Charmed & Dangerous (8 page)

Thursday, 10
A.M
.

Dubai

Witches with boy-stealing friends: 1

S
imone called. She and Dr. Sam had dinner with Caleb and Kira. Everything sounded so cozy when she described their quaint night out at the Italian restaurant.

I have no right to be jealous. Just slept with the man; it’s not like he has given any indication of some kind of future. See, I never do this. I don’t have boyfriends for this reason. Men are for sex only. Men are for sex only. Men are for sex only. My new mantra.

“I’m telling you that Dr. Sam is a cutie. I can see why you like him so much,” Simone went on and on. “Never been so well taken care of in my life. And he’s got a great bedside manner.”

Now what in the hell did she mean by that? “So, I guess you’re feeling better.”

“Yeah, baby. Not quite one hundred percent but I’m getting there. Oh, good gossip for you. Looks to me like Kira and Caleb are on the way to the heavy duty. They couldn’t keep their hands off of one another. I got hot just watching them.” Simone has such a way with words.

“Oh wow, you’ve got another call, hold on.” She clicked off and then came back on the line. “Hey, Bron, that’s Sam. He says to tell you hi. Gotta go. He’s picking me up and we’re gonna head down to some rodeo. Can you imagine it? Me at a rodeo? Ride ’em cowboy!”

We hung up and I sat on the bed. Tried to call Kira to get her opinion of the situation but she wasn’t at the library or at home. Probably making out with Caleb in a car somewhere.

Won’t be long before Sam and Simone are headed that way. Great. Now I have images of Simone with her legs wrapped around Sam. Argh! That’s it. No more men. Well, except for sex. Mind-blowing, house-shaking, bone-melting sex. Like I had with Sam that night when we did it on the stairs and the…No. Not going there.

Time to get to work on those charms. Better see if the packages have arrived. Now there’s someone you can count on. FedEx.

4
P.M
.

May not have started out great but it’s been one hell of a productive day. Kazamar and Shera turned themselves into a two-woman assembly line. Makes me laugh to think these two wealthy and powerful women sat on the floor making bell charms, but that’s just the kind of people they are.

They were intensely interested in the process of what it took to make the charms and why each piece was so important. Touching each ingredient as if it were precious gold, their wide brown eyes hung on every word.

“Centuries ago they used tassels and fringes dipped in lavender oil to protect homes. They thought the swaying of the ornaments would confuse the evil spirits,” I explained to them as we set out each of the pieces for the charms. “I still use lavender but have found the adding of a bell more effective in warning against trouble.”

The mother and daughter turned to each other and raised eyebrows.

“They’ve been used through the centuries in different kind of spells and warriors tied bells to their horses’ blankets.”

“Yes, this something we know from my husband’s tribe. They too sew the bells to the blanket. How does it work in the shelters?” Kazamar rang one of the bells again.

“The ring not only alerts those inside to danger, but activates a general spell I have surrounding each of the shelters, to keep the evil from entering the building. Think of it as an early warning for trouble ahead.”

“How can you have such power?” Kazamar sat on the floor in front of the ribbons used to tie the tiny purple flowers to the bell. “I don’t understand how you can protect so much all of the time, without draining yourself.”

Shera nodded in agreement with her mother.

“It sounds complicated, but isn’t. Most of what I use is earth magic, something that already exists. I sort of call it into action. That’s why I use so many flowers, plants, and herbs in my potions.”

“I noticed you spent at least an hour in the garden last night.” Shera positioned herself on a cushion next to her mother. “Do you need to be near the plants?”

The workroom had a perfectly good table with chairs, but they preferred to sit on the floor to work.

“Being in nature does help rejuvenate me and I feel like I’m more a part of the earth when I’m near it. If you ever come to Texas I’ll show you my conservatory. It’s filled to the brim with plants and herbs from all over the world.”

I moved everything from the counter to the floor.

“Anyway, when I use earth magic it actually makes me stronger and the energy grows. I know it sounds a little strange and out there, but it works for me. On the other hand when I have to do blood magic, or in extreme cases dark magic, it drains me fast. Sometimes it takes a few days or weeks to renew my strength.”

“The dark and blood magic sound so scary. Aren’t you afraid?” Shera looked up at me, curious to know more. “Do you use it often?”

“No, I don’t use either very much. When I’m doing big jobs such as this, I like to keep it simple. The lavender and mulberry wrapped with a ribbon tied to a bell is all it takes. Then I invoke a protection spell from my Book of Shadows and we’re done.

“Speaking of which, you don’t have to help me. I appreciate it, but I feel terrible taking you away from your own work.”

Kazamar frowned. “I can think of no better duty than protecting those women. We are happy to be of service and are grateful for your help. This foundation means everything to me.”

Remembering the story about Azir’s aunt, I realized making these charms had become symbolic for this mother and daughter. I showed them how to make two of the charms and they toiled away. For the first half hour we worked in a comfortable silence but it wasn’t long before the conversation flowed.

They asked about my home in Sweet and the other witches that I knew. I questioned them about their family and got the inside scoop on the sheik when he was younger. It came as no surprise to learn that he’d given his mother more than one headache.

“He’s never been one to follow what others were doing,” Kazamar told me while she tied the lavender to the bells. “In preparatory school his friends all wanted to study math and science. As did he, but he also took classes in creative writing, sociology, and psychology. Every holiday he’d come home and analyze a different family member. He’s fascinated by human behavior and why we do the things we do.”

“Sounds to me like he should have been a psychologist rather than a businessman.” I rose to get more ribbon for Shera.

“He could have been,” she told me. “He has a doctorate in psychology and an MBA. He says the two go together when it comes to his job.”

Sometimes I hate that the more I learn about the man the more fascinating he becomes. Lost in my own world, Shera caught me off guard with her question. “So, do you have a boyfriend in Texas?”

Had to think about that one.

“Shera, that’s too personal. You know better.” Kazamar shook her finger as if scolding an errant child.

We worked for a few minutes in silence and Kazamar paused. “So do you?”

I laughed so hard I slid off my red cushion. “Truthfully? I’m interested in someone, but it’s too soon to know where that’s going. And I think he may be interested in a friend of mine.”

“Oh, that is most unfortunate. I’m sorry we brought it up.” Kazamar touched my arm in a way of apologizing.

“To have such simple minds, men can be so complicated.” Shera shifted on her pillow. “Before I decided to go to graduate school I thought I might marry a friend of Kahab’s.”

“Kahab?”

“Do you not know? That is my brother’s first name. The family goes back and forth but he prefers Azir,” Shera explained.

I tucked that bit of info away. “So what happened?”

“My fiancé didn’t want me to work or continue with my schooling, which is very important to me. He’s somewhat progressive like my brother, but his family is traditional and he bowed to their pressure.

“My family encouraged me to go with my heart and I decided I could not marry a man who would not let me pursue my dreams. It hurt because I loved him with my soul. On sad nights I still do.” She pushed her hair back and gathered the black thickness in a band to make a ponytail.

I moved to find more ribbon and returned with another stack. “I saw several women working at Duban. Isn’t it acceptable for a woman to have a family and work here?”

“More the exception than the rule, especially in families with any kind of power or wealth.” Shera took a deep breath as if trying to rid herself of the sadness. “You know as well as I that there are millions of women around the world who have families and successful careers, but it isn’t a suitable lifestyle for his family. It still hurts because I thought he loved me.”

“He did love you, dear, but he’s a man and he can’t help being an idiot,” Kazamar stated simply.

In many ways Kazamar reminds me of my own mother. She speaks her mind, protects her children, and runs her home and the women’s foundation with the efficiency of a top CEO. Yes, Mom and Kazamar would get along very well.

“So, Shera, what do you study in school and what grad school do you plan to attend?”

“I did my undergraduate studies in physics at MIT, but I’m thinking of studying aerospace engineering at Caltech this summer. I took some time off to help my mother and Kahab with the foundation.”

“And to mend your broken heart,” added her mother.

“Yes, I suppose I needed time. Perhaps someday I’ll find a man who is open-minded and can accept me as I am.”

“As far as I’m concerned, unless you have some kind of extreme need to have children, men aren’t worth the trouble,” I said, trying to lighten Shera’s mood.

Kazamar laughed and the sadness lifted from her daughter’s eyes. “Bronwyn, you are both beautiful and brilliant, much like my daughter. And your assessment of men is as accurate as any I’ve ever heard. Now that we are finished with the charms what happens?” She stood and stretched her back.

“I need to gather them all into the center of the room and place candles around the charms.” They helped me move the pile and make a circle of light with the red and black candles.

I shook their hands, expecting them to go now that the work had been completed. “Thank you so much for your help. I’m ready to do the spell now.” I motioned them toward the door.

“We will stay,” Kazamar stated firmly.

Well, okay. I raised my arms in preparation for the spell and noticed Azir in the doorway. His mother turned to face him. “Well, don’t just stand there, come in and watch the magic. She’s beginning the spell. Your witch is a talented young woman.”

“Bronwyn isn’t
my witch
, Mother, she is very much her own woman. But I grant you that she is talented.” And he winked at me. If I didn’t know better, I’d say the sheik tried to flirt with me. He came in to stand between his sister and mother and watch the show.

I don’t normally have such an audience for this kind of thing and couldn’t for the life of me figure out why I felt so nervous. Breathing slowly, I calmed my emotions so the energy within could build.

In a few seconds I could feel a white light spilling out around me. Waving my hands across the charms, I recited:

Door to door

Window to window

With this flame I protect all within;

Evil shall not pass these borders.

As I will, so mote it be.

A burst of energy flew from my fingertips and circled around the room, then landed on the charms. For a moment they glowed.

I looked up to see Azir’s family wide-eyed and openmouthed. Good magic does that to people.

“It didn’t rhyme,” Shera whispered.

I smiled. “Doesn’t have to, just need to get my point across.”

“That was incredible. One of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen, and I’ve lived a very long time.” Kazamar shook her head. “Our Bedouins do magic, but they keep it very secret. I’m most impressed, young woman. How do the charms get to the shelters?”

Azir stepped in. “We’re sending them overnight and in less than twenty-four hours each one will be fully protected by her power.”

“I don’t understand how it works,” Shera said, “but I know that it will.” She turned to her brother. “Did you see the fire from her fingertips and the white light that flew across the room? It wasn’t tricks, it was real magic.”

Azir laughed and hugged her. “Yes, little one. She is a very real witch. And we will celebrate her many talents at dinner. Now help her pack these up for shipping and I’ll meet you all for dinner in the main dining room.”

Argh. Main dining room meant dressy clothes. I’d figured that much out. Unfortunately, I’d only brought enough clothes for the weekend, and had only one pair of nice dress slacks. Shera and I were about the same size, though she was about three inches taller. Maybe I could borrow something from her.

When I returned to my room I discovered no need for worry. Boxes from Barney’s department store were piled on my bed. Two dresses, three pairs of jeans, several tops, nice slacks, a pair of high-heeled Jimmy Choos and some flats, and undergarments.

I prayed that it was Kazamar, Shera, or one of the staff who had picked out the clothes. How embarrassing would it be to have the sheik choosing my Wonder Bras?

Then I read the note:

Great. I picked up the bra to check the size. Perfect fit. I didn’t know whether to be flattered or infuriated that he’d guessed my size and that I wear Wonder Bras. In fact, everything fit. Some of the bright reds and pink aren’t what I would have picked—I’m kind of partial to black—but they looked good.

As much as I appreciated his generosity, I decided it was time to set some boundaries where the sheik was concerned. A jet was one thing, but silk panties with lacy insets were quite another.