“Always,” I said. “What’s for—ooo! Waffles.”
“And eggs and sausage. Come and eat now.” He led me to the table, where we proceeded to eat breakfast. “You think we’ll have to interview families today?”
“Probably—oh! I just remembered the information that Trefoil emailed me last night.” I pulled out my phone, but Kipa held up his hand.
“Remember our agreement?” he asked.
I sighed and pocketed my phone, turning my attention to my breakfast. We didn’t have our phones in Kalevala. At least not usually, and only select messages managed to make it through to the Other Realms, usually from the gods, meaning my mother, who served the Morrígan, and then Herne and Ember.
When it came time to return, we had agreed to keep up the tradition of an electronic-free breakfast, where we could sit and talk together unless we were running late.
“All right, so what do you think now that we’re back after almost two years?” Kipa asked. “The city seem any different?”
“It’s recovered more than I thought it would. I wonder just how that’s going—I’ll have to ask Ember.” I shuddered, remembering the massive battle between Typhon and Echidna and how they had managed to send Ember, Angel, and me into the realm of Caer Arianrhod, leaving us to find our way back. It hadn’t been quite as personally traumatic as my run-in with Pandora, who had taught me exactly what torture felt like, but it had traumatized the city and forever changed the race of the Dragonni.
“I think there are still dragons around, but they don’t make themselves quite as known. Not now that they’re mortal. I mean, it takes a fuckload of firepower to take down a dragon, but they can be killed now,” Kipa said. “I think the city feels both more open and yet…there’s a tension that I sense. A fear…I don’t know what it is, but it’s an underlying thread that I sensed when we returned last time, and now—this time—it’s even more pronounced.”
“I don’t think I’ve noticed it. What do you think it is?”
“I’m not sure, but I feel like something gritty and darker is coming and people are trying to prepare for whatever it is.” He shrugged. “Maybe I’m just blowing smoke out of my ass, but I think…something’s looming, Raven. And we’re back just in time to see it unfold.”
Kipa didn’t often talk about premonitions or omens, so this concerned me. I decided to have a talk with Ember as soon as I could. Meanwhile, it was time to leave for work. I finished my waffle while Kipa made sure Raj’s lunch was ready. And—after turning on the TV and giving Raj his favorite toys—we headed out for work.
CHAPTER SEVEN
We arrived at work to find Viktor there. He waved at me, a strained smile on his face. He looked tired but good. Guard duty for Herne had agreed with him. I hustled around the table to give him a hug.
“The old gang’s almost all back together,” he said.
“I miss Angel,” I said. “Any hope of her coming to visit?”
“That depends on how things are going with her and Sejun,” he said. “They work well together. And now, she’s pregnant. She said to say hello.”
We quieted down as Herne and Ember entered the room. Ember was wearing a blue corset over a light chiffon skirt and a gossamer cape. For the first time since she’d been through the Gadawnoin, she looked the part of a goddess—albeit a casual one. I wasn’t sure what the difference was, but she practically shimmered.
“So far, no bodies reported this morning,” Herne said. “I think?—”
“Excuse me,” I said, raising my hand. “I don’t mean to interrupt, but I have some info that could be important.”
“Oh?” he asked. “Please, go ahead.”
“I can’t tell you how I found this, because I made a promise, but I have information on who…or rather what…might be committing the murders.” I pulled out my phone, copied and pasted the info into another email, and then sent it to everyone. “There’s a creature called an Aqcarian—they’re bound to saltwater, and they can…well…dissolve people. And if they’re in freshwater, they need salt to stay alive.”
“Aqcarians?” Talia leaned forward. “I’ve heard of them—I can’t remember where or who, but I remember hearing that name. I don’t know what they are, though.”
“Cripes,” Ember said. She was reading the email. “This is fairly long. Also…I’ve never heard of most of this.”
“I haven’t had time to look at it,” I said, glancing at the email, which had more information in it than I expected. “Somebody want to read it aloud?”
“I will.” Yutani cleared his throat.
Concerning the Aqcarian Society & the Elemental Courts
The Aqcarians are a water-based species, part of the Waterborn division of the Elemental Fae Courts. Unlike most of the Elemental Fae, they tend to be invasive, always looking to expand their boundaries. They’re less human than the kelpies and selkies, though they do have one long fin while in the water, which turns to legs on land. They’re dangerous and chaotic.
“Elemental Fae? Who are they?” Ember shuddered. “They aren’t talking about the aughiskies, are they? I have all-too vivid memories from tangling with them.”
Yutani shook his head. “I don’t think so. Listen to this.”
