Burning Both Ends (Guardian Witch #3)

“Take the rancid sewer smell, bind it in this magic spell. Where I point, set it free; as I ask, so mote it be.”

She ran like hell for the car.

It came off without a hitch. By the time Tobias figured out the wolf leaders were gone, they’d be miles away. Even if he managed to rouse his drunken crew, the stink spells would obliterate the trail for days. Ari was sorry Jones was stuck with the mobster and the stench, but she’d warned him. Surely he’d find a way to muddle through. After all, he was ex-CIA.

Ari continued to let Lilith handle the wheel on the drive back to Riverdale. Ari spent her time on the phone, arranging her pieces of their elaborate plan. She was increasingly conscious of the passage of time. Although the ruse to get rid of Tobias had worked, they were behind schedule by three or four hours and having to play catch-up.

Time wasn’t her only concern. The strain that came whenever she risked the lives or futures of others washed over her. She watched the fields and fence posts pass outside the car window, worrying if the hastily formed plan would work. Were the risks too big? Or the assumptions too optimistic? Everything hinged on the kidnappers believing the disinformation and reacting in certain ways. What if they didn’t? Instead of walking into a trap or calling to demand what was going on, what if they killed Steffan?

She sighed and made the next call. This wasn’t the time for second-guessing. All she could do now was move forward. If she didn’t, Steffan would die anyway.

Long before the city was in sight, Ari sat back, satisfied the plan was taking form. With her phone still in hand, she scrolled through her messages. Nothing from Andreas. She noticed again the two calls from Claris. Maybe she should take a moment and find out what was on her best friend’s mind.

Claris answered on the second ring. “Where’ve you been? I’ve been trying to reach you all day. He’s gone, Ari! I’ve looked everywhere.”

Ari jerked straight in her seat. Gone? Was someone else missing?

“Who’s gone? Calm down, Claris! Is Brando missing?” The only person Ari could think of that would make Claris so frantic was Brando, Claris’s wizard boyfriend, a friend of both women since elementary school.

“No, of course not. Why would Brando be missing? It’s Hernando.” With those words Claris burst into tears.

Ari was speechless. She could count on her fingers the times she’d seen her best friend cry. In spite of her fragile looks, Claris had always been the steady one that others relied on in a crisis. While she might spend her time communing with nature, working among the herbs and home remedies she sold in Basil & Sage, her Olde Town shop, she also listened to people’s problems. She was easy to confide in, and she definitely wasn’t a crier. Now she'd fallen apart because of Hernando? He was a cat, for Goddess’s sake. An important cat, a sweetie with oodles of sentimental value, but still a cat. And Ari was up to her ears in vampire and werewolf affairs.

It was hard to relate.

Since it was Claris, she tried. “Have you checked the greenhouse? Under the bed in the guest room?”

“Yes, of course, I looked in all those places. He’s not anywhere.” Claris struggled to steady her voice.

“Well, hon, he is a tomcat. He’s probably out, uh, catting around. He’ll show up and probably be extra hungry.”

“Do you really think so? It’s already dark.” Claris sounded uncertain but hopeful.

Ari fed the hope. “It’s not that late. Give it a little more time. I’m sure he’ll turn up if you’re patient.”

“OK. I’ll call you as soon as he comes home.” The fact that she hung up without asking how Ari was or what she was doing showed just how upset Claris was. Ari was selfishly relieved she didn’t have to go into a long explanation of Steffan’s disappearance or how she’d abandoned Andreas.

Ari heaved a weary sigh. Life just got better and better. Now she’d added the recovery of a missing cat to her list of things to do.

Chapter Ten

As a result of her earlier calls, Steffan’s house was rocking with a noisy party when Ari, Lilith and the werewolf delegation arrived. Beer kegs and laughing lycanthropes carrying red plastic cups dotted the lawn. Lilith parked the Lexus in front, and the other vehicles pulled alongside. Everyone piled out in full view, making themselves as conspicuous as possible for potential watchers. The four wolf leaders joined the party on the lawn in a game of volleyball. Luggage was hauled inside, leaving the impression the newcomers were settling in for the night.

Ari watched with approval. If the plan was going to work, it was important the kidnapper believed the delegation had relocated to Steffan’s house.

Over the next hour, many of the partiers moved inside, and the leaders disappeared into private rooms to make the rehearsed calls to their home packs.

Robert, Vita, and Warren huddled together. They’d agreed to monitor each other’s calls to insure the same information was dispensed. It wasn’t a lack of trust, although that was always an issue with Otherworlders, but misunderstandings can ruin plans, too. The monitoring would prevent inadvertent miscues.

Since Jena and Ari were together, Ari monitored her call, as Jena talked with her second-in-command, back home in Minnesota.

“That’s right, we’re in Riverdale now. Steffan’s being held by kidnappers until we vote the way they want. What?” Jena listened for a while. “No. We think they knew where we were. If Tobias found us, they could too.” She listened again. “That’s right, Steffan’s house. Five bedrooms, it’s pretty crowded with all of us.” More listening. “Not long. We vote tomorrow night, and I’m not changing my mind. The coalition will be approved.” Ari heard a protesting voice on the other end. “I know, but we’re convinced they’ll kill him either way. In fact, some of us think he’s already dead. We’d all vote no, if it would save him. But it won’t.”

Ari had heard all she needed to hear. Jena had covered the important points: the leaders were at Steffan’s, the vote was tomorrow night, and the only thing that would change the vote was proof of Steffan’s safety. Since no one knew which pack was leaking information to the kidnapper, all four leaders were giving out the same information. For now, they’d quit worrying about the identity of the leak. There simply wasn’t time to find him or her. That meant providing the same disinformation to everyone and hoping someone took the bait.

Gilbert met Ari as soon as she emerged from Jena’s room.

“What next?”

“We get the leaders out of here, without being seen, and into the safety of the Magic Hall. Once that is done, it’s up to the kidnappers.”

“What do you think they’ll do?”

“I don’t know, Gilbert. I’ll be happy if they go either way. If they attack the house, you and your people can hopefully capture someone to lead us to Steffan. If they call any of the leaders’ cell phones or the Council president again, we’ll hope the trace works.”

“Where can I find you?”

“With the leaders, waiting for that call.”

“We’re ready to do our part,” Gilbert said. “I’ll feel better about a potential attack on the house once the leaders are gone. Protecting an empty house should be easy. If something goes wrong, we can back off, let them come in and then surround them.”

“You’re in charge. Handle it however you want, but try to keep one person alive so we can question him.”

Gilbert grinned.

Ari’s cell buzzed. Claris. Hernando must be home. She clicked the button.

“Is Hernando all right?” Ari asked.

“No, I mean he didn’t come home, and it’s been dark a long time. He’s got to be hungry and cold.” Claris’s voice was laced with worry. “What do I do now?”

Ari smothered an impatient sigh. “I’m sorry, Clare. But he’s a big, healthy tomcat. It won’t hurt him to be out all night.” Ari frowned as Gilbert snorted in amusement. Apparently he saw the irony in the situation. “If he’s not back by morning, maybe you should call the shelters. Anyone who’s taken him in will start looking for his owner by then.” She hesitated. “I promise that as soon as I can I will be there to help you look. I just can’t right now. OK?”

Gilbert snickered again, but Ari ignored him.

Bella, Ari’s cat, would be upset if Hernando was lost. They were buddies. In fact, that was how Ari ended up with a cat. The flirtatious female had come calling on Hernando and never left. When Claris decided she couldn’t keep two, Ari became an adoptive mom. A picture of Bella’s big green eyes flashed through Ari’s head, and her expression softened. Before disconnecting, she did her best to reassure Claris.

Ari looked at Gilbert. “Don’t say a word.”

Minutes later they met with the four leaders in Robert’s room. “Ready?’ Ari asked.

“Messages delivered,” Robert said. His face relaxed into a smile. “I can imagine how fast the gossip is spreading.”

“Anyone ask any difficult questions?’

“Nothing we couldn’t handle,” Vita said.

“Then it’s time we get on our way. I don’t want anyone trapped inside this house if the kidnappers attack. Did everyone memorize the way to the Magic Hall?” When they nodded, Ari added, “You’ll be met at the back door. The code word is Horatio.”

Jena laughed. “Nice touch, Ari. The old gentleman strikes again. You think Tobias is still bending his ear?”

The smiling faces indicated they were all enjoying Tobias’s defeat. Ari wondered how soon the blustery wolf would realize he’d been had. Too funny. A secret video of the moment of revelation would be priceless, guaranteed to go viral.

Ari sobered and nodded at Robert. “It’s time. Be careful.” Her words chased any humor from the room, replaced by spiraling tension. This was the most dangerous part of the plan, and Robert had volunteered to go first. As each leader left, they would be alone, unguarded, vulnerable to attack during the transition from here to the Magic Hall.