“First order of business better be figuring out a new HQ,” Ronan said. “Or shit’s about to getreallyreal. As in, fifty people sharing a bathroom real.”
“Not to mention sharing a bed,” Ash said.
Haley laughed. “As if you guys have a problem with that.”
“We’re very selective about it, though,” he said, winking at me.
“Ronan’s right,” Emilio said. “We’re already stuffed to the brim here. And now with all the damage, it’s not safe for any of us. We need to relocate. Tonight, if possible, before that next band of snow hits.”
“Leave that to me.” Elena hit a button on her phone and pressed it to her ear. “Start packing up, people. I know just the place.”
Twenty-Seven
EMILIO
“I hope no one is allergic to dogs.” Verona Braden laughed as she reached for my arm, allowing me to guide her up the front steps and into the place we’d all be calling home for the foreseeable future. Roscoe, her golden retriever, followed behind us. I was honored he’d let me take over for him, temporarily standing in as Verona’s eyes.
“I think it’s pretty safe to say we’re all dog people here,” I said. “Elena and I are wolf shifters, for starters. In case you haven’t figured that out.”
Verona let out another hearty laugh. “Detective Alvarez, I can smell you a mile away. Same goes for your sister, and her partners as well.”
“Hmm. I’ll try not to take that as an insult,” I teased. “Elena’s not here, though. She’ll be in later tonight.”
“You carry her with you, Detective. Always.” Then, holding out her hands as we entered the front foyer, “This place is lovely. Absolutely lovely.”
Verona had her own ways of seeing a place, and her assessment was absolutely right. I still couldn’t believe we’d scored it.
Apparently, one of Hobb’s cousins owned a large stretch of oceanfront property about ten miles south of Raven’s Cape, and was in the process of building a bed and breakfast. The lodge had been completed earlier this month, but because of the freak weather, the family decided to postpone the public opening until springtime. So, after a decent amount of begging completely unbefitting to my alpha wolf sister, and the promise of a few more dates, Elena finally convinced Hobb to call in an old family favor.
Three hours later, we found ourselves moving in.
Nestled against the forest and facing the sea, the property had a rustic quality to it that I loved, with rough-hewn timber framing and dark pine walls, and huge bay windows overlooking the beach. Behind us, the landscape was thick with massive, old-growth pines and a canopy of lush foliage that protected us somewhat from the heavy snowfall and provided a sense of privacy and security.
The ocean was relentless, the frothy waves churning nonstop, creating a stunning soundtrack for all of us.
It felt good here. Clean. Alive. And perhaps most importantly, spacious. The main lodge was two stories high, with ten bedrooms upstairs and a professional kitchen, huge dining room, and three other large living spaces on the main floor that we could further divide for sleeping and training areas.
“You’re doing a good thing here, Detective.” Verona turned back toward me with a smile. “Bringing us all together like this.”
“That means a lot coming from you,” I said. When we’d first met Verona, she’d told us she’d been aware of the change in the air, the fear and rumors about another witch hunt already churning through her community. But she’d insisted that no matter what evil befell the Cape, she and the other witches could weather the storm as they always had.
Between theliteralstorm that’d hit, along with everything I’d shared with her about Darkwinter and the other information we’d been able to gather so far, she soon realized how deep this went. How much weneededto stick together—all of us.
I didn’t mention anything about Gray or the prophecy. That was for my brujita to share, whenever she was ready.
Verona had traveled with a small caravan of local witches she’d been able to persuade to the cause, and now they mingled with the witches we’d brought up from Elena’s house, making quick, friendly introductions as everyone tried to make themselves useful and settle in for the long haul. Hobb had managed to sneak away from the precinct for a little while to help us get set up, but Elena and Lansky had their hands full at the RCPD, coordinating emergency response with the mayor and other local officials. She’d promised to drive up with Darius after sunset, but we didn’t know how long she and the other detectives would be able to stay.
All of us had some long nights ahead.
The next couple of hours were a blur. Between assigning bedrooms and organizing our essentials inside the lodge, setting up and warding our perimeter outside, and figuring out dinner plans for our quickly-expanding army, I’d only seen Gray in passing. She’d helped the witches find beds, cleanse and ward their spaces, and consolidate and inventory the food and magical supplies everyone had brought with them.
But I could tell from the tense, anticipatory mood that Gray had yet to fully introduce herself, or make mention of the prophecy. Of her heritage. Of how crucial it was that the witches join forces—not just to stay safe from the immediate threats of the storm and the hunters, but to unite. To fortify. To start looking ahead to a time when—hopefully on the near horizon—witches didn’t have to hide or practice in the shadows anymore.
When they didn’t have to fear for their lives, but could embrace them fully.
The first chance I had for a break, I tracked her down in the kitchen, where she’d been filling ice cube trays as if it were the most important task in the world.
She’d put her hair into a loose bun, and now I slipped my arms around her from behind and pressed a kiss to her nape, breathing in the strawberry-sweet scent of her skin.
