Brutus snorted again. He picked himself up and walked a few metres away, pawing at the ground. Then he dipped his head for a brief moment before looking up with a quiet purr – and a delicate gold necklace dangling from his mouth.

‘Good job, Bruty baby.’

‘It was me!’ Mazza said, continuing to protest. ‘I’m the hero! Not a bloody cat!’

Winter rolled his eyes. ‘Grow up.’

‘We need to find Trevor Bellows,’ I told him. ‘Everything seems to centre around him.’

Winter’s brow furrowed. ‘But…’

‘Let’s just see what he has to say.’

He nodded. ‘Fine.’ He walked over and hooked his arm through mine. ‘Let me help you. I’ve borrowed that bike again. We’ll be back in Tomintoul in no time.’

I smiled weakly. ‘Great.’

Brutus ran lightly over to us, springing up onto my shoulders and coiling his tail round my neck.

‘You could have told me what was going on,’ I scolded him.

‘Food.’

Yeah, yeah.

‘Hey!’ Mazza shouted. ‘What about me? I need a lift back to Tomintoul as well.’

Both Winter and I ignored him and carried on walking. I was pretty certain, however, that Brutus stuck out his tongue.

Chapter Twenty

I let Winter drive the bike while I took the opportunity to lean against his back. It was slightly uncomfortable with Brutus wedged between us but it might have been the only opportunity I was going to get to be close to Winter again.

When we reached the edge of the town, I tapped him on the shoulder to make him pull up. He flipped his visor and peered at me. His sapphire eyes were soft and concerned and, just for a beat, I doubted myself. All I really wanted to do was stay by his side.

‘I don’t feel well,’ I said.

His concern turned to alarm. ‘What is it?’

I shook my head. ‘I don’t know. The after-effects of that spell are still hitting me really hard. I feel woozy. I think I might pass out.’ I looked away. ‘Maybe you were right and I should have stayed in the trailer until I felt completely better.’

‘I’ll drop you back at your hotel.’

I tried a weak protest. ‘But we need to talk to Bellows and find out what he knows and what else he’s been up to. It’s vitally important.’

‘I’ll do that,’ he declared decisively. ‘You should rest.’

There was a sinking sensation in the pit of my stomach, even though this was exactly what I wanted. ‘Okay.’

We continued a bit further until we reached the Hook and Eye. It was dark although it was barely ten o’clock. The inn and its environs seemed remarkably quiet considering how many of the crew were staying there. I guessed none of them felt like partying after seeing Belinda Battenapple almost die at the jaws of a rotting zombie.

I slid off the bike, released my hold on Brutus, took off my helmet then gestured at Winter to do the same. ‘Thank you for doing this, Rafe,’ I said.