“Yes—why?”
“Look through them and see if there’s anything that will protect you against magic.”
“What’s the point? No spell we create will ever stop Clayton’s magic. He’s just too powerful.”
“Maybe, but if I wrap wild magic in it, it’ll help.”
Her frown deepened. “I thought you wanted to avoid any overt displays when it came to wild magic.”
“I do, and it’s a risk, but I’d rather that than risk losing you.”
Alarm overtook the confusion. “Do you really think he’d go so far as to hurt me?”
“The easiest way to stop me is to hurt you, Belle, and he’s well aware of that.”
Fear, anger, and determination all flashed through her expression. “Then maybe we need to do more than simply talk to him. Maybe what we really need to do is give him no choice but to walk away.”
I snorted. “And how the hell are we supposed to do that?”
“Well, he has to be staying in the reservation somewhere, and he certainly won’t be camping out. He’s not the type to go without his luxuries.”
“True, but—”
“If we can find him, we can confront him. All of us, together, recording everything that is said and done. Combine that with the truth seeker’s report, and we may just be able to force his agreement to an annulment.”
“I don’t know.” My voice was uncertain. “It’s a big risk.”
“Sitting around waiting for him to show us his cards is an even bigger one,” Belle said. “At least this way, we have a fighting chance.”
“A fighting chance of what?” Aiden said, as he sat back down at the table.
“We’re talking about Clayton,” Belle said. “I don’t suppose you can abuse your ranger powers and get someone to check if he’s staying within the reservation?”
“Already doing it,” he said with a smile. “But there’s a lot of hotels and B&Bs here, so it will take a few days. I take it you’ve now got a plan of action for when he is found?”
“Confrontation,” Belle said. “A pack of us—wolves and witches—with the meeting fully recorded on a number of devices.”
He glanced at me. “I like this plan, but I suspect Liz doesn’t.”
“I don’t. I can think of too many things that could go wrong.”
He reached out and caught my hand. “So can I. But no matter what evidence we collect, no matter what Ashworth or this Black Lantern Society does to help you out of the marriage, you will have to face him in the end, Liz. It’s the only way you’ll ever be truly free.”
“All of which makes absolute sense. But this is something I’ve spent a good part of my life running from. It’s going to be hard to change that habit.”
And hard to ignore the fear and the memories that would rise the minute I saw him. Memories that might well freeze me in place for too many vital seconds.
“We have no choice,” Belle said gently. “There’s nowhere else to run. Not anymore.”
Aiden glanced at her. “Meaning what?”
“We suspect the wild magic will prevent us leaving.”
His frown deepened. “But Liz and I leave all the time.”
“Not permanently.”
“It’s wild magic we’re talking about here. It’s not like it has any sort of cognizance.”
“Except that it has since your sister became part of it,” I said.
Katie’s soul—via a spell so powerful it had literally torn her witch husband apart—might have originally inhabited only the younger of the two wellsprings here in the reservation, but her influence had recently started to cross over.
“Remember,” Belle added, “Liz is the only means of communication and interaction Katie has with the real world. She won’t support us leaving, because she’d lose that.”
His expression suggested us leaving permanently wasn’t something he’d support, either, and that warmed me in so many ways. His gaze returned to mine. “Have you actually discussed this with her?”
“No, but it’s not like I really need to. I’ve used the wild magic—and been in communication with her often enough—to know it’s a foregone conclusion.”
He grunted. “Well, I admit that I’m not sorry it’s happened. I’m not ready to lose you quite yet.”
Belle raised an eyebrow, her expression wry. “I take it, then, you will inform us when you are ready to lose her? Because I’ll need to have vast vats of whiskey and a truckload of chocolate ready.”
Something flashed in his eyes, something that was both acknowledgement of the jibe and anger combined. The latter made no sense, given his oft-repeated warning that he wasn’t into forevers—not with witches, anyway.
“I’m not the type to simply jump from one partner to another, Belle—even if that partner is a wolf.”
“Happy to hear that.” She picked up her empty cup and rose. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some transcribing work to do.”
Aiden watched her leave, then returned his gaze to mine. “I’ve got the feeling she’s a little annoyed at me.”
“It comes from her overprotective tendencies when it comes to me.” I shrugged. “I have a habit of falling for entirely unsuitable men.”
“At least you know better than to fall in love with me.”
My lips twisted, though there was little in the way of amusement. “It’s not always easy to control the heart, Aiden. At least it isn’t for me.”
Which was as close to an admission as I dared get.
He didn’t immediately reply, but his conflicting emotions were very visible in his eyes. He wanted me in his life, he obviously cared for me deeply—and perhaps even loved me—but he wasn’t about to admit any of that. Not to me. Not even to himself.
And for one simple reason.
When he fell in love, he wanted it to be with someone who could give him what I couldn’t—full-blooded werewolf children. Apparently, any children born from the union of a wolf and a witch had little chance of survival. Those who weren’t stillborn often had such serious defects they died before their first birthday. According to Aiden’s mom, very few lived to
