Page 41 of Demon's Bluff
“Rhombus!”I exclaimed, taking Trent, Jenks, and a rack of glassware into my protective circle. Laker’s spell hit it…and a silent boom of sound reverberated out. Clothes blew into the air and people screamed. I dropped my circle even before the rack of clothes hit the floor.
Trent stood beside me, eyes bright with anticipation. “Out. Now,” I said, and he shook his head, a wisp of pearly magic spiraling up over him as he faced Laker. “Get him out of here, Jenks!”
The pixy dropped down, his dust a brilliant gold in excitement. “Let’s go, cookie man. And don’t forget Rachel’s stuff.”
“All or none,” Trent echoed, and I grimaced. I couldn’t have it both ways.
“Okay, but don’t destroy the store. My mom used to shop here,” I said as the businessman fragmented away to leave only the elven warlord, seldom seen but always there. That veneer was paper-thin, and I stifled a shiver, liking it. Liking it a lot.
Thinking we had given up, Laker jumped from the table and started over, a second amulet in his hand as a purple glow began gathering along his stick. “Trent Kalamack, I am authorized to detain and bring you in for—”
“Entrono voulden!”Trent shouted, and I shuddered as his spell rippled over me like the touch of a lover, sparking with a sensation of silk.
Laker yelped, the glow on his staff vanishing as a protection circle snapped around him. Trent’s spell hit a display to send a tornado of clothes to smother the man.
“Move!”
“Wait, my stuff!” I shouted, snagging the basket when Trent grabbed my arm and ran for the door. Jenks flew vanguard, and we burst from the store as the woman at the register began a shrill harangue.
“Stop him!” I heard faintly, and then we were gone, my boots hammering a thundering cadence up my spine.
“Jenks?” I called, relieved when the rasp of pixy wings became a cold spot on my neck. “Okay. Car. Let’s get out of here.”
“I got this.” Trent took the basket, and our pace slowed as he shot aquick glance behind us. “You should have your hands free in case he follows.” He winced. “You’re a better street fighter than me.”
“Thanks.” What he meant was I was better at minimizing innocent bystander collateral damage. The street, though, was almost empty, dusky in the early evening. “He’s not following.”
“That’s ’cause he knows what’s good for him,” Jenks said as we slowed at the car, and I froze when the lethal-detection charm hanging on my bag flashed a warning red.
“Stop!” I yanked Trent back as he reached for the door. “He spelled it.”Son of a moss wipe…
Trent’s gaze went from my car to me and then over my shoulder to the street. “Seriously?”
I nodded. “That’s what wizards do. Less confrontation, more pregame. All he needed was to flush us out. Get us reacting. That’s why he’s not following us.” Thank the Goddess that I had a death threat on me once, or I’d never have had the detecting charm to begin with.
“What a weenie,” Jenks said, and I grimaced, wondering where the nearest bus stop was. At least they’d pick me up now.You Nair a guy once on the bus…
“We taking a ley line home?” Jenks asked, and Trent’s focus blurred.
“There’s one three blocks that way.”
A feeling of being watched stole over me. “Let’s go,” I said as I scanned the street, my eyes widening when Laker stumbled out of the store, still shedding clothes. The woman from the register was with him, yelling loudly as she gathered what she could.
“Go!” I pushed Trent into motion, glancing back when Laker shouted at us.
“Kalamack!” the wizard demanded, shoving the woman off him as he bolted for us.
My skin was tingling as Trent ran beside me, the two of us meeting the pavement as one. I loved working with him, and I fought with the inane desire to take his hand in mine, even as we ran.
“Don’t stop,” Trent said as we turned the corner and he slid to a halt and pulled more heavily on the nearing line.“Ta na shay, juncta in uno!”he shouted, and my knees almost buckled as the nearby line pulsed with energy, racing through both of us when he gave it direction and aimed it squarely at the determined human.
Laker skidded to a stop, fumbling with his amulets as Trent’s spell slammed into him and froze him to the ground.
Trent grabbed my hand and pulled me into a run. Wild magic pressed into me, tingling and suggestive. “The line…” I started. It had to be close. That last spell was like…wow.
“He broke it!” Jenks shrilled from behind my ear, his grip cold as he held on for dear life. “Rache, he’s searching his pockets.”
“He’s free?” Trent said, clearly annoyed. “That should have held him for at least five minutes.”