Tasha buried her face against his chest, mumbling, “Kill me now.”
“Bit drastic, honey.” Rafe laughed, settling down to continue the journey. With her in his arms he wasn’t on edge, well, not as much.
On and on the journey dragged, sun beating through the windows, Jacy using the AC to keep them cool. Wolves bodies ran hot, so they were all suffering, apart from Tasha who was fast asleep in Rafe’s arms. The heat from her body enhancing her scent, enveloping him in her aroma and soothing his soul.
“Damn it, how much longer.” Jacy shook his head, annoyance dripping from every word. “It’s been hours, Rafe.”
“We have no idea how far this guy had gone. He could be anywhere.”
Rafe felt the tension in his Beta as he concentrated on the road ahead. Yet another backroad, one of a dozen they’d driven along and not easy to navigate in the waning light. At least they didn’t need the AC anymore.
Not once had they went anywhere near the interstate. No, this guy they were hunting had stayed away from civilization and main roads. Why? Rafe wasn’t sure but it made him uneasy. He had the feeling their prey was exactly where he wanted to be and they were driving straight into a trap.
Rafe lurched forward, holding tight to Tasha to stop her from tumbling off his lap as Jacy stamped on the brakes. “What the fuck, Jace?”
“What’s going on?” Tasha mumbled sleepily.
“Sorry,” Jacy threw over his shoulder. “They just stopped dead with no warning.”
Rafe shuffled Tasha onto the seat, struggling to open his door because of the mangled handle, giving up and opening the window, reaching out and opening it from the outside. “Stay here and I’ll see what’s going on.”
“Wait.” Tasha tried to scramble out but he quickly shut the door, leaning in the window to place a kiss on her nose.
“I won’t be long.”
Jogging along the side of the vehicles he had to wind in and out of bodies too, many of the men exiting to see what the hold-up was. Nearing the lead of their convoy he saw Zohar lit up by headlights, fists on his waist as the small man Rafe had seen earlier spoke animatedly up at the large Enforcer.
“I tell you he is up ahead but there are magical traps set. If you go any further using these vehicles then you will be in danger.”
The Witch’s voice was high-pitched, more suited to a woman than a man, his head tilted back so he could glare up at Zohar. His body language screaming out that he was “in charge” and definitely not used to being questioned. With the power that Rafe could feel rolling from the diminutive man he wasn’t surprised.
“What’s up?” Rafe asked, slowing to a stop beside them.
“This, this . . . buffoon won’t listen to me.” The Witch glowered at Zohar, tapping a foot furiously.
“I don’t see what difference it makes.” Zohar waved his arms around him. “Carrying on in our vehicles or walking in. I’d say we’d be more in danger on foot.”
“You,”—the Witch prodded Zohar’s chest—“are an Enforcer, I am the Witch. Who knows best about magic? Hmm? You or me?”
Rafe grinned at the man’s bravery as he stood up to Zohar. The man’s black hair flying around his head as he swung it between the Enforcer then Rafe and back again. Rafe stuck his hand out, trying to defuse the growing anger. “Hi, I’m Rafe and you are?”
The Witch stopped his tirade, his blue eyes surprised as he looked up at Rafe who grinned down at him. “Oh, hello, I’m Sherman Kelly.”
“Nice to meet you, Sherman. Now what seems to be the problem?”
Sherman took a deep breath in, held it for a moment then released it slowly, calming himself. “There are spells on the road ahead. The person we are after is ahead and he’s placed these for several reasons, the first of which is to stop anyone driving along here getting to him. The second is that any vehicles that proceed will then set off alarms that will give him the opportunity to escape, but that’s not the main issue.”
Rafe saw Sherman throw Zohar a stinking filthy look before he continued. “Anyone within those vehicles will be, at best, knocked unconscious but I suspect the effects of the spell could have far worse consequences.”
Zohar threw up his hands, exclaiming, “Well why the hell didn’t you just say that?”
“Because you wouldn’t listen!”
“All right, you two, stop it. Either that or get a room ‘cause you sound like you’ve been married for twenty years.” Rafe shook his head before turning to Sherman. “So what’s the solution?”
“This Witch is powerful, but he has a fundamental flaw,” Sherman said, tapping his nose conspiratorially. “He’s lazy. He’s placed his magic on the road and for a few feet either side of the road but that’s all. There is nothing further afield so if we leave the vehicles here and go in on foot, giving the road a wide berth, we’ll be fine. Well, until we reach him that is. Then the fireworks will begin.”
Sherman finished with a flourish, clapping his hands and a distinct twinkle in his eyes. Rafe liked him. “Sounds like a plan to me.”
Zohar didn’t respond directly, instead he turned to one of his men, barking out orders. “Tell everyone to get out and onto the side of the road. They’re to follow us precisely, no deviations whatsoever.”
Rafe patted Sherman’s shoulder. “I’ll go and get my own men then I’ll catch up with you.”
“Fine, fine, just remember to leave this rascal for me to deal with.”
“Sure,” Rafe replied, taking the opportunity he leaned down. “About that, if at all possible can you soften him up enough for me and my Wolves to deal with him? It’s just that the Pack that he killed, you know, the entire Pack of Wolves that we buried? Well those were my mate’s people and she’d like him to be dealt with
