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Aiden snorted. “As I said, you’re all damn mad.”
But he gave clearance to give them a call, and Tala immediately hustled Belle and Monty toward her truck. Once they’d departed, Aiden picked up the jerry can, tied it into the back of his truck, and then helped me into the cabin. We drove around the blackened remains of the hut and down the other side of the hill. A six-foot wire fence divided the farm from the reservoir; to our left was a large gate.
“That’s padlocked,” I commented.
“And we rangers carry bolt cutters.”
“Farmers must love you.”
He grinned. “Some certainly do.”
I looked at him, eyebrow raised. “I have a suspicion you’re referring to the female of the species when you’re saying that.”
“Could be.”
He climbed out of the truck and very quickly took care of the lock. He swung the gates open and then climbed back into the truck and headed left. The sun had now dropped below the horizon, and the shadows were beginning to creep across the landscape. There was no one out on the lake, and the water looked dark and moody.
I shivered, though why I wasn’t exactly sure. Maybe it was just the fact that I wasn’t the world’s greatest swimmer and preferred to keep my feet firmly on the ground when it came to rivers and lakes.
“Cold?” Aiden said instantly.
I shook my head but nevertheless rubbed my arms. “It’s just a delayed reaction, I think.”
He grunted and turned up the heat anyway. “It’ll take Byron and Jaz an hour to get here. Why don’t you nap in the truck while I borrow a boat and drop the soucouyant in the water?”
I frowned. “Did you not hear that whole thing about two sets of eyes being better than one?”
“I did indeed. But I’m also aware—having been woken a number of times by it now—that your psychic radar for evil is rather sensitive, and can–and has–woken you from a dead sleep.”
“Doesn’t mean it will this time.”
“I’m willing to take the risk. I’d rather you not push yourself to the point of exhaustion yet again.”
My lips twitched, even as his words warmed me. “There wouldn’t happen to be an ulterior motive in that desire, would there?”
He rather dramatically clapped a hand against his chest. “I’m totally wounded you’d think such a thing.”
I raised my eyebrows, my amusement growing. “So you don't want me to come back to your place tonight?”
“I never said that.”
I laughed and then leaned across the seat and quickly kissed him. “Go. And be careful.”
He climbed out, retrieved the soucouyant’s jerry can, and then moved down to the shore. The gathering darkness meant I rather quickly lost sight of him but no fear rose, and the psychic part of me remained silent and unconcerned.
Despite my best intentions, my eyes closed and I drifted to sleep. It was the arrival of several trucks and the banging of multiple doors that woke me.
I wearily rubbed my eyes and glanced at the clock on the dash. It was nearly nine—I’d been asleep for over an hour.
Not enough by half, but more than I should have had given the situation. I shoved the door open and walked across to join the others.
“How secure is the magic that contains this soucouyant?” Jaz asked, her expression a touch dubious. Not that anyone could blame her.
I hesitated. “As secure as Monty and the wild magic can make it. But given she’s also dunked in water, I think the only problem you’ll have is if the other one attempts a rescue.”
“I doubt it will,” Ashworth said. “But we’ve brought along a couple of surprises if she does.”
“I hope they’re damn powerful, because dealing with this one wiped me, Belle, and Monty out. The other one is far older and far stronger.”
