Page 90 of Demon and the Raven

“Sure,” Lorne gave permission, and she put down her small duffel and shuffled to the edge of the kitchen, took the two steps down, and walked out into a room where all the windows were open, even though it was dark outside. I would have thought she’d be scared, but she probably sensed she was completely safe.

“There are luna moths outside,” she announced, and Shelby was about to bolt over to her, but she turned and looked at Lorne first.

“May I go see?”

He nodded.

She flew to her friend’s side, and they watched, awestruck, as the moths danced in the warm night air. It had stopped raining, and all the insects and animals were popping out to resume their nighttime rituals.

Liam’s stomach growled.

“How about a midnight snack,” I offered.

His eyes filled suddenly. “I don’t want you to go to any trouble. Saving our lives was more than enough, and⁠—”

“Wash your hands, then have a seat at the table.”

He didn’t argue, wiping at his eyes, and Jeremy quickly followed. They were all overwrought, which made sense.

“Hey,” Lorne said, getting my attention. “I’m gonna go change, and I have to call Pete back because apparently I missed him earlier, and then I’ll be right out to⁠—”

“No,” I replied softly. “Go shower. I’m fine.”

“Yeah, but⁠—”

“I promise,” I assured him.

I got a smile before he walked through the living room and disappeared, closing the door to our bedroom behind him.

I pulled out cheddar and herb soda bread and butter, sliced up cheese and apples, and put that on the table while one after the other they washed their hands at the kitchen sink. Then I warmed up some creamy wild rice and mushroom soup I’d made the day before. Jeremy and Shelby helped set the table, after some direction from me about where silverware and glasses were. Liam sliced the bread, and Meijun put a kettle on for tea, then walked over to admire the hearth, which wasn’t lit at the moment.

“This looks ancient,” she said, and I heard the awe in her voice. “The stones are beautiful.”

There was a waft of lavender and lemon verbena then, and I knew my grandmother was listening in.

Shelby closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. “I might need to live here forever.”

I smiled at her, and then she watched me ladle out soup and carried each of the heavy bowls to the table.

When Liam asked where the napkins were and one of the drawers bumped open, he went right over, saying his childhood house in Boston was haunted too. “That’s what originally got me interested in the paranormal.”

“What makes you think my cottage is haunted?”

“Just helpful spirits,” he answered, smiling sheepishly. “It feels so safe in here.”

It was a lovely compliment.

They devoured their food, and when Lorne rejoined us with damp hair, changed into an old pair of lived-in jeans and a T-shirt, he had a bowl too and some sourdough instead of the soda bread. Everyone wanted to try some of that as well.

“Yeah, but this is mine,” he grumbled but ended up sharing.

I had strawberries and cream for them, which they all gushed over, and then finished it off with some lemon balm tea because I wanted them to sleep well.

They all helped do the dishes, and since there were no leftovers, there was nothing else to put away.

Lorne showed them where the second bathroom was. “Fast showers,” he directed with a glare, and Meijun said, “Yes, sir,” before taking the big fluffy towel he offered her—there was a basket with four of them that he had carried from the linen closet—and closed the door behind her.

The others sat in our living room, near the fireplace—Lorne had moved the coffee table to make space—trying not to nod off. It was cute how they kept jolting awake.