more, you’d make friends. Maybe you should give Lara a chance.

Pati tried to fix something that was not broken. He lived his life the way he wanted, not by someone else’s design. If and when he found the right woman, he would know. His life would change forever once he joined with his mate.

Forcing relationships to fit particular parameters would be senseless. It would never morph into true happiness. Goodness knows, his father’s efforts never satisfied his mother. They had not been true mates.

Thank you, Patience. He always used his alpha mate’s full name when addressing her. Since no one else called him Randy, he felt it only appropriate he use the more formal name no other pride member used. In his mind, she was Pati, his little sister. You should join Danyal. I will finish installing the second glass door and then call it a night.

Randall sighed with relief after she left. He wanted the piece to be perfect. Pati put so much energy into determining what to purchase for future sales. His use of beveled glass would magnify the objects within to perfection.

He wanted to please Danyal and Pati. They had taken him in and gave him the freedom to follow his love of carpentry. He maintained a position on the outskirts of the pride. His physical strength negated him playing the role of an omega. Danyal pushed him to take a leadership role, grooming him to one day replace him. But it did not feel right. He never considered himself a future alpha. He was the only lion in a pride of jaguars.

As usual, he became obsessed with his work. He transitioned into a zone where nothing else existed but the materials, his tools, and his hands. It could be hours before anything breached his consciousness. During these times, he experienced contentment.

A change in the density of the air disturbed his concentration. Only a supernatural being would have noticed the difference.

He turned to see a naked woman standing to his left. Her copper tresses covered her breasts, but he knew they were plump and substantial. He licked his lips, eager to taste them.

His gaze traveled upward. Her lips were full, awaiting his kiss. Lion shifters had fair complexions. This woman possessed a light olive skin tone. To his surprise, her eyes were amber, similar to his own.

Stop gaping and get me something to wear, she commanded.

Whatever spell he had been under dissolved with her terse delivery. At that moment, she reminded him of his mother. The would-be-female alpha had never been satisfied with her station in life, let alone her husband or their children.

Randall did not know a lot, but he knew this woman meant trouble. All sorts of trouble. While his mind wrestled with the impact she already had on him, his body warmed at her proximity.

Sheba’s arms folded across her chest as she maneuvered to hide her feminine mound from his gaze. She hadn’t missed how his tongue slid across his lips as his eyes fixated on her breasts. In the past, no one had been present when she had transformed into her human form.

His inactivity grated on her nerves. It appeared she’d have to find something herself to cover her nudity. Fortunately, she’d materialized in some type of multi-purpose store. She found a sundress that seemed large enough to cover her particularly large chest. A frown crept across her face when she realized no undergarments were in sight.

After thinking about her own measurements, her eyes fell on his broad shoulders. From the way his shirt hugged his body, she envisioned the corded muscles covering his abdomen. No wonder a woman named Lara wanted this man.

Where the hell is it? he growled.

What? she asked out of curiosity.

My dragon, he roared.

She counted to ten, not wanting anger to answer anger. First of all, although you’re a lion shifter, you don’t have to shout at me. Secondly, I’m right here.

Sheba remembered the sensations coursing through the crystal as he held her in his hand. Thousands had touched her over the centuries, but never had she been impacted by anyone’s touch until tonight. Her heart raced. Maybe he was the one.

What are you talking about? Even the low timbre of his voice generated shivers in all the right places.

I’m the enchanted figurine, she admitted. There seemed to be no reason to hide what she was from this man. Maybe there existed a reason why she had come back to life in his presence. Each full moon after the autumn solstice, I transform into my human form from midnight to midnight.

He looked at his watch. The words he mumbled were incoherent.

To her surprise, the male pulled out his phone. His penetrating stare kept her stationary. She grabbed a nearby fixture as her knees suddenly weakened.

Sorry to disturb you, Danyal. She’d heard enough over the last five days since her arrival to know who Danyal was. I caught a shoplifter.

She laughed at the absurdity of his claim. A second ago, I was naked. Where would I have hidden a figurine? By all means, call in the cavalry.

The male snarled at her. Not only was the man with the golden mane attractive, but he was also proving to be entertaining as well. Maybe his next call would be to the sheriff. She wanted to meet him since she’d overheard one of