Hounded

hands. She was chanting something in Tamil, so I was fairly certain that Laksha was in charge.
    Gunnar Magnusson was still in human form, but his hackles were up, if you know what I mean. He looked mightily relieved to see me.
    » How long has she been at it? « I asked in a low voice once I had the use of my vocal cords again. My clothes were still laying where I had left them, but I didn’t feel especially anxious to put them back on yet. Switching forms so quickly left me feeling a bit twitchy and sensitive, and I didn’t want the abrasion or confinement until I absolutely had to have it. The widow rarely came out to her backyard, and I could see no reason why she would with all of that fine beefcake parading before her.
    » Only a couple of minutes, « Magnusson grumbled, almost a whisper. » But it feels like an eternity. That witch creeps me out, Atticus. Do you trust her? «
    » No, I never trust witches, « I said. » But I do trust her to do this job. It’s an ego trip, or rather a professional pride sort of thing. If she can undo the cloak Radomila set on my sword, she proves she’s better than Radomila. «
    » Do you need her to prove that, or is this just for her? «
    » It’s for me, « I replied. » Radomila, not Emily, is the witch who’s really holding Hal and Oberon. If we’re going to take on her whole coven, we’re going to need a serious witch of our own who’s at least the equal of Radomila. «
    » Is that the entire point of this exercise? Didn’t you want that cloak on there? «
    I shook my head. » Not anymore. Yesterday Radomila proved that she still has a connection to this sword that she can use against me; she was able to show Aenghus Óg how to bind Detective Fagles in such a way that he could sense the cloak, and thus see my sword, even through my camouflage spell. What if she could do more to the sword through that link? Turn it against me as I wield it, perhaps? I cannot take that risk. «
    » No, you can’t, « Magnusson agreed.
    » Besides, the entire reason I was cloaking it was to keep it hidden from Aenghus Óg and his allies. Since he knows where I am now and Brighid told me she wants me to keep it, there’s no more reason to hide. It’s actually going to help having its magic in the open, Gunnar. Because that means Aenghus Óg and the coven will be focused on me and the threat I represent. They won’t be worrying about you and the Pack circling around behind them … «
    Magnusson allowed himself a feral grin.
    » … but they will know you are most likely coming, « I continued. » They would be stupid not to prepare themselves. So you, in turn, must be prepared. They will have silver, Gunnar. Guaranteed. «
    The alpha male’s grin melted into a snarl, and his features began to ripple as his eyes flashed bright yellow.
    » Whoa, whoa! Calm yourself. Now is not the time, my friend. « I placed a steadying hand on his shoulder and continued to make reassuring noises until his face stopped running like hot wax and the lights in his eyes faded to their normal brown. I heard some howls and barking in the front yard, though. Not all the Pack members had as much control as Gunnar, and he had almost lost it as the alpha.
    » I am sorry, « he gasped, short of breath and sweating. » But we have been provoked past all endurance. «
    » I know. But tell the ones who changed in the front to come back here and leave the widow alone. «
    » It is done, « he said. Shortly thereafter, three agitated werewolves were circling the two of us but studiously keeping their eyes lowered.
    I moved carefully to my clothes and started putting them on, explaining as I did so. » The widow is going to need to see a familiar face at this point, « I said, » because she just watched three of your pack make the change, if I’m not mistaken. «
    » That she did, « Magnusson confirmed. » Can she be trusted? «
    » Absolutely, « I replied. » Two days ago she watched me kill someone, and she offered me her backyard as a place to hide the body. «
    » Truly? « Magnusson raised his eyebrows in surprise. » That’s a fine woman. «
    » The very finest. « I grinned as I pulled on my pants and dropped my keys, along with the scrap of paper, into my pocket. » But she’s probably a bit scared right now. When the witch is finished, « I nodded over to Laksha–Granuaile, still chanting away in a trancelike state, » ask her from me to step away from the sword and allow you to take possession