“One of the agents on our security detail. She’s the one who ordered the surveillance tapes.”
Why am I never surprised to learn a woman is behind trouble? “She wouldn’t happen to be a redhead with a nice smile, would she?”
His shocked look told me all I needed to know. “PM, your mole is most likely the young woman you believe is so attractive. I’d have your security detail pick her up for questioning if I were you.”
“I don’t want to know how you came up with that, but I’ll make the calls now. And thank you. I cannot tell you what a relief it is to know for certain about Miles.”
After he left I did a cleansing spell to rid myself of all this negative energy. Between the PM and Azir’s emotional dramas, I felt like I’d been sludged by a warlock.
Azir doesn’t have much more evidence than the prime minister. He believes his father is angry with him for liberating these women he’s protecting. I can’t find the father to tap into, so that one will have to wait. My gut tells me the brother’s a better target, but the sheik is doubtful.
Slept well last night and then woke up this morning feeling like something had gone terribly wrong at home. Tried to tap into Simone, Dr. Sam, Kira, and Caleb and came up with nothing. Someone very powerful is blocking me and it pisses me off.
Called on the cell but couldn’t get through to anyone. It’s the middle of the night in Sweet. Someone should be home.
Crap.
10 P.M.
Spells: 4
Dead guys: 1
Angry witches: 1
Should have checked my horoscope before I got out of bed this morning. Well, it wasn’t all bad.
The sheik and PM invited me to dinner at a restaurant nearby. It was one of the chic, dimly lit places where the clientele are dressed to the nines and the clinking of crystal is heard over hushed tones.
Felt a little out of place because I still hadn’t had time to shop for any warm clothes. Wore my mom’s sweater I stole when I was in New York and a pair of nice slacks. The sheik and PM dressed in dark suits and both looked elegantly handsome. Even Miles looked dapper—for a twerp.
Truth is, ever since my meeting with the PM, Miles has been extraordinarily kind. I wondered if he’d got wind of what had happened. I’m sure he heard about the redhead who had masterminded more than one plot to kill the PM. It’s been all over the news today. Wish I could say the PM’s troubles were over, but I’m afraid this mess with Azir will keep everyone on their toes for a long time to come.
We sat down at a table in a back corner that gave us privacy and at the same time a great view of the entire restaurant. The waiter handed me a menu and my displeasure at viewing the healthy fare must have shown on my face.
“What is it you always say, Bronwyn, ‘No worries’?” The sheik smiled at me.
“I’ve been known to say that once or twice.” The PM and Miles snorted in laughter.
The sheik’s smile broadened. “Well, you have no worries tonight. We’ve arranged for a selection of beef to be presented for your meal tonight.”
I couldn’t stop the big grin sliding across my face. “Beef?”
“Yes,” the PM interjected.
“Oh, I didn’t know you guys cared. I’m so flattered.” I fluttered my eyelashes and the men rolled their eyes. Of course I had to sit through two courses before they brought out a huge steak. It was worth every bite of salad and soup I’d taken.
Right in the middle of my private beef orgy, I felt a tingle of magic. I looked up to see if someone had entered the restaurant. No one new had come in so I began lightly sweeping the minds of the patrons.
At a table with a man and two women, I came across a block. One of the women turned to look at me as I threw my mind into hers. Nothing. She was a witch and she blocked me, which meant she had power.
She smiled and waved in a nonthreatening way. She motioned toward the ladies’ room and I nodded in agreement. Excusing myself from the table, I whispered a protection spell for my charges and the others in the restaurant. I didn’t think she meant any harm but one can’t be too careful these days.
Wearing a royal blue dress and stiletto heels, the brunette beauty opened her bag in front of the mirror and pulled out a lipstick.
“Are you Bronwyn?” she inquired as I walked through the door.
I looked at her in the mirror. “Yes.”
“I am Lesha, a friend of Garnout’s. I wish you no harm.”
The formal greeting made me laugh. Garnout must have warned her to be up-front because I’m not known for patience when it comes to confronting witches and warlocks.
“Lesha, it is nice to meet you.” I stuck out my hand and felt her magic as she gave mine a light squeeze. “How do you know Garnout, and how did you end up here?”
“Garnout was my magical arts instructor at university years ago and I’m here visiting the friends you saw at the table. They don’t know I’m a witch, which is why I asked you to come in here.
“But that’s not the only reason.” She cleared her throat. “There’s a price on your head and some very nasty warlocks are determined to collect. Millions of dollars are involved and I know because one of the warlocks is my brother Aruth. He’s an idiot who only recently started dabbling in dark magic. He and another man plan to attack you later this evening outside the home you are staying in.”
“Lesha, you know what I can do. Why would you warn me against your brother?”
“He is a fool, but I do not wish him dead. I thought perhaps—if it’s possible, could you spare his life? I want to get him help and I will if you let him live.” A tear fell down her cheek and I heard the anguish in her voice, as well as her heart.
She was a good witch, I had no doubt, but I could not promise what she wanted.
“I only ask if it is possible, and please know there will be no ill will on my end. No matter what happens. He has caused great pain to my family and is considered a traitor to them, but I must try to help him if I can. We are centuries of witches and warlocks who have done nothing but good and he has tarnished our name.”
“I’ll do what I can, but you have to understand—”
“I know. Honestly, his life does not deserve to be spared, but he is my brother.”
My brother, Brett, drives me insane, and even though I hardly ever see him, I know I would be just as protective. It’s difficult to let go of our loved ones even when they disappoint us.
She gave me the details of the attack and we returned to our respective tables. After finishing our meal, I prepared the PM, Miles, and Azir for the battle about to take place.
Miles rode with me, and the PM and Azir took another limo. Azir wasn’t happy with the plan and said more than once that his security team could take care of the problem. But I fight my own battles. I told him it was some kind of creed. It isn’t, but he never needs to know. I don’t like non-magical folks involved in my fights. Someone always gets hurt when that happens.
I saw the tail as we turned the first corner past the restaurant.
“I’ll have the driver let me out on the corner, and act as if I need some fresh air,” I told Miles. “You have him take the car to the back of the house. I need you, the PM, and Azir behind the walls of my protection spell so I don’t have to worry about you while I’m fighting the bad guys.”
“I’ll make sure we are all inside,” he promised and shifted in his seat to look back at the tail. “Bronwyn, before we begin all this, I must tell you thank you for clearing my name. The prime minister told me everything and even that he suspected me, though how he could ever—”
The twit was grateful? Go figure.
“It must be difficult for you, but I can tell you honestly that it was equally so for the prime minister. He refused to believe wholeheartedly that you were behind the attacks.” I don’t know why I wanted the pansy ass to feel better but I did.
He took my hand in his and squeezed. “Thank you for being a friend.”
Well, that pushed the limit; with friends l
ike Miles who needs…But I didn’t want to ruin our special moment. “No worries. Now here we are. I’m getting out and you do exactly what I asked.”
“Okay, but be careful.” He raised his hand in a tiny wave.
“Oh, Miles, please. Now be a good twer—boy and do what I said.”
The bitter cold whipped through the sweater I wore. I’d left the parka in the limo so that I would have more mobility. I’d only walked a few steps when I heard the roar of the engine as it came toward me. Cowards, they planned to run me down.
I turned and waited as the car came barreling forward. When it was about five feet away I leaped out of its reach and it swerved to keep from hitting a retaining wall. The car screeched to a halt and two men jumped out onto the street.
“Prepare to die, witch!” one of the men yelled as he raised his arms above his head.
“Let me guess: your name wouldn’t happen to be Aruth, would it?” He faltered a bit and his arms came back to his sides. Bad guys don’t like it when you personalize things.
“Your sister has asked me to spare your life.”
Oops, that didn’t work. The mention of his sister sent Aruth’s arms up again.
“My sister should mind her own business.” He threw a ball of fire at me. It flew just to my left and sizzled in the snow. So, the dark one actually had some power.
The other warlock moved to my right and I threw a stun to keep him still. It wouldn’t last long, but I needed time to deal with Aruth.
“Look, I promised your sister I’d try not to kill you.” Had my hands on my hips ready to go.
“That’s too bad because I very much want to destroy you.” He threw another fireball. I felt the heat as it passed by. Before it hit the ground I tossed it back to him and it landed at his feet.
The stun wore off the other warlock and he charged me. Why the hell didn’t he use his magic? It made no sense. Before I could hit him again with a stun he knocked me down and fell on top of me. The snow caused an instant chill that made my bones feel fragile. Damn, I hate the cold.
He smelled of too many cigarettes and schnapps. Fist shoved into my chest, he meant to crush me. I couldn’t catch my breath and I felt a moment of panic when my airway, constricted by his big, beefy hands, closed. I don’t know if the cold caused my slow response or the big dinner I’d ingested but as the blackness crept in I gathered my strength.
Brought my knee up to his groin with as much force as I could muster and tried to shove his balls up through his throat.
Angry, the giant fell off of me, clutching his crotch and moaning. I caught his mind in mine. Before I could even think about it, the pungent smell of sizzled flesh permeated the air. His nards were the least of his problems now.
He shouldn’t have knocked me into the snow.
He screamed in pain as the fire leaped out of his body and consumed him. Aruth stood still, watching his compatriot burn.
The hatred in his eyes left me no options. I’d have to kill him.
“Please, nooooo!” Lesha screamed from behind me. I had no idea if she yelled for me or for her brother, but it didn’t matter.
“Stay away, Lesha. I must kill the witch.” Her brother’s face contorted into an angry snarl.
“Aruth, I love you. Please don’t do this. I’m begging you. She’ll spare your life if you’ll come with me.”
His black eyes burned. “I have tasted the darkness. I cannot come back. I am damned, as are those who go against me.”
This time he directed the fireball at his sister. The look of shock on her face was quickly replaced by anger. She tossed it back at him and then spewed a spell.
Bind his arms
And his legs
Take his mind
For me to see;
So mote it be.
Aruth fell forward, paralyzed. Eyes open, he tried to speak but nothing came out. A large van pulled up in the snow and a group of men and women came out and picked him up.
“What’s going on?” I wiped the snow from my hair and hands. The stench from the ashes of the burning warlock turned my stomach.
“My family will take him to our home in Brussels.”
“You can’t convince someone to give up dark magic if he doesn’t want to.” I walked toward her.
“No, but I can keep him from harming others. Maybe with time, we can teach him to be whole again.” She stood shaking in the snow, the shock of her brother trying to kill her still evident on her face.
“You could have killed him in the beginning.” She said it as a statement, not as a question.
“Yes, but I was trying not to.”
“Thank you. From my heart and my family, we are most grateful.”
She climbed into the van with the others. The smell of burned flesh hung in my nostrils and I headed for the front door of the house. Looked up and saw three heads in the window. The sheik, the PM, and Miles waved at me.
I laughed at my little gang and then remembered the trouble I’d sensed from home. Time to make some more phone calls.
Fourteen
Tuesday, 10 A.M.
Somewhere over the Atlantic
On-the-road-again witches: 1
Possibly lost boyfriends: 1
A s I pass through time zones I hope my temper calms down. It’s a good thing I don’t have to pilot the jet because I’d probably be up there playing destruction derby with the airplane. I want to hit something really bad.
After fighting the warlocks I ran into the house to get warm. Changed clothes and then plopped my butt in front of the big fireplace in my room. Tried to breathe and cleanse my system, but the adrenaline coursed through my veins and I couldn’t ease my nerves.
My cell phone rang and Simone was on the other end. Her news is the reason I’m heading back home at a time when the sheik and the PM need me the most.
Seems a demon showed up in Sweet and everyone blames Simone. Not only do they want to kick her out of town, but they also want me to move. The nerve. Just because some nasty Nako demon shows up, that doesn’t mean Simone had anything to do with it.
“The sheriff claims they haven’t had a demon intrusion in more than five years,” Simone yelled over the static in the line. I moved around the room to get better reception.
“That doesn’t mean it’s your fault one showed up!”
“I know, but this town you moved to has a lot of rules. Like all of the witches are supposed to meet with the coven within one month of moving into town—”
Oops. I’d known that but had been in New York when they met that first month. Then Oslo when they convened again. “Okay, so I’m a bad witch for not registering, or whatever it is they want.”
“Well, that’s only one of the many things the sheriff ranted about for hours. You’re only part of the problem.”
“Why don’t you just give it to me.”
“They’re angriest about the fact I killed the demon in front of Lulu’s and I wasn’t discreet about it. How can you be discreet when killing a Nako?” Her voice rose higher as she continued her story.
“Didn’t seem to matter that he was getting ready to eat a little kid who was walking out of the diner with his mom.”
“What?”
“Yep. I’d been in town with Dr. Sam picking up groceries and I heard a scream. Turned and saw the eight-foot scaly Nako with his big yellow teeth ready to bite down on the kid.
“Ordered the Nako to put him down nice and calm-like. The demon gnashed his teeth, and Sam and I walked closer.”
There’s something wrong with me because right in the big middle of this story about a demon eating a little kid, I’m getting pissed off because Simone and Sam are shopping together. Argh! All I really want to know is if they are together.
I could hear the water running as she poured a glass of water from the tap and wondered whose house she was calling from.
“He just stood there in the door with the kid dangling in his big mitts. I didn’t have a knife, arrow, gun, or anything else to
use. I whispered to Sam to follow my lead and we took off. I rammed the demon with everything I had. The giant jerk only moved a foot or so but it was enough to knock the kid out of his hands. Sam caught the boy and ran him a safe distance away.
“Demon didn’t take kindly to me knocking the food out of his hands and he chased me to the center square. We fought hand to claw for what seemed like forever, but Sam said maybe five minutes.
“Then I hear some woman yelling, ‘Young lady, young lady…to kill a Nako you have to take his heart.’ No shit. I didn’t say that, though. I was polite and told her that I needed a weapon.
“By now I can’t tell if the blood all over me is mine or the demon’s. Sam yelled for someone named Ms. Helen to throw him a blade. He tossed it over the demon’s shoulder and I plowed it into his chest. Ripped out his tiny piece of a heart. Man, that big gaping hole smelled. Think rotten eggs mixed with bad hamburger. But you gotta admit Sam and I make a great team.”
No comment from me on that subject. “Well, from your story, sounds to me like Sweet should make you a hero.”
“You’d think. The kid’s mom was so thankful and when she and Ms. Helen heard about the sheriff tearing me down that they gave him an earful. I never did find out who Ms. Helen was.”
“She’s one of the women who runs Lulu’s,” I told her.
“Oh, well, I’m pretty sure she’s the one who told me to rip out the heart. And she’s a hoot. She had that sheriff by the ear. Well, not really, but she reminded me of a television mom when she grabs the kid by the ear for doing something bad.
“Unfortunately, she didn’t help my case much. He relented and gave me till the end of the week but he really wants me gone. And, um, they’re seriously reconsidering your welcome to Sweet. But I swear to you, Bronwyn, I just did what I had to do. Nobody wanted to see that kid get eaten. You would have done the same.”
“Don’t worry, you’re right. I would have. Make sure you treat any wounds the Nako gave you with that potion I left in the fridge. The one in the blue bottle. The demon’s blood may be toxic.”
“Oh, Sam’s already taken care of me.” With a hint of admiration in her voice.
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