Page 54 of Horn of Winter

He made a gruff noise I couldn’t quite make out but knew from past experience was an indication he was heavily controlling his emotions.

“Talk later,” I said, and hung up.

“Now listen here,” Harper growled, “you can’t do this. I’ve done nothing wrong.”

“You’re right, I can’t, but the IIT certainly can.” I studied her for a second. “The recommendation you gave to the other pixie—was that woman from Deva?”

“No, Whitlow.”

All paths were definitely leading back to Ireland right now. “Address?”

“Can’t say.”

I swore and scrubbed my hand across my face. “Is the ice witch registered with the guild?”

“No, she is not, so good luck locating her.”

It was rather maliciously said. I shook my head and rose. “If you walk away from this episode without spending a good portion of your remaining life in jail, can I suggest you go through the guild from now on rather than taking personal commissions?”

In response, she muttered something decidedly unpleasant about my heritage, which only made me grin.

As the sound of sirens grew closer, I wound the wind up the rest of her torso, just to ensure she didn’t attempt to crawl anywhere—not that she’d get very far if she did—then returned to the front of the building.

A black vehicle pulled up a few seconds later, and two women climbed out. I didn’t know either of them. The taller of the two flashed her badge and then said, “Bethany Aodhán?”

I nodded. “My captive is around the back, currently leashed by air.”

“You’ve leashed a storm witch, and she hasn’t escaped yet?” the other woman said. “Interesting.”

“My power is stronger than hers, fortunately.” Even if my skill level probably wasn’t.

I followed them down the lane and, once they’d cuffed the suspect, unleashed the wind.

As the taller of the women led her back to the car, the other said, “You done a search of her house?”

I raised an eyebrow. “I legally can’t.”

She smiled. “The boss said you sometimes ignore legalities.”

“That could be true, but not in this particular case.”

She laughed. “And when we leave?”

“I’m calling an Uber and heading over to the cemetery. I’ve a ghul I need to speak to. Oh, and tell Sgott that our ice witch apparently comes from Wicklow but isn’t registered with the guild.”

She nodded and climbed into the driver’s side of the vehicle. As they took off, I rang an Uber, then walked down to the end of the small court to wait for it.

Night had fallen by the time I reached the cemetery. I once again followed the path around to the right until I was standing in the bowl-shaped seating area surrounded by the old oaks. For several minutes I simply stood there, my eyes closed and my mind deeply immersed in the incandescent pathways of power that flowed all around me; it was beautiful and powerful, and it went a long way to easing the background niggle of utter weariness.

Maybe I needed to come to this spot more often. While the tavern’s song was familiar and comforting, this was probably the closest thing I would get to an ancient forest, even in a city as old as Deva.

“Do you come to revive your senses, or do you have another question for me?”

I opened my eyes. The ghul’s filmy presence hovered near one of the seats to my left. “A bit of both, really. This place is truly magical.”

“Why do you think I call it home? Aside from the practicalities it offers one such as I, that is.”

Those practicalities being her dining habits. “Does that mean you’re affected by the energy that wells here?”

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