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“There’s more value in cutting a deal with you. He can’t stand that you’re a mystery. The Corporation doesn’t like mysteries unless they’ve created them.” She peered back at me. “It is interesting that they couldn’t find much information about you. I assumed once I gave them the basics, they’d be off and running.”
If the Fates themselves didn’t have me in their database, there was little chance The Corporation would. I wasn’t about to tell Addison about the invisible rose mark on my forehead that acted as a protective barrier.
“The cake was delicious. You and Nana Pratt did a good job.”
Addison seemed taken aback by the compliment. “Thanks, it was fun.”
“Do you think Mathis is staying in town?”
“Absolutely not. He’s too fancy for Fairhaven. He’s probably at the Ritz or the Peninsula in the city.”
“No more outings for the time being,” I told her.
“Don’t worry. I was already planning to count spiderwebs to pass the time.”
“You could try helping out with a chore. We’ve got plenty of them.”
She kicked back her chair. “Like what?”
“Let me deal with our houseguest,” Ray said, drifting into the room. “You’re getting that pinched look. Get out of the house and do something you enjoy.”
I barked a laugh. “How can I possibly do that when I’ve got a Wild Hunt and a diabolical middle manager on my doorstep?”
“You’ll mishandle both situations if you don’t take time to calm yourself and clear your head. I’d tell Renee to go outside and get fresh air whenever she was on the verge of being overwhelmed. It never failed.”
I tapped my foot, thinking. “I could practice throwing knives in the woods.”
“No,” he objected. “Something normal, for pleasure. Don’t be the liminal deity of the crossroads. Be Lorelei Clay for an hour.”
“You’ve had that kayak in the outbuilding gathering dust,” Nana Pratt interrupted. “Why not take it for a ride?”
It wasn’t a bad idea. When I’d first moved to Fairhaven, I pictured myself kayaking once a week. Ha. Joke was on me.
“You’ll look after Addison?” I asked.
“Nobody needs to look after me.”
Ray nodded. “We swear.”
“I won’t,” Nana Pratt said, “but only because I don’t swear.”
“Go. Clear your head. The problems will be waiting for you when you get back, but you might feel more capable of dealing with them.”
My chest swelled with gratitude. Listening to Ray right now was like hearing the voice of Pops from the Great Beyond. Mathis was right that I had loved ones I was missing, but it was comforting to know I also had a few right here.
CHAPTER 6
Iunloaded my kayak from the back of the truck and grabbed my paddle. Leaves and twigs crunched under my feet. A damp smell lingered in the air from a smattering of overnight rain. The air was colder than I’d like, but it had been months since I was last able to paddle, and I needed the time to think. Under the present circumstances, the river seemed a safer place to commune with nature than a hike through the woods.
I noticed three crows flying overhead and wondered whether they were spies for Kane’s friend Birdie or the Fates—or possibly an unknown third party. Of course, there was always the possibility they were ordinary birds, but in Fairhaven, I had my doubts.
I let the sound of the rushing water wash over me. Nothing hit the spot like the noises of nature. Birdsong. Ocean waves crashing against the surf. Leaves rustling in the breeze. A gentle rainfall. Even a thunderstorm. I loved a good crack of lightning that convinced you the earth was about to split open and spill all its secrets.
I sat in the kayak and maneuvered it into the water. I credited Pops with my love of paddling. He and I kayaked regularly in the creeks and rivers near our house. It was part leisure activity, part survival skill. Even our fun had been tainted by potential danger.
My fingers tightened around the shaft at the thought of Pops. Had he known my parents had been murdered? The question gnawed at me. He’d always been so forthright about my identity and the burden of my powers. If he knew, why not tell me? My grandmother I could understand; she’d lacked her husband’s hard edges, but Pops never shrank from inconvenient truths. Not that I knew of, anyway.
I listened to the birdsong overhead. They were noisier than I’d expect on a cold winter’s day. I wondered whether they sensed the impending appearance of the Wild Hunt. If animals could sense earthquakes and other natural disasters before they struck, why not a devastating arrival from another realm?
