Wild Enchantment: Eden's Dragon-Book 2: Magic, New Mexico, #2

By Evelyn Lederman

Celine is cursed. First, every man she's ever loved died. Secondly, she lives but a day a year, spending countless days trapped within a ceramic dragon figurine. Has she finally met the man who can change her luck?

 

Alachua Dixon is on the run from his powerful family. Once he meets Celine, Alachua exposes himself to discovery. He will risk everything to possess the woman of his dreams.

 

When two forces collide in Magic, New Mexico, anything is possible.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Evelyn Lederman
• Release date: Feb 9, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393975793

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Freedom! Celine filled her lungs with the stale air in the living room where she’d materialized. For one precious day each year, she escaped her imprisonment. She dragged a thin-material throw blanket off a nearby chair, wrapping it around her naked body. Soon she’d release her dragon and take to the sky.

Something cold and wet touched her foot. When she looked down, a cat had situated himself across one foot and licked the other. This was the orange tabby the male owner of the house had issues with. She couldn’t understand his contempt for the animal. He was adorable.

Well, hello there, Celine said as she picked up the tabby. Should we go into the kitchen and get you a treat?

Celine should have left the house and commenced her yearly ritual since she had only a precious twenty-four hours before she transformed back into a ceramic dragon figurine.

She searched the kitchen for a cat treat. There wasn’t a package with a photo of a satisfied cat plastered to the front visible in the ambient light created by multiple appliances. Before she had a chance to begin opening cabinets, the little feline had already jumped onto the counter and shoved a plastic canister with his paw. What a smart little guy!

After pouring a small amount into her palm, she presented the cat with his treats. He licked her hand between consuming pieces of kibble resembling fish. This was the most she’d interacted with anyone or anything for centuries. She ran her free hand down his long back. His orange fur felt soft to the touch, not coarse.

You’re a good kitty, she said. If you only knew the terrible things Chase thinks about you.

Like what? a female voice from behind her asked.

Celine let out of muted scream and the remaining kibble in her hand went flying, landing across the kitchen floor. The cat jumped off the counter and went after his reward.

She turned in the direction of the voice, her vision focused on shimmering blue eyes. It had been stupid of her to stick around for the cat. Each evening shortly after midnight, the female alien Harmony headed for the kitchen to warm a bottle of formula for her infant son. The female homeowner possessed a variety of thoughts that Celine picked up on a reoccurring basis related to rising so early to care for the baby.

It’s unusual for thieves to interact with a cat before robbing the place, Harmony commented.

While encased in her ceramic prison, Celine could hear the thoughts of those around her. She knew her temporary home was occupied by Harmony, her werewolf husband, the alien’s father, and a baby. It hadn’t been her plan to stick around and meet her hosts.

I’m not exactly a thief, Celine pointed out. The treats were meant for your cat.

The subject of their conversation rubbed against her ankles, wanting to be picked up. She needed to concentrate on the alien, not the affection-starved cat.

So what are you doing in my kitchen and how do you know Chase’s feelings about the cat?

She bit the inside of her lower lip. This time she’d materialized in a house full of non-humans. In all likelihood, they’d believe her story about the enchantment.

Celine took a deep breath, preparing to tell her story. I’m the ceramic dragon you had in the living room. Once a year, I become flesh and blood. But only for a single day. Sometimes I can hear the thoughts of others. I know Chase is locked in the basement because of tonight’s full moon and that he doesn’t like your cat. Although I can’t decipher the cat’s thoughts, I figure the feeling is mutual.

Harmony chuckled and then turned on the light. She appeared as Celine had envisioned her. The female alien was a couple inches taller than she was and had an athlete’s body. She’d been some type of alien law enforcer, so she was in great shape despite having given birth several months ago. If a struggle occurred between the two of them, Harmony would win hands down.

Why am I not surprised a figurine I purchased in this crazy little town would be enchanted? Harmony mumbled to herself. Welcome to Magic, New Mexico. Why do you become human again for such a short duration?

Celine shrugged. She didn’t understand what had occurred so long ago and there was no one to ask. Her mother practiced magic and she knew her male relatives wanted female members of their bloodline dead. Beyond that, she could only conjecture.

We may be able to get answers at the sheriff’s office when it opens, Harmony suggested.

A shudder ran through her. In all likelihood, I was enchanted to save my life. The Brethren have sworn to destroy the daughters of Eden’s dragon.

Her hostess frowned. Eden’s dragon? I’m not familiar with who or what you’re referring to.

It had been so long since she’d shared the story. Since the enchantment, her life had become dreadfully solitary. Maybe that was why she had lingered in the house and felt comforted by the cat. She longed for interactions with others, even the household pet.

Since you aren’t from this planet, I’m not sure if you know the legend of Adam and Eve. She waited for Harmony to indicate she wasn’t familiar with the story. They were the first humans and lived in a paradise, the Garden of Eden. God allowed them to eat freely from all the trees, save one. A serpent had tempted Eve to eat the apple and she shared it with Adam. In actuality, the serpent was a dragon and she had been the one who convinced Adam to bite into the forbidden fruit.

What happened? Harmony asked.

The dragon had bet God she could tempt Adam to eat the apple. God expelled Adam and Eve from paradise but fulfilled his obligation to the dragon by making her immortal. My ancestor boasted about her conquest and God turned her into a human as a punishment.

Harmony opened the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of formula and prepared to place it in a hot water bath. She hadn’t commented on her story but didn’t appear to discount what she shared. Why wouldn’t she believe her when her werewolf husband exiled himself in the basement because of the full moon?

It’s a nice story, but it doesn’t explain why you were enchanted or believe yourself to still be in danger.

The former dragon, now a human, had been given the ability to shift between forms and also possessed other magical abilities. She traveled alone for centuries until she fell in love with a human male. In order to be with this man and provide him offspring, she gave up her immortality. Her female offspring possessed the ability to call forward their dragons. According to legend, both genders inherited the ability to manipulate matter through elemental magic. Our brothers feared our dragons and swore to destroy us. I can only surmise my mother cast the spell to save my life.

Harmony leaned against the counter as the bottle’s contents continued to warm and stared at her. Celine imagined her hostess debated whether she spun a great yarn or told the truth. Based on what she’d heard from people’s thoughts, anything was possible in this little town.

So, what does Chase think about Cat? Celine thought it odd Harmony changed topics rather than continuing to discuss her presence in her kitchen or the magic involved in the enchantment that enslaved her.

Being a werewolf, he doesn’t like a cat living in his household, she shared. "Not a big surprise there. I have been amused by all the derogatory names he’s referred to the cat in his mind. Come to think about it, why haven’t you given the cat a proper name? Are you thinking of getting rid