31—Charmed, I’m Sure
Bonhi sat in the passenger seat of Dallas’ car, trembling, while Dallas drove them to the courthouse.
She clasped her hands together, trying to control the shakes, realizing she did believe in vampires, and she was terrified that she was about to meet one.
Dallas took her hand and she instantly felt better, knowing he wouldn’t let any vampire get her.
Bonhi turned around to see Dakota still behind them, following in her car, with the golden eagle flying about thirty feet overhead. Bonhi was glad they were there.
At the courthouse, Dallas parked in the lot, and they got out of the car. Bonhi took Dallas’ hand for strength as they walked up together. They stopped at the top of the steps to discuss their strategy, while people streamed around them like everything was normal.
“If they’re charmed,” Dallas said, staring into her eyes, “I’ll tell you—and you might see them twitch.”
“What about vampires? Will I know one on sight?”
Dallas grinned. “Sure. If you find yourself stabbing someone with anything you can scrounge up, like a pen or a butter knife, they’re a vampire.”
Bonhi grasped her throat, feeling sick to her stomach. “If I’m a switch.”
Dallas took both her hands. “I know you’re a switch. Soon you’ll know, too.”
Bonhi squeezed his hand, nerves tingling in her gut. She didn’t want to stab anyone, not even a vampire.
Dallas nodded at her. “Ready?”
She nodded but couldn’t speak.
Dallas looked up at the sky, but then Aven strolled up the steps hand in hand with Dakota.
Aven clapped Dallas on the shoulder, saying, “Ready!”
Dallas and Aven clasped hands. “Bro, the most important thing is that we keep the civilians safe.” He looked at Bonhi. “Is there someone in there you’re worried about?”
Bonhi nodded. “My friend, Angie.”
Aven lifted his head and looked around. “There’s no vampires around.”
“There might be some watching,” Dallas said.
Aven shook his head. “They can’t be too close. We’d scent ‘em, and our switches here would feel ‘em up to about a half mile away.”
“That’s perfect. They don’t want a confrontation and that means if we drop the key and make ourselves scarce, the humans here’ll be that much safer,” Dallas said.
“Here’s what we’re going to do: Bonhi goes first, and I’ll stick close to her.
Skree, you and Dakota stay within yelling distance.
Bonhi will hand over the key and then we’ll get you two switches a safe distance away while Aven does surveillance. ”
“Good plan,” Aven said. Dakota nodded and gave Dallas a snarky thumbs-up.
Dallas caught Bonhi’s eye again, giving her a questioning look.
She nodded. He gestured ‘after you.’ Bonhi moved inside and Dallas walked behind her.
They went through the metal detectors, then walked single file down the hallway.
Without his comforting presence close to her she felt unsure and unsteady, which was something she’d never felt in this building before.
She’d always prepared well for every legal battle she’d fought, but she hadn’t prepared for vampires at all.
She kept her eyes on the floor, not wanting to see anyone she knew, or any vampires.
She reached the door to the judge’s outer office where Angie worked.
Bonhi peeked inside and saw her friend sitting behind her desk, her short blonde bob curled around her ears.
Bonhi pushed the door open and headed in, her eyes on her friend, while Dallas took a seat in the waiting area behind her.
Angie looked up and adjusted her glasses. Bonhi smiled, but the pleased recognition Bonhi had expected did not cross Angie’s face. Instead, her voice remained professional. “Ms. Candor, do you have an appointment?”
Bonhi opened her mouth, then closed it again, not sure what to say. Angie was acting strange.
“No,” she finally said. “I’m dropping off a key.”
Bonhi turned around to look at Dallas and he nodded once, his face somber.
Bonhi whipped back around, feeling shocked. Her friend was under control of vampires. For how long? Did it hurt? Had a vampire touched her? Drank her blood? Bonhi scanned all of Angie’s exposed skin and saw nothing out of the ordinary.
Angie reached out an open palm and Bonhi retrieved the key from her pocket, handing it over. Angie’s whole body twitched, and Bonhi’s heart ached. She stared at her friend, trying to think what to say.
The door to Judge Sturn’s chambers opened and the woman herself came out, wearing a navy-blue pantsuit. She smiled at Bonhi. Bonhi’s mouth dropped open. She’d never seen Judge Sturn smile at anyone. Bonhi looked at Dallas and got another solemn nod.
Deep anger filled Bonhi. How dare anyone, including vampires, mess with a judge?
That was like messing with the law itself.
A dark desire to find whoever had done such a thing twisted through her psyche, making her hope she was a switch.
That would mean she had the man, the magic, and the means to fix this.
She stood tall and said quick goodbyes, then rushed to Dallas, motioning him out of the room. In the hallway, she pulled him against a wall. “How long does it last for?”
Dallas shrugged. “Not sure. Might be a while unless the charm is removed or they get knocked on the head.”
“What will the vampires do to them?”
“Hopefully nothing if they get what they want—the key.”
Bonhi nodded. “I left it with Angie.”
“Okay, let’s go.”
Dallas pulled Bonhi toward the exit. Just outside, they met up with Aven and Dakota.
“Where are you going to go?” Aven asked.
“I don’t know, where’s good?”
“I would go a mile away to be safe. Maybe just drive and park on the side of the road.”
Dallas grunted. “Good plan.” He kissed Bonhi’s fingers, then placed a hand on Aven’s shoulder, looking him in the eyes, his expression serious.
“I need to tell you two something,” he said, pointing at Dakota for a moment.
“I didn’t want to tell you on the phone, but it involves ‘The Cause.’” He shook his head, his eyes on the ground like he didn’t know how to start.
“Mama Soline—she did some crazy-ass magic and Warrior Woman showed up. She had a message for me, and so d-did… f—” He stumbled over his words, looking around.
Bonhi smiled at him, trying to lend him the same strength he always gave her. He smiled back and went on. “—And so did Fate. The message was, I am the Scout, like Jameson is the Keeper.”
A smile pierced Aven’s face. He looked impressed, saying, “And like Carick is the Steward.”
Bonhi, Dallas, and Dakota all looked at him, confused.
“Who?” Dallas asked.
Aven waved a hand. “Don’t worry about it. You’ll meet him when he comes back. You’re the Scout?”
Dallas nodded and backed up a little, stroking his short beard. “I think I’m supposed to find switches before they’re ‘switched on’, because why else would I see them glow before you?”
“Shit,” Aven said, “I can believe that. But what if you’re also supposed to lead Belief Coven?”
A thrill went through Bonhi and she studied Dallas. He was staring at Aven, his brows pulled low.
“Think about it,” Aven said. “Jameson’s the leader of ‘The Cause’ because he’s the Keeper and he’s been guarding some ancient book for years.
He’s the leader of the Resperanza shifters because he’s the leader of the Cause—but he can’t effectively lead us.
He lives in Resperanza, we live in Credence.
He won’t know what’s going on with us unless we report to him. ”
Dallas shook his head. “I don’t want to report to him.”
“Which is why I say maybe the Scout is the leader of Belief Coven.”
“Pssht, maybe not,” Dakota said, hand on her hip.
Aven shook his head. “Not the leader of you, witch, you do your own thing. Shifter hierarchy doesn’t affect you at all.”
Dakota nodded. “Good.”
“But why me?” Dallas asked, shaking his head. “You were higher rank in the military.”
“Who gives a fuck about the military?” Aven said, throwing his hands up.
“I belong in the sky, doing surveillance, not on the ground making decisions like some mammal.” Dakota laughed and took his hand.
Aven pulled her close and kept talking. “Jameson’s been my boss for a long time, in ‘The Cause’ and at work.
He’s done a decent job, but he’s distracted now, and he’s too far removed.
I think someone else can do a better job, at least for the four of us.
” He jabbed his finger into Dallas’ chest a few times.
“That’s you, Rowr. You’ve been acting like a leader since you got here. ”
Dallas clapped Aven on the back, grinning a wide grin. “Thanks, Skree.”
Bonhi smiled and slipped her hand into the crook of Dallas’ elbow.
He took it to his handsome mouth and kissed her fingers, then said, “I think you might be right, because Warrior Woman showed me there’s something going on ‘The Cause’ doesn’t know about.
The vampires are trying to get their hands on a powerful item, and if they do, we’re in deep shit.
Whatever’s inside it can control us or kill us—all of us. ”
“Inside it? What, like a chest?” Aven asked.
Dallas shook his head, holding his fingers apart as far as they would go. “I thought it was a key, but I had a dream on the plane ride home that made me think it’s a small bottle or vial with liquid inside. It’s made out of a funny, bubbled metal.”
Bonhi felt sick. “It’s in the cabin,” she said, covering her mouth, and turning to stare at Dallas with desperate eyes.
Dallas grasped her upper arms. “That changes everything. We’ve got to get it before the vampires do.”
She nodded, finally spilling what she knew. “The cabin is just north of Cove Springs. It opened for me once without a key. I think it’s magic and can disappear like the… coven.”
Dallas looked at Aven, eyebrows raised. “Cove Springs?”
“It’s two miles from the BBOC,” Aven said. “You can take the 4-wheeler from the rear storage. The combination is 4941 and there’s a map to Cove Springs under the seat.”
Dallas nodded. “Thanks.” He turned to Bonhi. “Let’s go, before the vampires get the key.”
Bonhi stopped him. “What about Angie and the judge?”
Dallas thought for a moment, then said, “We’ll call Maze and the others off the doctor and have them come here.
Aven and Dakota can stay until they get here.
” He checked in with them and they nodded.
He turned back to Bonhi and looked deep in her eyes as if he were infusing her with strength.
“Me and you will go and get the bottle before the vampires get the key.”
She pulled together all her courage and nodded at her fated mate.