Retribution (70 page)

“Good point,” Quin conceded. Then he mind searched his dad. '
Don't take your eyes off the mercenaries.
'

Kemble nodded, and Quin looked at Caitrin. “I guess it's time.”

The eight of them lined up side by side, looking toward their army, and only Kemble and Cordelia shone with auras and bonded lights. But soon the row brightened as the other six released their auras and Layla's grandparents revealed their golden hazes.

The mercenaries jerked to attention, but everyone was bursting with curiosity, disbelief and awe as they scanned the shiny line of magicians.

The air filled with a steady thrum of voices as the army shifted, and several people shouted questions and doubts, but when a witch stepped out from the second row and walked forward, the rest of the army quieted to observe the exchange. “You told us Layla wasn't a bonded child,” she pointed out. “If you lied about that, why should we believe a word you've told us?”

“Yeah,” several people shouted.

Quin pulled Layla closer, preparing for an uprising, and Caitrin tightly clutched Morrigan's hand as he stepped forward. “What makes you think Layla's a bonded child?”

More murmurs rose from the crowd, and the witch who’d stepped forward pointed at Layla. “Look at her. She's not a normal witch.”

“That doesn't mean she's a bonded child,” Caitrin countered. Then he gestured toward the front row of soldiers. “Look at the bonded children behind you. Does Layla's aura look anything like theirs?”

The witch and everyone else obeyed, comparing Layla's aura to the much less impressive auras of the other bonded children. Then the brave spokeswoman returned her gaze to Caitrin. “But he admits to being a bonded child,” she said, pointing at Quin, “and his aura doesn't look like the others either.”

“You're right,” Caitrin conceded. “Nor does it look like Layla's, so your argument doesn't hold water.”

“But aren't you two her parents?” the witch asked, motioning to him and Morrigan, but then her eyebrows furrowed in confusion as she pointed to Serafin and Daleen. “Or you two?”

“No,” Caitrin answered. “Layla's parents aren't here.”

“You expect us to believe she's not related to you?”

“I didn't say that. I'm her grandfather.”

“Oh,” the witch breathed.

Caitrin scanned the rest of their soldiers to make sure he had their attention. “Obviously Quin and Layla are unique, but we won't explain why, so I suggest you try to move past your curiosity so we can prepare ourselves. We're quickly running out of time.”
   

The witch appraised Quin and Layla for another moment. Then she shrugged and made her way back to her designated spot. No one else stepped forward or argued, so Caitrin spoke again. “Thank you for your understanding. Now, Layla and Quin are going to start placing their fire in you while the rest of us answer any last minute questions. Call for our attention if you have something to say. We're willing to listen until time runs out.” He lowered his voice as he turned to Serafin and Daleen. “You two follow Quinlan and Layla. Stick to them like glue. Start with the front row, then work your way back to our family. Save the mercenaries for last. And hurry. We'll feel more prepared once this is done.”

Chapter 47

Guthrie glanced at Lynette as they drifted over treetops, searching the forest with eyes and ears and magic. When she met his stare, she shook her head. Then she dropped back, putting distance between herself and the boss. Another soldier followed suit, then another, and Guthrie couldn’t blame them. If history served as evidence, Agro was about to go on a murdering rampage, because the closer they drew to the Conn/Kavanagh lawn, the clearer it became – no one was there.

The houses came into view – houses that would likely go up in flames soon – and Guthrie looked at Token, unsurprised he hadn’t fallen back as well. The guy never got ruffled or fought the inevitable. He just cruised through life on whatever rollercoaster he got tossed on, counting on his status as a bonded child to either save him… or not. It didn’t matter as long as he had access to good booze, weed and women while on the ride.

Agro descended toward the lawn, and Guthrie followed, unafraid of dying. But his nerves were hopping due to Lynette and the damn plan she set in motion when she killed Dolan. Guthrie wasn’t a fucking traitor or a leader. Like Token, Guthrie was just waiting for the end of the ride. He didn’t want to leave his mark on the world, and he didn’t give a damn about the army converging on the deserted clearing. Silestra meant more to him, which was why he left her behind for this mission.

Agro growled as he landed. Then everyone tensed and ducked as a colorful cloud rushed from the middle of the lawn. The fog rolled outward, and those who hadn’t landed yet floated backward, while those on the ground poised to take flight.

“Wait,” Agro demanded.

Everyone obeyed, watching with wide eyes as the colored smoke shifted into a scene, an image of the same lawn they stood on, but the way the foggy image merged with reality made it look like daytime. A woman appeared in the middle of the lawn, and the army tensed again, preparing to defend themselves against the witch. But she wasn’t real. She was composed of expertly placed smoke… and she was beautiful.

“Search the perimeters of the lawn,” Guthrie shouted. “Whoever’s doing this has to be close.”

“No,” Agro mumbled, walking forward. “It’s a message.”

“Or a trap.”

Agro kept walking toward the woman, ignoring the rest of the world as he watched her wrap a line of butterflies in bubbles.

Guthrie sighed as he glanced between them. Then Token moved to his side, always quick with a dry joke. “Let him go. I’ve never seen his aura so happy.”

Guthrie smirked. There was no happiness in the boss’ aura and there never had been.

Agro got a good view of the witch’s ass as she walked away from him, and he followed, far beyond the safety of his troops. He truly was obsessed.

“What do you think all this is about?” Guthrie asked.

Token shrugged. “A message, like he said. If they have an army, they want him to come, and he’s taking the bait.”

“Because he doesn’t know they have an army,” Guthrie hissed.

Token looked at him as he pointed at Agro. “Does it look like it would matter if he did? Just a smoky vision of her has him in a trance.”

She stopped, and Agro moved in close, examining her face as she swept a hand through the air and pulled a huge rainbow from the ground.

Agro marveled at the magic, and Token clucked his tongue while shaking his head. “Looks like we’re off to slaughter a lamb. She’s gorgeous, isn’t she?”

“Not you, too,” Guthrie mumbled, but he couldn’t argue. She looked like an angel, one Agro wanted to corrupt and torture until her world was black and void of rainbows.

“Don’t underestimate her,” Lynette cut in from behind them. “She’s dangerous.”

Guthrie glanced over his shoulder, finding Lynette watching the witch as if studying the enemy’s technique.

“They’re rainbows and butterflies, Lyn.”

“Can you make a butterfly?”

Guthrie looked forward as he answered. “No.”

“Neither can I. That witch is no joke.”

“Well whatever she is, she’d be better off getting slaughtered than what the boss has planned for her.”

“Then let’s see it done,” Token suggested. “I’m with Lyn on this one. Agro’s out of his mind and about to get us killed, and we’ve never had an easier way out. I know you came to terms with living and dying this way a long time ago, but the situation has changed, and we’re in the position to come out on top. Lyn has her girls, and if you’d make up your damn mind and vouch for us, we could sway another dozen or so, some of them bonded children.”

“Why don’t you take charge, Toke?”

“I don’t want the job, and I don’t have the seniority you do. Besides, I’ve been leading the same troop for more than a decade. These soldiers don’t know me. And they don’t trust Lyn.”

“They shouldn’t.”

Token laughed. “Ain’t that the truth.”

Lynette sniffed, but she kept her mouth shut and her eyes on the smoky woman, who’d been putting on one hell of a magic show for Agro. He’d been bewitched the entire time, following her around the lawn and observing her every move, and not in an effort to learn the enemy’s tactics. He studied her like a scientist obsessed with his specimen.

“Tell you what,” Token suggested, “ask him when he’s done.”

“What?” Guthrie returned, looking at his comrade.

“When the boss is done ogling his mark,” Token explained, “point out the obvious – that they’re reeling him in. Then you’ll know if he’s as crazy as we think he is, or if he has enough sense to pull us out of this mess.”

“Wait a minute,” Lynette objected, but Token held up a hand, signaling her to stop.

“It’s fair,” he insisted. “It will soothe Guthrie’s conscience, and his options should be clear before he’s forced to choose.”

“He still won’t know about their army,” Guthrie pointed out.

“Then mention the probability there is one,” Token allowed. “If he has any sense left, he already realizes he’s facing more than a coven.”

The foggy scene started drifting apart, and Guthrie stepped away from Token, watching the colored smoke curl toward the middle of the lawn. The magic seeped into the ground from which it sprung, and Agro’s tumultuous aura swelled as he walked to the spot. Guthrie approached as well, and as the last of the smoke cleared, a note appeared.

“Clever,” Guthrie mumbled.

Agro knelt and snatched the paper from the ground. “Coordinates. She’s in Washington, about two hours from here.”

Guthrie glanced at Token then returned his gaze to the boss. “You realize what this means, right?”

“They’re waiting for me,” Agro answered, straightening from the ground. Then he slowly scanned the lawn, as if reliving the scene he just witnessed.

“Yes,” Guthrie confirmed, “and they’re probably not alone.”

Still looking around, Agro didn’t respond, and when he finished rehashing the magical message, he merely tucked the note in his cloak and raised his hood.

Guthrie cleared his throat. “Their numbers, sir. Aren’t you concerned?”

Agro looked over, his narrow eyes flaming. “About what?”

“Losing.”

“Losing what? You?” He poked Guthrie in the chest with a forefinger then walked to Lynette, grabbing her by the hair. “Her?”

Lynette’s nostril’s flared as her eyes flashed, but then Agro pushed her aside and returned to Guthrie. “I don’t give a shit what I lose as long as I don’t lose my witch. Understand?”

Guthrie’s teeth hurt his jaw was so tight, but after taking a slow and steady breath, he gave a calm and obedient nod. “To Washington then.”

Chapter 48

Snow flurries began swirling around the glacier about thirty minutes after Quin and Layla started filling people with fire, but the army stayed still and cooperative.

Closely followed by Serafin and Daleen, Quin and Layla worked quickly and efficiently despite the fact that Quin was picky about who was allowed to make contact with Layla. All the wizards hopefully eyeballing her were, to their obvious dismay, filled with Quin's fire instead of hers, and she was ushered past any magician Quin deemed shady.

When they approached two topless and familiar witches in the second row, Layla couldn't hide her impish grin, and she wasn't the least bit ashamed of the ornery glance she threw Quin before walking up to them. “Hi, Idelle,” she politely greeted, and Quin smirked as he stepped in front of Jenny.

Idelle’s cheeks flushed as she sheepishly replied. “Hi.”

“Hold up your hands,” Layla instructed.

Idelle obeyed, and Layla touched her fingertips, filling her with fire. What Layla said next wasn’t the nicest thing to ever come out of her mouth, but she couldn’t resist the opportunity to rub a smug nose in defeat. “I hear you and Jenny found a replacement for Quin earlier.”

A grin twitched Quin’s lips, and Jenny bowed her head, her cheeks flaming as she watched Layla out of the corner of her eye.

“Were you keeping tabs on us?” Idelle asked, defiantly sticking her nose in the air. “Worried we’d succeed if we tried to tempt your lap dog again?”

Layla smiled as shook her head. “No, silly, you could wag your dog treats in front of Quin all day long and he wouldn't bite. Why would he want your bologna when he has steak?”

Idelle huffed and flexed her jaw. “Then maybe you should keep your eyes on him, not us.”

“I wasn't watching you,” Layla assured. “I was... busy, but it just so happens you took comfort in my little cousin's arms.”

Jenny's head jerked up as Idelle's mouth fell open. “Your cousin?”

“Yeah,” Layla confirmed. “Banning's my seventeen-year-old cousin. I'm glad he could be of service. Not as glad as he is of course.”

Jenny and Idelle just stared at her, once again speechless, and Layla gave them a wink before moving to the next person in line. While she worked her magic, she heard Jenny whisper to Idelle.

“Did you know he was only seventeen?”

“Of course I didn't,” Idelle hissed, but then she shrugged. “Oh well. The kid got the job done.”