A Shadow of Crows

by Yasmine Galenorn

  “He’s coming back,” Raven said, pointing toward Lucius, who had turned to race back down the ravine.

  Herne and Viktor worked frantically, stripping the vest off of Yutani. I glanced at the timer on the app and saw that it had started to move again. Damn it! How was Lucius doing that?

  “Get rid of that vest! The app is still functioning and it seems to be counting down.”

  As I yelled at Herne, he hurled the vest at the lean-to. Then, with Viktor and Yutani on his heels he barreled toward Raven and me.

  “Run!”

  Raven and I turned and started to race down the path. It was tricky, and the vines and undergrowth were hard to navigate, but we flew as fast as we could.

  Something goading me, I suddenly turned, just in time to see Lucius reach the shack. I caught my breath, staring at him as he leaned over to pick up the vest. Beside me, Raven whirled and grabbed the phone out of my hand. Before I could stop her, she scanned the timer, and punched at a button.

  The explosion rocked the park, sending a slide of debris down the hill. Luckily, we weren’t in its path, but the force of the blast knocked us off our feet. I hugged the ground, hoping that there wouldn’t be another landslide.

  Herne was on his feet first and he grabbed my hand, yanking me up to his side. Viktor practically lifted Raven into his arms.

  “We have to get out of here,” Herne said.

  I struggled to pull away from him. “Not before I summon some rain. There’s a fire going like crazy over there and I can’t leave it.” I reached out into the air, trying to summon all the condensation and humidity that I could feel. I called again, focused on drenching the shack, and the already heavy skies suddenly cracked open, drenching us within seconds. The flames flickering on the lean-to began to sputter and die, and a few moments later, with the rain still pounding, the fire vanished into a wisp of smoke.

  Panting, soaking wet, I leaned over, pressing my hands on my knees to try and catch my breath. I wasn’t sure if I had caused the storm or if it had just been coincidence, but either way, at least the forest was safe.

  Herne turned to Raven. “Why?”

  She straightened her shoulders, ignoring the drenching rain. “He could have gotten away. He could have made it to safety. I promised I wouldn’t do anything as long as we caught him, but we hadn’t done that, had we? And he was in possession of the explosives again. I wonder where he got them in the first place.”

  “We may never know. But I’m pretty sure when we search his house, we’ll find more. As well as more bodies.” Herne let out a long sigh, shaking his head. “You’re a bit of a loose cannon, Raven.”

  She shrugged. “Yes, but the job is done. Ulstair’s death is avenged. And there won’t be any more victims, at least from Lucius. One last psycho in the world to worry about.” And with that, she turned and started walking back down the path, toward the parking lot.

  Chapter 21

  THE Morrígan WAS none too happy when she found out that Lucius was dead, but she sent in her own people to search through his house. Apparently, it truly was a chamber of horrors. They found fifteen other bodies buried beneath the house, and parts of four more in the freezer. There was a debate raging whether he was using them to feed his birds or himself, but nobody really wanted to know. The Morrígan took the crows and ravens home, determined to free them from their enchantment.

  We notified Saílle about Lucius and his activities, and she agreed to talk to the authorities and work something out with them to explain what had happened. I didn’t want to admit it, but she did have a way of making things happen. She reminded me to cash the check before I lost it, and she also said she was sending me a few things from my grandfather’s place. I started to tell her I didn’t want them, but she hushed me up and said that I would change my mind when I saw them.

  The next two days were a blur of paperwork as we wrapped up the case. By Friday afternoon, we were all exhausted, and I was looking forward to the weekend, which Herne had promised would be drama free.

  Angel and I were sitting in the waiting room, waiting for the others, when Herne came out of his office followed by Raven. I blinked, wondering what that meeting had been about.

  Raven wandered over, sitting on the sofa next to me. She crossed one leg over the other, and grinned at Herne, who stopped in front of us.

  “Are you sure you won’t change your mind? I’d rather have you where I can keep an eye on you. My father strongly suggested that it be a good idea if you take us up on our offer.”

  I glanced at Raven. “What offer? What’s going on?”

  Herne cleared his throat. “I offered Raven a position with the Wild Hunt. I think she’d make an excellent addition to our team, except she turned me down.”

  Angel and I immediately perked up.

  “Oh take the job, please! We’d love to have you work here,” I said.

  “What she said!” Angel joined in.

  But Raven shook her head. “I love hanging out with you guys. I enjoy your company and I’m grateful for all that you’ve done. But I don’t play well with others. I run with scissors, I kick sand in people’s faces, and there’s a whole lot about me that you don’t know.”

  Herne laughed. “My father seems to know quite a bit about you.”

  She glared at him. “I sincerely doubt whether he’s told you half of what he found out. Anyway, again, thanks for the offer, but no thanks. However, maybe we can consult with each other on occasion. I’ve had times where I’ve needed an investigator, but didn’t know who to call.”

  “Are you sure?” I asked, disappointed.

  Raven shook her head, smiling. “Yeah, I’m sure. But as I said, I wouldn’t mind some cross consultations at times. Meanwhile, why don’t you and Angel come over to dinner Sunday night? I can invite Rafé as well.” Her grin widened as Angel blushed. “He’s really smitten with you, and that makes me happy. Rafé deserves someone in his life.”

  Angel and I agreed, then waved as Raven took off. Herne tapped me on the shoulder.

  “Come here for a minute, please? It won’t take long.”

  I followed him into his office, where he shut the door and then immediately pulled me into his arms, kissing me so deeply that I could barely catch my breath. The feel of his hands on my back made me shiver.

  “I’m tired,” he said. “But I needed to kiss you. Tomorrow will be my last day with Danielle before I sent her off to the island of the Amazons. But Sunday night, when I come home, will you come over and spend the night?”

  I nodded. “Yes, I want that. I want you. I need you.” As he wrapped me in his arms again, I closed my eyes and let myself drift in the comfort and safety of his embrace.

  We were standing there like that when someone tapped on the door. Talia’s voice echoed from outside. “We’re ready if you are!”

  Herne kissed me again, then gently let me go and we joined the others in the waiting room. Angel was holding a box.

  “While you were in there, someone dropped this off. It’s from Saílle. It’s for you.”

  I sat down beside her. Taking the box, I gently lifted the lid. Inside were three items. One was a picture of my father when he was young. I held it, looking into those youthful eyes, wondering if he knew even back then how his life would turn out.

  I slowly replaced it in the box and picked up the second item. It was a ring box, and I opened it to find an absolutely stunning sapphire ring. A note attached to the box said that it had been my grandmother’s, and she had asked that it be sent to me after her death, but that Farthing hadn’t obeyed her wishes. I stared at it for a moment, wondering why she wanted me to have it. But as I lifted it out of the box all I could feel was warmth and contentment.

  The third item was a beautiful dagger, which looked a lot like the one tattooed on my arm. Each one of us who belonged to the Wild Hunt Agency had the tattoo of a dagger on our left forearm, surrounded by vines. As I held the dagger, there was somethi
ng familiar about it, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. It wasn’t the one my grandfather had waved at me, I knew that much.

  “Does anyone know what this is?” I asked holding it up. “And don’t say a dagger.”

  They all laughed, but Herne was the one who answered.

  “Yes, I know that style of blade. It’s a dagger from the Autumn’s Bane. It probably belonged to one of your grandfather’s ancestors. Hold off on using it until we can tell if it’s cursed or magical.”

  I slowly replaced the blade in the sheath and put it back in the box, then closed the lid. Saílle was right. Even though I had wanted nothing to do with my grandfather, these items meant a great deal to me and I wasn’t even sure why.

  As we headed out into the night, I thought about how much everyone in the Wild Hunt had come to mean to me. They were my family. For so long I had only had Angel, and before that only Angel and my parents. But now I had brothers and sisters, as well as a lover. As Angel and I fastened our seat belts and she pulled out from the parking garage, I set the box on my lap.

  Sometimes family meant genetic ties. And sometimes family came from the heart rather than from the blood. But always, I felt that true family should mean love and loyalty.

  We rode in silence. As we arrived home and I stepped out of the car, there was a crow perched on the fence post, watching me. I wasn’t sure if it was the same one I had met in the forest, but it looked familiar.

  In less than six weeks I would enter the Cruharach and come through the other side, hopefully transformed and safe. I wasn’t sure who I was becoming, but I knew that wherever the road led me, and whatever transformations awaited, I was ready to meet them.

  And I wouldn’t meet them alone. I would have Angel and Herne by my side, and Marilee, and Morgana and Cernunnos waiting to help me. I’d have Yutani and Viktor and Talia…and Raven. Yes, whatever happened, I had allies whom I could rely on.

  As we entered the house and flipped on the lights, Mr. Rumblebutt came running up to leap in my arms. I buried my face in his fur as he started to purr, and whispered, “It’s good to be home.” And I meant every word.

  If you enjoyed this book and haven’t read the first three, check out THE SILVER STAG, OAK & THORNS, and IRON BONES. Book 5—THE HALLOWED HUNT—will be within a couple of months and plenty more to come after that.

  Meanwhile, I invite you to visit Fury’s world. Bound to Hecate, Fury is a minor goddess, taking care of the Abominations who come off the World Tree. Books 1–5 are available now in the Fury Unbound Series: FURY RISING, FURY’S MAGIC, FURY AWAKENED, FURY CALLING, and FURY’S MANTLE.

  For a dark, gritty, steamy series, try my world of the Indigo Court, where the long winter has come, and the Vampiric Fae are on the rise. NIGHT MYST, NIGHT VEIL, NIGHT SEEKER, NIGHT VISION, NIGHT’S END, and NIGHT SHIVERS are all available now.

  If you prefer a lighter-hearted paranormal romance, meet the wild and magical residents of Bedlam in my Bewitching Bedlam Series. Fun-loving witch Maddy Gallowglass, her smoking-hot vampire lover Aegis, and their crazed cjinn Bubba (part djinn, all cat) rock it out in Bedlam, a magical town on a magical island. BLOOD MUSIC, BEWITCHING BEDLAM, MAUDLIN’S MAYHEM, SIREN’S SONG, WITCHES WILD, CASTING CURSES, BLOOD VENGEANCE, TIGER TAILS, and Bubba’s origin story—THE WISH FACTOR—are available.

  If you like cozies with an edge, try my Chintz ‘n China paranormal mysteries. The series is complete with: GHOST OF A CHANCE, LEGEND OF THE JADE DRAGON, MURDER UNDER A MYSTIC MOON, A HARVEST OF BONES, ONE HEX OF A WEDDING, and a wrap-up novella: HOLIDAY SPIRITS.

  The newest Otherworld book—HARVEST SONG—is available now, and the final book in the series, BLOOD BONDS, will be available in April 2019.

  For all of my work, both published and upcoming releases, see the Bibliography at the end of this book, or check out my website at Galenorn.com and be sure to sign up for my newsletter to receive news about all my new releases.

  Cast of Characters

  THE WILD HUNT & FAMILY

  Angel Jackson: Ember’s best friend, a human empath, Angel is the newest member of the Wild Hunt. A whiz in both the office and the kitchen, and loyal to the core, Angel is an integral part of Ember’s life, and a vital member of the team.

  Charlie Darren: A vampire who was turned at 19. Math major, baker, and all-around gofer.

  Ember Kearney: Caught between the world of Light and Dark Fae, and pledged to Morgana, goddess of the Fae and the Sea, Ember Kearney was born with the mark of the Silver Stag. Rejected by both her bloodlines, she now works for the Wild Hunt as an investigator.

  Herne the Hunter: Herne is the son of the Lord of the Hunt, Cernunnos, and Morgana, goddess of the Fae and the Sea. A demigod—given his mother’s mortal beginnings—he’s a lusty, protective god and one hell of a good boss. Owner of the Wild Hunt Agency, he helps keep the squabbles between the world of Light and Dark Fae from spilling over into the mortal realms.

  Talia: A harpy who long ago lost her powers, Talia is a top-notch researcher for the agency, and a longtime friend of Herne’s.

  Viktor: Viktor is half-ogre, half-human. Rejected by his father’s people (the ogres), he came to work for Herne some decades back.

  Yutani: A coyote shifter who is dogged by the Great Coyote, Yutani was driven out of his village over two hundred years before. He walks in the shadow of the trickster, and is the IT specialist for the company.

  THE GODS, THE ELEMENTAL SPIRITS, & THEIR COURTS

  Cerridwen: Goddess of the Cauldron of Rebirth. Dark harvest mother goddess.

  Cernunnos: Lord of the Hunt, god of the Forest and King Stag of the Woods. Together with Morgana, Cernunnos originated the Wild Hunt and negotiated the covenant treaty with both the Light and the Dark Fae. Herne’s father.

  Coyote (also: Great Coyote): Native American trickster spirit/god.

  Danu: Mother of the Pantheon. Leader of the Tuatha de Danann.

  Ferosyn: Chief healer in Cernunnos’s Court

  Herne: (see The Wild Hunt)

  Kuippana (also: Kipa): Lord of the Wolves. Elemental forest spirit; Herne’s distant cousin. Trickster.

  Morgana: Goddess of the Fae and the Sea, she was originally human but Cernunnos lifted her to deityhood. She agreed to watch over the Fae who did not return across the Great Sea. Torn by her loyalty to her people, and her loyalty to Cernunnos, she at times finds herself conflicted about the Wild Hunt. Herne’s mother.

  The Morrígan: Goddess of Death and Phantoms. Goddess of the battlefield.

  THE FAE COURTS

  Navane: The court of the Light Fae, both across the Great Sea and on the eastside of Seattle, the latter ruled by Névé.

  TirNaNog: The court of the Dark Fae, both across the Great Sea and on the eastside of Seattle, the latter ruled by Saílle.

  THE ANTE-FAE

  Creatures predating the Fae. The wellspring from which all Fae descended. Unique beings who rule their own realms. All Ante-Fae are dangerous, but some are more deadly than others.

  Blackthorn, the King of Thorns: Ruler of the blackthorn trees and all thorn-bearing plants. Cunning and wily, he feeds on pain and desire.

  Raven, the Daughter of Bones: (also: Raven BoneTalker) A bone witch, Raven is young, as far as the Ante-Fae go, and she works with the dead. She’s also a fortune teller, and a necromancer.

  Straff: Blackthorn’s son, who suffers from a wasting disease requiring him to feed off others’ life energies and blood.

  THE FORCE MAJEURE

  A group of legendary magicians, sorcerers, and witches. They are not human, but magic born. There are twenty-one at any given time and the only way into the group is to be hand chosen, and the only exit from the group is death.

  Merlin: Morgana’s father. Magician of ancient Celtic fame.

  Taliesin: The first Celtic bard. Son of Cerridwen, originally a servant who underwent magical transformation and finally was reborn through Cerridwen as the first bard.

  Ranna: Power
ful sorceress. Elatha’s mistress.

  Rasputin: The Russian sorcerer and mystic.

  Väinämöinen: The most famous Finnish bard.

  FRIENDS, FAMILY, & ENEMIES

  Aoife: A priestess of Morgana who guards the Seattle portal to the goddess’s realm.

  Celia: Yutani’s aunt.

  Danielle: Herne’s daughter, born to an Amazon named Myrna.

  DJ Jackson: Angel’s little stepbrother, DJ is half Wulfine—wolf shifter. He now lives with a foster family for his own protection.

  Erica: A Dark Fae police officer, friend of Viktor’s.

  Elatha: Fomorian King; enemy of the Fae race.

  Marilee: A priestess of Morgana, Ember’s mentor. Possibly Human—unknown.

  Myrna: An Amazon who had a fling with Herne many years back, which resulted in their daughter Danielle.

  Playlist

  I often write to music, and A SHADOW OF CROWS was no exception. Here’s the playlist I used for this book.

  AJ Roach: Devil May Dance

  Air: Napalm Love; Playground Love

  Android Lust: Here and Now; Saint Over

  Arch Leaves: Nowhere to Go

  AWOLnation: Sail

  Band of Skulls: I Know What I Am

  The Black Angels: Currency; Half Believing; Comanche Moon; Hunt Me Down; Grab as Much (As You Can); I Dreamt; Death March; Holland; Young Men Dead

  Black Mountain: Queens Will Play

  Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: Feel It Now; Fault Line

  Broken Bells: The Ghost Inside

  Camouflage Nights: (It Could Be) Love

  Chester Bennington: System

  Clannad: Newgrange

  Cobra Verde: Play with Fire

  Colin Foulke: Emergence