City of Magic: The Complete Series by Helen Harper (book club recommendations TXT) 📕

Chapter Nineteen

The soldiers let the vampires and werewolves in. Of course they did – they had no good reason not to, especially when several of the werewolves began spontaneously shifting because of their proximity to such a magical atmosphere. Besides, the Army had enough problems on their hands dealing with the last-minute rush to leave the city; they didn’t need to waste their energy preventing supernatural creatures from entering the city.

I shook my head in dismay. The government would have enough evidence now to cordon off the city for decades. It didn’t make me want to join the other evacuees, but it did make me feel depressed.

Monroe wasted no time in abandoning me in favour of striding over to the wolves and engaging them in deep conversation. The vampires wasted no time in sprinting down the road and into the city.

I hung back and watched as the soldiers ushered everyone out of the way and started planting what could only be explosives along the road. To the left and right there were already makeshift fences with lethal-looking barbed wire across them. We really were being treated as if we were contaminated.

A few people who’d been caught in the helicopter crash traffic jam finally appeared, running and panting heavily. Several scary-looking guns swung at them and the soldiers gestured to the explosives on the ground.

‘Get back! You all have to get back!’

Wisely, I did as they suggested; I wasn’t going to risk being blown to smithereens. Even as the last hopefuls were darting forward, the explosives were set off, destroying the road – and the way out – with a roaring boom. There was a cloud of choking dust. There were several shrieks of despair. My heart wrenched.

‘They’ve spent the last twenty-four hours barricading off the entire city,’ murmured a voice next to me. ‘Now there’s almost no way out. There are going to be patrols and checks and goodness knows what else. Those people who got out are going to be held in isolation until everyone is sure that the magic isn’t contagious.’

It was Anna. I turned and looked at her. She raised an eyebrow and tapped her nose. ‘Between you and me, the government is keeping one road open over to the east so they can gain quick access to the city if they need to. It’s not going to be advertised, but we can still leave that way if we need to. There was too much of a hue and cry from Parliament at the prospect of Manchester being cut off completely. Of course, anyone who chooses to use the road will be shoved into even lengthier isolation, so it’s a last resort.’ She smiled at me. ‘Not that it looks like you’re going to use that exit route any more than this one.’

That was interesting – and potentially useful – information. ‘Apparently I’m not alone in staying. You’re still here.’

She smiled slightly. ‘Do you think you’ll regret it?’

I only had one regret and his name was Joshua; I didn’t permit myself any others. ‘No,’ I told her. ‘This is my city and I’m not leaving.’

‘A woman after my own heart.’ She nodded at Monroe. ‘So that sexy bastard is still here. Is he with you?’

I watched as one of the werewolves slung an arm round Monroe’s shoulder. ‘Not any more,’ I answered quietly. ‘He’s found his tribe. What about you? Do you have somewhere to go? I’m forming my own tribe back at home. We have houses available and plenty of supplies. I’m guessing with all the evacuation stuff you’ve been working for others instead of yourself. You’re very welcome to join us.’

She pursed her lips and considered. ‘Actually,’ she said, ‘that’d be fabulous.’

I gave her a quick grin then straightened my shoulders and joined Monroe. He didn’t even glance in my direction. Several of the werewolves did though, and none of them looked impressed; in fact, I received several very definite lip curls. Whatever. I’d been on the receiving end of far worse, and my ego wasn’t so sensitive that a couple of bad looks were going to make me curl up and cry.

‘Monroe,’ I said quietly. ‘Anna and I are heading back home. You’re welcome to come with us of course. And your … friends too. It’s up to you.’

He snapped his attention away from the group. ‘Who the hell is Anna?’

‘She is.’ I nodded at her.

His eyes narrowed. ‘I’ve seen her before.’

‘She’s a police officer. She came to my house before. You know, when Lizzy was,’ I cast around for the right word, ‘different.’

‘Oh yes.’ He sniffed. ‘So you’re going to offer her a bed because you’ve already met her once before? Because she’s with the police doesn’t make her a good person. It doesn’t mean she won’t stab you in the back in the middle of the night. You have to stop collecting strays.’ His voice grew more caustic. ‘It’s going to get you killed.’

‘I’ve worked with her for years. She’s perfectly sane and highly unlikely to stab anyone.’

Monroe’s jaw tightened. ‘I thought you were a cleaner. Since when do you work with the police?’

I sighed. ‘Since I started cleaning for them.’

One of the younger werewolves, a dark-haired fellow with the sort of attitude that seemed to come with wolf territory, snorted disdainfully. ‘You’re a cleaner? You can scrub my floors any time, darling.’

Idiot. I rolled my eyes and started to turn away. Monroe stepped in. ‘Shut up.’ He said it quietly, but the underlying menace in his tone was so palpable that I moved back an inch. That was nothing compared to the young wolf who’d spoken; his cheeks were suffused bright red and he dropped his head and shoulders before skulking backwards. Man. Perhaps there was something to be said for Monroe’s arrogant superiority after all.

‘This is Charley,’ Monroe continued, ‘the Enchantress of Manchester. She has more power in her little finger than you could ever hope to possess. She deserves your respect. If you ever speak to her