Then he grabbed her hair and pulled her back up.
She helped him, punching both fists into his groin. The sound he made defied description. Using her hair, he swung her around and flung her again.
She landed on her front, the air knocked out of her lungs. Her gloved hands scrambled to stop her as she turned around and around on the ice, spinning away from the threat. She had to shut him down before he created more fire.
A plasma ball landed next to her, and she yelped, rolling out of the way and crouching up on her knees.
He stood, blood flowing down his face and turning his teeth red. “You’re gonna pay.” As if remembering just then, he half turned, but it was too late. The man on the hang glider kicked two large boots into Vegar’s face, throwing back his head. The snap of bones breaking ripped through the chilled air. Vegar crashed onto the ice, arms outstretched, out cold. Probably with a broken neck.
Cee Cee pushed herself up, her legs wobbling. She squinted as the sun reflected across the ice. Spotting her sunglasses, she reached down and planted them back on her face, protecting her eyes.
The hang glider dropped and sent the glider across the frozen tundra to slide into the orange building. He was big and broad and easily controlled his body in a graceful jog to stop within a yard of her. A black headgear mask covered his face, and a knit hat covered his hair. A dark Klim Latitude jacket covered his wide torso, and Klim pants led down to thick boots. Even mirrored eyeglasses hid his eyes.
But she knew. Damn it, she knew.
He ripped off the face mask. “Cee Cee.”
Ah, crap. “Daire. How in the world did you find me?” Spirals unfolded in her abdomen, sparks of unwelcome pleasure. Her body was happy to see him. Her brain was not. “Seriously. How?”
He tucked the mask into his back pocket and shoved his glasses atop his head.
Furious. Green eyes, ringed with darker green, shot sparks at her. His body was relaxed, and yet, a tension now lifted the breeze, sparking along her skin. “You might have taken my surveillance cameras, but cameras are all over town, baby.”
Baby. When was the last time anybody had called her baby? Had anybody ever called her baby? She didn’t think so. “I see. You caught up surprisingly quickly.” Trying to be casual, she moved slightly toward the snowmobile.
He smiled, and she halted in place. The smile wasn’t kind or remotely amused. It was a warning.
She was smart enough to heed it.
“Considering the files you stole, I tracked you here.”
“I have to admit, you made it so easy to find the exact right maps with your freaky organizational skills. Do you have OCD?” she blurted.
He drew back, irritation all but wafting from him. “No. I just like things orderly.”
Must be nice. Her world was usually full of chaos these days. “I could’ve gone to the mines in Russia instead of here,” she murmured, and she still fully intended to do so. Where was the key to the snowmobile? She had to move to see the ignition.
Daire lifted a dark eyebrow in a dangerously rugged face. “The key isn’t in the ignition. I assume he has it.” Daire jerked his head toward the unconscious witch, whose neck should be repairing itself. “Who is he, anyway?”
She sighed. “Vegar Bergan.”
Daire coughed. “The mercenary?” He kicked the downed man, who didn’t even moan. “You trusted Bergan?”
Heat climbed into her freezing face. “I paid him well.”
“Not well enough,” Daire drawled.
“Obviously.” Her chin lifted.
“Everyone knows Vegar is available to the highest bidder. If you have an enemy, then you’re vulnerable when working with a guy like this.”