He lay still.
I shook him by the collar. Nothing. All I seemed to be doing these days was shaking demons and trying to get them to talk.
Aidan knelt by my side and dug around in the demon’s pockets.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“He might have a transport charm. His buddy did.” He pulled his hand out and showed me. A small rock. “Can you track him?”
I closed my eyes and reached out for the man who’d disappeared, even though I knew it was likely hopeless. I kept my hand on the unconscious demon’s chest, but felt nothing.
“No,” I said.
“I thought Seekers could track people.”
They could, but Seeker was just my cover story. I could only find people or things of value. The demon at my feet didn’t value his comrades, so there was no link for me. I valued finding the man I’d just seen, but I didn’t know enough about him to track him. Or he was protected. Either way, I was getting nothing.
“I can’t feel where he went. I don’t know why,” I said.
My shoulders sagged. What a crap day.
Black glass flashed in the light at the demon’s side. My blades. I reached for one, then remembered. “Blood. I threw my blade at the man who disappeared. I called it back to me before he left. We can use the blood on the blade to fuel a tracking spell! That should be enough to find him.”
I was pretty fastidious about washing the blood off my beloved blades, but I could wait if it meant finding the man who’d taken the scroll.
“Do you know where to buy a spell like that?” he asked.
It wasn’t easy to buy magic that wasn’t your own. It’s why my business did so well—a lot of demand, little supply. “I don’t, but I think my friends would. They know a lot of people. They’ve hooked me up with charmed objects in the past.”
“Good. Let’s go then.” He stood.
I rose, swaying on my feet. Fates, using magic was hard. I was so out of shape.
“Are you all right?” Aidan steadied me.
Had he been conscious when I’d moved the rocks?
“Yeah, just beat up.” And it would take me a while to get over the shock of using that much power.
“You look like you’re a bit more than beat up.”
“Nah, I’m fine. I totally—”
Wooziness hit me hard. I swayed on my feet. Right as I tipped over to go hang out with the floor, Aidan swept me up into his arms.
Wow, that was nice. Not only did I not have to support my own weight, but he was also warm and strong, and his arms felt heavenly.
“You’re not all right,” he said.
“Just tired. Put me down.”
“No.”
I scowled. “Fine. Let’s go back. Potions & Pastilles.”
Suspicion glinted in Aidan’s dark eyes. “There’s more to it than exhaustion.”
“There isn’t.”
“So you didn’t save my life from those rocks?”
Oh, crap. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He gave me a look that said he didn’t buy my bull for a second.
“We’ll talk about it later,” he said, then threw the transport charm to the ground. It shattered and he stepped into the glittering cloud.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Fortunately, Potions & Pastilles was empty when we arrived. Because of the time change, we’d hit it right at the late-afternoon lull. Old Mr. Monier sat at his usual table in the corner, reading the paper, but he was deaf as a post, so I wasn’t worried about him.
“Where do you want me to put you?” Aidan asked.
“Down,” I said as Claire walked out of the back. She was dressed in her fighting leathers, either on her way to a job or just returning from one. I would guess returning, from the state of her hair. It looked like someone had gotten ahold of her ponytail and tugged.
“What’s wrong with you?” Claire demanded. Her dark eyes searched me worriedly.
“I’m fine,” I said.
“Yeah, ‘cause you totally let people carry you around when you’re fine.”
“Just a little tired from a fight.” I pushed at Aidan’s chest. “Put me down!”
Gently, he lowered me to my feet. I stumbled. The ground felt like it was moving. Ugh, I was never using my power again. So not worth this feeling.
“Let me get you something,” Claire said.
“I’ll take a triple boosted latte,” I said as I stumbled to the comfy chairs in the corner in front of the window. Potions & Pastilles specialized in enchanted coffees, courtesy of Connor’s potions talents. Normally I drink the regular stuff, but if you’re injured, magically drained, bummed out, or just looking for a boost, P & P had something to help you out. I didn’t know what was in the boost that I’d just ordered, only that Connor specialized in righting your ills. Or at least, giving you a pick-me-up that had more to do with magic than caffeine.
I sank into the comfy chair and sighed. All I needed was a drink and a nap and I’d be fine.
Aidan sat down next to me, looking entirely too fit and healthy. There wasn’t a scratch on him.