quieter. “One… very… important… thing…”
“What?” Sutter leaned in to hear.
Augustine rammed one of his horns into Sutter’s forehead. Blood poured from the split. With a howl, Sutter jerked his arm back and threw another punch at Augustine. He ducked, causing Sutter’s fist to connect to the steel pole behind Augustine. Bones crunched.
A few of the team members rushed toward Augustine. Rifle butts slammed into his head and body. Blow after blow rained down, cracking bone and causing pain until everything went black.
Chapter Nine
Harlow drew on whatever strength she could muster. Without knowing exactly what was about to happen, she didn’t know how to prepare for what lay ahead. Except to expect something really, really bad.
Ava Mae had nodded and gone along with whatever Ogun and the witches told her to do and now stood in the garden quietly waiting, but Harlow wasn’t so easily fooled. She knew why Ava Mae was here. To get rid of her. Fear almost numbed Harlow to the point of inaction, but she gave herself over to her anger instead and clung to the fact that Augustine had promised he knew what Ava Mae was planning and that he’d protect Harlow.
Any minute, he’d show up. Any minute, he’d make everything right.
But the minutes were ticking by and there was no sign of him. Or anyone who might help her.
She steeled her entire being, such as it was, and geared up to fight in whatever way she could, waiting and watching for some kind of opening, some chance to make her move.
After some final preparation, Giselle’s sister, Zara, and the sorcerer Ian positioned themselves around a large pond in the center of the garden. Giselle gestured to the stone path beside her. “Come stand with me, Ava Mae.”
Ava Mae looked at Ogun. He nodded, encouraging her. Idiot. But Harlow restrained her temper so as not to give Ava Mae any indication of what she was feeling, saving it for the moment she’d need to strike. Ava Mae took her place beside Giselle.
Movement pulled at the edge of her vision. Everyone turned to look as a nondescript man vaulted over the high wall surrounding the property. Human, maybe. Except Harlow didn’t think humans could jump like that or move with that kind of speed or agility.
He charged toward them. “Don’t touch her—”
Giselle’s hand shot forward as a single word left her mouth. The man was immobilized. Holding her hand out toward the man, she looked at Ava Mae and raised an eyebrow. “A friend of yours?”
Ava Mae shook her head. “I’ve never seen him before.”
Neither had Harlow. Could this man be working for Augustine? Her panic level jumped a notch.
Giselle’s mouth was tight. “Enough of this. Let’s get to why you’re here, shall we?” She seemed to be holding the spell on the intruder without effort. With her free hand, she pointed to the pond. “This water has the power to grant your deepest desire.”
“So it will bind my soul to this body?”
Giselle’s frustration showed in her eyes. “If that’s your deepest desire, then yes.”
“It is.” Ava Mae’s eagerness washed through Harlow. “So what do I do?”
Giselle smiled but it was plainly forced. “Just walk in and submerse yourself. The water will do the rest.” She took a few steps back until she was equidistant from her sister and Ian, then nodded. “Whenever you’re ready, but sooner rather than later.” She tipped her head toward the intruder. “I can’t hold this spell forever.”
“I have to get my clothes wet?”
Giselle’s smile thinned. “You may remove as much or as little as you like.”
Ava Mae nodded and toed off her shoes, then stripped down to her underwear. “This outfit was very expensive. I don’t want to ruin it. Or go home soaking wet.”
Giselle’s sigh was audible. “The sooner you get in—”
Ava Mae put a foot into the water. “I’m in.” She pulled her foot back out. “Are you kidding? It’s freezing.”
Giselle glanced at Zara. “If you could help?”
Zara’s returning glance was strained. “I’m already helping.”
“I can do it,” Ian said. He lifted a hand over the water and mumbled something. “Try it now.”
Ava Mae stuck her foot back in the water. “It’s warm now, thank you.” She gave him a sly smile and put her other foot in, too. Harlow couldn’t believe her twin was flirting at a time like this, but then again, maybe she could. Ava Mae took a few steps and was waist deep. “I never would have guessed this pond was so deep.”
Harlow planned on