Dark Secrets - Linsey Hall Page 0,46

reached the gate a few minutes later. I strode through first, determined to get Carrow to safety. She felt so fragile in my arms that it made worry twist my insides.

The ether depositing us in the darkened hallway of the Haunted Hound. I marched into the main part of the pub, noticing the half-dozen patrons lingering over their pints. I glared at them. “Leave.”

Every single one of them leapt to their feet and rushed out into the night. The bartender—a woman I didn’t recognize—glared at me.

Quinn stepped up beside me. “Now, was that necessary?”

“I don’t know, but it felt good.” I carried Carrow toward the large armchairs by the roaring fire and set her down in one of them.

The ghostly hound lying in front of the flames lifted his head to blink sleepily at us. I ignored the beast. Kneeling at Carrow’s side, I gently patted her pale cheek. “Carrow, wake up.”

Eve, Mac, and Seraphia joined us, the two cursed women taking other chairs. Cordelia appeared a moment later, sitting on the floor at the base of Carrow’s chair. Concern gleamed in her dark eyes. I felt it happen. Is she all right?

“I don’t know.”

Cordelia twisted her little paws and climbed up next to Carrow on the chair. Squeezing her fluffy bulk onto the seat, she stared up at her.

Quinn appeared a moment later, a small vial in his hands. He uncorked it and handed it to me. “Smelling salts.”

The fumes were enough to make my eyes water, and I gently wafted it under Carrow's nose as Cordelia cringed away.

Carrow gasped and sat upright, smacking the salts away from her face. She looked around, her expression confused and eyes frantic. “What happened?”

“You passed out at the tower,” I said.

Everyone hovered around, staring at her in concern.

She blinked, her expression calming a bit. “I remember. I remember.” She rubbed her head, squeezing her eyes shut. “Just let me think.”

The bartender came up with a tray of beers and set them on the small table by one of the chairs. “You look like you could use these.”

“Thanks, Kate,” Quinn said. “Do we have any sandwiches left from earlier?”

She nodded. “I’ll bring them out.”

Carrow’s eyes flickered open. “It’s the sorcerers.”

“The sorcerers?” I frowned. “Just like Madame Duvoir said.”

“Exactly.” Carrow nodded. “She said that the curse could only be placed by a sorcerer, and I saw Ubhan’s office in Black Church when I asked what had cursed the building.”

“He did it?” Seraphia’s eyes widened. “But he’s on the Council.”

“Exactly. They’re up to their eyeballs in secrets,” Mac said. “And this cursed tower is one of them.”

“But the tower was cursed before Ubhan was born,” Eve said. “Otherwise, we’d remember it.”

“I don’t know how he is involved, but he is.” Carrow rubbed her arms. “If we want to break the curse on the tower, we need to get into his office and find out what, exactly, is going on.”

Can’t we just blow up the tower if it’s such a problem?

I looked at the little raccoon. “Not advisable.”

She looked at Carrow, clearly hoping to get a different answer.

“What he said.” Carrow looked at me. “It’s midnight. Now would be a good time to break into his office.”

“Ubhan is notorious for working nights,” Eve said. “He’s called the Owl of Black Church because he’s always swooping around in the dark, being creepy at odd hours.”

“So he could be there right now.” Carrow frowned.

“Let me make a call.” I stood. “Perhaps I can find a good time to break in.”

Carrow nodded, and I strode across the room, raising the comms charm on my wrist to my lips. “Miranda?”

“Yes?” She answered immediately.

“Will you check the schedules at Black Church? I need to know a good time to try to get into Councilor Ubhan’s office.”

“Yes, just a moment.”

I waited while she consulted our sources. We had access to private council information, and while we might not know everything that went on in the meetings, we at least knew when those meetings would be held.

She returned a few minutes later. “An official from Glasgow is coming tomorrow morning. They’ll all be in the main meeting room then. Apparently, it’s a big deal.”

“Perfect, thank you.” I cut the connection and returned to the group by the fire.

They seemed exhausted as they sipped their beers. Carrow looked up at me. “Well?”

“Tomorrow morning.” I relayed Miranda’s information.

“It’s for the best,” Eve said. “We need to rest.”

Carrow leaned toward Mac and Seraphia. “How do you feel?”

“A little better, maybe,” Mac said. “But weird, too.”

“Like I’m