Proof of Life (The Potentate of Atlanta #4) - Hailey Edwards Page 0,64

to one side.

Midas sent Ford ahead to scout, and to cover for her.

“Bastard,” she growled, impressing him with its grit. “I hope you choke on your bonbons.”

After flinging candies into the void, she took a moment to get steady.

“There’s a ward up ahead,” she gritted out between her teeth. “He’s confirmed the magical signature.”

“The coven’s work?”

“Oh, yes.”

Magic was outside his realm of expertise, but he trusted her skills. “Can you bring it down?”

“The question is almost never can I, but should I.” Her expression tightened. “Ambrose eats the energy. That’s what causes the wards I disassemble to fail. He’s at his deadliest on a full stomach, and it gives him enough power to sway my thoughts toward actions he wants me to take. Nothing major, I would catch on too quickly, but minor things I might not notice until it’s too late.”

The line he was asking her to walk was thin. Too thin. “Can he tell if anyone is in there?”

“The ward is too repellent for him to get a deep read.”

“We can still call Linus or Grier,” he offered. “They could be here in a half hour or less.”

“Waiting is too risky now that we’re here. We’re racing the clock. We have to move forward.”

Either Ares was in there and things were about to get bloody, or she wasn’t and things might be about to blow up in their faces. As much as he hated to put Hadley at risk, he agreed with her assessment.

“How can I help with Ambrose?” He fell in step with her as they caught up to Ford. “If it gets bad?”

“Force me to expend the energy. Once he’s drained, he’ll be docile again. Well, as docile as he gets.”

They got within spitting distance of Ford, and Hadley fell silent on the topic of her shadow half.

“I’m picking up two familiar scents,” Ford reported to them. “Ares and Liz have been here. Recently.”

Proof the couple was working together? Or evidence Ares had taken Liz as a hostage? Or as a host?

Drawing in deep breaths, Midas confirmed Ford’s assessment. “Do your best to minimalize casualties.”

“Stay alive.” Ford gave each of their shoulders a squeeze. “I expect to live to see mini Hadases.”

Hadley blinked at him. “Mini what?”

“Midleys?” Ford tried again. “Do you not know what happens when a boy gwyllgi and a girl—”

“We’re not having this conversation.” Hadley slapped a hand over his mouth. “Focus, Ford, or we’ll start ribbing you about mini Lisords.”

“Or Forbeths,” Midas tacked on. “Get your head in the game, Ford.”

“I don’t know if I can.” He appeared disturbed. “It sounded like you said lizards, and now I keep picturing Lisbeth and my heads on baby lizard bodies.” A shudder rolled through him. “Thanks for ruining procreation for me.”

Tipping the brim of an imaginary hat, she drawled, “You’re welcome, partner.”

Brows lowered, he glowered at her. “Cowboy jokes, really?”

“Hey,” she countered, “it got your mind off the lizard babies, didn’t it?”

Fourteen

We all knew what the others were up to, but we indulged one another in procrastinating a minute longer. It was easier to joke than to focus on whatever awaited us. It was easier to pretend than to face an ugly reality. But we didn’t have time for it, and my impatience won out in the end.

Certain they would follow, I strode toward the building. I didn’t slow to unsheathe my swords from Ambrose’s nebulous mass. I couldn’t risk stopping now that I had gained momentum. The urge to put off what I was about to discover about my family, about my friend, preyed on me.

The ward registered as a tingle over my skin, a gentle force nudging me back and away.

Ambrose strode beside me, curious, and I didn’t trust this weird dynamic duo vibe he was going for.

The shadow pointed a long finger, and I felt a magical pressure increase before I grasped his meaning.

The coven had used concentric wards at the meat packing plant too. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, I guess.

“Don’t come any closer,” I told the guys. “Let me see if I can get this ward down first.”

The space was also necessary to chat with Ambrose without giving myself away to Ford.

“Do you see the anchor?” I walked the perimeter as Ambrose searched. “Let’s go deeper.”

We passed through two more layers, each more viscous than the last, and then I felt a primal tug.

“There.” I crouched near a crumpled soda can. “That’s it.”

Polite as you please, Ambrose knelt beside me and waited to see what I wanted