Magic misled, p.27
Magic Misled, page 27
In the end, we were lucky and found a center strip parking spot only two blocks away, which meant we arrived at the café with five minutes to spare. The building itself was a small, two-story Victorian terrace, and quite popular if the babble coming out of it was anything to go by.
Ashworth stepped through the door first, holding it open with his fingers as he scanned the room, no doubt looking for our dark witch.
In truth, he wasn’t all that hard to spot, though not because he in any way stood out physically. The actually opposite was true. He was small, balding, and crumpled looking, but there was nothing simple or harmless about the energy he radiated. It felt like a wave of tiny fire ants crawled across my skin, making it twitch and burn.
If this was muted, God help us if he decided to unleash.
Ashworth wound his way through the tables and stopped in front of the dark witch. I stopped just behind Ashworth, unrepentantly using him to shield some of the waves of dark energy.
“Henry James?” Ashworth said.
“I think we’re both well aware I could be no one else, but I appreciate the politeness.” His voice, like his appearance, was mild. Unremarkable. Utterly deceptive. He motioned to a chair. “Please, sit.”
Ashworth did so. I remained exactly where I was. Henry’s gaze flicked over me and just as quickly dismissed me. Relief stirred. Obviously, it meant the inner shields were working, even if it felt like a storm raged deep within. Of course, that might well have been fear rather than magic.
Henry interlaced his fingers and leaned forward slightly. His expression was unconcerned, but his energy was ramping up. The ants had become hornets, and my breathing hitched a little.
“How may I help you?”
“We’re having problems at the Faelan Reservation with a woman who bears your mark on her cheek, and we’d appreciate any information you might be able to give us about her.”
Though Ashworth’s tone was ultra polite, the wash of his power increased sharply. He’d also lowered his shields a fraction, no doubt as a warning to the man sitting opposite. And while Ashworth would never be a match for a dark witch in his prime, Henry had fallen over that particular ridge a long time ago.
The dark waves eased, but my breathing didn’t. This man scared the hell out of me, and all I wanted to do was run for the door and get well away from the stain of his magic. The urge was so damn strong that I had to grip the back of Ashworth’s chair to remain still.
“There have been a few women over the years who’ve born my mark.” He raised an eyebrow, his black eyes glittering. He knew well enough who we were talking about. “I will need more information than that.”
“We believe she could be the daughter of Leesa Rhineheart.”
“Ah, then you could only be talking about little Honor.” A smile touched his lips, though there was nothing in the way of amusement or warmth. He picked up his cup and took a drink. “I want a guarantee that in providing you with the information you require, I will be given immunity for my actions. I’ve reached an agreement with my demons and now wish nothing more than to live what remains of my life in peace and without consequence.”
“I cannot give you such a blanket guarantee, Henry, and you’re well aware of that.”
He leaned back in his chair, his fingers playing lightly across the rim of his coffee mug. Darkness briefly rose and then fell away. “Are you willing to guarantee no investigation or repercussions for my actions in this particular case, then?”
“That I’m willing to agree to.”
“You swear this?”
“If you’ll swear that the information you give us is utterly truthful, then yes.” There was amusement in Ashworth’s voice. “I take it you’re recording our conversation?”
“By regular means and magical.” He reached into his pocket, drew out his phone, and placed it on the table beside his coffee. “You’re no doubt aware of the consequences of breaking an oath witnessed by darkness?”
“I am.”
“Then I also vow to this agreement.” Henry pressed the “end record” button on his phone. “Leesa Rhineheart hunted me down some thirty-five years ago. She wished to become a werewolf.”
“That’s not—”
I cut the rest off, but Henry’s gaze nevertheless rose to mine. I shivered. Now that he’d gotten an agreement about not being prosecuted for his actions in this matter, his mild-mannered projection had fallen by the wayside. What I saw in the darkness of his gaze was the souls of all those he’d killed in the long years of his life.
There were hundreds.
His mouth ticked, though the movement was too small to call it a smile. “Anything is possible if you have the power and knowledge, though something like this is not without its risks for the receiver. She was made well aware of this.”
I was betting that wasn’t the case, but I kept that thought to myself.
“Did you grant her request?” Ashworth asked. “And did she pay your blood price?”
“Yes and yes.”
“Did she say why she wished this?”
“She believed being a werewolf would make the man she desired both love and marry her. I daresay a love spell would have been easier in the end, but she wished the full journey.” He shrugged. “Who am I to shatter such dreams?”
“And was the spell successful?”
“In that she could shift shape, yes.” Another twitch of the lips. Another chill stole through my soul. “Unfortunately, neither of us were aware she was pregnant at the time. Powerful magic, be it light or dark, can sometimes invade and twist the cells of embryos, and the price paid can be horrendous.”
His gaze met mine again. He knew, I thought with horror. He knew about the wild magic. My grip on the chair back tightened yet again, but I met his gaze evenly and tried to restrain the fear churning through me. There would be consequences for that knowledge; perhaps not now, but definitely sometime in the future.
“This is what happened to Honor?” Ashworth said.
“Yes. She was born in a state of incompletion—neither human nor wolf, but a mix of both.”
It was a statement that immediately had me thinking about any children I might have with Aiden if our relationship did get that far. While Honor’s state was a result of the dark magic used to alter her mother’s DNA, it did present a rather stark reminder of what we might one day face.
Did I have the right to risk that? As much as I eventually wanted children, perhaps Katie’s statement that it would be better not to risk such a fate was in truth the only way to move forward.
But Aiden was an alpha. The desire—need, even—for offspring to continue his lineage was paramount. He would never have that with me.
I swallowed the bitter pill of realization and tried to concentrate on the ongoing conversation.
“And you raised her?” Ashworth was saying, “Trained her?”
“Of course. That was the price.” He hesitated. “Though I will admit I wasn’t expecting her to be infused with darkness, which of course made her far more useful.”
Meaning blood-wise, no doubt. Was it any wonder Honor was so screwed up?
“Was she also capable of using dark magic?” Ashworth asked.
Henry nodded. “It was more a force than a spell, though she was in the end quite capable of manipulating it into certain spells.”
“Such as appearing to disappear?” I asked.
His gaze rose to mine again, sending another shiver through me. “Yes.”
“What about Leesa?” Ashworth said, drawing the dark witch’s attention again. Deliberately, I suspected. “What happened to her?”
“She initially returned to the reservation but I believe was rejected most brutally by her man.”
“Do you know what happened to her after she gave birth and fulfilled her part of the bargain?”
“She stayed with me, of course. She had no place to go, and I had no desire to raise a child until she became useful.”
Meaning grown enough to become a source of blood and maybe even magic, given it also ran through her veins. “Is Leesa still alive?”
His gaze rose briefly. “No. The magic that enabled her to transform began to physically tear her apart, and she killed herself. Honor took her back to the reservation and buried her. I believe it was then that she vowed to take revenge on those who had so brutally rejected her mother.”
I hesitated, not really wanting to draw any more of his attention but nevertheless needing answers. “Do you know why Honor would be seeking vengeance now rather than when her mother died?”
He made a somewhat dismissive motion with his hand. “It was simply a matter of timing—she was too young and had little control over her power ten years ago. That is not the case now.”
“And have you unleashed her on a temporary or permanent basis?” Ashworth said.
“Given the current situation, I think we both know my ties to the woman have been severed.” A faint smile touched his lips. “That will, of course, make her more dangerous. Do not, under any circumstances, underestimate her.”
“Oh, I make a habit of never underestimating anyone.”
“Which is why, like me, you have lived to a grand age.” He collected his phone and then rose. “It’s been a pleasure talking to you. If you’d be so kind as to take care of my tab, it would be appreciated.”
“One more question before you leave,” Ashworth said. “Have you any suggestion as to how we track her down given her familiarity with magic and protection?”
Henry smiled. It was a cold, dark, and cruel thing to behold. “How do you think? With blood and bait.”
With that, he left. My legs buckled as relief swept through me, and I hastily sat down. “Fucking hell, he was scary. More so than the one we dealt with on the reservation.”
“And canny too, given it’s doubtful he ever made it onto the Heretic Investigations Center’s fifteen most wanted list.”
I frowned. “What makes you say that?”
He motioned for the bill. “The fact he had no fear of meeting us here today.”
“Except he did make you swear not to take action against him on this matter.”
“He wouldn’t have agreed to providing any information on any matter if he’d in any way feared it getting back into HIC’s hands.”
Huh. “What did he mean when he said his severing ties would make her more dangerous? I’d have thought the opposite.”
“It would suggest his hold over her—via his magic and his demons—was the only thing keeping her on an even keel. She’ll either go full psycho or slip into full incoherence and be unable to function.”
“I’m hoping for the latter, but I’m thinking we’ll get the former.”
“On that, we agree.” He paid the bill and then rose. “We’d best be getting back. The rangers will need a full report on what we’ve learned.”
“I’ll ring Aiden now and get him to meet us at the café.”
Ashworth opened the door and ushered me through. “Why there and not the ranger station?”
“Because it feels like I’ve been bathing in a slick of evil. I need a long hot shower followed by several large glasses of whiskey to feel normal again.” I glanced at him as we moved toward his truck. “I was under the impression dark or blood witches were all eventually consumed by the forces and the demons they did business with, so why has Henry been able to retire?”
“Because he obviously made a far better contract with his demons than many others.” Ashworth said. “As I’ve said, he’s a canny one.”
“And someone I hope we never have to go near again.”
“Indeed.”
We jumped into his truck and headed out of Melbourne. My call to Aiden went to voicemail, so I left a message saying Ashworth and I had information about the rogue and needed him—or one of his rangers—to meet us at the café at three. I then sent a similar message to Monty.
It was near two-thirty by the time we made it back to Castle Rock. Ashworth dropped me off with a promise he’d be back in half an hour. There were half a dozen customers inside the café, which was pretty good given it was that awkward midpoint between lunch and afternoon tea. I wound my way through the tables, greeting everyone I knew, and then bounded up the stairs to the apartment.
“Well, someone’s in a hurry—” Ava’s gaze widened. “That’s a rather nasty magical aftertaste you’ve got lingering around you, Lizzie.”
“Yeah, and I’m about to do something about it.” I glanced past her. “Belle, Aiden, Ashworth, and Monty will be here at three.”
She nodded. “You wanting alcohol after the shower?”
“Hell, yes.”
By the time I was clean and dressed, it was close to three. I raked a brush through my hair, then twisted it up into a ponytail and headed out into the living area.
Belle handed me a large glass of whiskey. “I’ve asked Penny to stay back and close up for us. She’ll send the men up when they arrive.”
“Excellent thinking, Ninety-Nine.” The ice clinked softly as I took a long drink and then sighed in happiness. “That feels decidedly better.”
Ava laughed. “Drink the rest of that so fast, and we won’t be getting any sense out of you for the rest of the evening.”
“After being so damn close to a dark witch, I’m thinking that’s a good thing.” A shudder ran through me. “He was nasty. Polite, but nasty.”
“I daresay that’s why they’re called dark witches,” she replied solemnly, but with a twinkle in her eyes.
I picked up a cushion and threw it at her. She caught it with a laugh. “Sorry, couldn’t resist.”
The sound of footsteps had me looking around, though I was well aware it was Aiden even without seeing him.
“Perhaps we should just make you a ranger and be done with it.” He stopped inches away from me, filling my nostrils with his warm, smoky scent. My pulse rate leapt as desire flared between us, thick and strong. “You seem to be better at tracking down information than we are at the moment.”
“As interesting as that prospect sounds, we both know that would likely lead to less work being done than more.”
He laughed. “A truth I cannot deny.”
With that, he wrapped a hand around my waist and tugged me close for a kiss that was hot, hungry, and all-consuming.
Belle coughed. “Seriously, Ranger, hands off our girl until you’re home and alone. You are, after all, the one with all the rules when it comes to the kissy stuff during working hours.”
His laugh vibrated against my lips. “As Monty would say, sorry not sorry.”
“That depends entirely on what exactly I’m talking about,” Monty said as he bounded up the steps.
“He was referring to kissing during working hours,” I said helpfully. My pulse rate remained decidedly high, and wasn’t at all helped by the continuing press of Aiden’s warm hard body against mine.
“Ah, well,” Monty said. “I happen to believe such a rule is nothing short of utter foolishness.”
He strode past us and headed for Belle. Her eyes widened, and she put up her hands as if to fend him off. But it was only a half-hearted effort, and we all knew it. He rather grandly swept her into his arms, kissed her passionately, and then stepped back with a grin. “Long may the ‘sneaky kiss while working’ reign.”
Belle didn’t comment, and her thoughts were … interesting on so many levels. She immediately cast me a warning look; I grinned, but resisted the urge to tease.
“Do either of you want a coffee?” I said.
Aiden shook his head, but Monty nodded. “And cake, if there’s any up here.”
“Double that for me,” Ashworth said, appearing on the landing. “It’s been a long day with no lunch.”
“A point I forgot,” I said. “Maybe I should grab something before I consume any more alcohol. Or you, Ranger, will be forced to drive me home.”
Amusement twitched his lips. “A hardship I think I can endure.”
He brushed his knuckles lightly down my cheek and across my lips, his expression briefly intent, as if considering kissing me again. Sadly, he didn’t. Instead, he moved across to the sliding door and dragged in a couple of our outdoor chairs while I made the coffee, then cut the cake we kept up here for emergency indulgences. This week, it was a salted caramel chocolate cake.
Monty, Belle, and Ava had claimed the sofa, leaving the rest of us with the plastic chairs. As I handed out the drinks and cake, Ashworth quickly updated everyone on what we’d discovered.
“And we can trust the word of this dark witch?” Monty asked.
Ashworth’s gaze flicked to him. “Aye, because we swore a pact on his demons. If there’s bad faith on either side, there will be consequences.”
“Ah, good.” Monty scooped up a large portion of the cake and munched on it thoughtfully. “Have we any idea who Honor’s father might be?”
Aiden shook his head. “The DNA results haven’t come in as yet, though we have asked for them to be expedited.”
“Have you talked to John about Leesa?” I asked.
Aiden nodded. “He denies any involvement in what might have happened to her.”
“So he denied being involved in the bullying?” Monty asked.
“Yes.” Aiden’s mouth twisted. “It was pretty obvious he was lying though.”
“Then maybe,” Monty said, “Belle needs to have a good ramble through his memories.”
“At this point, we have little other option.” Aiden glanced at Ashworth. “Did your dark sorcerer have any suggestion as to the best way to capture Honor?”
“Yes,” Ashworth said heavily. “But it’s not an option you’re going to like.”
“Using John as bait?” Aiden guessed.
“And blood to draw her in. His blood.”
“He won’t agree to that.”
“He may not have a choice. Not if he wants to survive this bitch.” Ashworth drank his coffee. “And it doesn’t have to be much blood. We can use magic to amplify its range and draw her in.”
“The only problem with all that,” Monty said, “is the fact she’s magically proficient; we can’t offer John any real means of protection, because she’ll sense it and stay away.”
