Chapter 1

The air was arid as I walked across the dry desert area miles from my home. I was on a quest to stop the bitch who was the absolute curse of my life. The dry wind blew out of the south, a hot tongue of dryness that tried to suck any moisture from anything it touched. I had miles to go just to reach the border of her forest, and then I had to struggle even more miles through the thick tangle of underbrush. It was going to be tough, considering I couldn’t really run now, not after what she’d done to me, plus the fact I couldn’t really let anyone see me.

Me? I’m Tyrome Greenstick, retired cop and modern mage extraordinaire. Well, I was till a few days ago. It all started when I met the true bane of my life. Hell, I thought my ex-wife was bad, huh? This bi ... woman mage, though, damn good-looking and a sweet time in bed, was as alive as a cold, dead fish. To see her in and out of bed, you’d have sworn we were 2 different women. Anyway, a week ago, I met her at a bar. You know, knock a few back, watch a game on the tube. I, like every other guy at the bar, had to pick his jaw off the floor when in the front door walked this vision. Slender hips, deep blue eyes, the kind you don’t mind getting lost in, legs that started at her feet and seemed to go on forever.

Her hair was like a fine silk that shimmers in the sun, and her blood-red lips had every man in the place hurting for even a taste. About now, I was thinking, why was a good-looking woman like this, downtown in some seedy bar? Then, the biggest shock of all was when she stopped in front of me and spoke, “Excuse me, sir, is this seat taken?” Hell, who was I to say no? Right now, I feel like the luckiest bastard in the place.

“Sure,” I said, “here let me dust it for you,” pulling out a hardly used handkerchief, I cleaned the stool for her.

“You’re very kind,” she said. Then she pulled something from her purse, and I immediately recognized it as a spell charm. “There, I think that ought to give us enough time to speak.” Looking around at everyone frozen, I knew we had ‘bout half an hour. “I am sorry I had to resort to this, Mage Tyrome, but you were exceedingly difficult to locate,” she said, smirking at me. “I have an address, and you could’ve mailed me something faster than working up a freeze spell charm unless you need the practice?” I hinted to her.

“You might say that I’ve heard around that you, you have a certain set of skills that are required for an uh ... hum ... rescue mission,” she said demurely, looking out through her long painted lashes.

“Mission? I’ve heard no word of rescue missions from the council,” I replied, a little taken aback.

“That’s because the council is holding my sister captive. Do you remember that ice caper last month? She was taken prisoner by some low-level mage.” She spit out.”

I wasn’t about to break her bubble since I was the mage to capture her. It had been my last case. I had finally grown tired of the dangerous and life-threatening jobs I had to do. Looking at her, though, I didn’t figure her as just another pretty face getting by on her looks and powers. No, this one was up to something, and I had the feeling between my shoulder blades that this wasn’t going to end well at all.

“Alright,” I spoke up, “what do you need me for? I heard they had a solid case against her, but there is not much I can do.” “Ah, but there is, strong as my magic is, I’ve heard that you are one of the strongest around,” she said giving me a sorrowful look. Yup, she definitely had something up her sleeve.

I looked at her real close. She was good, but I already knew that her sister was guilty. I had gotten all the evidence against her, as far as I knew, though no one else did.

“Tell you what, let me think on it,” I told her, “let you know tomorrow.”

“I am afraid, Mage Tyrome, I need an answer tonight. We move tomorrow, Meet me here, and we can discuss everything and get a reward,” she said, running her hand up the length of my hardening cock. “I’m sure I can think of something for us to do when we’re done if you’re up for it.” Damn, I always was a sucker for a tight ass like hers, plus the hypnotic sway of her hips as she moved off. Shaking myself, I was a little worried about what would happen when the charm wore off. A moment later, everything was normal.

Everyone acted as if nothing happened.

Getting up, I headed to the back to make a call. Knowing that the woman would have me watched, this would be the only real chance I got. Exiting the bar, I headed back to my little apartment. The second I hit the street, I felt the cold, dead eyes of the watchers she had tailing me. I thought I had her pegged right, and I knew her type. All smiles ‘til they felt you had betrayed them, then they dealt the most hideous and painful death they could. Yeah, there wasn’t too much in this world as bad as a pissed-off bitch. Sighing, I decided I’d better get changed, though every one of my senses was tingling with danger, more than I cared to admit. Rounding a corner, I felt a second set of eyes on me. My guys, good, they’d gotten the message.

Changing clothes, I decided that though she wanted this done tomorrow night, I might be safe from her doing anything tonight. Hmm, maybe I’d get lucky after all. Then, after an afterthought, I started working on my enchantments anyway. Last time I took a situation for granted, a damn troll almost crushed my head, and that was a hundred years ago. Recently the work had started to bore the shit out of me, making me less attentive to everything around me, a sure way to get killed or locked away in some hellish prison. Moving past the window, I could still feel eyes in the street following my shadow with every move. Looking at the time, I decided I had a few hours for a nap, that is if the dreams would leave me alone. Setting every ward and alarm I could think of, I lay on the bed. Rest would definitely give me an edge.