I frowned and looked to Cris. This time she met my gaze.
“Well?” I asked.
“I think he’s being honest. I see no deceit in his eyes.”
Rowle turned toward Cris. “In my eyes? You’re a soul-reader?”
Cris gave an abbreviated nod of her head.
“Fascinating, I’ve only met one other person with that talent.” He turned back toward me and said, “Well, Raphael, you have your Wiccan witch confirming that I speak the truth. What now?”
“Tell me something else, Rowle. We’ve been attacked twice in the last few days. Did you have anything to do with that?”
Rowle frowned and glanced toward the windows. “Raphael, if you’ve been attacked, it is not my doing. I have never come to you looking for a fight. Granted we’ve fought, but it was because you were trying to stop me from my course, not that I sought you out to harm you.”
“I was also attacked just yesterday. Someone who was able to throw off one of my strongest spells and left the field without finishing the battle.”
Well, that was a surprise. Who was powerful enough to attack Rowle and survive?
“And you didn’t see who it was?” I asked.
“No, they were glamoured quite well. If Grendel hadn’t warned me, I don’t know if I would have seen them before their attack.”
“Damn. How about that mundane crew that attacked us in southern Colorado last year?”
“Mundanes?” Rowle repeated with a sour expression. “Why would mundanes attack you? And I think I’m a little insulted that you would even think I’d use mundanes.”
“Oh, hell,” I said, standing. “I’ve thought all of these attacks were sent by you. That throws a monkey wrench in everything I’ve been thinking. I’ve assumed that I only had you and your agents to worry about, but if there’s another player involved…” I trailed off. This was not good.
“Tess,” I yelled at the top of my lungs. “Get dressed, complete leathers.”
“What are you planning?” Rowle asked.
I turned to stare out the windows, triggering my senses tat as I did. I searched the outside for some sign of magic. “I’m thinking that if it hasn’t been you causing these attacks, then someone else is out there and coming after me. Two nights ago, a Titan, one of the Cyclopes, attacked us in Georgia. Since I was still handicapped by the results of that booby trap, we had to flee through a portal to escape. If they’re still tracking me, then we should be expecting company.”
Rowle stood and joined me at the windows. I felt his own senses tat activate. At the same time, a leather duster floated to him from a coat rack near the front door. In my enhanced eyes, it glowed with magic.
“A Titan, eh? I’ve heard of them, sure, but I’ve never heard of one of them coming to Earth. Who have you been upsetting, Raphael?” Rowle asked.
“Beats me, I just thought I’d pissed you off.”
“Is there anything I can do?” Cris asked.
“Maybe, but probably not. Be ready to move, as soon as Tess is ready.”
I heard the bang of a door being thrown open and Tess ran down the hall toward us. She was still pulling on her jacket, but her boots and pants were on.
“What’s up, Rafe?” she asked entering the great room.
Bruno flew down from the chandelier and lit on Tess’s shoulder. He growled and puffed smoke from his mouth.
That wasn’t good. “Tess, we’ve learned a lot in the last few minutes and it appears–”
My words were cut short by a boom that shook the house on its foundation.
Chapter 44
Raphael
We staggered as the floor bucked beneath our feet. I heard the sound of breaking glass in the kitchen and two of the lamps fell to the floor near us. I almost triggered my shield, but Rowle’s house had to have strong defenses.
“We’re being attacked?” Tess asked as she came to stand beside me while sliding on her gloves.
“Surprised?” I asked.
“Well, yeah, I thought Rowle was the only one attacking us and we’re in his home.”
Rowle chuckled. “It appears that we’ve all been blind to another threat.”
Alex came pounding down the hallway, pulling a shirt on as he ran. “What the hell was that?”
“We’re under attack,” Rowle said. “Come stand with me, if the house’s shields fail you’ll need to be close enough for me to cover with mine.”
Still running, Alex glanced toward Tess and I saw her give a brief nod. He moved to stand a few feet behind Rowle.
Cris moved to stand between Tess and me. I gave her a wry smile. “Don’t worry, this happens all the time.”
The look on her face showed more confidence than I really felt. Who was strong enough to attack Rowle and me in his own home?
“Speak for yourself, Raphael. No one has ever attacked me here.”
I saw him staring out the window, a hard frown on his face. “Really? Never?”
“The last people to attempt it were Lakota Sioux shortly after they’d finished with Custer. I convinced them that I was no threat to them as long as they didn’t piss me off.”
Damn, I hadn’t thought this house could have been around that long. He must have done some serious remodeling over the years.
“What about Beast and Maia?” Tess asked.
“Your familiars should be safe in the barn. Its wards aren’t as strong as those on this structure, but I’ve never heard of anyone attacking familiars.”
“First time for everything,” I said.
“Yes, apparently. Perhaps–”
There was another boom and the building shook more violently than before. A couple of stones fell from the chimney to crash against the hearth.
When the floor stopped shaking, I looked to Rowle. “I’m not used to waiting inside a
