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Winter reappeared, the keys jangling in his hand

‘Long story,’ I called out, bolting back to the car We could still catch up to Blackbeard We could still do this Winter unlocked the doors and we leapt inside as if the fires of hell were after us ‘I really want to get this bastard’

Winter nodded ‘You and me both’

Chapter Seven

When we li around narrow, dark roads and scrutinising country tracks and village side streets, a crowd of happy customers turned to stare at us I wasn’t surprised; I was caked in dried blood and Winter looked as if he were about to murder so asked, the barman poured me a shot of vodka I downed it in one

‘Thanks,’ I said

‘You looked like you needed it’ He paused ‘Should I get the kitchen to re-heat your stew?’

The last thing I felt right noas hungry and I was ready to politely decline but Winter was reat,’ he said He took my elbow and drew me over to a small table, away from the rest of the punters

I flopped down and dropped ht here I could have stopped hiic…’

‘It was just as well that you didn’t,’ he growled ‘Anything could have happened Besides, I had every opportunity, too I was sure that spell had sh his hair ‘I don’t get it’

‘Maybe you were tired,’ I suggested gently ‘It’s been a long day We drove all the way here fro rain And you used ic out there to keep us warm’

He shook his head vehemently ‘No I know myself and I knohen I’ve reached the point of exhaustion where ic will fail I wasn’t anywhere near that point’ He druainst the wooden table and cursed loudly enough to upset an elderly couple enjoying a quiet sherry Winter y and looked at me ‘Maybe he’s a witch too and he’d set up so spell It would have to be a da at him but it wouldn’t have been impossible’

I wrinkled my nose ‘No, I already told you He hates witches It was about the only time I saw any emotion in his expression Anyway, the reason he didn’t kill me is because he assuainst him when I could have’

‘So his motive is that he’s a witch-hater That’s why he hed ‘The question is, why did he go for them? Order witches are ic would be roup’

I chose not to comment on his use of the word ‘us’ This wasn’t really the time ‘Non-Order covens are weak by their very nature Maybe he was testing the water and he’s going to rimaced It was just a theory; it didn’t have to be true

Winter met my eyes and we shared a ot away’ His voice was quiet ‘I can’t believe that our strongest weapon against hi about him and where he’d be in the future, and we’ve fucked that up He won’t cohed ‘I had him, Ivy I’m sure of it’

I put my hand over his ‘I believe you’ I paused then said, ‘I think there’s et to the botto’

Winter’s fingers entwined with mine and he squeezed them briefly as if in thanks ‘It’ll be ain, that blood will be on my hands as much as on his’

‘That’s not true and you know it Besides, I was there too I had more time and I didn’t stop him any more than you did We both screwed up’

The waitress appeared at the open doorway I gestured silence to Winter and we both waited while she put tls of hotpot in front of us The fragrant sry My storabbed a spoon, ready to dive in

As the waitress s at Winter’s murmur of appreciation and the crinkle in his sexy blue eyes, I caught sight of an oldconfused The waitress passed right through him as she departed The old man barely noticed; I pretended not to At the very least I was going to enjoy the return of hosts and witches and serial killers later