Witching Time (The Wild Hunt #14) - Yasmine Galenorn Page 0,70
then it’s a matter of just scattering them at intervals and setting them all off at once. It would be a little tricky, but I think it can manage to work.”
“That makes sense, and that way, we can seed the acreage with the crystals without worrying about coordinating every movement. It also allows us to minimize the danger of having too many people involved.” I frowned. “You realize this is going to massively amplify the magical energy of their farm. Seeding that many crystals in the soil…”
Yutani laughed. “Well, it will probably help them grow their farm into a major enterprise. Either that, or they’ll fail spectacularly, depending on what kind of energy they’re exuding.”
“I think it’s a good idea,” Herne said. “If you only go after the one wight, you still have to find him and trap him. And if there are others, it will just happen again.” He pulled out his phone. “I think I’ll text my mother. Maybe Morgana can help us.”
I excused myself and went to the bathroom. As I was washing my hands, it occurred to me that when I had come to the Wild Hunt for help the first time, both the agency and I had gotten more than we bargained for. Herne had invited me to join them, but I had said no. I didn’t have the temperament to take the orders I’d have to, and I liked my own work. But it was nice to have allies, and when they needed me, I tried to come through. And they helped me when I needed it.
I sighed, staring at my reflection. “This has been one hell of a case,” I whispered. “I just hope that the next one is easier.”
Returning to the break room, I found Herne smiling. He held up his phone.
“Good news?” I said.
“Yes, good news. My mother has a treasure trove of quartz crystals. I told her what we needed and she says her sirens can attune them. She’ll have everything ready by tomorrow. We’ll meet you at the farm at seven p.m. tomorrow night and do what we can to take care of the wights.”
I sank down into my chair. “Oh, thank gods.” Then I froze. “How much is this going to run me? I’ve been putting up the money for everything because I know Marigold and Rain don’t have it. But even I have limitations.” It occurred to me that the cost of so many crystals could drain me dry.
“No charge,” Herne said, again smiling.
I leaned back, slightly dazed. “Thank you. Thank your mother for me, please. And thanks for coming out to help. I don’t want to drag Llew and Jordan back out there till it’s safe, and I doubt if Kipa and I can take care of everything by ourselves, even with the help of his men.”
“You won’t have to. We’ll be there, armed and ready to go.”
“What should I do about Elzabeth? I can’t prove she killed any of her husbands, but she did. And she’s married again. Will he be her next victim?”
Herne frowned. “Let me ask around and see what I can find out. I hate to let her walk free, given we know what she did to Aida and what she’s capable of. Akron filed his report. While he can’t tell exactly what caused Aida’s death, but he did find some hemlock berries in the room, and those are poisonous.”
“What about fingerprints?” I asked.
“Oh, there were still some we could find, but it was Elzabeth’s farm. It would only make sense to find her fingerprints there. No, we need a confession, I think. I’m going to write up a report and ask our law enforcement informants whether they think it’s worth going to the cops.”
“Let me know what they say,” I said, rising from my chair. Thanking them again, I headed for the elevator, Angel and Ember walking me out.
“I know it’s not everything you hoped to hear, but at least we have a chance to destroy the wight. That’s the most important thing.”
I nodded. I knew that, but I wanted everything to be tied up in a tidy box so that I could set it on the shelf and not fret about unfinished business. I was so tired of unfinished business, but when you dealt with the dead, there were often unanswered questions.
As I stepped back out into the blustery day, I smelled rain on the horizon. Another storm was coming in, and by the tingling in the back of my