“He’s our tech guy,” I explain.
“But that means,” her voice goes quiet, and I know she’s making the connection now. “Rashell Allen might be another serial killer.”
“Maybe. It’s possible she’s part of the Allenites. They’re a group dedicated to Rayford Allen and following his fucked up manifesto.” Police found the document spewing hatred against anyone who didn’t believe the same doctrine as Rayford after his death. He was fucking nuts.
“I read about them online. The rumors of the cult.” She gulps air into her lungs. “They have my brother.” Her face has gone pale.
“We’re going to figure that out,” I promise. “But you’ve got to stay here, Nat.”
“Where it’s safe,” she says bitterly. “Even though my brother isn’t safe at all.”
“I know it sucks to hear that, Natalya,” Scythe replies. “But my club knows how to handle the threats in Raven’s Crest.”
“Even the threats that include serial killers and cults?”
He looks right into her eyes. “Yes.”
She doesn’t quite believe him, but she’s not rude about it. “My parents are coming in the morning. They’re driving down from Columbus. I don’t know what to say to them. This is a lot to digest.”
“So, you don’t say anything unless it’s absolutely necessary. You give them small truths to tide them over until we find your brother and bring Thad back.”
“Is that a promise? That you won’t stop until you find him?”
“It is,” Scythe confirms, binding his word to the promise.
“Something doesn’t make sense,” she muses aloud. “Why kill Madam Serena? She doesn’t have anything to do with the Allenites. Is her last name Allen?”
“No.” Mountain shakes his head. “She’s a Scott.”
“Scott? You mean her last name?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s my last name.”
I cover Nat’s hands with mine and rub the chilled skin. Her fingers are cold again. “I didn’t think about it until now, but I believe Serena Scott is a relative. She’s part of your family tree.”
Natalya pulls her hands from mine. “That’s impossible. My parents would have told me if I had relatives in Raven’s Crest.”
Maybe. This town holds a lot of secrets, and not everyone wants to be reminded of the supernatural or the deadly history, including the past with the original Salem witch families and their persecution. Natalya doesn’t know she’s one of them.
It makes sense. I suspected it. But this is confirmation.
Scythe gives me a look. He’s already figured this out. So has Mountain. Magic is woven so deeply into the soil here that it’s in our blood, affecting us from birth. We feel it when one of the witchy descendants arrives in our town. It’s built into us to feel protective.
It explains why she intrigued me from the moment we met.
Even though she slept earlier, Nat still looks tired. The emotional toll is just as heavy as a physical one. “You should get some rest.”
“Not until I know what’s being done to find Thad.”
“We’re going to check out this house and see if it’s legit information. From there, we decide on a plan. When that happens, I’ll let you in on it.”
That’s a hefty promise from Scythe. He’s taking a risk, but so is she, trusting us to help her brother and save him.
“I accept your terms.”
Scythe’s mouth twitches with humor. “Good.”
