Hell's Bell (Lizzie Grace 2)

“That’s true.” I watched the play of sunbeams across the wall for a moment, then said, “I don’t suppose you found the reference I bookmarked?”

“I not only found it, but I found the book it was referencing. It was in one of the boxes we haven’t unpacked.”

“They always are. Did you find anything interesting?”

“I haven’t tracked down the type of soul eater we’re dealing with, but it seems your guess that we need to pin them in flesh to deal with them is spot-on—although the book does advise that we do so within a protective circle. Then it’s simply a matter of banishing them back to the dark realm.”

“None of which will be easy if the man mountain was anything to go by.”

“Well no, because any living thing, be it flesh or spirit, is going to fight like hell to survive. Let’s just hope the RWA witch arrives today, and that we’re not the ones who actually have to deal with the thing.”

“Amen to that.” I clinked my glass against hers. “I don’t think it’ll be that simple, though.”

She all but groaned. “Don’t tell me you’ve had another of your dreams?”

“No. It’s just a feeling.”

“They’re almost as goddamn bad.” She wrinkled her nose. “What else is this vague premonition saying?”

“That we’ll have to finish what we started.”

She grunted. “I’d better keep reading the damn book then, just in case there’s something we’ve missed.”

“And I’ll make another agate charm for you, just to be safe.”

“Good idea. The last thing I want is to end up on a soul eater’s dinner menu.”

“It wouldn’t overly please me, either.”

She grinned. “If you’d said anything else, I would have hit you.”

“To do so you would have had to release your grip on your coffee, and we both know that isn’t going to happen until it’s finished.”

“You know me too well.” She cocked her head sideways, her expression intent. “Aiden’s approaching, and he’s on foot.”

I frowned. “Wonder why, given we’re supposed to be going to the Marin reservation this morning?”

“I can’t answer that without reading his thoughts, and you keep telling me to stay out of them.” She rose. “I’ll head upstairs and leave you two lovebirds alone. At least until I get dressed and breakfast is ready.”

“I hope you don’t want anything more serious than a toasted sandwich this morning, because I’m not going into the kitchen barefoot, and I’m not in the mood for shoes.”

“A toastie would be perfect.” Her dimples appeared as her grin flashed. “He’s almost here.”

As she went upstairs, I got up and walked over to the door. The small bell chimed merrily as I opened it. Aiden was standing on the other side, one hand half raised.

“I’m guessing Belle told you I was approaching.” His gaze skimmed me and came up heated. “And you have great legs. You should unleash them more often.”

“I will if we ever get some decent hot weather.” I stepped to one side to let him in. “Why are you walking?”

“Because the council meeting was held on O’Connor grounds last night, so I left my truck at the station and stayed up there last night.”

“Meaning you ran here?”

“Both last night and now.” His nostrils flared. “That’s a decent amount of alcohol you’ve got in that glass.”

“We felt the need for it—would you like one?”

“I have to be sober enough to drive you to the Marin reservation, so no. But a regular coffee would be awesome, as would breakfast if that offer still applies.”