harmed by the warlocks Sphere hides behind. I think she very much wishes to crush his heart.”
Esme was going to have to get in line.
“If you know he’s with these guys, how come you can’t find them?”
“Ah. It is very dark magic that protects them.” Abelard added. “We have not seen this kind of magic in many centuries. As soon as we discover their location, they move. It is most upsetting.”
I noticed the other diners were giving us curious glances. Davyn must have thought the same. He whispered something to Abelard, who bowed toward us.
“We only wanted to give our intentions, High Witch. We did not wish to keep you from your meal. Good evening to you all.” He handed me a small business card. “Please call if you wish to meet with us.”
They walked out.
Zane clapped his hands. “Good show, Bronwyn. Bloody brilliant. They are scared to death of you.”
I sat down.
Cole poured me a glass of wine and I took a sip.
I honestly would have preferred Jack Daniels, but the wine helped to ease the tension from my shoulders.
I think I had chicken for dinner. I was more concerned with the search for Sphere. Several times during the meal I sent my mind out to see if I could catch the little worm, but had no luck.
By midnight we were all upstairs. Zane and Georgette planned to hit some of the Paris nightlife, Buddha Bar and La Bains to name a few, but I was actually tired. And, well, the last time I went out with Zane it caused big trouble with Sam. The paparazzi had gone crazy and things spiraled out of control.
I told them I had work to do, and left them to their partying. The lie was a small one, but I did need some rest. Finding Sphere was on the top of my list, but I also had to figure out what happened to Garnout. I couldn’t do that while partying till the wee hours of the morning, no matter how much fun it might be.
I would find the wizard, and then I’d kill whoever had stolen him away.
Thirteen
Paris
Saturday
3 a.m.
Dead guys: Too many to count
Spells: 15
I ’ve been feeling weird lately, more tired and irritable than usual. Probably has something to do with not sleeping well since everything happened to Garnout, but I’m not sure. Paris hasn’t been exactly restful.
By eleven-fifteen on Friday night, after dinner with Zane and the crew, I’d washed my face and changed into my monkey T-shirt. I was snuggling into the pillows when the phone rang. Thinking it was Zane trying to convince me to go out with him, I answered.
“What?”
“Bronwheeen?”
It was one of the French women, from earlier.
“Yes?”
“It is Esme. I have found the slimy peeeg.” Her heavy French accent weighted the word pig .
I sat up in bed. “Wow! That was fast. Where are you?”
“Abelard has the car waiting for you outside the hotel.”
“Okay. I’ll be down in two minutes. Esme, don’t kill him until I get there.”
“I will try. But hurry.”
Cole was in the shower. I thought about leaving, but I didn’t want him to go all crazy ape on me later.
“Hey!” I yelled through the steam. “The coven found Sphere.”
He stuck his head out of the doorway, his blond hair plastered around his face. He had a gorgeous tan and I wondered where he had gone for vacation. “Two minutes. I need two minutes. Now get out of here so I can get dressed.”
Before I could stuff my pockets with potions and charms, he was out of the bathroom, dressed in jeans and carrying his boots and shirt in his hands. “Let’s go.”
I’d never noticed how ripped he was, but we were in a hurry so I tried not to think about his biceps and that stomach. Hell, he’d give Sam a run for his money and that was really saying something.
Davyn was in the limo with Abelard and as soon as we jumped in, it sped off.
“We found them at the home of one of our former members,” Abelard spoke so fast I could barely understand him. “We determine there are at least twenty witches and warlocks inside. It will be a battle to
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