Hunter Hunted

by Arthur, Keri

  I gripped the bag tighter as we neared the intersection of the main shopping precinct, my gaze sweeping the surrounding area as the pull of magic grew stronger.

  As we crawled past the showgrounds, Aiden said, “Are we going right or straight through at the junction?”

  I hesitated. “Right, and then slow down. We’re close.”

  He turned, then pulled to one side, allowing several cars to go past before he continued on. This part of Main Street was a mix of weatherboard, brick, and stone buildings, some of them no doubt heritage listed given they looked to have been built in the gold rush days. But as the burn of magic against my skin grew stronger, my gaze was drawn to a beautiful double-story bluestone building with a cream-painted balustrade and brown tin roof.

  “He’s in the Royal Hotel,” I said. “How do you want to play this?”

  “What I’d really like to do is simply go in there and bust the bastard.” He continued on until he found a parking spot farther up the road. “But I’ve no doubt they’ve researched who the rangers are in the reservation and—given the youngest brother has already shown a willingness to shoot—I don’t want to risk either you or the public getting hurt. And the last thing we need is a hostage situation.”

  “Then I’ll go in, see what’s happening and where he is.”

  He hesitated, his expression decidedly unhappy. “It’s probably our best—”

  “It’s your only option if they have researched.”

  He didn’t bother denying that. “I haven’t got any bugs on me—”

  “You’d be in trouble if you did,” I cut in, voice bland.

  A smile tugged his lips as he continued, “So call me and then leave the line open. That way, if shit hits the proverbial fan, I’ll know.”

  “Once I’ve located him, I’ll lock him in an immobilizing spell so fast he won’t know what hit him.”

  “Good.” He hesitated. “Be careful.”

  “Always.”

  He raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything as I climbed out of the truck. I swung my purse over my shoulder, then got out my phone and dialed him. Once he’d answered, I tucked it into my back pocket. I wasn’t sure if the closeness to my butt would mute the sound in any way, but it was either that or my full-of-crap purse.

  I waited until several cars had passed and then ran across the road to the hotel. The lights both within the building and without gave it a warm amber glow and added to the feeling of old-world charm—one that continued once I’d stepped inside. The ceilings were pressed silver tin and the paper on the walls an old-fashioned flower print. The dark wood bar ran the length of one side, and was lined with old stools and patrons. There were a number of tables scattered around the rest of this room, most of which were occupied. The man we were hunting wasn’t here, but he was close. The pulse coming from the silk-wrapped bracelet told me that. I continued on into the dining area. Again, the room was filled with warmth and noise, and most of the tables were taken.

  A young woman approached and said, “Welcome to the Royal—are you after a table?”

  I hesitated, and then said, “I’m supposed to be meeting a friend here, but I’m not sure whether he’s booked a table or not.”

  “I can check our bookings, if you’d like.” She stepped behind the nearby desk. “His name?”

  “Hale. Hale Browning.”

  She ran her finger down the book and then shook her head. “He’s not listed, I’m afraid. Do you want to grab a table and wait?”

  I shook my head. “I might look around first, just in case I missed him coming in.”

  “You could try the beer garden—we do serve food out there.”

  “How do I get there?”

  “Just go back out through these doors, take the set immediately to your right, and head on down the corridor.”

  “Thanks for your help.”

  Her smile flashed. “No problems.”

  I followed her directions, the silk bag gripped tightly in one hand and its whispers confirming I was headed the right way. I silently began weaving a containment spell around the other hand.

  The beer garden was a long, rectangular pergola lined on two sides by thick ferns. A number of very old wisteria plants climbed over the wooden slat roof, providing a lush green cover for the rows of tables underneath. The fairy lights woven through the wisteria twinkled brightly and gave the place an almost magical feel.

  Once again, most of the tables were occupied and a number of people were standing. At the far end of the pergola, there were a couple of tables on which there appeared to be a mix of craft items and cakes for sale. A sign in the middle said “All monies raised go to Kingstone’s Country Fire Association.” There were two people manning the table—one was a woman wearing the local brigade’s uniform, and the second was a man who could have been an older version of the man Jack had shot.

  Our second hunter, Hale Browning.

  He was talking on the phone and looked very agitated. Though I couldn’t hear what he was saying, it was obvious even from this distance that whatever news he was receiving wasn’t good.

  I dragged my phone out of my pocket then stepped to one side and leaned against the hotel’s old bluestone wall, keeping out of Hale’s direct line of sight.

  “He’s on the phone, in the beer garden,” I said, “and manning a fundraising table for the CFA.”

  “Which is a damn clever way of getting the bracelets to people,” Aiden said. “And explains why Angus was wearing it—he was a serving CFA member.”

  “What do you want me to do?”

  “Have you got that immobilizing spell at the ready?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then let it loose, and give me a shout when it’s done.”

  “Okay.”

  I shoved the phone away, tucked the silk bag into my other pocket, and then flexed my fingers. Energy stirred around my fingertips, a brief sparkle that spoke of readiness.

  With a deep breath that did little to ease the tension gathering in the pit of my stomach, I pushed away from the wall and walked toward the aisle that ran down the center of the pergola.

  Hale chose that moment to turn around. He spotted me and, just for an instant, froze. Then he spoke animatedly into the phone, hung up, and ran.

  He’d recognized me. How and why, I couldn’t say, nor was it important right now.

  I bolted after him, but didn’t release the spell. Even though it was ready, immobilizing spells were somewhat limited in what they could and couldn’t do. The worst restriction was the fact the whole spell had to hit the target directly—and preferably on their torso. If they moved at the wrong moment or were caught only by the edge of the spell, it wouldn’t work.

  I grabbed my phone, quickly said, “He’s running. Rear fence,” and then shoved it back into my pocket.

  The woman in the CFA uniform said, eyes wide, “What on earth—”

  “Explain later.” I caught a glimpse of the bracelet on the table. “And under no circumstances sell that bracelet. It’s evidence.”

  “Of course, Officer—”

  I didn’t waste time or energy refuting her statement. Hale was weaving his way through the old trees and run-down sheds that dominated the rear of the hotel’s back garden, suggesting he’d not only recognized me, but knew what I was and what I might be capable of doing. And the bastard had long legs and was putting them to good use, pulling away from me with every step.

  He leapt for the rear fence. I swore and flung my spell at him. The air sparkled briefly and, at that precise moment, he twisted around, saw it, and threw himself over the top of the fence. The spell clipped his right leg and spun off sideways, splattering instead into a nearby tree. A shimmering net instantly wound around the truck, pinning the already immobile tree to the ground.

  I swore again and ran for the fence, grabbing the top of the old palings and clambering up.

  To find Hale face-first on the ground with his arms behind his back and Aiden cable-tying his wrists.r />
  “Oh, good.” I shifted my grip on the fence to a more comfortable position and shoved both feet onto the cross brace to support my weight. “I missed with the spell and was afraid he might have gotten away.”

  “It’d be a cold day in hell before a human is faster than a werewolf.” He hauled Hale up and added, “Who were you talking to on the phone?”

  “That’s none of your fucking business, Ranger.”

  Blood dribbled from his nose and there was a deep gash over his forehead. Aiden hadn’t been gentle when he’d tackled our felon, and the mean part of me wished he’d caused more damage.

  “It’s very much my business when you and your brothers come into this reservation to gather wolf pelts to sell.” Aiden’s voice was deceptively mild given the anger vibrating through his aura. “I suggest you cooperate—”

  “Or what?” Hale cut in. “I have no idea what you think I’ve done, but you’ll be hearing from my attorney sooner rather than later.”

  Aiden’s mouth twisted. “A song every felon sings when they’re first caught. Thing is, the rule of law is somewhat different within a reservation. And the IIT will, in this case, be on our side given we’ve three dead wolves, and the means by which all three were tracked down and killed found in the cabin you were staying in the A-Line Accommodation Park.”

  Hale glanced at me, his expression one of both fury and hatred. He obviously knew about the events in the park that had led to the death of his brother, but how? Shaun—the oldest of them, and who was obviously the man who’d so blatantly looked at the security camera at the witch’s place given neither of his brothers were—couldn’t have been there. We would have spotted him if he had been. At the very least, Aiden would have noticed his scent given he’d been into all three bedrooms and would surely have caught it on the breeze.

  “Ranger, you speak in riddles. I’ve nothing to do with any of that. I was simply here to help raise money for the CFA.”

  His gaze was on mine as he said that, and his dark eyes were promising retribution. I shivered but in truth, the threat was one without substance; he’d soon be in jail and out of circulation.

  Of course, there was one brother still out there.

  Aiden shook him, drawing Hale’s gaze away from me. “Why were you hunting werewolves?”

  Hale snorted. “Like I’m going to incriminate myself by answering a question like that.”

  The sound of an approaching siren had me looking around. A ranger vehicle pulled up, lights sending blue and red flashes through the night. Tala and Jaz climbed out and walked across.

  “You got him, then,” Tala said, her expression pleased.

  “Yes. Mac and Byron can take him back to the station and start processing him. I want you two to take statements here—he was working with a woman to raise money for the CFA, and they have a table here tonight. We need to know whether she’s involved or simply being used by them.”

  The two of them nodded and headed around to the front of the hotel rather than hauling themselves over the fence. As a second ranger SUV pulled up, Aiden grabbed Hale’s arm and marched him across. Once the hunter was secured, Aiden slammed the door and walked back to me. “Thanks for your help tonight.”

  I smiled. “Other than immobilizing a poor old tree, I really didn’t do much.”

  He laughed, caught one hand, and kissed it. “I need to go interview our prisoner and inform the IIT we have him. I’ll drop you home on the way through.”

  “Cool,” I said. “I might go join Belle at the club.”

  “Is that a not so subtle reminder that you’re a free agent and might just get tired of hanging around for me?”

  “Possibly,” I said, keeping my voice light. “As Belle keeps reminding me, there are plenty of fish in the sea. Or, in this case, werewolves in the kennel.”

  “I’ll have to keep on my best behavior then, won’t I?”

  “Keeping the backpack stocked with chocolate is a mighty fine start, trust me.”

  “Good. I’ll meet you at the truck.”

  I nodded and jumped down from the fence, but didn’t immediately leave the hotel. Instead, I walked back to the tree I’d “immobilized” and undid the spell. While the tree was in no danger from it, it was never a good idea to leave active spells hanging around. An immobilizing spell might be less dangerous than many other spells thanks to the restrictions that came with it, but all it would take was someone to lean against it, and they’d be ensnared.

  Tala was interviewing the woman from the CFA as I went through, but I couldn’t see Jaz anywhere. I continued on through the hotel and headed across to Aiden’s truck. The taillights flashed as I approached it and, a few seconds later, he came running up beside me. Once he’d opened the door and ushered me in, he climbed into the driver side.

  It didn’t take us all that long to get back to Castle Rock. I undid my belt then leaned across and kissed him. It turned out to be one of those long, heated kisses that stirred the blood and made me ache for things that just weren’t possible right here and now.

  “I hate my job sometimes,” he murmured, cupping my cheek with one hand.

  I smiled, turned to drop a kiss on his palm, and then pulled back. “No, you don’t. I’ll see you tomorrow sometime.”

  “You will.”

  I climbed out, watched him drive away, and then headed into the café, making sure I locked the front door before I headed upstairs. After making myself a cup of tea, I pulled the book on dark sorcerers out of the bookcase and sat down to read the pages Aiden had marked. They really didn’t offer up any more information about our dark witch, although there was one small side note that rather interestingly said that for the first week or so after a soul transference, the older soul often had to contend with a thick need for sex dark in tone, thanks to the nature of the spirits who help them through the ceremony. Which was exactly what I’d seen in Abby’s mind.

  It might be a way to find him—with Abby now dead, he’d have to find someone else to satisfy his darker urges. Unless, of course, he’d gone off the reservation to both deal with those needs and to regain his full strength.

  I snapped the book closed then pushed to my feet and walked over to the glass sliding door, opening it up and stepping out onto the balcony. Despite the heat of the day, the night air was quite cool. I shivered and crossed my arms, but didn’t retreat inside. An odd sort of restlessness was stirring through me, and I wasn’t entirely sure why. It wasn’t a premonition—not exactly—and there was no sense of evil slipping through the darkness. I walked across to the railing and leaned my forearms against it, studying the nearby buildings and then the darkness beyond them. The whole area was quiet aside from the occasional roar of an engine as a car sped along the street. The gathering clouds hid the moon’s brightness, but her power nevertheless shivered through me, and oddly seemed to fuel the restlessness.

  I frowned, pushed away from the railing, and walked back inside. After locking the door, I grabbed my cup and finished my tea in one long gulp. As I did, the pages of the book fluttered and flipped over, and an underlined paragraph caught my attention. No matter how strong the dark forces employed to help steal the body of another are, it said, there will be a period of adjustment in which the body tries to reject the soul that has taken it over. This leads to an aura that appears to be at war with itself as well as a very tumultuous energy flow. Such energy infests the air, and can be used to track the dark witch, but it must be done in that first week of the old soul’s rebirth into its new body.

  Infests the air…. That’s what I’d been sensing in Abby Jones’s place—the twisting, tumultuous energy of the man who’d killed her.

  And if I went back there…. I stopped the thought cold. I wasn’t going to do anything. Not alone. I took a deep breath to calm the instinct to get my keys and go, and walked down to my bedroom to grab my phone out of my purse.

  Ashworth answered after the sixth ring. “Do you know what fucking time it is, lass?”

  I gl
anced over at the clock and grimaced. “Sorry, I didn’t realize it was nearly eleven.”

  He grunted. “Well, it is but I’m awake now, so you might as well tell me what you’re ringing for.”

  In the background, a voice muttered something and bedsprings squeaked as someone moved. Eli, no doubt.

  “I’ve been doing some research on dark witches,” I said, “and I found a rather interesting passage in a book—”

  “What book?” he cut in. “Because there’s not much information on those bastards that can be found outside the halls of the HIC, let me tell you.”

  I hesitated. “It’s something of a family heirloom that’s been handed down to Belle. It has all manner of unusual information in it.”

  “Is that where you’ve learned some of your spelling from?”

  “Yes,” I said, “but that’s not important right now.”

  I told him what the paragraph had said and then added, “It’s possible that if we go back to Abby’s house, we might be able to catch a sense of his energy and use it to track his current location. But we’d have to do it before it fades.”

  “No,” a deep voice said in the background. “You’re not going out there—not in your current state.”

  “Eli,” Ashworth implored, “be reasonable. This bastard has to be caught and Lizzie can’t—”

  “Aside from the fact you can hardly move without wincing in damn pain at the moment,” came Eli’s retort, “you’ve chugged down a bucketload of painkillers that will slow your reactions. You’d be a liability out in the field more than anything else.”

  “It’s okay,” I said hastily, “I can—”

  “No, you damn well can’t,” Eli said. “And you know it, otherwise you wouldn’t have rung Ira in the first place.”

  Eli, it seemed, was as blunt as Ashworth. “I know, and I’m sorry, but I just thought he could provide some backup and advice—”

  “Well, you were wrong,” Eli said. “However, I can.”

  I blinked. “You can’t leave Ashworth alone—he has no hands to manage the basics.”