Page 93 of Woods of the Raven

“I like that,” I said, my mind running. “Do we know precisely where near Parker’s Ferry the cultists lived?”

“No, but I’ll bet you I know who would.”

I looked at him and he grinned slowly, waiting for me to get it. “Taylor.”

“Yeah, man,” he said, pleased with me. “All that research she’s been doing, she knows where all the bodies are buried.”

I nodded.

“Metaphorically speaking.”

“Sure.”

“And you didn’t hear it from me, but maybe she’s got some plans at her house that should be here in the library.”

“Thanks, Dom.”

“No worries, witch of the woods.”

I stood up. “Actually, it’s raven of the woods now.”

“Oh, raven. That’s way better. Much more badass.”

I thought so too.

Amanda had to leave—she had people coming for brunch since it was her Sunday to host, and she had to meet the caterers.

“You didn’t think I was going to cook myself,” she scoffed, passing me my phone. “Now, I put three numbers in there—mine, Chief MacBain’s, and Declan’s. Nico put in hers as well. Anything else you’re going to have to do yourself. You’ve fiddled with mine for years, so you’ll have no trouble. You’re on my family plan, but if you and Chief MacBain become…more, maybe I’ll let you change to his.”

“Big of you. Did you call him like you threatened?”

“Threatened? Really? I just wanted to talk to the man.”

Of course she did. “Be nice to him when he gets here.”

“I was lovely to him on the phone,” she assured me, waving for good measure when Lorne pulled up in front of the library. He got out of his Jeep, jogged over to the foot of the stairs, and we walked down to him.

He held out his hand to Amanda, and she descended quickly to take it. They stood there, eyeing one another, until she finally huffed out a breath.

“Fine,” she relented, “Xan knows best about his own heart.”

“Yes,” Lorne agreed, smiling at her.

“God help you if you don’t take good care of it,” she said, the warning there in her voice.

“Don’t you worry,” he assured her. “I have forever plans for it.”

She nodded. “You’ll come for dinner?”

“Wouldn’t miss it.”

Releasing his hand, she smiled at me, then slipped around him on the way to her car.

“She’s a force of nature, yeah?” Lorne asked as I walked into his waiting arms.

“Yeah,” I said with a sigh, waving after she honked the horn.

“So why did you come here?”