Pausing, I looked back at him, the scratches no longer bleeding, “Nobody knows why or how they’re trapped. I’m going to find out.”

Swearing under his breath, he slid down after me, Alex closed in behind him.

“We’ll see how close we can get, see if we can break whatever trance they’re in,” I said.

“What about me?” Eve called after us.

I thought for a moment before speaking. “Circle high, keep the ranch in sight and be ready to do an emergency pick up. You too, Eagle.”

The three of us on foot made no effort to hide ourselves from those on the ranch as we approached. No point, there was no cover and it was just past mid-day, there weren’t even any good shadows to use for hiding.

“So,” O’Shea said. “We just stroll on up, ask for the Shamans back?”

I didn’t miss the sarcasm in his voice. “Yup, pretty much.”

“That work for you in the past?”

“Nope, never.”

Alex snickered to himself; whether he actually got the humour, I don’t know, but I had the feeling he enjoyed seeing me and O’Shea at odds.

O’Shea though, took exception and glared at Alex, his dark eyebrows furrowing. “Shut up, wolf.”

Alex cowered as if he’d been hit, hiding as best he could behind my legs. “Sorry, boss.”

I frowned at the agent. “Ease up, O’Shea. I need you both to be on your best behaviour.” Then I gave Alex a look, but I didn’t need to. The werewolf was travelling with his head down, tail tucked between his legs. “I be good.”

We reached the large gates leading into the courtyard; I stood with my hands resting on the heavy iron bars. “Hello? Anybody home? Avon calling.”

The only sound echoing back to me was the low chant of the three Shamans. Again, I wished I understood Navajo.

O’Shea flicked the latch on the gate up, and pushed the panels, opening it with ease.

Motioning for Alex, I pointed at the gate. “You stay here, guard the gate, and howl if you see anyone. Okay?”

Alex nodded, but the spark was gone from his eyes, the jovial werewolf had disappeared under O’Shea’s rebuke.

He didn’t salute, didn’t give me a saucy “Yuppy doody.” Nothing. He just sat down, eyes darting from side to side.

“Alex. We won’t be long.”

Again, nothing.

The chanting stopped and the hairs on my arms and the back of my neck rose in a wave. “We’ve got to hurry.” I took off at a dead run, asking my body to give me more than I knew it had left; I was running on empty. O’Shea ran beside me in an easy lope, not even a hitch from where the bear Guardian had nailed him.

We careened around the final corner and the courtyard opened up. The three Shamans were slumped where they sat, chins to their chests. Shit, they didn’t look good. Skin pale under their deep tans, eyes closed, and only the bare flutter of their chests rising and falling. There was a red circle that they sat in, painted on the flagstones. I thought it was the traditional sign of the sun, and only as we drew closer did I see the rays pointed inward. I’d seen a similar design in one of Giselle’s books, years ago. The reverse sun was used only when drawing power from someone, sucking it out of them. Not good.

My toe was at the red line, and I pushed it a little further. No sparks, no fireworks.

“O’Shea, get them out to Alex. Flag down Eagle, he can get them back to Louisa’s.” My throat tightened up, like a noose had settled around it, my entire body going from tense to hyper alert. Where were the bad guys, the ones who’d taken the Shamans?

He bent and picked up the first woman, then jogged her out to the front gate, out of my view. I worked my way around the circle. This was too easy. My skin started to prickle and I circled the courtyard, feeling as though I was missing something. No rescue was ever this easy.

O’Shea came back for the second Shaman and as he lifted her she whispered, her voice hoarse. “Trap. It’s a trap.”

Startled, I lifted my eyes to O’Shea’s. “Get her out of here, now!”

I grabbed the last Shaman, the youngest one who had to be Crystal, under the arms and started to drag her out to the front gate. I didn’t want to be here when the trap sprung.

Already though, I knew it was too late. Halfway to the gate the air around us crackled, and a sheen of misty power coalesced around the ranch. Without even touching it I knew it was impenetrable, the power vibrating at a frequency I knew from past experience nothing would get through.

I lowered the Shaman to the ground, propping her against the nearest wall. Right now, she was my only ally and she was out cold. Crystal, the youngest of all four Shamans, and the newest to the calling. Fan-freaking-tastic.

O’Shea stood outside the shimmering power, slamming it with his fists, and then his sword. I could see his mouth moving, but no sound came out. I was truly on my own for this one.

There was no way around it, I would have to go looking for whatever or whomever the power source was coming from and take it out. I smiled, gave O’Shea a thumbs up and headed back toward the courtyard. It was about time I had something to go after, a solid goal. On the edges of my mind, I could feel Ricky waiting for me. There was no time for niceties; the kid had been in the hands of that f**king Troll long enough.

I pulled out both of my swords from my back sheath, swirling them through the air, loosening my muscles. My footsteps echoed weirdly in the courtyard, bouncing off the shimmering power that contained the miniature town.

The courtyard was the same as I’d left it, fire burning hot. I stood next to it, letting the heat warm me, the flames dancing almost as high as my chin. From across the flagstone courtyard, a single figure stepped out of the main doorway. She looked to be in her prime, short cropped black hair, soft brown eyes, and a fit physique for someone who was, on a good day, going to be called short. I doubted she’d come to the middle of my chest, hardly intimidating. She glowered at me, white teeth flashing.

I swirled one sword in the air, cutting through the flames. “You’re the problem? Well bang me sideways, here I thought I’d be facing down a real bad ass, stealing four Shamans and all.”

The petite woman took three steps into the courtyard, her eyes fixated on me. “You have quite the reputation, Rylee.” Her words were slurred, almost like she was drunk. Or trying to hide an accent, it was hard to tell.

“Oh joy, it knows my name.”

Her face tightened. “I am Jensen. I want you to know my name before I take you and spell you. I will be greatly rewarded for bringing you in.”

I laughed, though my heart was starting to beat faster in anticipation for what was coming. “What, there’s a bounty out on me now?”

She nodded. “Yes. And I want that bounty. I hear you even took a blow from a demon.”

“Doran spilling the beans is he?”

Jensen nodded again, still not smiling.

My jaw clenched. Doran and his big fat mouth were going to get an ass kicking when I was done with her. But if they were on talking terms . . . .

Incredulous, I couldn’t help blurting out, “You mean to tell me you’re a Daywalker?” Of course, once I got rolling I couldn’t stop. “You, with the height of a child? You, with the short legs and stubby little arms? How the f**k did you steal four Shamans? Better yet.” I thought of what O’Shea would ask. “Why?”

She didn’t nod this time, but the skin around her eyes tightened, as did her lips. Okay, so I’d guessed right. Her body was so still I’d have laid money that she was frozen to the spot.

“You are insolent, aren’t you?”

“Well.” I shrugged, keeping my body as loose and relaxed as I could. “I’ve been told that before. I kind of like it. Insolent. Makes me sound like a rebel, don’t you think?”

“Those Shamans were easy to steal. They are so full of pride that when I asked for their help, they came. And when I asked for another’s help because the first was incapable, they came. Each one too caught up in their own belief that they were the best to realize I’d drawn them in and fooled them.”

“Sneaky. Now, I only ask this cause my partner will want to know. Why would you steal them? Want to share?”

I was pushing it, I knew I was. The longer we stood here the better chance she had at getting me to lower my guard.

“Power. They have enough power to help me transition. I only needed two of them. The other two I took so you would be certain to come for them. Do you think it was coincidence that it was Louisa who escaped?”

Hmm. This was not sounding good. I put my hand to my chest, my eyes wide and innocent. “Aw, you did that for me? Remind me to send you flowers.”

Jensen snarled. “You little bitch, stop mocking me!”

“Now, little isn’t the word I’d use for me. Damn, I’m a freaking behemoth compared to you.” I paused, then smiled, a genuine, happy smile I couldn’t hold back knowing this would be the word that would send her over the edge. “Squirt.”

Okay, maybe that hadn’t been the best idea I’d come across, but it was too late now. She rushed me, her face twisting and fangs protruding at a grotesque angle, almost as if her jaw had been broken and reset wrong. That would explain the weird talking.

Two steps from me she slammed on the brakes, and I pointed one sword at her head, the other at her stomach. “Come on then, Happy. Let’s get this done.”

Her eyes glittered with hatred and madness, not a good combination in my business.

“I am not happy.” She snarled at me, lifting one hand up as though she would spell me. Good luck with that.

I couldn’t resist.

“Then which dwarf are you?”

Her eyes bulged, and I only had a split second to prep as she threw herself at me, a screaming bundle of fury. Arms wheeling, she seemed to lose control, her eyes rolling back in her head, teeth open and jaw snapping, whatever spell she’d thought to cast forgotten.

I dodged her wild blows easily, dancing away from her, swords arcing through the air, taking off the tips of her fingers on her right hand. Screeching, she leapt, ignoring my weapons. Her mistake.