Hell's Bell (Lizzie Grace 2)

“But was he honest? Because that man is seriously in lust with our brownies.”

I laughed and nudged her, returning the favor and sending her staggering. “You’re an idiot.”

“Well okay, he’s seriously in lust with you, too, but it’s a close-run thing.”

My grin grew, but I didn’t reply as Aiden stopped in front of us and then leaned across and opened the door.

“Morning, ladies.” He sounded far too cheerful for someone who probably hadn’t had that much sleep—although the tiredness had at least left his eyes.

We both climbed into the front of the truck. I handed him the two travel mugs, did up my seat belt, and then retrieved my drink. My fingers brushed his, the brief contact sending warmth tingling through me.

“Were you held up long with the council last night?” I asked.

“Only for just over an hour, thankfully.” He glanced past me. “Belle, do you want to buckle up?”

“Getting there, Ranger.” She dumped the backpack at her feet and then handed me her mug. “How did they react to the possibility of a soul eater being on the reservation?”

“They didn’t, because I haven’t told them.” He pulled away from the curb and continued up Mostyn Street. “Until we’ve ruled out all other possibilities, I’m not going to.”

I handed Belle’s mug back and said, with just a touch of annoyance in my voice, “Then how did you explain the two bodies?”

He shrugged, a small movement that nevertheless had his shoulders brushing mine. “Murder suicide.”

Belle snorted. “Oh, how I wish that was true.”

“Me too.” His voice was flat. “Because, seriously? I don’t want to even contemplate the possibility of soul eaters. I mean, how do you even stop something like that?”

A smile twitched my lips, despite the lingering annoyance. “Very carefully, I’d imagine.”

His quick grin momentarily lifted the gloom of the day. “And from as far a distance as possible, no doubt.”

“Indeed.”

He turned left into Barker Street and accelerated away from the city center. “If no obvious cause of death can be found in either Aron’s or Marlinda’s tox results, I’ll call in the RWA.” He hesitated. “Will they have the skills to deal with a soul eater?”

“Yes,” Belle said, before I could. “Unlike us, they’re fully trained. Plus they have full and immediate access to the council if necessary.”

“Given the somewhat dodgy phone reception in some parts of the reservation, I wouldn’t count on immediacy unless we’re talking about a landline.”

I half smiled. “RWA witches don’t really need phones. Not to contact each other, anyway.”

“They only use phones so as to not scare regular people,” Belle added.

He swung onto the Pyrenees Highway and then gave us a narrow-eyed look. “I can’t tell if you’re being serious or not.”

“Totally serious,” Belle said cheerfully.

“Does that mean all full witches are telepathic?”

Belle reached past me and patted his knee. “Don’t worry, Ranger. As I’ve already said, we realized long ago that the thoughts of most men are not worth the trouble of checking.”

His expression was a weird mix of uncertainty, disbelief, and concern, and I laughed. I couldn’t help it.

“No, most witches aren’t telepathic. But there are spells that can instantly deliver a message from one place to another, be it verbal or written.”

“That’s a relief. One person messing about in my thoughts is more than enough, thank you very much.”

Belle grinned. “I promise I’ve done nothing more than check which you like more—our brownies or my crimson-haired friend here.”