Gray Witch (Black Hat Bureau 5)

“Another member of our team.” I ignored his mulish glower. “One you won’t be meeting.”

A high-pitched scream rent the night, and Markus twisted so hard, he broke free of Clay and ran.

“Go,” I ordered Clay and the daemon. “I can handle this.”

I made the mistake of watching them go before I refocused on my task, and impact from behind knocked me to one knee. I twisted, expecting to find Emmett, and I was half right. The bottom half. From his belt down, if you want to get technical.

No clue how he saw me or sensed me, but he had brought me down to his level. I wheeled back, but it was too late. His boot made contact with my jaw, and I saw stars.

Rising onto my elbows, I let him get a leg’s length away before I kicked him in the junk hard enough to rattle his teeth. Not that he had any. Just as his brother had clung to habits of the living, so did Emmett. He hit his knees then fell forward, his crotch mashed into the grass while his feet kicked the dirt in agony.

Stretching my arm as far as it would go, I ignited the sack of bones. The haunted legs fell still and then reduced to a puddle. I flipped onto my stomach and rose to my knees over the stump. I stirred salt into the mix of ash and grave dirt then swung the top shut. A quick spell that didn’t require Colby’s assistance let me seal it closed so that Emmett wouldn’t be disturbed again.

About the time I wobbled onto my feet, I heard the daemon crashing through the underbrush.

“Rue okay?” He wasted no time scooping me up and squishing me against him. “Ghost dead?”

“Ghost dead.” I slumped against his shoulder, exhausted from the magic. “Why did Trinity scream?”

“Spider crawl on nose.” He swung me into a bridal carry. “Not even big spider.” He scoffed. “Tiny one.”

With her hands tied, she had been forced to let it do its thing. I could sympathize. After my run-in with the giant spiders guarding my grandmother, I had developed a mild case of arachnophobia myself.

“I called Marty and explained our situation.” Clay looked me over with concern. “His team is coming to scoop up the Amhersts.”

“Tell him to collect the parents’ remains while he’s at it. The kids can tell him where to dig.”

“Will do.” He glanced over his shoulder. “I gave Markus The Talk, and he agreed to join. That nets us two new recruits.” He hesitated. “You’ve never recruited. Anyone. Ever.” He touched my arm. “You sure you’re okay with this?”

Comfortable in the daemon’s arms, a mumbled affirmation was all I could manage.

“Rue sleep.” The daemon petted me. “I carry.”

That sounded good to me, and as soon as Colby lit on my chest, it was lights out.