Belinda White [White - All Too Familiar

All Too Familiar

Accidental Familiar 1

By Belinda White

Copyright 2019 Belinda White

Kindle Edition

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Chapter 1

S TOP RIGHT THERE! I put every bit of power I could muster into that command. Not that it really helped.

The hulking pile of muscles masquerading as a man in front of me turned and looked at me. His eyes were wide and his mouth slightly open. An obvious look of disbelief if ever there was one.

Yeah, I get that a lot. Especially in my new line of work.

Im five feet six inchesif Im wearing two-inch heelsand not all that physically impressive. Most people, like the hulk here, would think that meant I was a lightweight. They were wrong, but thats what they would think.

Genius here was no exception to that rule of thumb.

You really think you are going to take me in? he snarled. Then he laughed. Im special forces, lady. The emphasis he put on that last word was more than a little creepy.

My head tilted as my eyes traveled over him. Actually, you are ex-special forces.

He grunted. No such thing. Once youre in, youre in for life. Then his look changed as he glanced around at our somewhat remote location and the distinct lack of people gained his attention. A slow smile started up on his face.

A smile that quickly turned into a leer. Time to nip that in the bud. Things werent going to progress the way he thought they were. He might very well end up on the ground with me on top of him, but I could guarantee him that wed still both have all our clothes on.

While he was still gathering himself for his lunge, I held up one hand toward him. He stopped, the incredulous look back.

You didnt give me a chance to answer your first question. You know the one about why I think I am going to take you in?

He grinned at me. So, answer already. We got all night, babe. That leer again. Maybe it would freeze there to show the people who still supported this jerk the kind of man he really was.

I held up one finger. Well, for one, youre drunk. In case you didnt know, being drunk can play a bit with your reflexes and your powers of observation,

He glanced around quickly. My sight is just fine, sweetie. He motioned to the emptiness of the alley we were currently in. Were all alone here. Not all that much to observe, is there?

The beast just wasnt taking the hint. As far as he was concerned, I wasnt a threat to his continued freedom. I liked it that way. Made my job a whole lot easier.

For two, I continued, holding up the second finger as if he hadnt interrupted. Im quite good at mixed martial arts. Ive even been known to do a few cage fights back in the day. And I keep up with it too.

He actually laughed. Ill go in a cage with ya, darling. In fact, my current place is a lot like a cage. We could go there. I like a girl with a bit of fight to her.

Then he was going to love me.

My third finger went up. Three, my last name happens to be Ravenswind. Perhaps youve heard of us?

Okay, that got his attention. For the first time, he actually looked like he had a bit of doubt. What can I say? My family is kind of famous.

What counted more than my last name, however, was the fact that his gaze went back to my upheld hand every time I held up another finger. Only for a second, but a second was all I needed.

As I held up that critical fourth finger and his eyes went to my left hand, my right hand pulled my taser. There really isnt much aiming involved with that type of weapon, and once I had it drawn, I pulled the trigger without hesitation. He never saw what hit him.

A second later, I stood over him looking down at his now twitching and drooling body. And four, I happen to have a taser.

I flipped him over facedownmuch easier said than doneand applied zip ties to his wrists and ankles. Special Forces or no, he wasnt going anywhere until the police arrived, and I did the handover.

My friend Opie hadnt been happy when Id accepted this job. After all, I had kind of announced that I was giving up the whole bounty hunter gig. But Boswell Bonds had made me an offer I couldnt refuse.

The payment for this job wasnt in cash. It was the one thing I needed most in the whole wide world. A car. Of course, I hadnt seen it yet, but that didnt worry me.

The towns mechanic had checked it out for me and had said it was in perfect running order, and only five years old. Practically new. I was trying not to think of the laughter in his voice as hed told me that, though. There was definitely something there I was missing. It was a Boswell deal after all. The man always came out ahead of the game.

When Opie showed up in his squad car, I stood back and watched as he and another deputy started trying to manhandle the bail jumper into the back of their vehicle. The beast fought them, even with all his limbs somewhat restrained. Couldnt have that. Opie might get hurt.

I held up one hand toward the perp and gave him a brilliant smile. Im running a bit late here, so Id very much appreciate it if you would cooperate with the deputies here. If not... I used that upright hand to point down to the taser I was still holding.

Drunk or not, the beast finally took the hint that his fugitive days were over. Once he was in the car, Opie signed the custody paperwork for me, and I was done.

Another fugitive successfully found and detained by Amethyst Ravenswind. Maybe Id given this up as a career too soon. I was getting pretty dang good at it.

***

I N THIS MIXED-UP WORLD , there are witches and then there are witches. The first variety are regular, ordinary humans that worship nature and use its many bounties to concoct potions, herbal remedies, and yes, even spells.

The problem is that most ordinary humans have even less magic flowing through their bodies than I do. And trust me, that isnt much.

Their potions and remedies may work, but they arent going to have that extra special oomph. That oomph requires magic. Real magic. The kind that is passed from generation to generation through ones bloodlines.

For what its worth, the magic in my family is extremely strong. Which makes me a huge disappointment to my aunt.

The exact opposite is true of my cousin Ruby. Shes a heck of a witch. Ive always thought that as we were both born on the same day, and at the same time, that somehow my magic had mistakenly been given to her.

Its the only way I can make sense of my lack of power. In the entire history of the Ravenswind family, I was an anomaly. A single almost magic-less witch in generations upon generations. I could understand Aunt Opals extreme disappointment in me. After all, why should such an atrocity have to happen in the generation that she happened to rule?