“Something new I need to know?” she asked.
Raven paused before entering the house. “Old things. Very old things. But we need new solutions now.”
Ricky made a sound that might have been agreement. She knew about the book, and knew we were looking for it. Raven slipped past her into the place.
Lorde had finally run herself out and stopped next to me, panting happily.
“Go on in, girl,” I said.
Lorde stopped for a quick head scratch from Ricky, then entered the house.
“Why are you here?” she asked me.
“That was Raven’s idea.”
“Oh?”
“He showed up at a diner with a demon. They were all about promises of a place where we can hide the spellbook. He said it would be safe. Out of the reach of gods and other supernaturals. Some library in Ordinary.”
The house shivered, and I swore I heard a sweet little cooing sound.
Ricky smiled. “We like that library.”
The cooing got louder and the scent of tea leaves, vanilla, and something that somehow smelled like lace doilies, wafted through the night.
“Is your house in love with a library?” I asked.
Ricky chuckled, almost too quietly to hear. “A little. It’s okay. It’s more of a long-distance relationship. They make it work.”
And there was a new thing I’d just learned about the world.
“You okay, Brogan?” she asked, pointing at my braced arm, and then searching my face.
I pressed my good hand against the back of my sweaty neck. “We need to talk about Lula. I think I’m…I think something’s wrong. Something I don’t know how to fix.”
“Are you coming in?” Raven asked from somewhere inside the house. “Or are you two going to spend all night gossiping and exchanging recipes?”
I heard something slide, like a book or a pot pushed off a shelf, then Raven yelped, and the item clattered to the floor.
“It wasn’t an insult!” he yelled to the house. Something else skittered and slid. “All right, settle your shelves. I’m not touching anything. Ricky, talk to your house.”
“Is she hurt?” Ricky asked me, ignoring the god.
I huffed out a breath, but I didn’t know what to tell her. Yes? No? I met her understanding gaze and told her the truth. “I don’t know.”
She nodded once. “Come in, Brogan. Get something to eat and drink. Take your rest here. I can look at your arm if you want. We’ll figure this out.”
And with that welcome shepherding me, I walked past her into the quirky old building, and hoped she was right.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Ricky’s kitchen was homey and filled with fresh morning sunlight.
“Honky tonk witches?” she said over the sizzle of bacon. “Texas, right? Around McLean? I’ve heard of them. Is Cassia still the head of the coven?”
I grunted in affirmation and forked down the thick, fluffy biscuit covered in rich gravy. I chased it with hot black coffee and went for another bite. I was feeling a hell of a lot better today.
Sleep had dragged me down into dreamless darkness, the comfortable bed with a floral quilt Lula had admired, and the soothing quiet of the house keeping me there. My wrist was sore, but only when I tried to move it. I’d woken this morning with a much clearer head.
