Wicked Wings (Lizzie Grace #5) - Keri Arthur Page 0,87

“We’ll change over the number plates, too. That’ll help the confusion factor.”

I raised my eyebrows. “That’s illegal.”

“We’re in a werewolf reservation, and you’re dating the head ranger. I’m thinking he’ll give us a pass on this, especially when it helps keep you safe. Talk to you tomorrow.”

With that, he slammed the door shut and headed inside. I returned home. The sensation of being watched got no stronger; it was just a steady pulse of awareness that was distant enough to prevent me picking up who or what it was.

I frowned and headed inside. The shadows were closing in and the café was hushed. Belle had already left, so I tossed my purse on the counter and headed into the kitchen to make myself some dinner. Aiden rang an hour later to say he was heading home to grab some sleep, and that he’d see me in the morning.

With nothing else to do, and nothing interesting on the TV to watch, I went to bed early.

Only to be woken many hours later by the thick sensation of being metaphorically punched in the gut.

Twelve

It wasn’t an outside source attacking me magically. It was my own magic—something had just triggered the alert spell I’d placed around the tree cave.

I threw off the sheets and quickly got dressed, then grabbed my phone and scrambled down the stairs as I rang Ashworth.

“Lizzie? What’s the prob—”

“My alarm around the tree cave just went off,” I cut in. “I’ll pick you up in a few minutes.”

He swore and hung up. I raced into the reading room, grabbed the backpack, and threw in everything I thought I’d need, including a few additional charms designed to ward against demons. While the one around my neck would protect me from all manner of evil, the Empusae were capable of at least some minor magics, and I had no idea whether that would make it possible for them to get past my defenses.

“I wouldn’t think so,” came Belle’s somewhat sleepy comment from the doorway.

“Always better to be safe than sorry.” I closed the last of the storage cupboards and then swung the pack over my shoulder.

She stepped aside to let me pass. “You want me to come with you?”

I shook my head. “I’m picking up Ashworth. You could ring Monty for me, though. I promised to keep him updated.”

“He’ll want you to swing by for him.”

“Yes, but speed is of the essence here. We have no idea how these things communicate, and whether the one we haven’t snared will be able to free the one we have.”

“He helped set that snare, remember. He might be needed to unravel it.”

I swore softly. “I’d forgotten about that bit.”

“I’ll go ring him now. That way, you can pick him up after Ashworth.” She hesitated. “What about Aiden?”

“He can’t do anything up there.” Nothing other than become a target for the free Empusae if she was around the area. “I’ll ring him once we’re up there and have dealt with the problem.”

“Be careful.”

I nodded, swept my purse off the counter, and ran out the back door. It only took me a few minutes to get across to Ashworth’s, and he wasn’t waiting alone. Eli was with him.

“Have you called Monty?” Ashworth said as they both climbed inside.

“Belle has.” I took off. The tires squealed, the sound echoing across the otherwise silent night. “How are we going to proceed?”

“There’s no ‘we’ in this,” Eli said. “You and I are going to stay back and—”

“These things are powerful,” I cut in. “It may just take the four of us to deal with them.”

“Perhaps,” Ashworth said. “But unless we’ve managed to snare both, that still leaves one free to attack. You and Eli are the backup team. If the other bitch does come at us, it’s up to you two to deal with her.”

I wasn’t entirely sure ‘dealing’ with her would be an option given she’d no doubt be winged and also well aware that she was dealing with witches. And if she was capable of minor magic, then it was more than possible she’d conceal her presence until it was absolutely too late to do anything to counter her attack.

But I kept my fears to myself and concentrated on getting to Monty’s as fast as possible. He was hobbling out his front door just as we pulled up. Eli flung the rear door open and then slid across to the other side of the seat.

“Where’s your crutches?” I said as Monty climbed inside and slammed the door