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And one that was very pissed off.
Obviously our hit man didn’t expect to encounter any resistance, Belle said. Makes you wonder just what he’d been told about Ashworth. You want me to wander over?
I hesitated. I’ll clear it with Aiden first, but get the pack ready. I can’t see him refusing given we have no real information about the heretic as yet.
I stopped one step below Aiden and studied him critically. There was a bloody tear in his shirt just above his right elbow, a couple of minor scratches across his face, and several glittery spots in his dark blond hair I suspected were glass shards rather than silver strands.
“I’m very happy to see you’re okay.”
“And I’m happy to be okay.”
“Do you know who the shooter was as yet?”
“No—he wasn’t carrying a wallet or anything else that would have provided an ID.” He paused. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but why are you here?”
I smiled. “Do you really think your sister was going to sit by and let her big brother be attacked?”
“Ah.” His gaze went past me, seeking the magic he couldn’t see but was nevertheless nearby. “Thanks, Katie.”
The wild magic stirred and warmth pulsed briefly through me. “She says you’re welcome.”
A bittersweet smile touched his lips, but he didn’t say anything. He just stepped to one side and motioned me inside. The place was a mess. Glass was everywhere, holes had been blasted into the walls, and the sofa was oozing stuffing and springs. Ashworth was sitting on the floor with his back against the fridge and his left arm being tended to by one of the paramedics. He glanced around as I entered, his expression a mix of amusement and annoyance.
“It seems you were right, lass.”
I raised an eyebrow. “And this annoys you?”
“I’m honest enough to admit it does.” He grimaced. “I’m also honest enough to admit that if you hadn’t nagged last night, I might not have set that trap and we both might now be dead.”
“Then I’m extremely glad I nagged. How’s the arm?”
“Not broken,” the paramedic said, before Ashworth could answer. “He’s just sprained the elbow. I don’t think he’s done too much damage to the ligaments, but we’ll take him to the hospital for a scan—”
“No, you fucking won’t,” Ashworth cut in.
The medic gave him the look; the sort of look medics the world over used when their patient was being daft. “We need to ensure—”
“I can move my arm without undue pain. I’ll keep it in a sling when and where possible to help it heal, but I’m not going back to the hospital.”
The paramedic didn’t look happy, but all he said was, “Avoid using it then, and if the pain gets too bad, get to the hospital.”
Ashworth grunted. I was well enough acquainted with the man now to know that was as far from an agreement as you could get.
Once the paramedic had finished up and walked out, I said, “The shooter’s ghost is hovering outside. Do you want Belle—”
“Yes,” Aiden said, before I could finish. “We have no answers and no clues as to who this bastard is, so if there’s a chance the shooter can tell us something, it’s worth a shot.”
“It would be better, however,” Ashworth said, “if I created the protection circle.”
I quickly passed the news to Belle that she was wanted, then said, “That’s hardly practical given you’ve two arms—”
“Arms,” he cut in irritably, “have nothing to do with my ability to raise magic. You can place the spell stones for me, lass, but beyond that, I don’t need my limbs.”
My smile was echoed in Aiden’s bright eyes. “Given I don’t know a whole lot about magic, can I asked why you’d rather do it than Liz?”
“Because of what’s going on,” Ashworth said. “Because the heretic witch seems intent on erasing the competition. If he is here for the wellspring, then it’s not going to take him too long to figure out I’m alive given my magic still protects it. I’d rather he not figure out Chester and I aren’t the only witches he has to worry about.”
“Except my magic lies underneath yours at the wellspring,” I stated. “He’ll sense it the minute he starts to unravel your spells.”
