I’ve been able to narrow down a pattern. And I’ve done some research on you and what you can do. How you free places of things unseen. So, I’m writing to you in the hope you’ll come out to the ranch to see just how special this place could be. And how important my sister is to me.
I can’t let Octavia give up on the place because I know it’ll mean giving up on everything else.
I can’t have her stop dreaming now that she’s finally getting started.
He’d included photos of the ranch, most of which looked like old newspaper clippings. One was new, a shot of him and Octavia on their front porch. She stood behind his wheelchair, bending down with her arms around his neck. Her smile was responsible for all the light in the photo. I stared at it for longer than necessary, comparing the woman on the screen to the harder version of her today.
“Pop quiz, Jonah.” I closed the email and shoved Octavia’s sticky note into my back pocket.
The tips of his ears turned red. He cleared his throat, readying for my question.
“What did the Guild teach you about job hierarchy?”
His forehead wrinkled. “Uh…”
“It’s not a trick question. Promise.” I smiled, resting my chin in my hand as I watched him repeat the question under his breath. He didn’t take his eyes off the road, his grip as ironclad as his hold on my words. “We’re going to have to work on your confidence, mentee.”
Jonah’s eyebrow quirked up. “I’m a mentee?Yourmentee?”
“Do you have any objections to the matter?” I teased.
“You told me you wanted to be Rae when you grew up,” December said, trying to encourage him to say something.
I didn’t know it was possible for someone as brown as him to turn such a deep shade of red.
“I didn’t realize this was more than a gap year gig for you.” He’d been so earnest about researching in his interview. Jonah’s family were relatively new hunters in the Guild. He didn’t start his studies until he was sixteen, but still, he’d been at the top of his class. Instead of signing on as an Apprentice Hunter, he’d deferred the program and emailed me about a position. A position I’d made entirely for him because he knew what it was like to want something outside the Guild. When I was his age, it was all I dreamed about.
“I would like to investigate…independently.” He nodded shyly. “I know it’s difficult and inconsistent, finance-wise, but I think, like you, it’s…my calling.”
“Look at you, Rae.” Nico clicked open his camera, fishing out the film. “Inspiring the next generation. Making dreams come true.”
The teasing in his voice warred with pride. Nico looked up to me—though it took Herculean effort to get him to admit it out loud.
“She’d be an even better influence if she stuck to plans and stopped trying to change the order in which we take jobs,” December said under her breath.
I sighed. “Sometimes plans change.”
“Month-long plans. Big plans? Because I have a huge mansion gig.” December swayed back and forth as shespoke, trying to make it sound tempting. “I’m talking about a five-figure payout.”
Nico’s hands froze. He whistled. “Are you serious?”
When she nodded, Nico looked at me, hazel eyes pleading.
“Since when do we take gigs based on payout?” I tried to hide my annoyance with a low laugh. “We’re doing this to help people who really need it.”
The pull to Elmwood wasn’t inescapable, but it was consistent. Between Wilson’s numerous emails and Octavia’s conflict of opinion, there was something interesting there.
“Who says people who can pay five figures don’t need it?” December asked.
“Raise your hand if you want to do another creepy mansion for some millionaire who finally aired out their summer home,” I ordered.
Nico and December’s hands shot up. My nose wrinkled, but I kept going with the bit. “And raise your hand if you want to help a Black family who own their own ranch fulfill their dreams.”
My hand went up, and so did Jonah’s (albeit hesitantly, but I’d blame that on his safe driving).
“Rae can’t fire you for disagreeing with her,” December told Jonah. “So you can stop being shy.”
“I’m not being…shy.” Jonah blew out a breath I think was supposed to be a laugh. “The ranch gig sounds like fun. And…I want to be helpful. The woman at the convention looked like she really needed someone.”
