Finally it went to voice mail, three words: Leave a message.
At the sound of Liams voice, adrenaline dumped into his bloodstream, and his head pounded with renewed fury that hed failed to killed Liam. He locked his jaw and disconnected. Switching lines, he said, Voice mail. He heard his jaw crack with stress. Its my brother, Liam. Thinking fast, he added, Macks a mortal, and I saw that his memory has been shifted by a witch hunter before. Liam must be recruiting mortal men to find these marks on women.
Im sure youre reeling that your brother is alive, but do you know what he wants with fertility witches specifically?
No, but Im going to find out. Hes after more than these witches, that much I do know. Remembering Roxy in his room, he shifted screens on his BlackBerry as he finished his thought, Liam is afterOh shit!
The bed was empty. Roxy was gone.
*
Key was furious with himself for getting so distracted by the schemas and learning that Roxy was a fertility witch that he hadnt seen her leave. Hed had to replay it to see when she woke, got out of bed, grabbed her clothes, and left.
He could not believe how his night kept going from bad to worse. Phoenix and Ailish arrivedPhoenix must have broken the land-speed records in his Mustang to get to Vegas so quicklyand now they both stared at the wall where hed drawn Roxy.
Phoenix wore his customary leathers, and his dark eyes were troubled. You left her in here with this?
She was practically unconscious. Key went to the minibar, pulled out a too-damned-small bottle of Scotch and drained it.
Ailish, Phoenixs soulmirror mate, stood next to him. Her hair was getting longer, now past her shoulders. Dressed in a black camisole, skinny jeans, and boots, she wasnt looking at the drawing; she wasnt looking at anything. She said, Damn, Key, that picture gives me the creeps and Im blind. Mind if I get rid of it?
The soulmirror bond that ended the curse for them also allowed Ailish to see through Phoenixs eyes. Itd been too much to hope that Phoenix wouldnt show her. He didnt like them seeing Roxy naked or cut, but he was the asshole who had left it on the wall. More guilt. Go ahead.
He felt Ailishs magic rise in the room, then as he watched, the drawing faded from the wall until it was just a memory.
Phoenix strode over to Key. You cant find Roxy anywhere?
Shes not in her room. Frustration burned in his gut. The dragon tat on his chest shifted, too. If Liam has her
He couldnt stand still. He hated feeling helpless.
From his laptop, Suttons voice came out, I found her with the cameras in the hotel hallways. Shes safe. Ill show you the feed.
Key turned to the laptop and watched as the images began. Roxy, still wearing the robe and carrying her clothes and shoes, knocked on the door of a room. A woman opened it, stood back as Roxy walked in, then closed the door.
I know her, thats Meryl Chambers, shes a bookseller. Relief eased his knotted muscles.
Sutton said, The door has stayed closed. Well watch the camera and make sure no one goes in or out. Even better, I think I can code the computer in the door lock to alert me if anyone goes in or out. Even if a rogue is invisible, the door will still alert me.
Thankful for Suttons incredible computer wizardry, he said, Okay, good. He leaned against the dresser while Ailish and Phoenix walked over to the couch and sat down.
Key, the voice of Axel Locke, the leader of the Wing Slayer Hunters, came over the laptop. Sutton has filled me in so far, but we need more information. Start at the beginning.
He turned his head, seeing the green eyes and hard face of his leader on the screen. Key, Phoenix, Sutton, and Axel and another hunter named Ram had decided to commit themselves to their god, Wing Slayer. To show their allegiance, they each had a tattoo of a winged creature. Key did the