Ilona Andrews - Magic Breaks

Ghastek looked like he had bitten into a peach and realized it was rotten. “I am sure she says that he did. I have not read the part where she presents evidence of this wild story. Perhaps there’s a rider or an exhibit I missed?”

That’s okay, I had more. “Why would she lie?”

Hugh kept circling us. A small smile curved his lips. He looked like a man who was enjoying himself. Snow, sunshine, brisk air, a fast horse . . . and impending slaughter. All the things a growing boy needs.

“To prevent this conflict. Perhaps it was a lovers’ quarrel,” Ghastek said. “Perhaps she wanted to rob him. I don’t know, and quite frankly, I don’t care at the moment. Can you prove that she is the killer and not some sacrificial lamb?”

“You’re welcome to run her DNA. It will match what’s on Mulradin.”

“Are you prepared to turn her over to us?”

“No.”

Ghastek leaned forward. “Kate, I hate to resort to threats, but there is a certain responsibility you and I both have to the people we’re leading in this conflict . . .”

To the left of him, three horsemen emerged from under the trees. Beau or not Beau?

“The casualties and financial costs of war will be catastrophic,” Ghastek said. “I understand that you’re counting on the help of whatever navigator you hired, but I assure you, we’re more than capable of neutralizing him or her.”

“What navigator?”

“The one who assisted you last night at the Conclave.”

What was he on about?

Oh.

Apparently I had hidden too well. For all of his intelligence, Ghastek still hadn’t put two and two together. He knew with absolute certainty that I couldn’t pilot vampires. He had seen me not pilot them on numerous occasions. In his mind, I couldn’t possibly do it, so I had to have hired someone else and that someone must’ve grabbed control of the vampires at the Conclave. Right.

“We have a duty to avert this,” Ghastek said.

“You’re right. You should send your undead army home and we’ll discuss this like reasonable people.”

Ghastek sighed. “I’m a reactive party to the bloodshed.”

“Ghastek, you’re an intelligent man. You’re standing here wearing ridiculous fatigues and getting ready to assault a place full of families and children with a horde of vampires. Does this seem right to you?”

Ghastek’s face jerked. “The concepts of right or wrong are inconsequential in this case.”

“The concepts of right or wrong are always consequential. It can’t be situational or it’s not right or wrong.”

“I didn’t come here to debate ethical obligations with you,” Ghastek said.

“You opened the door. I just walked through it.”

“You’re harboring a fugitive. Deliver her to our custody.”

A shout made me turn. A man jumped from the wall of the Keep and sprinted to us. Brandon, Jennifer’s pet wolf. Now what? If he did anything to disrupt this, I’d break his neck.

Brandon dashed across the snow and leaped into the circle. He was clutching something in his hand.

“What the hell are you doing?” Jim snarled.

Brandon dodged him. He opened his fingers and I caught a flash of what he was holding—Jennifer’s water bottle. He ripped the cap off it and hurled the liquid at me.

I moved, but not fast enough. Cold water splashed my right cheek, soaking my hair. Behind me, Ghastek threw his hands up, and what missed me landed on his fingers. The Master of the Dead stared, bewildered, water dripping from hands. His eyes bulged in angry confusion.

Jim moved. His hand closed on Brandon’s wrist and twisted. Brandon dropped to his knees into the snow, his arm wrenched out of its socket.

The whole world had gone nuts on me. I couldn’t even get angry anymore. I’d run out of rage.

“It’s done,” the blond man squeezed out. “I did it for her.”

What the hell? I would kill Jennifer. I would do it myself and save Desandra the trouble.

Jim twisted his arm, bending him into a pretzel. “I’ll just be a minute.”

He grabbed Brandon by his collar and dragged him out of the circle toward the Keep. The gates opened just enough to let a person pass, and Derek and another shapeshifter shot out. Jim shoved Brandon in their direction, turned around, and came back into the circle.

Ghastek finally regained his ability to speak. “How dare you? Is this an insult?”

“Yes,” I told him. “But to me, not to you. My deepest apologies.”

Hugh chuckled.

Derek and the other shapeshifter muscled Brandon back behind the doors.

Ghastek opened his mouth. No words came out. He was obviously struggling to get himself under control.

“I’m very sorry,” I repeated. Now I was apologizing to the man who was threatening to kill me. Here’s hoping my arteries didn’t explode from the pressure.

“This is outrageous.”

“So is dropping loose vampires into the middle of a Conclave meeting.”

Ghastek clamped his mouth shut.

“We will take the accused now,” Rowena said.

The three riders drew closer. Sheriff hats. It had to be Beau.

“And if we give her to you? What then? A lynching? Maybe you’ll burn her at the stake? Last time I checked we at least pretended we were civilized people.”

Ghastek locked his teeth. He kept a pair of chains used in witch trials on the wall of his office. The reminder of witch burnings had hit home.

“She will be given every opportunity to prove her innocence,” Rowena said.

“Yes, she will,” Jim said. “We’re turning her over to human law enforcement.”

Hugh’s face lost its half-smile. Oh no. Did you find half a worm in the apple you just bit?

“That would be extremely unwise,” Ghastek said.

“Why?”

“For one, it exposes both of our factions to public scrutiny,” Rowena said.

“I thought you were all about avoiding bloodshed,” Jim said.

I gave Ghastek my best psycho smile. “I think we could all benefit from a little transparency.”

“You’re fucking up,” Hugh said from his horse.

“Shut the hell up,” I told him. “Nobody’s talking to you.”

“You’re bluffing,” Hugh said. “You won’t find anyone to take her.”

I pointed to the approaching riders.

Ghastek turned to glance over his shoulder. Beau and two deputies, a short compact man with red hair and a Hispanic woman in her forties, were closing in.

“Beau Clayton?” Ghastek dipped his head and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “He has no jurisdiction here.”

“Yes he does. Those woods over there are in Milton County.”

Hugh’s eyes turned dark.

“He’s respected and has a high profile,” Ghastek called out. “If you kill him, every law enforcement agency will converge on us.”

Beau was only a few yards away. Six foot six and built like one of the ancient Saxons who swung axes as tall as they were, Beau rode a dappled Percheron cross that stood about eighteen hands tall and looked strong enough to pull a semi. The two deputies rode Tennessee walkers. Three riders, three shotguns. Nothing else.

Beau came to a stop. The vampires stared at him, held in check by the navigators’ minds.

“Alright,” Beau boomed. “I’m Beau Clayton, lawfully elected by the people of Milton County as their sheriff. It’s the duty of my office to faithfully execute all writs, warrants, precepts, and processes directed to me as sheriff of this county. I’m here to execute a warrant.”

The bloodsuckers stared at him.

Hugh’s stare turned calculating. He was thinking about it.

“Here’s what’s going to happen. I’m going to take this person into custody. You are going to turn around and go home. The lynching has been canceled. Move along. There is nothing to see here.”