Hounded

you know red-haired woman … who warned about silver traps. «
    » Yes, I do. That was Flidais. « I frowned as I bent to examine his chains. They were locked with a padlock, and I wasn’t a locksmith. Trying to dissolve the chains magically would take too much time. Someone had to have the key. » Why do you ask? «
    » She was the one … who kidnapped us! «
    » What? I thought that was Emily. «
    » No. « He shook his head. » No. She drove car. Flidais talked us into … backseat. «
    I looked over at Oberon. » Why didn’t you mention this before? « I asked aloud so all could hear.
    › I was going to, but you haven’t exactly let me talk very much. Hush, Oberon, quiet, Oberon, not now, Oberon— ‹
    » Fair enough, « I said. » Hal, I need a key. Any idea who has it? «
    He jerked his chin in the direction of Radomila’s remains. » Dead witch. «
    » Yuck. That’s going to be messy. « I walked over to the other side of the cabin where the cage was and grimaced at Laksha’s handiwork. Radomila had been wearing a fine leather jacket, and once I dragged her corpse to the edge of the cage where I could reach her pockets, I found several keys in her right one. There was a lock on the cage she was in, and I unlocked that first to go inside and retrieve the necklace for Laksha. It was a bloody mess—the phrase » o’ersized with coagulate gore « came to mind—but since she had caused it, I figured she couldn’t complain.
    I went over to Hal next, who was panting heavily in anticipation. » Are you going to go wolf as soon as I unlock this? «
    He nodded, too wound up to answer.
    » All right. Tell the Pack this for me: If they see Flidais, leave her alone. She has promised to come back and help with your wounded. What I need you to do is go after Emily and bring me her head. «
    That got his attention. » Her … head? «
    » Yes, I need it. Do what you want with the rest. But don’t tear after her until we make sure those traps are disabled. Either Flidais can tell us or Laksha might be able to, when she gets here. «
    » There is no need, Druid, « said the Morrigan, who had flown down and taken her human form beside me. She was naked again—must be feeling randy after watching an ancient rival get decapitated. » The traps expired when that witch did, « she said, gesturing at Radomila’s leftovers. » They were not permanent enchantments. «
    » Thank you, Morrigan, « I said, and turned to Hal and began unlocking him. » There you go. Hunt well. I’ll wait here and take care of your wounded as best I can. «
    The chains smoked a bit where they had come into contact with Hal’s flesh, peeling some of the skin away with them. He hissed and snarled and changed form as soon as the silver chains were off him, ripping right through his nice three-thousand-dollar suit, for which I had no doubt I would be billed. The Pack surrounded him and welcomed him back, then he took his place next to Gunnar as they ran to the spot where Emily had left the meadow, to begin their hunt.
    » Did you ever find that bloodsucking demon, Morrigan? « I asked as I unlocked Oberon. He gave me some sloppy kisses and I hugged him.
    » Found and destroyed, « she said. » Did you notice that my casting came true? «
    » Aye, I noticed that, « I replied, smiling. » Though it applied to Aenghus Óg, as I’d rather hoped. May I ask you something? «
    » Certainly. «
    » Did you tell Aenghus Óg of our arrangement? That you would never take me? «
    She slunk up next to me and overwhelmed my libido with that peculiar magic of hers, which my amulet could mute but not negate. She ran a fingernail down my bare chest and I forgot to breathe.
    » Oh, but I am going to take you, Druid, « she said, » many times, when you have recovered your strength. « She snaked her tongue into my remaining ear.
    › Aw, jeez, here we go again. ‹ Oberon mentally rolled his eyes.
    » That’s not what I meant, « I managed to say, pulling away. I determinedly began to think of baseball. Randy Johnson pitching. Great player, but not sexy. No sex. Stay focused. » Did you tell him you would never come for me? «
    She laughed throatily and latched on to my left side again, her breath tickling my neck, and I reddened.
    » I mean, did you tell him that you’d never take my life? «
    » Yessss, « she whispered in my ear, and I had to close my eyes. Two outs, nobody on, bottom of the first. Completely unsexy.
    » Why? «
    She dug her nails into