“When do you think the Coven will get here?”
“I don’t know. They won’t be far away; they probably just want to see what I’d do.” One big test. Had he protected the paranormal community from exposure? Mostly. Without Mack he’d have failed. “Thank you for helping.”
“I would’ve had to do something when the creature came into town to hunt. Call Coven, track it myself…get eaten.”
“Maybe it wouldn’t have come to town if we hadn’t led it.” That death was on his conscience even though he hadn’t even witnessed it.
“You can’t blame yourself.”
“Neither can you.” Jude drew in a breath then slowly exhaled. “This net, when the sun comes up it’ll take more effort to keep it up.” He was dreading the next part and asking Mack for help, but it was why witches liked to have familiars. “Can I draw on your strength?”
Mack was silent for a moment, then he nodded. “We’re stuck here together.”
That was also true. “Okay. I’m going to use the remaining nails to make a chain if you want to catch the cubs.”
“I’ll just dangle my leg off the side and wait for one to bite.”
Jude smiled, but it was strained at the edges. He wasn’t sure how much magic he’d be able to work. Throwing around lightning, that was easy, but doing this other stuff was draining. And every move he made was guesswork. The Coven hadn’t taught him anything but the basics because they didn’t want to make him more dangerous, or maybe because his kind of witch was so rare they weren’t sure what to do. Maybe that had been their mistake, and if he’d had more training, he’d have been fine. Back then, though, he hadn’t wanted to learn. He’d been horrified with his new ability and the trouble it caused.
Vegas had changed that. This test had made him think about what he wanted his life to be like. He wanted family and to be able to be himself, something he’d never had. The Coven was offering him that chance. Mack had offered him a home.
Mack braved the cubs and retrieved the box of nails. Together they made a length of chain. Mack bent each nail, and Jude linked them up, welding each one closed. Then Mack grabbed a cub, and Jude put the chain around its neck like a collar and with a small zap welded it closed. With a cub on each end of the chain, Mack looped the chain around the tow ball so the cubs couldn’t go anywhere.
Jude lowered himself off the bed and carefully put weight on his bad leg. He was sure something tore and more blood oozed out. He pressed his teeth together and sucked in a breath. Mack put his arm around him and helped him over to where Mom stood. She was still pissed.
The sky was now gray not black. Dawn was coming, and the magic binding her was already weakening. He needed to act now, not wait until there was nothing holding her, even though Mack had the tranquilizer. “I don’t know if this will work.”
“Then I’ll put her back to sleep and we’ll run.” He cocked the gun.
The aufhocker tilted her head, like she knew what it was and wouldn’t fall for the same trick twice.
“If she steps back a few paces, she’ll be in the net.”
“You should’ve made them the same size.” Mack lifted the gun as though he intended to shoot her.
“Too much energy required.” Even this one might be too big. He threw out a few sparks, hoping to scare her back, but she could feel the magic fading and prowled closer. Sweat beaded on his back. He’d zap her. He’d have to.
He gathered up energy ready for when the circle fell. As the sun crested the hill, the circle melted. She jumped, and he threw. The electrical energy hit her in the chest and knocked her down. Mack didn’t hesitate. He shot her with the tranquilizer and half carried Jude away from the groggy aufhocker. Maybe the sunlight affected her, because she didn’t fight off the second dose the way she had the first. When it was clear she was asleep, Mack dragged her into the net then helped Jude over.
This was it.
He had to do this. He didn’t want the Coven to turn up and see another one of his messes or hear them condemning his use of magic. He pulled the last pentagram out of his pocket. Mack’s arm around his waist was solid and stable, even though the tension was evident in the tightness of his jaw and the way he watched the aufhocker for any sign of waking.
Jude ignored the burn in his calf and the grit in his eyes. He was going to sleep for a week after this. He let himself imagine waking up in Mack’s bed and curling up next to him. That was what he wanted. No one could take that from him, even if they stripped his magic.
He moved electrons and sent a spark leaping between the pentagrams on the ground, then threw the last one up and over the aufhocker. It didn’t sail over but stopped as the electricity arched up and caught it, forming the cage.
Mack whistled. “That’s a handy trick.”
Jude basked in the glow for a moment, but he could feel the energy draining out of him. Trickling free like his blood.
Jude sat on the ground. Coolness seeped from the dirt and into his bones. Mack leaned against him. They didn’t need to be touching for Jude to draw strength along the bond, but he liked it anyway.
In daylight the aufhockers didn’t change size, they slept mostly. But Jude wasn’t brave enough to drop the net. Nocturnal animals could still kill in daylight. And even if the magic aufhockers used to change size didn’t work during the day, in much the same way the simple protection circle didn’t, Mom would still be able to deliver a nasty bite.
His calf was hot to touch
