Going closer to Finlay, who backed up to the edge of the fake dock, his heels almost touching the water, I grabbed his arm in a vice grip. Taking care not to allow my magic to filter from me, I got in his face and bared my teeth.
“Who made you slaughter my cat? Who has Brianna? Where is she now?”
The skin under my fingers started to burn, his whimper telling me that he felt it.
Releasing him, I shook myself, trying to regain composure. He wouldn't get away with what he had done, he had to pay. I would take him back to Paranormal MI5 and arrest him. Well, my team would, anyway.
“It was Xvair Harvey. He said that if you found me, I had to tell you that he was the one behind it all. He said that you wouldn't be surprised. I... I tried to...” His gaze was drawn above my head as a whooshing sound approached.
Wrapping my arms around his torso, I tackled him, forcing us into the water. The shallow liquid engulfed us as we landed. A fireball exploded beside us, causing use both to thrust away from each other in an attempt to untangle ourselves.
“I've got them!” Dave shouted as I spun to see him tackle one of the witches to the ground.
Jake shifted into a wolf as the other witch surged into the water towards us. His leap placed him in front of the witch, his snarl rumbling up his chest.
Trusting them to take care of the threat, I took hold of Finlay's shirt, picking him up from the water. It wasn't very deep, but if he didn't give me what I needed, I would be tempted to drown him.
“Where did you take Brianna?”
I didn't need to ask anything else, I knew full well why Xvair had ordered my cat to be slayed. Although he didn't want me disconnected from the line, he would want me weak so he could carry out his plan, whatever that was.
Coughing, Finlay relaxed, allowing me to tug him into any position I wanted. Holding him close to my face, I looked into his. He was the same height as me, his eyes level with mine. Tears swum in them as he clenched and unclenched his jaw.
“She broke up with me three weeks ago. I thought it was her at the door, but it wasn't...”
A cry from behind made me look around. The fight was ongoing, both Jake and Dave scuffling with the two female witches. They were trying to get past the agents, their gaze searching for me.
Jake lunged for one of their legs, just missing when she kicked out.
Dave was physically wrestling with the other, trying to get her to the ground. He was being far too nice. Surely, he wasn't playing the ‘I couldn't be violent with a woman’ card?
“Just tell me where she is!” I shouted at Finlay.
A searing blast left my closed knuckles as I punched him softly with the hand that clutched the phone. My other hand still clasped his stupid medieval tunic, forcing him to stay standing. He grunted as a burn mark appeared where my knuckles had dug into him. The material singed away, leaving a gaping hole. A bright burn mark, covered in blisters, appeared instantly, forcing me to let go.
He cringed as he clenched his hands by his side. I was about to speak when he raised his arm and pointed behind me. Ignoring him, I raised my fist again.
“Okay!” he screamed, holding his hands over his face. “She's in the Hollybush Tavern near Moorgate. There's a flat beneath the pub. That's where he ordered me to take her after giving her the vervain.”
A feminine screech followed by a canine growl made me wince as Finlay's eyes widened, his gaze following the sound. “How did Xvair contact you?”
“He... he sent a young girl to my door. As soon as I looked into her eyes, I knew what I had to do. He must have cast a spell on her too.”
“What did she say?” My hands shook as I ignored what was going on in the background.
Rubbing his chin as it wobbled, Finlay shook his head. “She handed me a phone and a bag of vervain. Xvair rang at that moment and ordered me to kidnap Brianna. He then told me to kill your cat a few days later. Like I said, I tried to fight it. I would never hurt Brianna.”
His attempt to make me feel sorry for him managed to work only slightly. It quickly wore off when an image of Smudge surged in my mind. I would have to let the agency deal with him, I was far too emotionally involved.
Spinning away, I clicked the record button off on the phone as I took in the scene playing out in front of me.
One of the witches was on the ground, clutching her leg as she cried.
Jake stood over her, blood dripping from his canines. The other woman was face down, her wrists handcuffed behind her back.
Kate was beside me, nodding towards Finlay. “Shall I take him in?”
“For questioning,” I muttered, glancing over to the lift when it started to creek.
“Questioning?” Frowning, she went over to him.
Offering his hands, he waited to be handcuffed. I couldn’t exactly be ruthless with the human considering he was spelled to commit the crime. As much as my chest squeezed, I nodded when she secured him.
“Yeah, Xvair made him do it.”
Whistling, I caught the attention of the others. They looked up, their eyes immediately following where I pointed to the incoming crowd. When the humans saw what was happening, they would freak out.
“We need to go.”
Trotting over, Jake paused as he shifted, his long body stretching and bones breaking to form back into a man. I looked away from his crouched position as Dave joined us, reaching out to take my hand.
Our palms warmed as I gave him some of my magic, prepared
