“Come, come.There is no need to make this difficult,” Cadell said.
Leander pushed the peanut magic down Cadell’s throat.The magic caught on the sides of his throat, and Leander had to push harder.
Cadell coughed and took a step back, his gun still trained on Leander.
“I will never give you Salem,” Leander said.He noticed that Cadell had never used his Chinese name or Leander’s either, so their identities might still be secure.Maybe.Either way, he was not going to give this monster any information, even if he was already dying.
Cadell cleared his throat, took a breath, and then coughed again.His breath came in wheezes and gasps.
Leander showed his teeth in a smile devoid of humor.“You’re allergic to peanuts.”Cadell had released his hold on Leander’s emotions, so Leander straightened as the fear started to ease.
“No.”The word was thready and weak, but Cadell kept his gun trained on Leander.That was fine.Even if Leander died, Shanlin and Xi would be fine, and Xi could get help for Heng.Druwolf, however, had lost two strong enforcers and his second-in-command.That should make him think twice about trying to find Shanlin again.
“Yes,” Leander said.He was gleeful about being the one to end this particular monster.
Cadell raised his arm a half inch, and Leander threw himself to the side.His effort to avoid being shot would be worthless, he knew that before he even twitched, but he had to try.Instead of landing a few feet away with a bullet through his chest, Leander flew across the room, arms flailing before he crashed into the far wall.He twisted around, and watched Cadell drop his gun and sink to his knees, both hands clutching his throat.
“Leander!”Xi ran toward him, hauling him to his feet before brushing dust off his hand from the crumbled remains of the bracelet Shanlin had given him.
“Check on Heng!”Leander said.He hurried toward his friend, his legs still shaking.
“How did you do that?”Xi asked.“You moved faster than I could see.”
“I don’t know,” Leander said.He ignored Xi and pressed a finger to Heng’s neck.
“I’m alive,” Heng said, his voice pained.“And I lent you my magic.Magically enhancing physical movement is almost as easy as cleaning,” Heng said, and with a wave of his hand, he dried Leander’s pants.
Leander snorted.“Like I care about that.How do we call for help?”Leander knew the emergency number was different, but he couldn’t remember what it was.
“One-two-zero for ambulance,” Heng said.He took several deep breaths.“Xi, you should flee.”
“What?No!”
“You are American,” Heng said.“The American consulate may learn of you.Lian has a Chinese identity.You must flee.Once Xi is gone, call one-one-zero for the police.”
“Lian,” Xi said, his tone making it clear that he was protesting this.
“Get back to our room.Get our bags and call the Neis,” Leander said.
“But Lian.”Xi glanced toward Cadell and then toward Vaughn.
Leander had killed both.While the Chinese government accepted those with magical powers, unlike the American government, they wouldn’t approve of murder.Magic being the murder weapon wouldn’t improve Leander’s position.
“We’ll be fine,” Heng promised.Xi did not look convinced.
“Go,” Leander ordered.
“I will protect him,” Heng said.
After a second, Xi stood and started backing away hesitantly.Leander took Heng’s phone and dialed 1-2-0, asking Heng for specific directions to the warehouse when he realized he didn’t know where they were.When he looked up, Xi was gone.Only then did Leander call the police.He had no idea how they were going to explain three dead bodies, but he trusted Heng.He just hoped that Heng’s confidence was justified.The Chinese police were not pre-disposed to be forgiving of foreigners involved in triple homicides.
