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He straightened his back with a groan. “I don’t know how the miners of yesteryear survived working in conditions like that.”
“Many of them didn’t.” I pushed upright. “I guess we now just have to keep our fingers crossed that one or both of our traps catch these bitches.”
“And that they don’t kill anyone else off in the meantime. I did suggest to Aiden the council put a curfew order out for the forests immediately surrounding Castle Rock.”
“That might only push the Empusae into another area. Besides, we’re dealing with werewolves, who tend to think they can handle anything.”
“Byron aside, none of the other victims were wolves. I think these things have a penchant for human flesh.”
A possibility, given they’d torn Byron apart rather than eaten him. “The council have been averse to issuing such orders in the past—they’ve never wanted to panic the public.”
“There’s five bodies in the morgue. It’s time they worried about saving the public rather than panicking them.”
I agreed. I just wasn’t sure the council elders would.
Once we’d gotten back to the car, I sent Aiden another text and got a thumbs-up and a kiss emoji in return. By the time we got back to Ashworth’s place, the sky was ablaze with pinks and yellows. But with all that color came the distinct feeling of being watched. I glanced around casually, but couldn’t see anyone or anything that looked out of place. Nor was there any sort of shimmer to indicate Vita was out there—though there hadn’t been on other occasions, either.
“When do you want to exchange cars?” Ashworth grabbed his pack and jumped out of the SUV.
I hesitated. “Not tonight—it’d be too obvious. Perhaps we can do a swap somewhere out of town, and a little more private.”
He nodded. “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.”
