“Should we find her, Kal?”
I crumpled up the paper, ink smudging on to my fingers from the whiskey as I tossed it behind the counter. “I don’t think Ruby wants to be found, buddy.”
Argos’ ears slumped slightly. “Oh.”
I scratched his ears and he leapt off the stool. “But we got four bucks and a dime to go anywhere in the world.” He bounded ahead, and I whistled. “Just no get-rich-quick schemes this time, all right?”
“We could head south for the winter.” He wagged his tail, undeterred by past failures.
“As long as they have beer down there.”
“And no vampires.” The dog nudged open the double doors, slipping out through the crack. Then he hedged and said, “I would suspect.”
Then I followed him into the night, the memory of Ruby ceding to tales of beaches, palm trees and tropical forests. But, before she drifted into the archives of time, I could have sworn I felt the strangest sensation.
As if the paper had been open to that very page for a reason, invisible strings pulled from afar. A light winked out in the lodge across the street, at the very top floor, and I shook the idea from my mind.
Purely chance.
But as I walked with the dog down the dusty main street, I couldn’t help but wonder one thing.
Whether my path would ever cross with Ruby Callaway’s again—by chance, destiny or any other name.
The End
Ruby Callaway returns in Lightning Blade (Book 1 of the Ruby Callaway Series), facing a brand new world where the supernatural has been brought into the open. Ruby is forced to strike a deal with the FBI: help them catch a necromancer serial killer committing crimes, or continue doing time for hers.
Now available on Amazon at watchfirepress.com/lightning.
Ruby and Kalos do meet again in the final installment of the Half-Demon Rogue Trilogy, Moon Burn
Now available from Amazon at bit.ly/moon-burn.
The Half-Demon Rogue Trilogy
Demon Rogue (Book 1): Kalos Aeon must track down who’s kidnapping supernatural creatures and using their blood to create a dangerous hallucinogenic blood drug.
Buy on AMAZON: bit.ly/demon-rogue
Blood Frost (Book 2): Kalos Aeon takes a case pitting him against a cannibalistic beast and a mysterious Blood Frost threatening to bury Inonda in ice.
Buy on AMAZON: bit.ly/blood-frost
Moon Burn (Book 3): a group of day walking vampires led by a maniacal servant of Marrack threaten to kill Kalos and destroy Inonda.
Buy on AMAZON: bit.ly/moon-burn
The Complete Demon Rogue Trilogy (Books 1, 2 & 3)
Buy on AMAZON: bit.ly/rogue-trilogy
To get the exclusive prequel novella Storm Pale, sign-up for the free newsletter at watchfirepress.com/storm.
The Ruby Callaway Series
Lightning Blade (Book 1)
Shadow Flare (Book 2)
Blood River (Book 3)
To get the free prequel novella, Bone Realm, detailing the origins of Ruby Callaway (with a crossover appearance from Kalos Aeon!), visit watchfirepress.com/bone.
Bone Realm Page 9