Charmed and Dangerous, page 1
Charmed & Dangerous
A Super Short Superhero Romance
Book 5 of The Gemini Conflict
By
Jamie K. Schmidt
Also by Jamie K. Schmidt
Billionaires Behaving Badly
Hard Cover
Christmas Cowboys
The Candy Cane Cowboy
The Gingerbread Cowboy
Hawaii Heat
Life's A Beach
Beach Happens
Beach My Life
Beauty and the Beach
Kennedy Family Christmas
A Second Chance Christmas
A Casual and Chaotic Christmas Collection
Kinky Classics
Domme Quixote
Love Bites
Swipe for Androids
Sons of Babylon
Sentinel's Kiss
Ryder's Reckoning
Necessary Evil: Sons of Babylon MC Romance Book1 (S.O.B.)
Super Short Super Hero Instalove Romantasy
Sucker Punch
Peek-A-Boo
Fast Track
Charmed And Dangerous
Element of Surprise
Fly By Night
The Truth & Lies Series
Truth Kills
Truth Reveals
Wishing for Love
A Mistletoe Wish
Standalone
Flash Magic
Naked Truth
Shifter's Price
Maiden Voyage
The Graveyard Shift
Extra Whip
Warden's Woman
A Casual Christmas
A Chaotic Christmas
A Not So Casual Christmas
Losing It
Watch for more at Jamie K. Schmidt’s site.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Also By Jamie K. Schmidt
Charmed And Dangerous (Super Short Super Hero Instalove Romantasy, #5)
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Epilogue
Click for More Steamy Romances by Jamie K. Schmidt
FREE BOOK
Sign up for Jamie K. Schmidt's Mailing List
Further Reading: Element of Surprise
About the Author
Charmed and Dangerous is a work of fiction. Names, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
Copyright @2023 by Jamie K. Schmidt.
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, distribute, or transmit in any form or by any means. By payment of required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this book. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented without the express written permission of copyright owner.
Please Note: The reverse engineering, uploading, and/or distributing of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the copyright owner is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author's rights is appreciated.
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher, except where permitted by law.
Prologue
Ten years ago, the Aethor Institute created super soldiers for shadow governments and private armies. When it had exhausted their pool of volunteers for their experiments, they lured people in with promises of rapid weight loss and other too-good-to-be-true schemes. The serum, which was designed to ruthlessly kill substandard cells and mutate the existing cells into something stronger, killed more people than it transformed.
The serum had three different variants: Castor, Mercury, and Pollux. Castors retained their humanity as their bodies gained superpowers, while Mercury strain variants lost their humanity and behaved erratically. Pollux variants were a combination of the two, heavily leaning toward aggression but not crossing the line into the warlike rage of the Mercury strain.
Those who were willing to use their newfound abilities as mercenaries or bodyguards were paid well for their services and silence. The ones who wanted to live a normal life with their freakish mutations were locked up inside the Aethor Institute and continued to be experimented on. A few lucky escaped. Some of the escapees went rogue. Others stayed hidden. And a select few banded together to form the Gemini Initiative, otherwise known as G.I.
At first, the Gemini Initiative existed to rescue prisoners inside the Aethor Institute. They never expected the Mercury strain variants to launch a military-style coup against the evil scientists. The Mercuries destroyed the labs before going on a bloodthirsty hunt, killing every last one of the Aethor scientists. But not without a cost. When the two powers collided, they caused a lot of collateral damage to innocents before killing each other off. The normal humans, “norms,” have hated and feared “supes” ever since.
After the fall of the Aethor Institute, the Gemini Initiative existed to keep the peace—not just between norms and supes, but between the Castor and Pollux variants. The Castor strain variants went undercover to avoid extermination and assimilated themselves into their neighborhoods. The Pollux strain variants decided they were not going to live peacefully with a population that wanted them dead, so they spent the last decade amassing power to take over the world. They formed the Pollux Legion.
Recently, three events have rocked the supernatural community. With the ever-increasing hostilities against supes, it wasn’t a good time to reveal that not all the Mercury variants had been wiped out. Some had been busy with the Gemini Initiative's goals or followed their own agendas and survived.
Then there was a recent uptick in strange occurrences in New Athens City. A new organization called Protogenus sent out giant robots to destroy buildings and wreak havoc in the city in order to draw out supernaturals so they could capture them and bring them to their underwater base somewhere off the coast of New Athens City. Could some of the Aethor Institute scientists have survived the purge? If so, they might have spent the last ten years recruiting, regrouping, and rebuilding.
The third thing has been the confirmation of a decade old rumor. The supernaturals who had taken the Aethor Institute’s serum have additional powers that unlock when they find their one perfect DNA match. At first, it was Castor and Pollux strain variants that had been connected. But with the new Mercury variants coming out of hiding, other pairings of instant attraction have been documented. Bonding with their fated mate would allow their powers to grow to their ultimate level, for good or for evil.
Now, with an important Protogenus prisoner in captivity, it’s going to take the cooperation of all three variants to stop Protogenus’s plan to breed supes in captivity and finish the work that the Aethor Institute started.
Chapter One
Evie
Evie Danger stood in the large conference room of the Gemini consulate. She hated being trapped in a room with other supernaturals. Mostly because her mind control powers didn't work on them very well, and she felt vulnerable. The last thing she needed to be in this group was vulnerable. She was already the most hated person in the room, simply because she’d had the Mercury variant serum forced upon her.
Ten of the most powerful supernaturals beings created by the Aethor Institute sat around a large conference table. Out of habit, she skimmed each of their minds. Most of them looked at her with horrified curiosity, fear, or downright anger. Only two seemed neutral toward her. One was Vera Seer, whose mind was as fragmented as a shaken-up snow globe. The other was the leader of the Gemini Initiative, Grayson Spark. While he was prepared to hurl a lightning bolt at her chest if she tried to mind-control him, Gray was interested in hearing what she had to say.
“We’re waiting for one more,” Gray said when she cleared her throat to start speaking.
“Who?” Evie asked, scanning the room. All of the G.I.s were here, and yet there was one empty chair.
“Sorry I’m late.” A powerful mind burst into the room.
No, you’re not. Evie immediately knew that from his presence.
The hairs on the back of her neck stood up and vibrated. Every instinct in her demanded that she turn around and face the threat. But she didn’t need to be facing her opponent to control them.
His mind met hers halfway, and they mentally sparred a few times, sending bursts of energy at each other, just testing boundaries and strength. She found out very little about the newcomer, just that he was a Pollux variant, and he wouldn’t fully commit to battle when he was surrounded by the G.I.s. Their minds reluctantly disengaged, and Evie powered up her mental shields to eleven, sensing the man do the same. He came around her peripheral vision.
She should have known. It was none other than Rick Charming, the head of the Pollux legion—a gro
Rick was a commanding physical presence, easily six feet three inches. And his athletic build spoke of a disciplined physical lifestyle which seemed out of place as he was one of the top mentalists in the world. Yet he moved with a grace that suggested strength and agility.
He caught her assessing him and gave her a wink. His face was a study in masculine allure. His chiseled jawline, accentuated by a perfectly groomed stubble, added a hint of ruggedness to his otherwise polished appearance. With his high cheekbones and straight nose, Rick could have graced any magazine cover. His thick, dark hair was perfectly styled and complemented his strong features. Rick's sense of fashion reflected his position as the head of the Pollux Legion. He wore an impeccably tailored suit draped flawlessly over his frame, accentuating his broad shoulders. All he needed was a cape and he could give the comic book hero Dr. Strange a run for his money.
But it was his intense, piercing eyes that truly captivated those who were brave enough to meet his gaze. Their deep shade of hazel held an alluring mix of warmth, intelligence, and a touch of mystery. And if you looked into them too long, you ran the risk of becoming susceptible to his suggestions. Evie would know; that’s how it worked for her mind tricks.
She caught a sense of smug satisfaction from Grayson Spark, but if he thought that Rick Charming was on his side, he was sadly delusional.
“You may begin,” Gray said when Rick took a seat at the table.
“It’s a simple request,” Evie said. “I want you to release your prisoner Finnegan Grace into my custody.”
“And why would we do that?” Fallyn Michaels, a Castor variant teleporter, asked.
“Because he can lead me to the eight Protogenus labs as well as the nine clones of Allen Brewster and the seven clones of David Zeller.”
Allen Brewster was the Aethor Institute scientist who had created the Mercury variant strain. David Zeller had the ability to pick out a supernatural being in a crowd, whether they were actively using their powers or not. It made him extremely dangerous to all supes, even more so because Protogenus had the bright idea to clone the son of a bitch.
“Zeller’s first name is David?” Chris Stone, a Pollux variant who could control the earth elements. “How did you find that out?”
Evie tapped her temple, and Chris flinched. She had seen his name in Finnegan Grace’s mind during his bullshit trial.
“Are you bringing in a Mercury variant army to destroy the labs?” Gray asked. Hope dotted along his consciousness.
She opened her mouth to lie, but Vera Seer said, “Just Keeley Arnold.”
Keeley was also a Mercury variant. She had been her best friend’s sister. She and Evie were going to make Brewster and his minions pay. Keely was an assassin. The two of them together would be unstoppable.
“If Keeley’s going, so is Dean,” Gray grumbled.
Dean was Keeley’s new boyfriend. Some said the Aethor Institute created them to be each other’s perfect match. Evie wasn’t sure she believed that nonsense, but she was happy Keeley had found a modicum of peace and happiness with Dean.
“Are there any other Mercury variants that will fight with her?”
“No. She’s alone. For now.”
For now? Evie turned to Vera, wondering what future she was looking at. Try as she might, Evie couldn’t get near Vera’s mind to find out. She did catch glimpses of madness that swirled around the tortured seer’s brain. Using her powers was slowly driving Vera insane. Evie wondered if she knew that. And then wondered if she should tell her.
“We can’t afford to lose Finnegan Grace,” Gray said. “Not when he holds the key to us tracking down Protogenus.”
“How has that been working for you?” she asked lightly, pretending she didn’t feel the frustration in his mind.
“I can’t crack him,” Rick Charming said in a shocking admission. “His mind is muddled. Someone has tampered with his memories. Someone strong.”
That wasn’t good news. It meant that there was another mentalist on Protogenus’ payroll.
“I can get in there,” she said. There wasn’t any doubt. This is what she did, what the Mercury variant had changed her into.
Rick’s jaw clenched. She didn’t need to be able to read minds to know her words had pissed him off.
“Let’s see if you can back up your words with actions.” Gray pushed a button on the conference room desk. “Bring in Grace.”
Evie hated doing this in front of an audience, liked it even less that Rick Charming would be there observing every little detail. In a perfect world, she would have done this in a center of calm and relaxation, with dimmed lighting and soothing music playing softly in the background. As it was, the best she could do was reach into her purse and pull out a spray bottle. The G.I.s tensed, but Rick said, “It’s only lavender. The scent creates an ambiance conducive to mental focus and receptiveness.”
Evie centered herself, employing breathing exercises to quiet her mind and channel her energy. She visualized a mental shield, protecting herself from any potential backlash or interference. With each inhale, she drew in strength and clarity, readying herself to delve into Finnegan's thoughts.
The door to the conference room was kicked open, and Evie’s peace sputtered out like a balloon whose knot had come undone. She felt Pisc and Iscth’s minds and turned to see them hauling in Finnegan. They were half shark, half men. Their teeth were lethal, and they were Mercury variants like she was. Only their viciousness and ugliness were on the outside. Hers was all internal, when she gave in to it.
“All of you against little old me?” Finnegan said, but he blanched when his eyes met Rick’s. He immediately looked away and found her standing there. “I remember you. You were the foreman, forewoman, whatever, at my trial.”
“Hold him,” she said to Pisc and Iscth. “If he moves, hurt him.”
Pisc chuckled.
“What the hell is this?” Finnegan said but stood ramrod still as they encased his arms and legs in lobster claws that they suddenly manifested from their hands.
“You can’t do this. I’ve got rights,” he sputtered.
“I had rights too,” Evie said, approaching him. The Aethor Institute had shit all over her rights. Now Protogenus was looking to do the same to more innocent people. No way. Not while she still breathed.
Reaching reached out, Evie lightly touched his cheek, a physical connection that would aid her in establishing a mental link. She made her touch gentle yet purposeful, conveying a sense of trust and assurance to Finnegan, encouraging him to relax and open up to her influence.
“I was the maid of honor at my best friend Diane’s wedding. She was marrying Allen Brewster.”
Finnegan flinched back from her touch. “I had nothing to do with that. I didn’t even know Allen back then.”
Evie saw what Rick meant about his mind being muddled now that she was trying to pull specific information out of it. She would need to connect a bridge from his mind to hers. She would do that through emotion.
“He convinced Diane to have a destination wedding on a remote island that the Aethor Institute controlled. Of course, we thought it was just a corporate playground that Allen had been able to rent cheap. We took a private yacht there.” Evie sent the image into his head. Finnegan’s consciousness relaxed. It had been a beautiful boat. A beautiful island.
There. As she delved deeper into Finnegan's mind, Evie navigated the intricate landscape of his thoughts, memories, and emotions. She carefully probed but hit a block.
“Turn your head to the left,” she said, establishing control. If she could get Grayson Spark to release Finnegan into her custody, she could spend more time going deeper into Finnegan’s mind.
Finnegan followed her direction.
“Now to the right.”
“That doesn’t prove anything,” Rick said. “He could be doing that just because he’s afraid of getting his arms and legs torn off.”
“Do you want me to make him quack like a duck?” she spat.
