I grinned. “According to Eli, that’s a standard state of being for you recently.”
“That’s because he keeps trying to mollycoddle me,” Ashworth bit back. “Do I look like the type who enjoys being mollycoddled to you?”
“Not really, but it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been deceived by appearances.”
“A somewhat common problem—at least when it comes to certain witches. What can I do for you, lass?”
“We have a situation—”
“Oh thank God for that,” Eli said in the background.
I grinned. “We’ve tracked down the skin of the soucouyant—”
“Hang on, hang on, back up,” Ashworth said. There was now movement in the background, suggesting Eli was getting things ready. “When exactly did the reservation gain one of them? Because they’re nasty pieces of shit, let me tell you.”
I quickly gave him an update on the situation, and then added, “Monty’s in the process of salting its skin and running a full circle around the bed to ensure she can’t access said skin, but he’s going to need help if we’re to have any hope of containing this spirit. It’s old, and it’s nasty.”
Doors slammed and then the sound of a truck rumbling to life came down the phone line. “Well, they’re not called evil spirits for nothing. Where are you?”
I gave him the address. He repeated it to Eli, then said, “And why aren’t you helping out? With your ability to call on the wild magic, you’re probably stronger than the three of us combined.”
“Except she’s dead on her feet and actually doing something sensible for a change,” Aiden said, loudly enough for Ashworth to hear.
I might not have had the phone on speaker, but I didn’t need to given the acuteness of his hearing.
The older man chuckled softly. “Ah, the sensibilities of a man in lust will always outweigh those of common sense.”
“There’s nothing sensible in Liz running herself into exhaustion and ending up in hospital,” Aiden growled. “We’ve potentially two entities running amok in the reservation, and no idea if even the combined magic of the three of you will suffice to contain this one let alone the other. Given the toll the wild magic takes, it’s far better it’s left as a last option, and used only when Liz is back to full strength.”
He opened the truck door, helped me into the cabin, then slammed the door shut and stalked around to the driver side.
“Well, that’s me told,” Ashworth said, clearly amused.
“Yes, but he’s right. I copied the spell Eli used to contain the essence of that dark witch on a piece of the soucouyant, but it’s really drained me.”
“If you want me out of your life, lass, you’d best stop doing things that you damn well shouldn’t.”
“I never said I wanted you out of my life, just out of my personal business.” A smile twitched my lips. “As I’ve also said, you remind me of my grandfather, and I really miss the grumpy old bastard.”
“This would be the dead grandfather?”
“Yes, and if you could avoid the same fate, I’d appreciate it.”
He grunted, and it was an oddly pleased sound. “I’ll do my best. We should be there in ten minutes.”
He hung up. I shoved my phone into my pocket, then leaned back in the seat as Aiden climbed into the truck. But I didn’t close my eyes, as much as I was desperate to sleep. It was very possible the soucouyant might decide to come back before the cavalry arrived and if that did happen, then I needed to be ready to attack.
Though how exactly I’d do that when I felt like crap was another matter entirely.
Thankfully, the soucouyant didn’t return, but the flip side of that meant Monty was right—it was out there somewhere, regaining its strength in the arms of another man.
Headlights swept into the street up ahead and raced toward us. “That will undoubtedly be Ashworth and Eli.”
“Yes.” Aiden glanced at me. “Are you staying here or getting out?”
“Monty can update them. One of us needs to keep a watch for the soucouyant.” And the less I had to move, the better right now. It wasn’t just the weariness thumping through me, but also the ache from the various scrapes and bruises.
He nodded and got out as the other truck pulled to halt. Aiden spoke to the two men briefly and then led them inside. The nosier section of my soul that didn’t want to be left out of any part of action regretted not following them, but the more sensible side was quite content to simply sit there and do nothing.