Hell's Bell (Lizzie Grace 2)

“Can you do that?”

I hesitated. “The protections would be stronger if the RWA witch applied them.”

“I’ll contact him.” He glanced back at the elders. “Can she be held here? And without too many people being aware of the fact, just to be on the safe side?”

“I’ll place a blanket ban on anyone speaking her name outside the compound,” Rocco said heavily. “And we’ll gag the bitch, just in case she gets it in her mind to howl for help.”

“Are you thick or what?” she said. “I’m trying to avoid that thing’s attention, not gain it.”

Something flashed in Rocco’s eyes, something that was wild and barely restrained

. I had to wonder if, when a deputy did arrive, there’d be anything of Larissa left to retrieve.

“Marcus, Jonny, gag her now.” Rocco’s gaze returned to Aiden’s. “We’ll guard her until this evening, Ranger. Any longer than that, and we might just be tempted to take justice into our own hands.”

“Understood.” He paused, and then added, “Is Lance Marin here at the compound?”

“No, he’s working at the spa in Rayburn Springs, and shares a house with a friend there. I’ll send you his contact details.” The man who’d answered was shorter than most wolves, and rather stout in build. “Do I need to warn him he could be in danger?”

“It couldn’t hurt,” Aiden said. “Right now, my advice for him would be to stay home and out of sight until all this is over.”

“Will that protect him, though? It didn’t help Frankie, by the sound of it,” a woman said. Lance’s mom, I guessed, given her worried expression.

“He should be safe enough during the day,” I said. “We can ask the RWA witch to go over and place some protections around his house for tonight.”

“Is there anything he can do in the meantime? Just in case?”

“He can keep the lights on, and place a mix of cumin and salt across all the doors and windows,” I said. “If he’s got any cloves in the house, tell him to stick them onto a chain and wear it until all this is over.”

She raised her eyebrows, but didn’t express the disbelief so evident in her eyes. “I’ll tell him.”

“Thanks.” Aiden glanced at me. “Let’s go.”

He cupped my elbow with his oh-so warm fingers, giving me little choice but to leave with him. Once the door was shut behind us, I said, “Would Rocco really take matters into his own hands when it comes to Larissa?”

Aiden’s smile was grim. “He’s done it before, so yes. But I suspect that in this case, he said it more to scare Larissa. She’s not directly responsible for his son’s death—Aron is as much at fault, given he was also there using the Ouija board.”

“Surely that depends on whether Rocco believes a soul eater is responsible for these deaths, though. You said some of the elders don’t.”

“But Rocco isn’t amongst their number.” He frowned at me. “How’s that leg feeling?”

“How’s yours?” I retorted. “I’m not the only one she shot.”

“No, but my wounds were healed by the two shape shifts. You don’t have that option.”

More’s the pity. He didn’t add that, but it nevertheless seemed to hang in the air. It was yet again another reminder that I could never be anything more than a temporary passion for him.

“I’ll make it back down to your truck, Ranger, so don’t be worrying about me.”

“Oh, I have no doubt you can make it, but I’d prefer it if you did so without reopening the wound.” He hesitated, and then added with a slight grin, “Belle will have my hide if you’re bleeding when I drop you back at the café.”

Amusement twitched my lips. “You’re scared of her?”

“Hell, yeah.” His grin grew. “She’s built like a goddamn Amazon—she could probably throw me across the room without resorting to magic.”

“She does do weights. She claims it’s so she can better protect me, but don’t believe her. She just likes the admiration all those muscles get her.”

“With good reason. She looks amazing.” He raised an eyebrow. “And you? You’re not tempted to follow her lead?”