by Keri Arthur
Something we’ll have to fix, Belle said. Aiden’s on his way over.
Well good, because he needs to get someone up here to arrest this bastard before I’m tempted to do something nasty. Aloud, I added, “Why didn’t you set the device off as soon as we’d gotten inside?”
“Because it was only powerful enough to destroy the top floor.”
Suggesting he’d deliberately missed us in the hope that we’d race up there. If Belle hadn’t telepathically hunted him down, it might well have worked. “What if we’d gone out the back door instead?”
He shrugged—or at least tried to. The movement was severely restricted by his outstretched arms. “I would have come back tomorrow night.”
I crossed my arms against the chilling suspicion he might have been successful if he had. “Were you the one who was with Larissa up in the Marin compound?”
“Yeah, stupid bitch gave me the perfect cover, and didn’t even realize it.”
“Where did you meet her? At the gun club?”
“Nah, she was drinking in some pub on the outskirts of town, and I heard her bitching about needing someone to have an accident. So I kindly offered my services.” He paused. “Look, I’m answering your questions—can you ease up on the whole splitting me in two thing?”
“Only if you keep answering questions.” I paused briefly and let that sink in. “How did you force Larissa to keep your presence a secret and take the fall for you?”
He tried to shrug again. “I said I’d kill her mom if she didn’t.”
Which explained the fear in Larissa’s eyes when we’d mentioned charging her mom. It wasn’t so much our threat, but rather his that she’d reacted to.
“Was it also you who shot out my car’s windshield?”
“Yeah. Not sure how you controlled that fucking thing given the speed you were doing. You should have slid straight into the trees.”
I would have, if it hadn’t been for a good dose of luck and the wild magic.
“Which of the Fitzgeralds hired you?” I asked. “Because I gather you are a contract killer.”
He didn’t immediately answer. The wild magic twitched in response, and he hissed through gritted teeth before saying, “It was the brothers—Cary and Michael.”
Who were not only behind the plot that had run us out of town, but the owners of the Psychic, Taro, and Spiritual Cleaning center that had suddenly become overrun with rats. I’d known they’d be angry—who wouldn’t be?—but I really hadn’t expected them to react so violently.
“And your name?”
“Bryan,” he replied, somewhat reluctantly. “Bryan Redfield.”
Footsteps caught my attention, and I turned around to see Aiden running toward me. He slowed the minute I spotted him, his gaze running from me to my prisoner and back again.
“You okay?” He stopped and touched my back lightly, though I wasn’t entirely sure whether it was meant to comfort him or me.
I nodded and motioned toward the shooter. “Meet Bryan Redfield, the man who took a pot shot at us in the Marin compound. Larissa took the fall because he threatened her mom.”
“Really? Did he say why he was trying to kill us?”
“Not us—me. And it has nothing to do with the soul eater. The Fitzgerald brothers at Pike’s Peak contracted him to enact a little revenge.”
“They’re the two who suffered the rat infestation, aren’t they?”
“The same.”
“Which,” Ashworth said, as he huffed towards us, “was rather stupid of them. Harsh penalties apply to those who react in such a physical manner against another witch.”
Aiden raised his eyebrows. “Meaning it would have been okay to act in a magical manner?”
“Of course. Duels of magic are not a thing of the past, no matter what the government might have you believe.” He stopped beside me and studied my prisoner through narrowed eyes. “Why is there a feminine feel to the wild magic containing him?”
“I couldn’t tell you,” I said, and silently bid the magic to release the shooter and leave.
It did so with alacrity. As Bryan crashed to the ground and rolled into a ball of relieved agony, Aiden stepped forward, pulled Bryan’s wrists behind his back, and secured them with the ever-present cable ties.
“There’s also an unusual amount of intelligence in the magic of this place that needs investigating.” His gaze came to mine. “As does your connection to it.”
“How about we secure the wellspring before we worry about any of that?” I glanced at Aiden. “Once this bastard is secure, you need to get back to hunting the witch. I’ve a bad feeling the shit will hit the fan if we don’t stop him tonight.”
“We will, but I had to make sure you were okay first.”
His words warmed something deep inside. “And I appreciate it, but you can’t delay. It might be deadly if you do.”
He frowned. “Have you had another of your visions?”
I hesitated. “No. It’s nothing more than a gut feeling.”
He grunted and glanced at Ashworth. “I’ve learned to trust her gut. We’d better go.”
The older man nodded and left. Aiden stepped over his prisoner and then stopped beside me. “Ashworth’s put out the blaze, but the fire department still has to inspect the building and declare it safe before either you or Belle will be allowed back inside. Have you anywhere to stay for the night?”
I smiled. “With all the hotels around the area, I’m sure we can find something.”
“I’d rather you be somewhere safer than a mere hotel.” He pulled his keys out, disconnected one of the smaller rings, and offered me the two keys and small remote. “They’ll get you into my apartment in Argyle.” He gave me the address, and then added, “There’re two beds in the spare room and linen in the closet near the bathroom.”
“Aiden—”
“Please,” he said, shaking the keys. “I’ll find it easier to concentrate on the task at hand if I know you’re out of the way and safe.”
I took the offered keys and raised my eyebrows. “Out of the way doesn’t sound too gentlemanly.”
He smiled and touched a hand to my cheek. “You know what I meant.”
Indeed I did. I resisted the urge to lean into his touch, and simply said, “What about my prisoner? What do you want me to do with him?”
“Can you immobilize him? Mac should be here in ten minutes.”
“I’ll wait for him, then.”
“Be careful.” He hesitated, then leaned forward and lightly kissed my lips. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
“You will.”
I watched him leave, then returned my attention to Bryan. “If you so much as twitch the wrong way, I’ll break something vital.”
Fear skittered across his expression, but he didn’t say anything and he certainly didn’t move.
Mac arrived spot-on ten minutes later. He had the typical rangy build of a werewolf, with brown skin and hair that suggested he was from an outside pack.
“And you’d be Lizzie,” he said, holding out his hand in greeting. “What have we got here?”
I gripped his hand briefly and said, “The bastard who tried to kill Aiden and me over on the Marin compound.”
“Well, that was daft.” He walked over to Bryan, roughly hauled him to his feet, and then sliced off the cable tie. “I’ll get you to go down the ladder first, Lizzie. That way, you can zap him or something if he tries anything stupid.”
A smile touched my lips. “With pleasure.”
I headed back across the rooftops. As it turned out, Bryan wasn’t daft enough to attempt an escape. Once his hands were re-cabled, Bryan hauled him over to the waiting SUV while I returned to our café.
To discover it wasn’t just the roof that had a hole in it, but part of the corner wall. I walked over to Belle and wrapped my arms around her. For several minutes, neither of us talked. We just took comfort in the fact we were both still alive.
“So how bad is it?” I said event
ually.
“It looks worse than it is, I’m assured. Despite the hole, the two walls are stable. They’ve asked the State Emergency Services people to come over with a tarp to cover the gap until we can get it fixed.” She glanced at her watch. “They should be here within the next half hour.”
“And the damage inside?”
“I’m told the stairs and upstairs kitchenette will need replacing, and the electrics will have to be checked, but that’s it. The café hasn’t suffered any damage; it just needs a good clean and airing to get rid of the smoke smell. We’re lucky Ashworth was able to put the fire out, otherwise, it could have been far worse.”
“At least once everything’s been checked, and the building declared safe, we can open the café again.”
“Yeah. I’d hate to be losing too many days—not this close to Christmas.” She glanced at me. “What do you want to do next?”
A smile tugged at my lips. “As much as I want to do nothing more than go to Aiden’s and collapse onto the nearest bed, I think we need to detour past Maelle’s and update her.”
She sighed. “Not something I really want to do right now, but I agree with the need to avoid antagonizing her. I’ve already called a cab.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Do they actually work at this hour of the morning? We’re not exactly in the middle of a major city.”
“Apparently it has only happened since Émigré opened all night. And that,” she added, as a car horn tooted out the front of the building, “will be him.”
“Should we give our contact details to anyone?” I said, as I followed her down the lane.
“Already have,” she said, over her shoulder. “And the firies will lock up when they’ve finished.”
It didn’t take long to get around to the club. Once I’d paid the cabbie, we climbed out and headed for the door. Two large bouncers immediately stepped in front of it and said, “Sorry, miss, but no jeans inside the venue.”
“I’m not here for pleasure. I need to talk to your boss.”
“I’m sorry, but that’s not—”
The door behind him opened and Roger poked his head out. “Gentlemen, these two ladies have all-hours access to this club and to our boss no matter what the time. Or,” he added, with a somewhat disparaging glance at my clothes, “how inappropriately they might be dressed.”
I grinned as the two big men immediately stepped aside. “I can strip off to my singlet, if you’d like. It has sparkly stars all over it.”
“Thanks, but no. Please.” He opened the door wider and waved us in.
We stored our coats in the check area, but I kept a grip on my pack. While Maelle might not like being in the same room as either holy water or a silver knife, they were at least tucked securely away rather than out in the open. I wasn’t about to leave them behind—not when that vague sense of wrongness was beginning to ramp up again.
Apparently, fate hadn’t already flung enough shit our way.
The music was loud, the place was jumping, and the bar absolutely packed. Even so, Roger moved through the crowd like a prince in his kingdom, with people flowing around him—and us. It was a wave that never touched or in any way threatened to make him pause, even though I wagered most of the people here didn’t even know who he was.
I glanced up at the dark glass-and-metal room that had been built into the ceiling at the point where all the arches met. Though Maelle wasn’t visible, I had no doubt she knew we were here—Roger wouldn’t have appeared with such alacrity otherwise—and that she watched us.
She might be out of sight, but in this place, no one was out of hers.
He led us around the upper deck until we’d reached the ornate wrought iron door that was an intricate mix of vine leaves and skeletal spines. There was an inconspicuous keypad situated on the right-side wall; once Roger had entered the code, the door slid aside and revealed a set of black glass stairs.
“My mistress awaits,” he said, and waved us forward.
I took a slow, deep breath and then stepped inside; blue light flared to life as I did so, a muted chain of spots that led the way up the circular stairwell.
At the top there was another metal door, but it opened as we approached. The room beyond was filled with shadows despite the bright array of lights that constantly swept across the darkened windows. A black glass table sat in the middle of the room, and there were two plush-looking chairs at the front of this. A third sat behind.
Maelle stepped out of the shadows to our right. I stopped immediately, as did Belle.
“This is indeed a surprise,” she said, her voice a low purr that sent chills down my spine. “I take it you have information?”
“Yes, and you’re not going to like it.”
“In that case, I suggest a drink. Champagne? Or something stronger?”
“Whiskey, on ice, if you have it,” I said.
Maelle raised an eyebrow as she glanced at Belle. “And you, lovely lady?”
“The same, thanks.” Belle glanced at me. Okay, so she’s gay?
Yes, and you’ve obviously tickled her fancy.
She’s not getting anywhere near my fancy, let alone anything else.
I somehow restrained my snort of amusement, and nodded my thanks as Maelle handed us our drinks.
“Please, ladies, sit.” She waved us toward the two chairs at the front of her desk.
“I’d rather stand, thanks,” Belle said.
Maelle raised an eyebrow, her expression amused. “I’m sensing some discomfort coming from your direction.”
“Yes, and I’m sorry, but it’s instinctive.”
“I appreciate your honesty.” Her gaze flicked to me and hardened somewhat. “Now, that news.”
I took a drink, waited for the alcohol to fire up my courage, and then said, “It was Molly who—through her half brother, Jack—summoned the soul eater.”
Maelle didn’t move. She didn’t react. Not in any way. Not for several minutes, at least.
And yet the room was suddenly darker, and she a whole lot more dangerous. Pinpricks of fear scuttled across my skin, and I took another drink. The burning strength of the alcohol eased neither the fear nor the desire to run.
Holy fuck, Belle commented, a tremor in her mental tones. This bitch is even scarier than I’d imagined.
And even more so when you remember she’s undoubtedly controlling her emotions and scare factor right now.
One finger twitched on Maelle’s left hand. Just one finger, but it sent the image of her wrapping a hand around Molly’s neck and squeezing the life out of her, breath by agonized breath, racing through my mind.
“She did this because I fired her.”
It was a statement, not a question, and I nodded. “I believe she thought that if she got rid of some of the others, you’d be inclined to accept her back.”
“I knew she was not overly endowed with intelligence, but I would not have expected such stupidity even from her.” Her gaze rose to mine. The pale gray of her irises had surrendered completely to the white, and it was a god-awful, frightening thing to see. “Have you captured her?”
“Yes, but not Jack or the soul eater.” I hesitated, and then somewhat reluctantly added, “You cannot, in any way, act against her or her brother as yet.”
Belle glanced at me sharply, something I felt rather than saw.
“And I will not, as I have promised, until this matter is well and truly finished.” She paused to take a drink of her champagne. “What of my other feeders? Do I need to worry about them?”
“Yes.” I hesitated again. “I’m afraid Marlinda is not the lone casualty. Aled and James have also been killed.”
“That is dire news indeed.”
Meaning, I suspected, that the method Maelle would use to kill Molly just tripled when it came to the agony factor. “I gave the list Roger sent me to Aiden. I believe he is arranging protection.”
“Will it be enough?”
“Yes, because the RWA witch will place protections
around them.”
“Will? So it has not happened as yet?”
“He hasn’t had the chance. It’s been a rather difficult night for us all.”
She studied me for too many uncomfortable seconds. While I knew she couldn’t read minds, I nevertheless had the vague feeling she was pulling forth secrets and memories, and examining their content.
“Is the ranger aware of how you got that list?”
“No.”
“Good.” She took another drink. “Until the ranger and the RWA representative are able to protect my feeders, are there any common precautions I can advise them to use? And are you able to go to them now and arrange something more appropriate?”
Saying no was not an option, her expression—or lack thereof—suggested.
I gave her the same advice I’d given Lance’s parents, and then said, “It’s not strong magic, by any means, but it’s better than nothing until we can get there.”
“Indeed. I’ll get Roger to contact them immediately.”
“Good.” I downed the rest of my drink and stepped forward to place the empty glass on the table. As I did, awareness surged.
The dark witch was here.
The soul eater was with him.
And the church bell was tolling.
“Holy fuck,” Belle whispered. “He’s strong.”
Stronger than me. Possibly even stronger than the two of us combined. Can you immobilize him telepathically?
She hesitated. No. There’s magical interference of some kind.
“Who is strong?” Maelle said, voice curt.
“Jack. He’s here, and so is the soul eater.”
“Which makes no sense,” Belle said. “Not when the whole point of the attacks up until this point has been to erase the competition for Maelle’s attention.”
“Maybe he’s decided to erase a different type of competition—us. After all, we’re the reason his sister is now sitting behind bars.”
“The why behind his presence here is not important right now,” Maelle commented. “What do we need to do?”
I swung off my backpack and hurriedly zipped it open. “How sensitive are you to holy water?”
A cool smile touched her lips. “Are you intending to throw it at me?”