Wicked Wings

by Keri Arthur

  “Yes,” Ashworth said. “Why?”

  “I’ll get Ciara to analyze them. We’ll at least know whether they belonged to a human or animal.”

  Ashworth grunted and then leaned forward to put a plastic bag into the center console. “Just in case I get sidetracked and forget later.”

  “Thanks.”

  The deeper we moved into Moonlight Flats area, the narrower and rougher the roads got. Acreage properties soon gave way to scrubland, and the road began to climb. It was the perfect area for hawks and eagles to hunt, which made me wonder why—if our shifter had decided to bunk down in this area—she was seeking prey in more distant forests. Not that the diggings area was very far away, especially by wing.

  “Here—stop here,” Ashworth said, and scrambled out the minute Aiden did.

  I grabbed my gear and followed him out. Once I’d pulled out the flashlight, I hooked my arms through the backpack’s shoulder straps and scanned the area. The cicadas weren’t as noisy here, which meant the haunting note of an owl was clearly audible. The wind stirred restlessly through the trees, and the moon silvered the wattles. Nothing moved through the immediate darkness, not even the little bats that were plentiful in this area. Though Castle Rock was little more than ten minutes away, it seemed like we were in the middle of nowhere.

  Ashworth walked around the truck and then into the trees lining the road, raising his free arm to brush away the lower-hanging branches. Aiden caught them as they whipped back, only releasing them once I’d moved past.

  We wound through the trees, moving deeper into the forest. There was some movement to be heard now—possums or sugar gliders scrambling away from us, no doubt—but overall, the forest remained quiet. It was almost as if the trees were holding their collective breath.

  Tension stirred through me, even though the gentle breeze held no hint of evil and there was no whisper of a threat.

  “Ashworth,” I asked eventually, “are we getting any closer?”

  I couldn’t help the uneasiness in my voice, and Aiden glanced sharply over his shoulder. “You’re sensing something?”

  I hesitated. “Not exactly.”

  “Which is generally a precursor to ‘yes, I am’ and then hell breaking loose.” His voice was grim. “Ashworth?”

  “As I said earlier, the resonance is so faint, there’s no guarantee the spell will actually lead us to our shifter.”

  “But you’re still picking up a signal?”

  “I wouldn’t be trudging through this goddamn forest if I wasn’t, laddie.”

  Aiden snorted and glanced at me. “I don’t suppose you can define the direction of whatever—”

  The rest of his words were cut off by a scream.

  A horrendous, high-pitched scream.

  The same sort of scream last night’s victim had uttered before death had swept in and ripped his flesh from his bones.

  Five

  Aiden leaped forward, his form swiftly changing from human to wolf.

  “Wait for us!” I yelled.

  He didn’t. I swore and hastily cast a spell after him. It hit just as he leaped over a log and disappeared from sight. For one horrible second, I thought I’d missed. Then the spell came to life and a sparkling thread appeared in the air, spooling out between Aiden and me, providing a visible trail to follow.

  Ashworth immediately did so, leaping the log with surprising dexterity. “I hope he’s wearing the charm you made him, because he could be in a whole world of trouble if the flesh stripper is the cause of that scream.”

  “The only time he takes it off is when I need to add another spell layer.” And while the ‘repel demons’ spell I’d attached to the charm was fairly general, it should still protect him from this demon long enough for us to catch up with him. “What about the directional beacon on the feather? Has it changed at all?”

  “Yes—it’s now ahead of us.”

  “Suggesting she heard the scream and decided to investigate.”

  “Possibly, although you’d think anyone with any sort of sense would be running in the opposite direction.”

  “We’re not.”

  “Yes, but I’m paid to run after bad guys, and you’re the reservation’s chosen guardian.”

  I opened my mouth to argue, then snapped it shut again. While Aiden’s sister—who, via a spell cast by her witch husband, was now forever a part of the wild magic—was the true guardian here, few knew that. And because she was something more than spirit, I was basically the only one she could communicate with. Thanks, no doubt, to my own growing connection with this place.

  The screaming stopped abruptly, and silence returned. It was eerie. Unnerving.

  Ashworth swore and picked up his pace. For an old man, he moved damn fast. I did my best to keep up with him, batting branches away from my face but tearing clothes and skin. It didn’t matter. Nothing did, except getting to the attack point not too far behind Aiden.

  A thick sense of evil now stained the drifting breeze. I swallowed heavily and wove a repelling spell around my fingers. A spell to cage whatever evil lay ahead would have been far better, but I had no idea if the cages I could construct were strong enough to contain a demon so powerful it could strip flesh from bones in a matter of minutes.

  The trees abruptly gave way to a small, rock-strewn track. Ashworth skidded to a halt, brown dust pluming around his legs as he looked around and then turned left, following the faint glimmer down the road.

  I followed, my gaze on the uneven ground rather than the scrub on either side. Even so, I was aware that the locator thread no longer spooled; Aiden had stopped.

  I hoped he was okay. Hoped the silence meant the demon had fled, even if it also meant we were once again too late to save whoever had been attacked.

  The track widened and the pulse of my spell grew stronger. I found speed from who knew where and all but flew over the ground, catching up to Ashworth and then pulling slightly ahead. Had Aiden in any way been in danger, Katie would have no doubt come to get me, but I still needed to see him with my own eyes.

  Which said a whole lot more about the depths of my feelings for the man than I really wanted to think about.

  The trees thinned out and the road flattened. A figure appeared up ahead, his hair silvered by the moonlight. Relief surged but just as swiftly died.

  Aiden might be okay, but death now rode in the air, and it was accompanied by such a fierce wave of confusion and agony that it sent me stumbling.

  Ashworth grabbed me before I hit the ground. “You okay, lassie?”

  I dismissed the tendrils of the repel spell from around my fingers and then nodded. “It’s the backwash of the victim’s emotion. You go on; I’ll try to strengthen my shields.”

  He hesitated long enough to ensure I wasn’t about to fall over again and then continued toward Aiden. I retreated just beyond the reach of the emotional wave then took a deep breath and concentrated on my shields. I needed to double down on what already existed, rebuilding the unseen walls just as I’d been taught so long ago, before adding the tweaks I’d learned since. Only this time, those tweaks involved the wild magic. It was in me, a part of me, and even in something as simple as this—something that didn’t involve magic, but rather mental strength—it would not be denied.

  Which is a bit of a worry, really, came Belle’s comment.

  I think that qualifies for the understatement of the year.

  She chuckled softly. I can help with additional shielding, if you want. It’ll only be temporary, but that’s all you need right now.

  Hang on, and I’ll test the psychic waters.

  I finished shoring things up then drew in a deep breath and took several steps forward. The wave of emotion washed around me, but it held none of the fierceness of before. I moved closer, ready to jump back the second it became too much. The dark wave grew stronger, a turbulence that would wash me away the second my shields wavered. They didn’t.

  Excellent, Belle said. But I’ll remain in contact an
d jump in the second they do.

  Thanks.

  Aiden glanced up as I approached. “You okay? You look a little pale.”

  I nodded and stopped beside him. The bones once again sat on the edge of a crossroad, although this one was little more than the intersection of two walking tracks. They were also somewhat scattered rather than either buried or neatly piled, and I couldn’t help but wonder why. It almost looked as if there’d been some sort of feeding frenzy… I swallowed heavily, then switched off the flashlight and shoved it in my pocket. I really didn’t need to see anything more.

  Ashworth stood several feet away from the bulk of the remains, probing them magically. After a few more seconds, he grunted and stepped back. “There’s nothing dangerous here.”

  Aiden walked closer. I remained where I was. My shields might be holding but I didn’t want to push them.

  “And the demon?” Aiden asked.

  “Long gone.” Ashworth pulled the feather from his pocket. The spell had faded to the point where it was little more than a faint spark. “And the shifter has also left the area.”

  “Could the shifter and this demon be connected?” Aiden asked.

  Ashworth hesitated. “It’s always possible, but the shifter’s trail was heading in the opposite direction until the victim screamed.”

  “Maybe she raced here in order to join in on the fun.” I rubbed my arms and did my best to ignore the blood slowly dripping from the leaves above the main pile of bones.

  Aiden glanced at me. “Shifters don’t eat humans.”

  “Evil shifters might. I don’t think we dare discount the possibility.”

  “Agreed,” Ashworth said heavily. “How long until Ciara gets here, Ranger?”

  Aiden glanced at his watch. “It’ll be Luke rather than Ciara, and he lives near Maldoon. It’ll probably be another ten or fifteen minutes before he arrives.”

  I wasn’t sure I could stand here that long. The dark wave might not be sweeping me away, but it continued to press against my newer shields and might eventually break them down.

  “I think I’ll head back to the truck—there’s not much I can do here anyway.” I met Aiden’s gaze. “And yes, I can find the way back without you having to escort me.”

  A smile twitched his lips. “I wasn’t about to suggest you couldn’t, but—”

  “You’ve a crime scene to process,” I cut in, perhaps a little more curtly than necessary. “And there’s nothing I can do here that Ashworth can’t.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “As I was about to say, it’d be quicker if you followed the path behind you. It heads out onto the main track we drove up here on. If you turn left and follow the road around the sweeping bend, you’ll find the truck.”

  “Oh. Thanks.”

  His smile got stronger. “If you do happen to get lost, shout. I’ll hear.”

  “I will.”

  I spun around and quickly retreated. The moonlight provided enough light to see by, so I didn’t bother using the flashlight. Thankfully, the emotional wave fell away quickly and the normal sounds of the night returned, free of any sort of death or danger. I drew in a deep breath and released it slowly. Hopefully, that would be—

  Don’t, Belle cut in. You’re only tempting fate if you finish that sentence.

  I couldn’t help smiling. I think even fate would agree she’s thrown enough shit our way tonight.

  Belle groaned. Seriously, you had to do it—had to tempt her.

  I chuckled softly. Did you manage to find anything in the books?

  There was a vague mention about Empusa, who are demons that feed on the flesh of men, particularly those who are sleeping and/or virgins.

  None of our victims were sleeping. Whether or not they’d been virgins would be impossible to discover unless Belle contacted their souls.

  Which we might have to do if we don’t quickly get a handle on what we’re dealing with.

  Technically, we shouldn’t be dealing with anything.

  Her mental snort echoed loudly. You no more believe that we’ll ever be allowed to step away from these investigations than I do. Not now.

  Which was another of those statements I couldn’t disagree with. Did you find much else about them?

  Not in this book, although she did mention a fun fact—Empusa were once thought to be demigoddesses who had a leg of bronze and the foot of a horse.

  Something that wouldn’t go unnoticed in the general population, I’m thinking.

  Which is why they’re more likely to be hiding out in a remote area. It could also explain why their victims are being found in such places.

  The scrub behind Monty’s isn’t exactly remote, and the first two victims were found there. An owl hooted softly, a haunting sound in the silence. Uneasiness stirred, even though there was nothing in the air or the night to suggest danger. I frowned and picked up the pace. Was there any suggestion on how to track or kill an Empusa if that is what we are dealing with?

  No. As I said, the mention was vague, but it at least gives us a possible starting point. She paused. Damn it, Monty’s just arrived at the café.

  Why the hell is he there at this hour? He should be home resting.

  She didn’t immediately answer, no doubt scanning Monty’s thoughts to see what he was up to. He rang Eli to see what was happening, because Ashworth wasn’t answering his phone. He’s coming here because I wouldn’t answer mine.

  I snorted. So you basically brought this visit on yourself. No sympathy.

  I’ll remember that comment the next time I have to make you a revive potion.

  You couldn’t possibly make them taste any worse than they already do.

  I wouldn’t bet on that.

  Neither would I, actually. If you don’t want to entertain him until I return, throw him in the Outback and come pick me up. He can wait next to Aiden’s truck and get a direct update.

  That means putting up with his chatter for the fifteen minutes it’ll take to get there.

  Better than entertaining him for the hour or so he’ll wait until I get back.

  Point. See you soon.

  As her thoughts left mine, the owl hooted again, and that surely meant there wasn’t much around to disturb it. So why was I suddenly so spooked?

  I rubbed my arms and continued on. Up ahead, the trees arched over the path, blocking the moon’s light and creating a tunnel of deeper darkness. Though I could see moonlight at the far end, my steps nevertheless slowed. No sense of wrongness or evil rode the breeze, and yet…

  I shivered and got the flashlight out, but the bright light only made the shadows seem that much more threatening. It was possible—more than possible—I was reacting to things that didn’t exist. That after the discovery of an evil shifter and another flesh-stripped victim, the psychic part of me simply expected something else to happen. Death didn’t always travel in threes, but I had chanced fate with my comment to Belle. It’d be just my luck that this was the one time fate was listening.

  I flexed my fingers and wove another repelling spell around them. As protection spells went, it was pretty much a good all-rounder that would counter most things intent on evil, be they supernatural or human. And the charm around my neck could protect me from the rest.

  I hoped.

  I marched on, my gaze on the inky shadows beyond the light’s beam. Nothing moved… but even as that thought crossed my mind, something did.

  My heart leaped into my throat, but almost immediately dropped again. Wild magic. It was nothing more than wild magic.

  I swallowed heavily and continued. The threads drifted toward me, pulsing brightly in the shadows, a song of power I could both see and hear. Its source was the main wellspring, which was positioned within the O’Connor compound, and it really shouldn’t have been out in such force here. Or, for that matter, anywhere else. Not now that it had been contained and protected.

  It’s not like either of us knows much about the stuff, came Belle’s comment. For all we know, this behavior
is very normal for wellsprings, protected or not.

  Possibly. Where are you and Monty?

  Just reached the Moonlight Flats Road, so about eight minutes away.

  I’m farther up the track than Aiden’s truck.

  We’ll find you.

  Of that I had no doubt. I just hoped she did so before the odd feeling of unease crystalized into a reality.

  More wild magic emerged from the trees; it chased away the shadows and shone off the overarching branches, silvering the leaves. A couple of threads twined themselves around my right wrist, making it look as if I were wearing a bracelet of glowing moonlight. While the sheer closeness of its power made the hairs on my arms stand on end, I nevertheless felt safer. And that, I suspected, was its intention. Whether it also meant there was something out there to fear, I couldn’t say.

  I flexed my fingers and kept walking. The majority of the wild magic floated beside me, the gentle hum of its energy rolling across the night. As I drew closer to the end of the tunnel, all but a couple of those threads faded away. The remainder continued to pace me, and I had a distinct feeling there was a purpose behind its actions. Which shouldn’t be possible, because the wild magic wasn’t sentient—unless, of course, my connection to it worked both ways, and it was drawing as much from me as I was from it.

  It was yet another scary thought, and one that made me wonder where it would all end.

  I came out into the moonlight and took a deep breath. It didn’t ease the tension within; the wild magic still paced me, still encircled my wrist, and that only amplified the belief that it was here for a reason.

  After a few minutes, with the main road finally in sight, the threads pacing me darted sideways and disappeared into the scrub on the left-hand side of the trail. When I didn’t follow, they returned and tugged lightly at my hand. It was then I heard a soft voice say, Follow.

  Katie.

  Her energy—her soul—had somehow infused the magic of the main wellspring.

  Only when you are connected, came the response. Follow.

  I glanced down at the bracelet of wild magic. It was obviously the connection, but the fact it had obeyed Katie suggested the spell that had been cast to make her part of the younger wellspring’s magic was now affecting the main one—something else that shouldn’t have been possible given spells normally died when the caster did.