Releasing the Hunter

Chapter 30

Ronan tossed the chalk to the side after drawing the sigil in the pentagram. He picked up his knife and drew the blade across his palm. Blood dripped onto the chalked hardwood floor of his newly rented apartment, activating the “call.” It wouldn’t be long before Daeva appeared. She was always prompt when he called her.

A minute passed before there was an audible pop and the scent of cinnamon filled the air.

“Hmm, twice in one week. That is some kind of record.” Her grin was warm and friendly.

He didn’t return the smile; this was all business. “I need another address.”

“Well, I know it isn’t for Sallos, because I saw his sorry ass down here. You really pissed him off.”

“I need to know the headquarters for the Crimson Hall Cabal.”

Daeva tapped one long finger against her lips. “I see. That’s quite the task you’re asking of me.”

“Why?”

“The cabal is powerful. They have a lot of magic able to block out any unwanted attention.”

“I believe in you, Daeva. I wouldn’t have called you if I didn’t think you were the woman for the job.”

She preened at his use of the word woman, instead of calling her a demon. He understood wanting that distinction. He lived it every day, as she did.

“Of course I am.” She tapped at her lips again. “Give me some time.”

“I need it sooner than later.”

“It’ll cost you.”

Ronan looked at her, knowing full well that he’d pay whatever she asked for. He had to stop the cabal at any price. Reggie wouldn’t quit until Ronan was dead, as well as anyone involved with the key. And that included Ivy and Quinn. Ronan would sacrifice his own life before he ever saw anything terrible happen to them.

“I know.”

Daeva studied him for a moment, and then lifted one elegant eyebrow. “You’re in love with her, aren’t you?”

He dropped his gaze, uncomfortable with the way she saw right through him. “Does it matter?”

“Oh, Ronan, of course it does.” She tsked, then snapped her fingers and disappeared.

Ronan walked down the corridor to the bathroom and stuck his hand under a stream of cold water. He kept it there until the blood oozing from the open wound gelled. He dried it carefully and then wrapped it up in gauze, taping it tight.

He didn’t know how long he’d have to wait for Daeva to come back, but he sensed it wouldn’t be too long. She was reliable and something in her eyes told him that she understood his feelings for Ivy. That somewhere and sometime she’d possessed those same feelings for someone.

True to his assumption, Ronan didn’t wait long for Daeva’s return. After two hours, she popped back into his living room with the information he needed.

She handed him a small piece of paper. He took it and said, “Thank you.” He unfolded it, read the address, and then slipped it into his front jeans’ pocket.

“That’s why you called me.”

“Name your price, and I’ll pay it.”

Daeva eyed him for a long while. So long he began to feel uncomfortable and shifted from foot to foot. Those gray eyes of hers were strange and unnerving. Finally she said, “All I ask is that you take care of her.”

That surprised him. “What?”

“Look after Ivy Strom and love her like she deserves.”

He still didn’t get it. “That’s all you want?”

She nodded.

“Why? What’s Ivy to you?”

“Nothing. It’s what she means to you.” Then her eyes sparkled and a sly grin spread across her comely face. “Oh, and send a message to that brother of hers.”

“What message?”

“That I’m waiting.” Her eyes bled black, and then she was gone, in a puff of dark smoke.

Ronan didn’t have time to dwell on that last bit about Quinn. He’d deliver the message sometime and let Quinn worry about it. Right now, he had to prepare to take down the Crimson Hall Cabal or at the very least, kill Reggie.

As soon as the sun set, Ronan set out on his way. The address Daeva gave him turned out to be smack in the middle of Pacific Heights. Not far from Lafayette Park, Ronan stood on Gough Street and stared up at the huge Victorian mansion looming in front of him.

He shouldn’t have expected anything less from the cabal. They were entrenched in money. Reggie alone was probably worth at least several million. Ronan imagined most of the cabal members came from wealth. Bunch of sorcerer snobs.

By looking at the big house, he also knew there were likely wards on every entrance. Luckily, Daeva also gave him the one window to go through that was lacking any security. He looked down at the paper she’d given him again. Second story, third window from the right. Smiling, he slid the paper back into his pants pocket and crossed the street.

Getting up to the second floor proved far easier than he thought it would be. Ronan slid open the unlocked windowpane and climbed into the dark room that just happened to be a bedroom. Reggie’s bedroom, to be exact. And the sorcerer was sound asleep under the covers, like a gift-wrapped present.

But Ronan didn’t believe in easy.

Pulling his gun out from his shoulder holster, he flicked off the safety. He aimed and fired off three rounds. All three bullets hit the sleeping form. The big problem was, no blood splattered from the holes.

A blast of magic hit him in the side. He stumbled to the left and smacked into the wall, the breath knocked out of him. His fingertips tingled from the electrical power of Reggie’s magic.

“Did you think it would be that easy?”

“I was hoping,” Ronan grunted, as he pushed off the wall and swung around to face his attacker.

Reggie stepped out of the shadows; his hands were alight with the glowing blue of his magic. He lifted them towards Ronan. “After I kill you, I’m going to torture and kill your girlfriend.”

“No, I don’t think so, Reggie.” Ronan ran at the sorcerer full speed. As he moved, he unsheathed two blades from his back harness; he’d gotten one just like Ivy’s.

Reggie was caught off guard at Ronan’s attack and didn’t have time to release his magic. They tumbled to the floor in a tangle of arms and legs. Reggie wrapped his hands around Ronan’s neck, intending to strangle him with power. But Ronan had been quicker.

The sorcerer’s eyes widened when he realized what had just happened. He looked down and saw that Ronan had buried both blades into his body, one in each side. Blood poured down his torso and onto the off-white carpet.

Ronan pushed away from the sorcerer and got to his feet, pulling the knives out as he did. There was no way Reggie would survive.

“You shouldn’t have threatened her. I might’ve let you live.”

Reggie blinked up at him, then slowly his eyelids closed. Ronan sensed the moment the sorcerer died. A chill rushed through the room.

Wiping the blood off on the sheets, Ronan quickly made his escape from the room. He had a lot of work ahead of him. He had to efficiently and effectively erase every trace of himself.