Bounty Hunters and Black Magic

by Kristen Banet

  “I missed you, boy,” she murmured, watching as the others mounted. Easton and Remy took the leads of the demons’ horses. In only a few moments, they were off.

  26

  Adalyn

  They didn’t go back to Adalyn’s house. Valen redirected them to the saloon, asking if they would stay in the apartments over the saloon.

  “Why?” she asked, groaning in exhaustion. They had ridden all night, except for one break, where they used water from Maxwell’s waterskin to clean her wounds. She had told them how her last couple of days had gone after being taken. Dawn had come. She hadn’t had a restful sleep in days. She wanted her bed.

  “Because you don’t want to see your house right now, little witch,” Valen said softly.

  She leaned over, closing her eyes to try and block out the sun, nodding. That made sense. “How bad is it?”

  “I’ll help you clean it up,” he murmured sympathetically.

  She nearly laughed. That bad, huh? I guess I will go to the saloon, then.

  Once in front of the saloon, she slid off Dark Prince slowly, aching. Someone kindly grabbed her arm and she smiled up to Easton, who just held her securely for a moment.

  “I know we stopped and treated your injuries, but do you have anything at home for them?”

  “Yes!” She pointed up at him, remembering the lotion. “I have an ointment that I keep on hand to treat wounds so they don’t scar. Um, Maxwell? You know where I keep it, don’t you?”

  “I’ll get it for you.” He didn’t even get off his gelding. He tapped its sides and was off.

  “Thank you,” she called. Easton escorted her inside and she just said goodnight, heading straight up the stairs. It wasn’t even night. It wasn’t even midday.

  I’m going to sleep. I’ll deal with the world tomorrow.

  She pulled off her dirty clothing the moment she made it into the room. A few minutes later, someone knocked and she groaned. “I’m undressed,” she called.

  “Check the room next to you. There’s a bath, and I’ll have Maxwell bring up your lotion when he gets back.”

  “Oh, thank you so much, Valen!” Gratitude filled her. Clean.

  She darted through the door and found the bath he mentioned. She sank into the hot water, moaning in pleasure. The first thing she looked at was her leg. It wasn’t the worst thing she’d ever done to herself. The actual rash from the fall was two hand lengths long down her thigh and a hand width wide. The bruising was bad and went from her hip to her knee. Her ribs were just grazed. A bloody graze, but that wasn’t serious either. It didn’t even need stitches in the eyes of the men.

  She closed her eyes, sinking down lower so her hair could get wet. She lost track of time, maybe even fell asleep for a moment, until there was a knock on the door.

  “You can bring it in, Max,” she said loudly.

  The door creaked open and she could tell he was trying not to look at her. It wasn’t anything he’d never seen before, but she didn’t tease him. He’d helped her a lot over the recent days. He held it out and she took it, looking it over for a moment, then uncorked and sniffed. It was still good. The ointment had a tendency to go bad when it sat on her shelf too long.

  “Max?” she murmured before he could sneak back out. He tilted his head as he stopped in the doorway. “You were right. I made some mistakes through all of this. I shouldn’t have done anything on my own. My judgement was clouded. Thank you for coming to help me.”

  “You were doing really well when we got there. A lot of people would have gotten killed, and you handled it well. As well as you could, anyway.” She saw him smile from his profile, a small one. A very begrudging Maxwell smile. “And I’m sorry for not having any confidence in you and my attitude with you. You’re a skilled witch.”

  “I still don’t like you, Max,” she called as he continued out after that.

  “Likewise, Addy,” he replied, closing her back in.

  “We have to talk!” she called louder. There wasn’t a response. They still had way too much to talk about, like her black magic, like where he was when William died.

  Tomorrow. I can deal with all of that tomorrow.

  She finished her bath and toweled off. As she sat on the edge of the bed, she applied the ointment gently over her injuries. Twice a day for a couple of weeks and she knew she would be fine.

  Then she leaned back, letting her head hit the pillow, and was asleep in moments.

  Adalyn didn’t know what time she woke up. It was dark, that much was certain. She felt like she’d slept for a day, at least. On the dresser across the room, clean clothes were put out. She probably had Maxwell or Valen to thank for those.

  She dressed, wondering what she was going to find. It was dark, but she didn’t hear the sounds of the saloon, the music or dancing. It was oddly quiet. Maybe Valen has a sound spell or something around the apartments. I should ask him. They obviously work better than mine.

  She walked out, thinking then she might hear things, but still, it was fairly quiet. The only change was that she could hear some soft talking. That made her curious.

  She walked downstairs into the back of the saloon and peeked into the main area. She was shocked by what she saw.

  “I’m for the idea,” Madam whispered in her quiet, powerful way. An ancient vampire, Madam’s real name was unknown, and no one ever bothered to ask her for it. She ran the brothel next to the saloon, keeping the vampires in line so that they could enjoy the same peaceful existence as everyone else in Redstone. “Honestly, it’s a natural fit.”

  “Recently, there was a case where she proved she cares about the town and its inhabitants. One of my younger werewolves caused her a small inconvenience and she brought it to me instead of just shooting him. I wouldn’t have blamed her for it.” Lawrence shrugged. “Has she considered it?”

  “She doesn’t know I’ve put the option on the table. She’s tired from her recent…adventure,” Valen answered, grinning.

  “Yes. That. That is exactly why this is a bad idea,” Forrest snapped. “She’s a little witch with no respect for the rules, no respect for other people, and no respect for her place.”

  “I think she’s done more to help this town, if Valen is correct, than any of us have thought about in the last year,” Lawrence retorted. “None of us have started considering what to do if last year’s event happened again. We’re trying to just make do and hope it doesn’t. We’re the ones being short-sighted. She’s trying to look to the future.”

  “She’s on a revenge quest for William,” one male in the back said loudly. “Don’t kid yourself. That might not extend to actually protecting the town.”

  She knew the voice. It was her father-in-law, David. Callen and William’s father. He’d always been a bit of a stick-in-the-mud, never happy over William’s choice in a wife. They hadn’t been openly hostile to each other, but never as close as William had hoped. It didn’t help that William’s father was the official shifter Alpha, regardless of the shifter type. He ran them all, including Forrest.

  She knew what she was listening to, but she didn’t know why. Why was she the discussion of a Town Meeting? Why had the leaders of Redstone come together to talk about her?

  “I say, why not?” the werecat Alpha, Felicity, jumped in. “Better to fill the role with anyone than leave it empty and have to keep cleaning up messes in a disorganized fashion like we have. If I can be an Alpha of my Pride, and I’m literally a pussy with a pussy, why can’t she be sheriff? Madam runs the brothel. We’re both in charge of the Treasury for Redstone.”

  Adalyn coughed and walked out, staring wide-eyed at Felicity. Then she turned to Madam and finally Valen.

  “Good morning,” Valen greeted her, smiling. “I hope we weren’t too loud.”

  “No,” she answered softly. “Did I just hear what I thought I heard?”

  “Yes,” David growled, annoyed. “Valen here thinks you should fill the position of sheriff. He called us all here to discuss the motion.�
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  She glanced back at her previous father-in-law. He didn’t seem angry, just annoyed, like the idea was so bad that he couldn’t be bothered with it.

  “I mean, you know my vote. Adalyn doesn’t follow the law; why should we think she’ll uphold it?” Forrest waved a hand at her disrespectfully.

  She didn’t know the answer to that question either.

  “Because what is done to protect the people is far different than what is done to hurt them,” Maxwell said loudly. She turned to see him behind the bar, nursing a whiskey. “And when the law is broken by someone who just wants to help others, what I see is a sacrifice. Not a danger. To take responsibility, to take the risk of trouble, to help others.” He lifted his glass at her. “Plus, if she were a man, I would have tried to recruit her to the Magic Division years ago. Sadly, they do require a cock—but a town sheriff? That’s something no one can dictate. If none of the men want to step up, why shouldn’t a woman?”

  She was flabbergasted, her jaw dropping at his little speech. He finished his whiskey in a swallow. He’d just used her own words. She’d said that to him.

  And he thought she was right.

  “If it helps,” he continued, “I have a trip back East I need to take. I’m going to request that my bosses allow me to make Redstone my home so that I can properly help the town. I’ll still need to leave on cases, but I want to be here to assist.”

  “So you can get her up to speed while you’re here,” Lawrence murmured. She felt like her neck was going to spasm with how much it was turning. The werewolf Alpha had a thoughtful look on his face. “For. That’s my vote.”

  “For,” Madam agreed. Felicity went right after her.

  “Wait!” Adalyn snapped, flinging her hands out. “I haven’t agreed to any of this. Who said I wanted to be sheriff of Redstone?”

  “Adalyn, it’s exactly right for you,” Maxwell said behind her. “And it would keep you out of some…other trouble you and I would rather not talk about. There are some immunities granted to those in law enforcement positions.”

  She felt some blood rush out of her head.

  There had been a lot of things she was expecting when she woke up today. This was not any of them. I mean, how does one expect this?

  “I’m a woman,” she reminded him. “As you love to remind me.”

  “Remy said something about how in a Supe town, power is the most important thing, not what’s between someone’s legs,” Maxwell replied casually. “Looking at women like Felicity and Madam, looking at a woman like you, I find myself agreeing with him.”

  She nodded slowly, considering the most important people of Redstone around her. Once, William had been in her position, standing before them. He’d been the last surviving deputy of a shoot-out.

  Now here I am. Gods, I should go talk to him after this. I wonder if he’d get a laugh out of this or want to strangle me. I wish I had a chance to find out.

  She didn’t. She was in this position because she had lost him. They had all lost him, and that’s what led to this.

  “Is there anything I need to do?” she asked, straightening her shoulders and raising her chin.

  Madam stood up, smiling, along with several others. “Adalyn Lovett, are you applying for the position of sheriff of Redstone?” The vampire’s eyes shifted from her dark stare into that damned red.

  Madam actually makes it a little scary. Why does it work so well for her and not anyone else? Maybe it’s an age thing. She’s not trying to be scary, since she’s over that. Being scary is beneath her.

  That makes it terrifying.

  “I am.” Adalyn was proud her voice didn’t shake. She wanted this. It was perfect. She could protect everyone, which was all she’d ever wanted.

  “All in favor?” Valen called.

  Hands went up. A majority of hands.

  “Well, I think we have it!” Felicity sounded like a girl who just got her first pony. “Redstone’s new sheriff, everyone, Adalyn Lovett!”

  There was some polite clapping as she felt that reality sink in for a moment. She just became the sheriff of Redstone. Her. A wild magic witch, a woman, a widow. There were a couple of faces that didn’t look pleased, but they were Forrest and David. They were the only two who didn’t vote in favor. Forrest stormed out and David just sighed heavily, looking at her.

  “So, let’s talk business,” Felicity said brightly. “Come on!”

  Adalyn broke the gaze with David and followed the werecat Alpha to the bar. As she sat down, a drink appeared in front of her. It was whiskey.

  Oh, Valen. You are a damned lifesaver.

  “So, because there’s no mayor for Redstone, the bank and I manage paying out your monthly income. Madam keeps me honest over it, reviewing my books every month as well.” Felicity grinned. “You know, the sheriff’s income comes from a pooled tax on all businesses in town. Two hundred dollars a month, one hundred of it being for the sheriff.”

  That’s right. Money problems, good-bye!

  “Yeah, I remember now,” she replied. “And there’s an allowance for deputies as well, right? That’s the other half of the tax.”

  “There is! Fifty dollars a month for them, and you can have two paid deputies. Anyone else will either come out of your pocket or work as volunteers. Now, here’s the best part. We’ve been holding this tax in reserve since William died.” Felicity’s grin grew. “You know, since the longer we went without a sheriff, the more help said new sheriff would need getting everything set up. Consider it a starting bonus. I’ll expect roughly seventy-five percent of it used to improve the town in ways you think are necessary. The rest, I don’t care and I’m sure Madam doesn’t either.”

  Adalyn felt lightheaded again. That was so much money. She did the mental math. Thirteen months since William died. That meant there was twenty-six hundred dollars in the bank. For her as sheriff. “Oh.”

  “I broke her already,” Felicity said, giggling. “Oh fun!”

  “Please don’t break her,” Maxwell mumbled. “It wouldn’t be a good way to start her first day.”

  “How much do you get paid?” Felicity asked, sounding curious. Adalyn was still shell-shocked.

  “One hundred and fifty a month, but I have to pay many of my own travel expenses.”

  “Ah. I’ll have to remember that. Maybe in a year or two, we can finally talk about increasing the tax.”

  Adalyn’s hands shook as she took another sip of her whiskey.

  “Maybe you should give her the key to the office and jail, Valen,” Lawrence recommended, sitting on her other side.

  “Oh, that’s a fine idea!” Valen laughed and the keys appeared in front of her. “I don’t have the badge. Anyone else?”

  “I have it,” Maxwell whispered, suddenly a bit off. She looked over to him, frowning. He pulled it from his pocket. “I saw it on the mantle of your fireplace. I think…wearing his would be a good thing. For you. For him.”

  She blinked as she saw the silver badge get placed on the bar and slid down to her. She grabbed it, wrapping her hand around it tight.

  “You knew yesterday.” He must have picked it up with her lotion.

  “Valen and I had talked about it on our way to help you with a certain demon situation.”

  “Oh,” she murmured, putting her hand to her chest, the star badge held tightly.

  “Let’s put it on! You already look the part.” The werecat sounded much too excited.

  Adalyn looked down at her outfit. She really did. She’d just put on the clothes without thinking: a sturdy cotton blouse with a leather vest cut to fit her, thick denim jeans and dark leather chaps. Whoever went to get her clothes also found her cowboy boots and the spurs she never used. She hadn’t even considered it.

  Felicity took the badge from her, but it wasn’t her who put it on the vest. Valen stepped around his bar again and smiled down at her.

  “I think he would be proud of you. Proud that even after he was gone, you decided to take matters into your own
hands. That you tried to make sure we don’t lose another William. And I hope this new position helps you keep doing it.” He looked around and then back at her face. “Now the town and your friends can help you too. Sheriffs don’t get to keep secrets. Well, not a lot of them.”

  She nodded, unable to find words. She should have gone to them originally. She knew it. Now, she was going to be the Law. They would all look to her for peace, and she knew she wasn’t alone in it. They would know she was trying to help them and she would be able to keep trying to make sure, just like Valen said, that they didn’t lose another William. Another friend, husband, son, brother. He hadn’t been the only one lost that day either.

  “I had so many plans,” she admitted. “This wasn’t one of them, but I think it’s the best course. Thank you all so much for believing in me to do this.”

  “Hear, hear,” Maxwell said, raising a newly filled glass. The people left in the saloon joined him.

  27

  Adalyn

  Adalyn’s first act as sheriff was to go check in with her new office and the jail that she would be using. She unlocked the door and walked in slowly, letting memories wash over her.

  She had spent a lot of time in the building with William. She ran her hand over the reception desk as she walked by. She would need to clean it all. The entire place was covered in dust. She wiped it off her hand when she went into the back hallway to the offices. There were three offices, something William had renovated when he was in charge. Any deputies would share an office, the sheriff used his own, and there was an office just in case Maxwell showed up and needed to get some work done.

  She figured he would be there a lot more often now, if he was serious about moving permanently to Redstone. He can clean his own office. He’s an adult. I’ll do everything else.

  She smirked. Yeah, that was a good plan. She glanced through the dirty window to the marshal’s office and the smirk became a grin. He was going to need a bit of elbow grease. It would be good for him. She had a feeling the man had never cleaned a day in his life.