by Dianna Love
“Trolls wouldn’t risk exposure in a crowd that big,” she argued. “VIPER would send death squads after them.”
“But as you just pointed out, this spell comes with a memory wipe. If Lambert pulls this off, VIPER will have nothing to use as evidence.”
She considered that, not liking how logical it sounded, but she couldn’t risk her entire future on a maybe. “Why this parade?”
Scratching his head, Devon stared off, thinking. “My informant thought the trolls were here to glamour their way through the crowd to steal gold, but I ran all possible scenarios and cross referenced with any notable celebrities attending this event. I found out an Ansgar descendant is studying art here. She’s in the parade. Six members of her family are joining her tomorrow, including the matriarch who goes nowhere without wearing her solid gold Celtic choker—”
“—that holds the power to their entire Fae family.” Joleen got it.
“Right. I blew off the possibility of a troll making that, because the Ansgars always travel with security. But now that Svart Trolls are involved, I’m thinking they’re after the choker and/or the family members for someone else, because they don’t put their people at risk unless they feel confident they can succeed and the price is right. I’d like to know who’s behind this. My bet is an enemy of the Ansgars, but that doesn’t narrow the field. If that family is Lambert’s target and he pulls this off while wiping the minds of any witnesses, war will erupt between powerful adversaries once the finger pointing starts. The human world won’t be a safe place for anyone.”
Dakkar would be furious if Joleen had any perceived part in that happening, since shielding nonhuman existence from humans was part of Dakkar’s agreement with VIPER.
Pushing hair off her face, she hissed out a steam of air. How had one simple bounty gotten this convoluted? “How many people show up for this parade?”
“Close to half a million.” Devon hit her with a hard look. “And with the memory wipe, nothing would stop those trolls from snacking on a child, who would then end up on a milk carton.”
Playing hero was Devon’s job, not hers, but she’d never allowed innocent people to be hurt when she could prevent it. That would mean zip to Dakkar if she didn’t bring back her bounty. “Here’s my deal. I help you get the spell and you give me Lambert.”
Hesitation played through Devon’s face. “I’ll do what I can, Jo, but I don’t make promises I can’t keep. I’ll give you Lambert if I can and if he doesn’t die in the process.”
A dead Lambert was of no use to her. She either gambled on throwing in with Devon or locked him in a rum cask while she hunted Lambert alone. But if she lost Lambert, she’d have to live with the guilt for any devastation he caused and face Dakkar empty handed. “I’m in, but no promises from me either on what happens once we find Lambert.”
She expected Devon to agree or argue, but he just lifted the hood of his fleece jacket over his head, covering the sword handle, and led the way out.
After backtracking with him to the exit point beneath the Pirate’s House restaurant, they emerged on Broad Street. A balmy March sun had daffodils blooming and tourists crowding cobblestone streets along the historic district, clueless about nonhumans moving among them. She fell into step with Devon who said nothing over the next half hour as he led the way to Coldfinger’s pawnshop on the outskirts of Savannah. Once they’d left the dense pedestrian traffic in the city behind, he’d picked up the pace.
Joleen stayed with him step for step. She stayed in top running condition, because exiting quickly often made the difference in living to fight another day or not. The area had been abused by age. Spider webs covered steel-barred windows on shabby buildings and the homeless loitered on the sidewalks.
She mused, “Would have expected Coldfinger to be in a finer part of town.”
“Not with a clientele that shies away from crowds and humans to do business.”
Devon lifted his hand and signaled for silence as he slowed to enter a wooden shack-of-a building through a doorless opening.
She followed him in, allowing her eyes to adjust to the sudden darkness. Sunlight filtered through holes in the walls and ceiling, offering a dingy view of musty piles of clothes and a smelly mattress.
Did Devon know where he was going?
He paused six feet from a door at the back of the room, then crept forward.
She drew her weapon, though she’d prefer to use the wand she kept hidden along with her mage identity.
Devon eased over to stand at one side of the door where light sifted out from the bottom. He tested the knob. Locked. Before she could suggest finding another entrance, Devon moved around in front of the door, put his boot up and kicked.
Rotten wood shattered.
Joleen shook her head, muttering, “What is it about boys and kicking in doors?”
The smell hit her first, warning that the view wouldn’t be much better.
#
Devon stepped through the remnants of the door and took in the hideous scene against one wall of the pawnshop. Coldfinger was dead, frozen with his remaining arm up in defense and his face contorted with a scream of fear. Devon wrinkled his nose at the scorched sherbet ice cream stench.
Jo pointed at a pile of half-chewed orange glob that might be Coldfinger’s upchucked arm, and smirked. “Looks like Lambert tested the spell on Coldfinger. Trolls have a weak stomach for leprechaun, eh?”
Devon let the rare humor in her voice pass without comment. He had to contact Tzader. As the Belador Maistir over North America, Tzader directed a large portion of VIPER’s force.
Jo must have picked up the track of his thoughts. “If you’re thinking of calling in backup at this point, you better reconsider unless you want Lambert to use the spell on VIPER agents as well.”
She had a point, but he knew that wasn’t her real concern. “You’re just worried VIPER will pick up Lambert before you do.”
“True, but what if you call in agents, and he unleashes the spell? Svart trolls got any old scores to settle with Beladors?”
Mostly in Europe, but Devon doubted a Svart would pass an opportunity for payback regardless of where they found a Belador. “I’ve thought about that,” Devon admitted. “But even with my intel I can’t just assume it’s only a hit squad and that Lambert is only after the Ansgar family. We have to cover more area than that. And we’re not sure how long the spell will last now that Lambert is using it.”
She hissed something that sounded like a curse. There was that look on Jo’s face again, like the one she’d had right before she clued Devon in on exactly what a truly powerful fixation spell could do.
Devon needed whatever she could tell him about the spell and she needed a nudge, so he said, “What?”
When glaring at him had no effect, she finally said, “A Noirre fixation spell of that type, which can be used in volume, has a short shelf life. The spell must be contained in a way that allows Lambert to release it as needed, but he wouldn’t have wasted activating it unless he planned on using the spell again within twenty-four hours. Even if you call in VIPER, you still can’t prove Lambert took the Noirre spell from Coldfinger and you put your teams at risk.”
Hellfire, she was right and Devon believed she knew her stuff with spells. He’d love to find out exactly what Joleen was and not just because she held an encyclopedic knowledge of black majik details. Nothing about her fit the gutter profile of Dakkar’s usual bounty hunters.
Devon snapped his fingers. “That confirms my timeline for the parade tomorrow.”
She nodded then pointed at Coldfinger. “That was a message for anyone who tries to cross Lambert. The spell’s probably been working about twenty minutes because we’ve been here half that, and Coldfinger’s blood has started congealing.”
Devon glanced over his shoulder. “Got what he deserved for dealing Noirre with a troll.” He swung his gaze back to her. “Any ideas on how to find Lambert?”
She pondered her answer too long, as if
debating once again on how much to share. “He’ll likely position himself in a safe place to use the spell. Knowing Lambert, he won’t risk being with the other trolls in case something goes wrong or VIPER rolls in.”
Devon had to contact Tzader, but without Jo knowing or she might disappear. And beyond needing her help, dammit, he didn’t want her to vanish. “Our best use of time is figuring out the most advantageous place for Lambert to release the spell tomorrow morning.”
Anyone watching Jo would think she might just be staring off as she processed information, but Devon could feel energy building that had to be coming from her. Energy she worked to keep contained.
What was she? Besides hot and dangerous?
Her lavender-blue eyes fluttered back to life, and that oddly interesting gaze met his. “You know the parade route for tomorrow?”
He lifted his smart phone up for view. “I can pull up everything we need. It starts on Abercorn Street near Forsyth Park.”
“Then that’s where we start.” She walked off and Devon let her lead the way.
What man wouldn’t want to follow something that fine?
He also took the opportunity to text Tzader a message. Not much for typing to begin with, Devon just punched in two words. Call me.
As one of the stronger telepaths among the Beladors, Tzader could reach across two hundred and fifty miles from Atlanta. His rumbling voice entered Devon’s mind. What’s up, Dev?
Devon didn’t have that level of ability, but once Tzader initiated the contact, Devon could respond. Have a situation we need to handle carefully. A troll got his hands on a Noirre fixation spell.
How’d that happen?
Devon explained about his investigation to this point. He finished by saying, Lambert got the spell from Coldfinger.
You bag the leprechaun?
No. Lambert tested the spell on him.
Joleen glanced back at Devon with a questioning look about his lagging behind. He smiled and held the phone sideways as if busy working on the parade route that he already knew.
She shook her head and kept walking.
Tzader said, Call me when you contain Lambert. I’ll send a team to transport him.
If only it was that easy. Devon added, One problem. I’m pretty sure Lambert plans to use the spell during the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Why?
Devon went through how the spell functioned, adding, Got some help from a bounty hunter. She knows her stuff.
She?
Hellfire. Tzader wouldn’t like this. Devon said, Joleen Mac.
What’s she doing there?
This is where things got tricky. Devon wasn’t sure how any of this would play out, but he still owed Jo big time and didn’t want her marked as a VIPER target for interfering. Jo was hunting one of the trolls. We intercepted the deal in progress at the same time. She’s agreed to help.
After a brief silence, Tzader said, I’ll bring in every available agent by tomorrow morning.
That could be risky without knowing where Lambert plans to release the spell. If the team is too close they could be compromised.
We’ll stay a hundred yards away. You find Lambert.
The connection died just as Devon reached Abercorn Street.
Jo waited for him on the sidewalk. “Lambert wouldn’t be down here on the streets even with a Svart team. He’d be up there.” She pointed to the rooftops.
“Then that’s where we’re headed.”
By the time Devon had walked Jo across every rooftop on the parade route, twice, Jo finally agreed with Devon on the best place to expect Lambert to show. They’d passed that spot the last time a mile ago.
The plan was to hunker down on roof of a building next to the one where they expected Lambert.
On the way back, Devon picked up a succulent meal from the Sapphire Grill. Who knew when he’d see the sexy Joleen Mac again? Looked like a good spot for a rooftop picnic. He’d like to also squeeze some information out of her, but pulling gold out of a troll’s fist would be easier. And she sounded exhausted from tracking Lambert for two days.
Plus, too many questions might snap the thin commitment of this short-term alliance.
When she finished eating, Jo frowned. “Lambert won’t arrive until he’s ready to unleash the spell...unless he comes by early to scope the location.”
“Sounds right to me.” Devon got up and stretched, taking in the city lights coming to life beneath a blanket of darkness. A yellow glow hovered over River Street where tourists and locals would soon be enjoying Savannah’s nightlife.
“You got first watch,” she ordered and leaned back, closing her eyes, not waiting for his agreement.
He considered settling down beside her to keep watch, but that might end with her waking up in his arms. Which could end in one of two ways—with him finishing that kiss they’d started the last time, or getting his head handed to him.
If he didn’t have to watch for a murdering troll, he might just risk it to taste that mouth again.
#
Seven hours later, crowds packed the sidewalks on each side of the parade walk below. For six of those hours, Devon had debated on how he could keep Jo out of danger’s way. If he so much as suggested it, she’d laugh in his face.
But that didn’t stop the bad feeling creeping up his spine.
Jo stepped up beside Devon, who leaned forward against a chest-high parapet. She looked over the edge to the lower roof of the next building. “You sure about this?”
“Sure about the location or making that thirty-foot leap the minute Lambert shows his ugly mug?”
“The jump.” She straightened and faced him. “Or aren’t you concerned about breaking both of your legs?”
Did that mean she was worried about him? He shouldn’t be enjoying this, but he liked the possibility that Jo wouldn’t like to see him hurt. That’d mean he was right to think she’d enjoyed their kiss as much as he had, but he’d like a refresher kiss to add to his collection of Jo memories.
Since she was waiting on a reply, Devon shrugged. “I can handle that jump.”
She must have read something in his face, because she scowled at him. “Is making a death-defying leap another boy thing like kicking in doors?”
Devon lifted his hand slowly and rubbed his knuckles along her cheek. “I won’t let you get hurt.”
She cocked an eyebrow at him. “I’m not the one in danger of ending up crippled.”
“So you can fly?” Would he finally get to see just what kind of power she had?
Ignoring him, she shifted her gaze toward the direction of the approaching crowds.
Marching band music and crowds cheering surged from a distance. The thick of the parade would be right below them in another couple minutes.
“Where’s Lambert?” Jo wondered out loud.
“Right here, Jo baby,” Lambert said from behind them.
Dammit. Right idea, wrong rooftop.
Devon noted how Jo still leaned her arms on the short wall in front of them, but moved her fingers inside her jacket and slid out a short stick she kept hidden before turning around.
She gave Lambert a disgusted look and warned, “You’d be making a big mistake to use that spell on us.”
“That’s what Goldfinger said.” The glamoured troll produced a glowing pocket watch in one hand, thumb resting against the clasp, ready to pop the cover.
Devon considered their options. Would a field of kinetic power shoved at Lambert do anything against the Noirre majik controlled by that watch? Only one way to find out. He started to lift his hands.
Jo sighed and whispered, “Don’t.”
Did she have a better tactic? One that would stop the troll from freezing them? Or was this part of her plan to snake her bounty out from under Devon?
Decision time. He wasn’t sure he could stop Lambert on his own and his gut said to trust her. He whispered, “Okay. I’ll back you up.”
Lambert asked, “Any last words, Jo?”
&nb
sp; She smiled. “Never assume all opponents are equal.”
“They are when I hold this. Admit it. I beat you.” Lambert lifted the pocket watch higher.
Devon tensed, fighting the urge to use his kinetics.
Jo moved so quickly Devon barely caught the motion. In the microsecond that Lambert’s thumb moved to the clasp release, Jo pointed a pencil-sized length of carved wood at him. It lengthened as she rattled off a chant.
Power met power halfway between Lambert and Jo.
The backlash of energy hit Jo and Devon. He caught her arm just before she’d have flipped over the wall and used his kinetics to shove them forward.
When the power cleared, Lambert stood frozen with a mask of shock.
What the hell? Devon stared at Jo. Wizard? Mage?
Jo walked over to Lambert. “He didn’t get a direct hit of the Fixit spell when it backlashed. Might not hold him long.”
She pulled a titanium shackle from inside
her jacket and snapped it around Lambert’s neck.
He roused, muttering, “Bitch.”
Devon clubbed the troll with his elbow, knocking the slimy bastard to the ground. Once he clamped a pair of titanium cuffs on Lambert’s wrists, Devon smiled, ready to offer Jo a celebration meal.
Then lost his grin.
She held the closed pocket watch that was still loaded with the Noirre spell.
Ah hell. “Don’t, Jo. If you freeze me long enough to snatch Lambert, I’ll have to report you...oh. Guess I won’t remember.”
“No, you wouldn’t.”
With powers like hers, what was a woman like Jo even doing with Dakkar? The answer hit Devon between the eyes. She didn’t need money, but she did have to deliver a quota to keep Dakkar happy, which meant Dakkar represented a safe zone.
Jo was hiding from something or someone.
She walked over to Devon, hand extended, offering the watch. “I would never use the dark arts. Just wanted you to know I could have.”
His chest eased with relief. He took the watch from her and shoved it in his jacket pocket. “Fair enough. Lambert’s yours.”
Her voice lit with suspicion. “What about VIPER?”