Page 64 of Shadow's End

“She can’t do ‘or else’ or she’ll break her vow to the council,” Jaz said.

I glanced at her, surprised. “You know about that?”

“Aiden told us some time ago. He believed we needed to know.”

And they definitely did. “Well, I’m afraid Roger’s death means any governance she’d had over her impulses went with him.”

“In normal circumstances, I’d suggest we go in there and arrest her ass, but that?—”

“Will likely end in bloodshed,” I cut in. “The punch monster that did all the damage up in Moonlight Flats is currently residing in her nightclub.”

“What?” Jaz and Eli said as one.

“Yep. It’s chained, but I’m thinking it will be a quick-release system.” I grimaced. “And with all the protections she’s now gotringing that place, I very much doubt the five of us could break in.”

Eli scrubbed a hand through his hair. “Maybe it’s time it stopped being just us. Maybe we need to call in the high council.”

“Ourcouncil won’t ever agree to that,” Jaz said.

“And besides,” I added, “we dare not risk them learning about the wild magic. It may be protected but it’s certainly not restrained, and we can’t let anyone from the council know its sentience is growing.”

“I know that.” Eli’s expression was grim. “It’s just that I’m not sure the five of us can withstand what’s coming.”

“But it’s not just the five of us, is it?” I said.

“I wouldn’t be relying on the wild magic or the Fenna,” he said grimly. “I suspect their agenda has nothing to do with the safety of this reservation.”

“No, but by necessity, they have to help protect it because I live here and I’m carrying the very first Fenna to be created in God knows how many centuries.”

“What the hell is a Fenna?” Jaz asked, confusion evident.

“Long story,” Belle chimed in. “Best told over several long beers. Or, in Liz’s case, several hot chocolates.”

“We’re coming up,” Monty called from the bottom of the hole.

Eli and Jaz braced, and the two men climbed up. Both were sweating by the time they were hauled over the edge, but that wasn’t surprising given the depth of the hole and the fact the wind—what little was stirring—wouldn’t have reached that far.

As they climbed out of the harnesses and ropes, Ashworth said, “There’s nothing down there that we can use to trace our vampires.”

“But the spirit or demon or whatever the hell was doing that screaming is definitely gone?” Jaz asked.

He nodded and glanced at her. “Sadly, it won’t stop them conjuring another.”

Jaz glanced at me. “We can still use that pin stone we found to track them down, though, can’t we?”

“We can.”

“I’m not sure that’s an entirely good idea,” Eli said. “Given what happened the last time we used one of Jaqueline’s spell stones to find her, it’s likely that she’ll be waiting for such an immediate response. Better to wait a day, and let her think the stone either didn’t survive or that we didn’t find it.”

I frowned. “If it doesn’t belong to an actual spell stone set and is just a solitary pin, why would she feel me trying to trace her through it?”

“Technically, she should not, but I don’t think we can take the chance.”

I hesitated. “Tomorrow morning, then, nice and early.”

He nodded. “You can make the attempt in your reading room and then we can all head out to hunt her.”

“Plan,” I said. And it would give me time to do some much-needed paperwork for the café and also ring Mom to ask what she knew about astral connections, if indeed that’s what Marie’s nightly summonings were. The more I knew about that, the easier it would be to turn it to my advantage.

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