Page 3 of Raven in Midwinter

“There’s no wind, but we both heard the chimes.”

“Yes,” I stated, stepping closer, his arm instinctively slipping around me.

“We should go outside, don’t you think?”

“I…no,” I murmured. “Get another cup of tea while I think about something.”

“Don’t do that,” he said, letting go of me. “You promised not to do that anymore. You have to tell me what you’re thinking the second it flits through your mind, not ruminate first. I need to know.”

I nodded. “You’re right. Remind me what you saw when you went for your walk the other day?”

“When I went for my—oh, the foxes. And it wasn’t a walk. I thought I heard someone calling me from the woods.”

This was new information that took the wind out of me. “I’m sorry, what?”

“Why is your voice all––”

“Repeat what you said,” I demanded.

“I thought I heard somebody calling. I was sure of it.”

I smacked him in the arm. Hard.

“The hell?”

“You heard a voice calling your name?” I nearly shouted.

“Didn’t I just say that?”

“Lorne!”

“Why’re you yelling?”

“And you made the decision to go out looking for whatever was calling you?”

“I walked a little way into the woods, yeah.”

“No.” I was adamant, taking hold of his left hand with both of mine. “Never, ever, go into the woods if you hear someone calling.”

“What if I hear someone crying, like a woman or a child?” he teased me, and if his tone wasn’t a dead giveaway, the cocky grin was.

“Are you kidding?” I turned to leave him, but he stepped in front of me and gently took hold of my arms.

“Wait—”

“You’re baiting me, and I don’t appreciate it.”

“I was playing with you. It’s not the same.”

“It’s not funny, and you shouldn’t be glib.”

“Oh, c’mon, it’s⁠—”

“Don’t go into the woods alone. Ever.”

He stepped in closer so I had to lift my head to hold his gaze. “Won’t Corvus protect me?”

“Corvus doesn’t go on forever,” I reminded him. “Eventually you’ll step off our land and into the forest.”