Retribution(76)

Guthrie understood he was playing with fire, but that was nothing new. And Agro didn’t need a reason to kill, so why pussyfoot around? “Why do you want her?” Guthrie clarified. “If you don’t want the power, why do you want her?”

Agro gave this a short moment of consideration then pointed with his pipe. “In the beginning, it was the power, another means to secure my position. Then I thought she died, and for the first time in my life, I mourned a loss. That’s when I realized her power was merely a perk. This witch is an anomaly, vastly different than I in so many ways. I want to experience those differences. I want to know how she sees life. Then I want to wash away her guilt and watch her eyes open to a new world. I want to watch her transform into the witch she was meant to be, a witch unburdened and unrestrained. She intrigues me like nothing else before her, because there’s never been anything like her. If anyone’s existence is remarkable, it’s hers, and I want to leave my mark upon it.”

“No offense, sir, but your logic sounds like a twisted love story.”

“I don’t love, Guthrie. Haven’t you been listening?”

“But this time is different. The question is why.”

“No,” Agro barked. “The question is where the fuck is she.”

“Right,” Guthrie conceded. “You didn’t discover anything while I was gone?”

“No. I have spies posted half a mile outside their property, which they keep guarded, but the traffic in and out is slow and the witch hasn’t shown her face. We followed a group of them to an inn on the coast. It’s owned by one of them, and it seems that’s where several of them are staying, but the witch hasn’t shown up there either.”

“Then I’d say she’s in the community.”

“We don’t even have proof she’s in Oregon. If we invade that community and she isn’t there, we’ll lose the only link we have to her, and it’s a damn good link. I’m not starting from scratch on this. All four of her grandparents are in that community. If she isn’t there now, she will be eventually, and they will slip up.”

“So we wait?”

“Unfortunately, but I’m done keeping my head down.”

Guthrie set his jaw and stifled a groan. The only rational thing Agro had done since arriving in Oregon was keep his head down. Considering his volatile mood, interacting with the public was a bad idea.

The fire had drained from Agro’s eyes, leaving them rusty. “Bring me the wizard who showed up unannounced last week – Dolan Barr. We'll brief him then send him into the fray. He has until Monday, using whatever means necessary, to come up with something useful, either proof of the witch’s location, or a clue leading to proof. Failure’s not an option and will lead to his demise. He already seems eager to please. A threat will merely spur his motivation.”

“Yes, sir,” Guthrie agreed, getting to his feet. “Are you ready to inspect the newcomers?”

Agro vanished his pipe and summoned a cloak. “Yes. I need to set the soothsayers to task. While I do that, search out six soldiers with mild appearances and low profiles. Send them to the shops owned by the Conn/Kavanaghs, including the inn. Instruct them to hang around and listen without drawing attention to themselves. They're not to act without my permission.”

“I’ll see it done,” Guthrie assured, hastening from the tent.

But Agro barely noticed the exit. An image of the witch's nubile face had burned his brain, and his eyes blazed with it.





Chapter 19





Quin and Layla must have been exhausted, because neither of them stirred until the phone rang at noon. He jolted awake, making her jump as well, and she blinked away blurriness while trying to remember when or how she’d fallen asleep. Pulling her cheek from Quin’s heart, she found his eyes and frowned. She'd missed her ride to heaven.

He kissed her wrinkled forehead then summoned the cordless phone. “Hello.”

Tucking her face in his throat, Layla pouted against his pulse as he finished a short conversation. Then his strong arms wrapped around her and squeezed. That’s when she realized they were both nude. “When did you strip me?”

He shivered as his hand slid to her butt. “Right before falling asleep.”

She was cradled in his lap, and his morning arousal nudged her hip as his fingers stretched across her backside. Tingles ignited, slithering through flesh and veins to form a web of energy, and her lips parted as her lungs quickened. “Was that phone call important?”

He tightened his grip, quietly groaning as he used her body to counter the pressure of his erection. “Yeah,” he breathed. “It was pretty important. We slept through the guard change.”