Hunter Hunted

by Arthur, Keri

“They may not be able to get someone out here straight away, which means we’ll have to transport her back to Castle Rock.”

  Amusement shone in his blue eyes. “Worried about a delay to seduction time?”

  “No, I’m worried about a delay to present time. Get your priorities right, Ranger.”

  He laughed and got his phone out, quickly making the call to the RWA. I studied the shop, feeling the faint brush of magic even from the truck. Whoever ran this shop might not be a blueblood but he or she was certainly far stronger than the trinket and potion makers who’d run the other shops.

  “We’re in luck,” he said, as he hung up. “They have someone who’s just finished dealing with a situation in Bacchus Marsh. They can be here in twenty minutes. They’ll contact Ashworth on the way through to get his input on the situation.”

  “I hope they’re ready to get their ears burned off. He’s not going to be happy about missing out on the action.”

  “To say the least.” Aiden glanced at the shop again. “It’s probably best to let me enter first. That way I’ve a second or two to spot her before she reacts to your presence.”

  If she wasn’t already aware of it, that was. It just depended on how the spells that protected her premises were designed and layered—and whether she’d included a thread to warn her if another witch was approaching.

  I climbed out of the car and followed him across the sidewalk to the shop. A beautifully ornate black metal urn with a teapot perched precariously on its top dominated the small front window. The teapot was obviously soldered on, but that didn’t spoil the effect, or the urge to reach out and catch it.

  A bell chimed merrily as Aiden entered, and the air was rich with a mix of cinnamon, ginger, and rose—all scents that were generally associated with sex, lust, and desire. The charms and potions that lined the nearby shelves were certainly all aimed at that market.

  Her magic swirled around me, its feel very feminine. There was no recognition in it, no sense that it had been designed to warn, only ward.

  But it very definitely had the same feel as the tracking bracelet we’d found on the second wolf. Although the RWA would legally have to confirm it, I had no doubt that this was the witch who’d created them.

  The curtain at the far end of the shop was twitched aside and a woman stepped through. She had a thick mane of dark brown hair that was shot with silver, pale skin, and eyes the purest silver—all of which said she was from the Waverley line of witches.

  “Good afternoon,” she said, her voice as warm and sultry as the air in her shop. “How can I help you young lovebirds—”

  Her voice died as her gaze swept past Aiden and came to rest on mine. Recognition stirred through her expression, which was surprising given I had absolutely no memory of ever meeting her. Not even during our time in Canberra—although she was a couple years younger than me, and therefore would have been in very different classes.

  “We’re not here to purchase anything.” Aiden flicked open his badge and showed it to her. “We need to ask—”

  He got no further.

  The witch made a sharp motion with her hands and the contents of the shelves on either side became mini missiles flying directly at us.

  Even as the bitch turned and ran.

  Chapter Seven

  Aiden swore and shoved me down, covering my body with his as all manner of vials and charms crashed above us, showering us with glass, stones, and a stinking, sticky mess of liquid.

  Once it was over, Aiden shifted and said, “You okay?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then let’s go get that bitch.”

  He grabbed my hand, helped me up, then released me and ran after the witch. I bolted after him. He wrenched the curtain aside, all but pulling it off its tracks and revealing a small, well-fitted-out reading room. The magic within the room swirled around us again, but it didn’t attack because we didn’t actually intend its creator any harm. We went through a wooden door, raced down a long corridor, and then out into a yard. The witch was just clambering over the wooden fence at the rear of the property. Aiden lunged for her, catching one foot just as she threw herself down the other side. She yelped, and her magic surged.

  “I wouldn’t finish that spell, young lady,” I said sharply. “Not unless you want to get yourself into a lot more trouble.”

  I stopped beside Aiden. He was still gripping her ankle but the lower part of her leg was the only portion of her body on this side of the fence. The rest was hanging over the other side, with her weight being carried by the back of her knee, which was bent over the top of the fence. She had to be in a whole lot of pain.

  Her magic continued to rise, so I called to mine, letting it run around me, a storm of power that was sharper and stronger than anything she could produce. I might be an underpowered witch, but I was still from the Marlowe line.

  “We only want to talk,” I continued evenly, “but if you really want to see whose magic is stronger, I’m more than happy to comply.”

  Her magic stalled, and then died. I nodded at Aiden. He reached over the fence with his free hand, grabbed a fistful of shirt, and hauled her back onto our side. He placed her on the ground then forced her on her butt and knelt beside her. “Is your knee okay?”

  She frowned but nodded.

  “Good, we can get straight down to business then. Why did you run the minute you spotted us?”

  She pointed with her chin at me. “I recognized her.”

  “How?” I asked bluntly. “We’ve never met.”

  “No, but I saw you in a dream,” she said. “I always get warnings of trouble headed my way.”

  “It’s a damn shame you didn’t get such a warning when you agreed to make those tracking and control bracelets for a couple of murderous hunters,” I said. “I hope you were well paid, because you’re going to need the money when the RWA shuts you down.”

  Her gaze went wide. “I have no idea what you’re talking about—and I thought you were only here to talk?”

  “We lied,” Aiden said.

  “But I’ve done nothing.”

  Her magic began to stir again. I quickly but silently created a restraint spell and flicked it toward her. It fell over her, an invisible cloud that would, until I released her, contain any and all spells she might try.

  Her gaze jumped to mine and she cursed me, long and loud.

  Amusement creased the corners of Aiden’s eyes. “I’m gathering you just magically restrained her?”

  “Yes. But you might want to physically restrain her as well. This one’s definitely a runner.”

  “There’s very little chance of her overpowering you let alone me, but I do see your point.”

  As Aiden reached into a pocket to grab the ever-present cable ties, she lashed out, kicking him in the shins and then trying to scramble up. He grunted, caught her foot, and yanked her backward so that her spine hit the ground. Then he grabbed her hands and quickly cabled her wrists at the front of her body rather than at the back. I knew from experience those ties were damn uncomfortable—my very first meeting with Aiden had ended with me being similarly restrained. I hadn’t been stupid enough to kick him, of course, and I’d therefore remained upright.

  “Right, that’s one charge of assaulting an officer added to your other crimes,” he said. “Keep going and you’re going to end up in prison for years.”

  “Other than kicking you—which is not a prison-worthy crime, and we both know it—I haven’t fucking done anything.”

  “We have one of the tracking and control bracelets you made for the hunters,” I said. “It’ll be very easy for the RWA to confirm that those bracelets were made by you.”

  “So? There’s no crime in providing trackers—”

  “Except,” Aiden replied, with just the faintest trace of anger in his voice, “when those trackers also contain a control element that forces the wearer into actions against their will.”

  For the first time, a hint of fear flared in her eyes. “Look,
there’s been some kind of mistake here—”

  “Yes, and it was yours when you agreed to make those bracelets for a couple of hunters,” Aiden said.

  “Hunting is not illegal—not even in that reservation of yours.” Her tone held an edge of contempt. “And we both know you actually have no authority outside said reservation. Expect to be hearing from my lawyers, Ranger, and get your purse strings ready to pay out big.”

  “For the most part, you’re right.” Aiden’s voice was cool and mild—the wolf at his most dangerous. “I don’t have any authority beyond the reservation except in cases of murder when I’m on the trail of a killer or accomplice. If that murder involves magic, then I’m legally obliged to contact the RWA before I confront and restrain said killer. Which I have.”

  Fear gleamed brighter in her eyes. “I didn’t murder anyone. I didn’t help anyone murder anyone. I have no idea—”

  “Enough,” Aiden said. “The bracelets you made were used in the murders of two werewolves—and one of those werewolves was skinned while he was still alive. You had better tell me about the men you sold those things to, and fast, or I’ll make damn sure you and your magic never see the light of day again.”

  Her eyes went wide and she swallowed heavily. “I swear, I didn’t know—”

  “The men,” he cut in savagely. “Descriptions and names if you have them.”

  She licked her lips. “I don’t know their names. But there were three of them, and they paid in cash. ”

  “When?”

  “Five days ago.”

  “How often do your security cameras loop?”

  “Every seven days. It’s a simple home system rather than a full-on business one.”

  “So you should still have their purchase on tape?” When she nodded, he grabbed her hands and hauled her upright. “Lead the way then.”

  “Shouldn’t you be waiting for the RWA?” she said. “Suspect or not, I do have rights.”

  “Do I look as if I care about rights right now?” Aiden bit back, and pushed her forward. It said a lot about his control that he did so gently. I certainly wouldn’t have. “If I were you, I’d be praying to every god you believe in that we catch these bastards before they make another kill.”

  Her gaze cut to his, but she didn’t say anything. Maybe she’d finally realized there was nothing she could say to make any of this any better. She led us into a small office that sat behind her reading room. In it was a desk, a filing cabinet, a computer, printer, and what looked to be a DVD player with a number of wires sticking out of it—one of which ran down to the computer. She moved the mouse to reactivate the monitor, clicked through a number of programs and screens until the playback started, and then hit fast-forward.

  After a few minutes, she clicked the play button and said, “That’s them.”

  Aiden reached past her and froze the image on the screen. The three men were in jeans and bulky coats—which should have set all sorts of alarms off for a witch with any sort of integrity—and two of them had peaked hats pulled down over their faces. One of those two had a colorful werewolf tattoo stretching up his left arm. The third man had long brown hair loosely tied at the back of his head and a beard that all but dominated his face. He appeared to have no qualms about looking directly at the camera, which suggested he very much believed his image couldn’t be used to track him down.

  The three of them talked to our witch for several minutes and then left.

  “I take it they came back?” Aiden asked.

  She nodded. “The next day.”

  Aiden fast-forwarded until the three men appeared again. Our witch showed them a bracelet, obviously giving them advice and instructions. Once they’d handed over a paper bag that looked to be at least half full—and no doubt contained cash—she handed them a rather prettily gift-wrapped box. I had to wonder why she’d even bothered.

  “How many bracelets did you make for them?” I asked.

  She glanced at me. “Ten.”

  “And a control device?”

  “A control and tracking charm, yes.”

  “Basic or multiple?”

  “Basic,” she said. “They weren’t willing to pay for additional training.”

  Either that, or they already knew how to use such a charm.

  “How do these things work?” Aiden asked.

  She returned her gaze to him. “Via a type of binding spell. It lightly links the mind of the user with the charm, and allows them to give basic instructions to the wearer as well as location details. Helps greatly if the user has some kind of telepathic ability—the fellow with the long hair said he did.”

  “How much did you charge them?” When she hesitated, Aiden added more forcibly, “Tell us now or tell us in court. It’s up to you, but I can guarantee the second option will not sit well with the judge.”

  She studied him for several seconds, and then somewhat mutinously, “Ten thousand.”

  “A thousand per life,” I said. “That’s pretty damn cheap.”

  “Especially given the going rate for a werewolf pelt is at least ten thousand,” Aiden said.

  “They said they were hunting kangaroos, I swear.”

  There was desperation in her voice, but something within me just didn’t believe her.

  “I guess that’s for RWA to find out, isn’t it?”

  A small bell chimed in the next room and I glanced at Aiden. “I’ll go see who it is.”

  As I walked out, he asked, “Did you bother getting any sort of ID from the three men? Notice what type of car or truck they were driving?”

  The witch answered with a short, sharp, “No.”

  I shook my head at her stupidity and stepped into the main shop. There was a mess everywhere, and with so many potions having been spilled, the air was so thickly scented it was barely even breathable. Aiden and I might be covered in the stuff, but this…. I shuddered. This would permeate the floorboards and make the place unusable for months.

  “Oh dear,” the older woman who’d come through the door said. She hastily grabbed a handkerchief from her handbag and covered her nose. “This is a mess.”

  “Yes, and I’m sorry, but we’re currently closed.”

  She glanced at me. “Francesca not here then?”

  “Yes, but she’s busy clearing up at the moment.” I waved a hand at the mess. “I’ve been tasked with cleaning this, and it could take a while, I’m afraid.”

  “Indeed.” The woman looked around, her expression one of disappointment. “I guess it’ll just have to wait.”

  I hesitated, and then said, “What were you after?”

  “Oh,” she said. “Just my usual—a small damiana and ginseng cordial.”

  Both of those herbs were used to help overcome impotence, low libido, and enhance sexual vitality. No wonder she’d looked a little disappointed at leaving empty-handed.

  I looked around, spotted a bottle on one of the few shelves that hadn’t jettisoned its contents at us, and walked over to grab it.

  “Here,” I said. “Have this, on the house.”

  “Oh, are you sure?”

  “Yes. Take it, and have a good time.”

  A grin split her lips. “Oh, I will now.”

  She happily tucked the small bottle into her handbag and left. But as I made my way toward the back of the store and Francesca’s small office, the doorbell chimed again and I turned to see a familiar figure walk in.

  “Anna,” I said, a surprised smile splitting my lips, “I didn’t think you’d be back on duty so soon.”

  Anna was the RWA witch who’d been sent to the reservation to help the rangers hunt down the magic-capable vampire, but she’d been caught—and severely burned—in a magical explosion that had been aimed at me. She had the classic looks of a witch from the Kang line—an oval face, high cheekbones and a prominent nose, and mono-lidded eyes. Her hair was as vivid as mine, but cut extremely short.

  She let the door close and walked toward me, moving with surprising ease. G
iven her torso and chest had copped the worst of the burns, I’d have expected at least a little tightness of movement. “I probably wouldn’t have been working so soon if it hadn’t been for your quick thinking.”

  “All I did was pour water over your wounds—I hardly think—”

  “It wasn’t ordinary water,” she cut in, “it was holy water. It killed the spell remnants that were burned into my skin and majorly helped with the healing process.”

  “I had no idea it could do any of that.” And—considering the continuing invasion of evil into the reservation—maybe I needed to keep a bottle or two tucked safely away in my handbag.

  Anna stopped beside me and looked around the room. “What happened here?”

  “The witch emptied her shelves in our direction in an attempt to escape.”

  “It’s a rather stomach-turning stench, isn’t it? And all aimed at sexy times, if I’m reading it right.” She glanced at me, merriment evident in her eyes—which were slate-gray rather than the usual silver, the only hint that her heritage wasn’t pure Kang. “I hope you and the ranger are prepared for the possible fallout.”

  “Totally looking forward to it, actually.”

  She laughed, the sound warm. “You’ve got the witch restrained, I take it?”

  “In the rear office. Did Ashworth update you on what’s been happening on the way over?”

  She nodded and fell in step beside me as I headed for the rear of the building again. “Yes. If she is the witch behind those bracelets, then she’s in serious trouble.” Her gaze came to mine. “Your opinion?”

  “That it’s her.” I pushed the remnants of the curtain aside and motioned her toward the small office.

  “Evening, Ranger,” she said, as she stopped just inside the door. “Have you got all you need from her?”

  “For the moment, yes.”

  “Good.” Anna eyed the other woman for a moment then glanced back at me. “That’s a very nice net you have around her.”

  I smiled. Anna, like Ashworth, didn’t entirely believe that I was a low-powered witch, but unlike him, she hadn’t—as far as I knew—taken it any further.

  “Thanks. You want me to remove it?”