Page 9 of Innocent Until Proven Witch

His expression softens. "I will."

The conversation ends there. I collect my satchel and walk toward the lighthouse. The whispers continue behind me, some quiet, some not, but every one reaches me anyway.

“Storm witch,”

“Dangerous, Unnatural creature.”

“Leave!”

The accusations follow me all the way to the cliffs. When I reach the path home, the harbor has grown distant, the storm moved out to sea. Yet traces of dark magic linger. I can still feel them riding the wind.

Someone caused this. Someone wanted chaos. Someone wanted fear. And judging by tonight's conversations, their plan is already working.

I continue climbing toward the lighthouse. The beacon waits above the cliffs, cutting through darkness as steadily as ever—a guide for anyone lost at sea, a promise that someone is watching.

I only wish the people below believed that promise extended to me.

4

FINN

The sound of boots hitting the dock pulls my attention away from the piling I'm repairing. I glance up and immediately recognize the man striding toward the boathouse.

Row. He hasn't changed much. The years have added a few lines around his eyes and broadened his shoulders, but he's still the same fisherman who spent half his youth dragging me into trouble.

"You're staring," I call.

Row grins. "Just making sure it's really you."

I toss the hammer onto the workbench. "You could've called."

"And miss the chance to watch you do manual labor?" His grin widens. "Not a chance."

Some things never change.

He climbs onto the dock and glances toward the harbor, the humor leaving his face almost immediately. My stomach tightens. That expression means trouble.

"What happened?"

He exhales heavily. "You heard about the Sea Sparrow?"

"Mom mentioned it."

"They still haven't found anybody."

The words settle between us. A missing vessel is bad enough. A missing crew is worse.

Row folds his arms across his chest. "The whole town's talking about it." I know where this is heading before he says the next words. "People think the storm witch caused it."

There it is. I lean against the workbench. "You believe that?"

He frowns. "What else am I supposed to believe?"

"Facts would be a good start."

His eyes narrow. "You've been back in Moonhaven for barely a day."

"And?"