it comes to this sort of stuff,” the other man said. He reached down and gently touched Honor’s shoulder. “Up you get, lass. We need to get you home.”
Honor obediently rose. The two men stood on either side of her and gently raised a cage of restricting magic around her. Then, with a sharp nod at us, they left the clearing.
“Will they be okay?” I asked.
“Oh, aye,” Ashworth said. “Even if Belle hadn’t curtailed her memories, I’m guessing she probably spent most of her energy attacking you.” His gaze swept me critically. “And I’m also guessing you spent most of yours defending. You’re not looking well, lass.”
“It’s nothing a few days and a few hearty meals won’t fix,” I said.
He raised a skeptical eyebrow, but didn’t gainsay me. I glanced back to Aiden’s truck and saw one of the medics climb in. The high revs of the engine finally cut off, and Aiden climbed out. He spoke to Tala softly for a few minutes, waved away the medics’ suggestion he be checked over, and then walked across to us. Aside from the multitude of small scratches over his face and the forming bruise on his cheek, he looked relatively unharmed. Even if that hadn’t been the case, he was a werewolf and would only have had to shift shape to heal his body. That was one damn benefit of being a wolf that I wouldn’t have minded the wild magic passing on … and of course, it probably never would.
“What’s happened to Honor?” he asked
“The Blackwing psych guys will transport her straight down to the hospital,” Ashworth said. “You wouldn’t have gotten any sense from her, laddie.”
“As long as she’s locked up for a very long time, I’m happy with that solution.” Aiden’s gaze came to mine. “Let’s get you and Belle home.”
I frowned. “What about the crime scene? And John?”
“Unfortunately, John died a few minutes ago. Tala is well able to take care of the situation from here.”
My gaze went to the truck, but there was no sign that John’s soul lingered. This death must have been destined. And while part of me regretted being unable to save him, I also couldn’t deny it was utterly justified given what he and the others had done to Leesa and the horrific upbringing Honor had suffered because of it.
“I take it I’ll be dropping you all home?” Ashworth said.
“I’m taking Tala’s SUV,” Aiden said, “but I’d appreciate you dropping Monty and Belle off. That way, I can get my girl home and look after her.”
Ashworth nodded. “This way, then, the pair of you.”
He took off without waiting for either of them. Monty caught Belle’s arm, tucked it through his, and then said, “Shall we go, my dear?”
“Call me that again, and I shall fry your brains.” She didn’t, however, make any attempt to free her arm from his.
He laughed and, as one, they followed Ashworth. Aiden smoothly scooped me into his arms and strode after them.
“I am capable of walking, you know.”
“No doubt, but I’d prefer to get home sometime in this century, not the next.”
I smiled and leaned my cheek against his chest. “So, this pampering … what, exactly, does it involve?”
He raised an eyebrow. “I’m taking a few days off, so I’ll be cooking you meals, running you baths, and generally doing whatever your heart might desire.”
“I like the sound of that last bit.”
Despite the smile that tugged his lips, there was a seriousness in his eyes that warmed my heart while somehow emphasizing just how close to death I’d come.
“Your heart’s desire will not include sex,” he said. “Not until your cheeks look a whole lot less skeletal, at least.”
I raised an eyebrow. “And you really think you have the strength to resist my wicked wiles for more than a day or so?”
His smile grew. “I do.”
“Would you like to bet a bottle of Glenfiddich on that, Ranger?”
He laughed. “Sure. It’s not like I’m actually going to lose either way.”
As it turned out, he was right.
I might have won the bottle of whiskey, but when it came to the satisfaction game, we were both winners.
Also by Keri Arthur
in series order
Blackbird Rising (The Witch King’s Crown, 1)
Blackbird Broken (The Witch King’s Crown, 2)
Blackbird Crowned (The Witch King’s Crown, 3)
* * *
Blood Kissed (Lizzie Grace Series, 1)
Hell’s Bell (Lizzie Grace Series, 2)
Hunter Hunted (Lizzie Grace, 3)
Demon’s Dance (Lizzie Grace, 4)
Wicked Wings (Lizzie Grace, 5)
Deadly Vows (Lizzie Grace, 6)
Magic Misled (Lizzie Grace, 7)
* * *
Unlit (Kingdoms of Earth & Air, 1)
Cursed (Kingdoms of Earth & Air, 2)
Burn (Kingdoms of Earth & Air, 3)
* * *
City of Light (Outcast Series, 1)
Winter Halo (Outcast Series, 2)
The Black Tide (Outcast Series, 3)
* * *
Fireborn (Souls of Fire Series, 1)
Wicked Embers (Souls of Fire Series, 2)
Flameout (Souls of Fire Series, 3)
Ashes Reborn (Souls of Fire Series, 4)
* * *
Darkness Unbound (Dark Angels Series, 1)
Darkness Rising (Dark Angels Series, 2)
Darkness Devours (Dark Angels Series, 3)
Darkness Hunts (Dark Angels Series, 4)
Darkness Unmasked (Dark Angels Series, 5)
Darkness Splintered (Dark Angels Series, 6)
Darkness Falls (Dark Angels Series, 7)
* * *
Full Moon Rising (Riley Jenson Series, 1)
Kissing Sin (Riley Jenson Series, book 2)
Tempting Evil (Riley Jenson Series, 3)
Dangerous Games (Riley Jenson Series, 4)
Embraced by Darkness (Riley Jenson Series, 5)
The Darkest Kiss (Riley Jenson Series, 6)
Deadly Desire (Riley Jenson Series, 7)
Bound to Shadows (Riley Jenson Series, 8)
Moon Sworn (Riley Jenson Series, 9)
* * *
With Friends Like These (Stand Alone Novel)
* * *
Destiny Kills (Myth & Magic Series, 1)
Mercy Burns (Myth & Magic Series, 2)
* * *
Circle of Fire (Damask Circle Series, 1)
Circle of Death (Damask Circle Series, 2)
Circle of Desire (Damask Circle Series, 3)
* * *
Beneath a Rising Moon (Ripple Creek Series, 1)
Beneath a Darkening Moon (Ripple Creek Series, 2)
* * *
Memory Zero (Spook Squad Series, 1)
Generation 18 (Spook Squad Series, 2)
Penumbra (Spook Squad Series, 3)
* * *
Dancing with the Devil (Nikki & Michael Series, 1)
Hearts in Darkness (Nikki & Michael Series, 2)
Chasing the Shadows (Nikki & Michael Series, 3)
Kiss the Night Goodbye (Nikki & Michael series, 4)
* * *
Lifemate Connections: Eryn (Novella)
About the Author
Keri Arthur, author of the New York Times bestselling Riley Jenson Guardian series, has now written more than forty-eight novels. She’s won a Romance Writers of Australia RBY Award for Speculative Fiction, and two Australian Romance Writers Awards for Scifi, Fantasy or Futuristic Romance. She was also given a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for urban fantasy. Keri’s something of a wanna-be photographer, so when she’s not at her computer writing the next book, she can be found somewhere in the Australian countryside taking random photos.
* * *
for more information: