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“Nothing you need to worry about.”
“You can do more than talk to ghosts, can’t you?”
I revved the engine. “Let’s pretend this never happened, and we’ll both be happier, okay?”
Steven didn’t argue. He held onto my waist as I turned the motorcycle in the direction of home.
CHAPTER14
Iopened the window in my bedroom and heard the sound of an owl hooting. The noise was reassuring somehow. I felt like I had a feathered sentry, much like the blackbird that seemed to gravitate to the gate. I got along with most animals, except dogs. My presence unsettled them. I had to steer clear, or they’d howl like mad, and in my experience, if people notice their dog doesn’t like you, they don’t like you either.
I tried to readThe Complete History of Fairhaven, but I couldn’t focus on the book. I even picked upPride & Prejudicefor the hundredth time but to no avail. My thoughts kept returning to Ashley. I wondered whether this Theo character might be connected to her disappearance. It was possible Theo was a vampire luring young women into the woods.
I tossed and turned in an effort to get comfortable. The heat and humidity refused to allow it. The fan wasn’t much help. Its main function seemed to be blowing strands of my hair across my sweaty face so they stuck there.
I awoke to a prickling sensation all over my body. I sat up with a start when I realized the ward had been activated. Throwing off the sheet, I bolted downstairs in the same T-shirt and shorts I’d slept in. Nobody would be the wiser.
I peered outside to see West’s shadow pacing the length of my porch, rubbing the back of his neck. In the distance, the faint glow of sunrise was spreading across the horizon.
His head swung toward the door as it opened. “We’ve got a situation,” he said with a grim expression. “Can you come?”
If I had been anybody else, he wouldn’t have phrased it as a question. Whatever this was, it was unpleasant, and he was damn unhappy about it.
“Did you drive?”
He swore. “No, sorry. I came from the woods.”
“We can take my truck.” I hurried to the kitchen counter for my keys.
As I crossed the porch, Nana Pratt and Ray appeared.
“I wanted to tell you he was here,” Nana Pratt said, “but Ray made me stay outside because of the rules.”
“And Ray was right to do that.”
His face turned smug, and she jerked her head away to avoid looking at him.
West was already waiting by the passenger door when I arrived outside. Despite the hour, the moon was still faintly visible, a gossamer disc in the sky. The werewolf remained in stoic silence for the duration of the drive, only choosing to speak to indicate where to turn. I arrived at the edge of the woods, near one of the hiking trails.
“This way,” he said.
I parked the truck and followed him on foot through the forest. The distant sounds of the highway faded to silence. Moisture gathered on my upper lip; today promised to be a scorcher. Thankfully, the air cooled as we traveled into the heart of the forest, where the morning light waned, unable to break through the dense trees. The scent of fresh pine and rich soil gave way to earthy decay.
The forest was eerily quiet. No birdsong. No scampering of tiny feet like last night. No cicadas to warn us of the unpleasant heat to come.
My skin prickled. I could feel the breath of death around us. I almost told him about last night’s false lead, but I didn’t want to disturb the quiet.
I wasn’t surprised when West directed me to one of his pack members. He was face down on the ground, his wounds being tended by two more werewolves, male and female. His clothes were in shreds, and his body was covered in angry red slashes.
Another so-called animal attack. I wondered whether it was the same beast that attacked Lyra.
West looked down at them. “This is Arthur. He’s one of my trackers.”
I stared at Arthur's injured body. “He was tracking Ashley.”
“He got separated from the others last night. They found him like this.”
“He’s still alive,” I said. Barely.
