Magic Misled (Lizzie Grace #7) - Keri Arthur Page 0,96
deep breath and kept the SUV crawling forward. The brightness of the lights at least meant he wouldn’t immediately notice it wasn’t Belle driving, but I was running out of room and would have to stop soon.
Belle’s phone rang. I jumped and glanced down. Unknown number again. I hit the answer button and hoped like hell the glow of the screen wasn’t enough to give the game away just yet.
“Stop the car, then get out,” he ordered.
I stopped and pulled on the handbrake. Belle?
A minute or so.
“Get out of the car, Belle, or I’ll shoot you through the fucking door,” Roland said. “I don’t need you fully mobile, remember. I just need you alert enough to detangle your magic.”
I took a deep breath, then slowly got out of the SUV and raised my hands. Magic sparkled across my fingertips, but I didn’t unleash my weapon. I couldn’t. It was pure energy and just as likely to kill as maim; I couldn’t risk that until I was sure an attack resulting in death wouldn’t somehow rebound back into the reservation’s wild magic, forever staining it.
I scanned the rooftops opposite but couldn’t immediately see Roland. Tension tightened my muscles as I instinctively readied to react or run. Of course, me being faster than a bullet was highly unlikely, no matter what changes the wild magic might be making to my DNA.
“Why the fuck are you here?” he said.
He was still hidden, which I hoped meant he didn’t have a great line of sight on me, gun wise.
“The magic protecting the storage unit is mine, not Belle’s. You want it open, you deal with me.”
Just a few seconds more came Belle’s comment.
“Why would your magic be protecting it when they’re not your books?”
“Because I’m the stronger witch.”
He rose from the shadows, his gun aimed at my body and utterly steady. He was obviously proficient enough with the weapon that his movements didn’t affect his aim in any way.
“Then go open the roller and dismantle it.”
“And present my back to you? I’m not that stupid.”
“As I said, I don’t want you—” He stopped, his eyes widening even as light flared around his neck.
Oh fuck, Belle said, even as Roland swore and unleashed metal hell. The wild magic exploded from my body even as I threw myself down and away. Bullets pinged all around me, accompanied by multiple mini explosions. Sparks flew from the asphalt and thudded into the SUV far too close to my head.
Then, just as suddenly, the assault stopped.
Lizzie? came Belle’s silent scream. You okay?
Amazingly, yes. I pushed upright and dusted the grit from my hands. The wild magic rippled around me, a fierce white glow in which metal glittered. Melted metal. I blinked. It had not only stopped the bullets, but rendered them utterly useless.
And that scared the hell out of me. If it could do that, what else could it do?
As the bright glow faded, the mangled bullets fell to the ground. The soft sound of paws padding on the ground had me quickly turning and, just for a second, the world spun and my stomach rose up into my throat. I swallowed heavily and pressed a hand against the SUV to remain upright.
Duke flowed from wolf to human form and strode toward me. “Any damage?”
“A few bullet holes in the SUV, but that’s it.”
Relief flickered across his expression. “Good. I did not want to get the boss offside.”
I half smiled. “Thanks for the concern.”
“You know what I meant.” He touched my arm lightly, then walked across to the unit and stared up at Roland. “Can you ask Belle to order him to release his weapon and get down the same way as he got up?”
I did so. There was a clatter, then Roland spun and walked away. Duke headed around the side of the building and reappeared a few minutes later with Roland in tow. His hands were secured behind his back, but his expression remained slack.
“She can release him now,” Duke said.
The minute she did so, Roland’s expression regained its animation. “Bitches. You utter double-crossing bitches. I’m going to fucking make sure—”
The rest was cut off as Duke shook him hard. “The only thing you’ll be doing is going to jail for a very long time. Now shut up, or I’ll damn well make you.”
“You can’t threaten me—it’s against the damn law.”
“Not in this reservation it’s not.” He glanced at me. “Are you sure you’re okay? You’re looking a little pale around the edges.”