Cut to the Crone Read online

  I let out a shaky breath and continued to stare, my eyes roving from one location to the next. I had no idea where to start searching. Heck, I wasn’t even sure I wanted to waste the effort. There were other things pressing down on me after all. I merely sighed and turned to follow my friends.

  Something was out there. Something was watching me. There was nothing I could do about it now, though. I had to wait for him or her to make a move. That was my only option, so I embraced it.

  Besides, I had other things to worry about tonight. I was finally about to get answers about my past. It was time.

  Two

  Marissa was still unaware of her eyebrow situation when we hit the Cauldron. We parked in front and Bonnie and I took our time shedding helmets so we could discuss the obvious problem.

  “She’s going to freak out,” I said the second the front door shut.

  “Of course she’s going to freak out.” Bonnie made an exaggerated face. “Her eyebrows are gone.”

  “Well, technically only one eyebrow is gone,” I countered.

  “That’s going to make it worse. She’s going to freak out and then some.”

  I chewed on my bottom lip. “Maybe we should tell her it’s a new fashion trend or something. We’ll tell her the young models are doing it and she looks young. That might work.”

  “It’s cute that you think that. Nice thought.” Bonnie patted my shoulder. “She’s still going to try to kill you in your sleep.”

  Brooding, I trailed Bonnie into the bar a few minutes later and automatically glanced around, looking for Marissa. Instead, I found my boyfriend, Gunner Stratton, sitting at the bar. His gaze was already on me and he looked amused. And ridiculously handsome. He was tall, although you really couldn’t ascertain that from the way he was sitting, and he had dark hair that looked so silky I had to fight the urge to stroll up to him and run my fingers through it.

  “Hey.” He greeted me with a friendly smile as I sidled up to him. “How was your afternoon?”

  I shrugged, noncommittal. Honestly, I wasn’t sure how to answer. “The Spriggan nest is gone.”

  “We heard.” Whistler, the owner of the bar and something of a satellite member of our team, dried a glass with a towel as he studied me. “Marissa was a bit put out when she came in. She was complaining about her shirt.”

  I scowled. “That was an accident.”

  “She also mentioned that you took out all the Spriggans and didn’t let her or Bonnie handle any of them,” Whistler added. He had that old-school hippie thing going for him that I found charming.

  “She was upset at the methods I used when everybody was involved so I decided to do it on my own. If she wants to complain, then she has to come up with a solution.”

  Chuckling, Gunner slipped his arm around my waist and tugged me to his side. “You sound keyed up.”

  That’s how I was feeling, too, although I didn’t want the others to know. “I’m fine.” I hoped I sounded truthful rather than shaky. “I didn’t get wet and my shirt is perfectly fine.”

  His smile never wavered but there was an intensity to his gaze. “Well, I’m glad to see you’re perfectly fine.” Gunner leaned closer to me and placed a quick kiss on the corner of my mouth. “You are keyed up, Scout. I get it. There’s no reason to be nervous. I’m going to be right here with you.”

  I frowned. He was trying to be supportive but actually relying on another person for emotional support irritated me. “I’m not nervous. I’m perfectly fine.”

  “Uh-huh.” His fingers were soft as he brushed my hair away from my face. “Maybe you should have a drink.”

  His concern was sweet but partaking in alcohol would only make my reflexes slow, and that didn’t sound like a good idea given what was to come. “I’m fine. I don’t need anything alcoholic.”

  “Great. What do you want to drink?”

  “Iced tea please.”

  Whistler nodded and moved toward the beverage gun while Gunner slid me a sidelong glance. Out of habit, I drummed my fingers on the bar. The beat was faster than it probably should’ve been.

  “But you’re not keyed up,” Gunner noted after a moment.

  “Just give me a break.” I slid onto the stool next to him and checked the clock on the wall. We still had five minutes until Drake was going to show, but for some reason it felt like days stretched in front of me rather than minutes.

  “Baby.” Gunner shifted on his stool so he faced me and captured my hand. “It’s going to be okay. Whatever he has to say ...” He trailed off, as if uncertain how to proceed.

  “I’m fine,” I reassured him for what felt like the hundredth time. “Whatever he has to tell me isn’t important. I know who I am.”

  Interest sparked in the depths of his eyes. “You’re my favorite person in the world,” Gunner said. “That’s who you are.”

  The flirty words, and accompanying wink, were enough to nudge a legitimate smile out of me. “I’m okay,” I promised. “You don’t have to worry about me.”

  “Fat chance. I can’t help but worry about you. That’s who I am.” He leaned in and gave me another kiss, this one softer and more lingering. It was only broken when a screech sounded in the bathroom, which caused him to jerk his head in that direction and me to hunker down. “What was that?”

  “That was Marissa realizing one of the Spriggans Scout set on fire burned off one of her eyebrows,” Bonnie replied smoothly, accepting the offered beer from Whistler and taking a big swig as the men gathered around the bar started chuckling. “I have a feeling Scout might not live long enough to hear whatever Drake has to say.”

  On my right, Rooster’s shoulders shook with silent laughter. “I thought she looked different when she came in, though I didn’t bother to look really closely. I thought the shirt was the worst of it.”

  I pressed the heel of my hand to my forehead. “This isn’t my fault. How was I supposed to know the stupid things are still aerodynamic when on fire?”

  Gunner chuckled into my hair and pulled me close for another hug. “Have I mentioned how much more colorful our lives are now that you’re a part of them?”

  I didn’t have a chance to answer because the sudden hint of light hitting the mirror behind Whistler told me the front door was opening, and when I twirled on the stool, I found Drake strolling through the door. He held the door open for someone to enter behind him, who remained a mystery, at least for the time being.

  The rangy shifter took a moment to glance between faces, ultimately landing on me. My heart dropped.

  “Hello, all.”

  “How’s it going?” Gunner asked easily. He and Drake had a difficult relationship. They knew each other as kids, although not in an intimate sense, and when he returned to town with Gunner’s sworn enemy, it made for some tense interactions. Once Drake explained about his sister, things calmed down, if only marginally.

  “Things are great.” Drake remained at the door, holding it open. “How are things with you guys?”

  “Other than the fact that Marissa is going to kill Scout for burning off one of her eyebrows, we’re great,” Bonnie cracked, flashing a pretty smile for Drake’s benefit. She had a bubbly personality and she couldn’t help but flirt with everyone, whether male or female. “You look more rested than the last time we saw you.”

  “It’s been a good few weeks.” His eyes moved back to me. “Thanks to you guys, my sister has been able to recover in peace.”

  “How is she?” Rooster queried.

  “She’s taking it slow.” Drake’s expression was rueful. “It’s not easy for her, not by a long shot. She still jumps at loud noises and she’s hyper-vigilant. I’m doing the best I can for her but it’s going to be a long process.”

  “Have you considered getting someone for her to talk to?” Rooster’s expression was grave. “I think we might have a few people we know who will work. She needs to talk to someone who understands about the paranormal world. I can get her in to see someone, if that’s what you want.
”

  Drake hesitated and then nodded. “That might be good. I need to talk to her first. Right now, she’s only comfortable around me. I’m hoping that will change eventually but...” He sighed and shook his head, as if feeling genuine despair at the prospect.

  “She’s going to need time,” Rooster said. “You can’t fix this for her. She needs to decide what she’s comfortable with and move on from there.”

  “I understand that,” said Drake. “I really do. It’s just hard to watch her jump whenever a car door slams outside.”

  Rooster nodded in understanding. “I get that.”

  Even though it was a perfectly pleasant conversation, my agitation had ratcheted up to obscene levels and I couldn’t stop myself from asking the obvious questions. “Why are you holding the door open? Are you letting in ghosts to kill us or something?”

  Drake’s eyebrows hiked but he remained calm. “Not last time I checked. I am waiting for a friend.”

  I was understandably confused. “Is he invisible?”

  Just as the last word escaped, another man slid in behind him. This individual was older — actually, much older —with hair that was once brown and had turned white. His eyebrows were mostly gray and his face was a mass of wrinkles that somehow made him look dignified. Even though he was older — if I had to guess, I would say mid-eighties — his eyes were keen as they moved across the room, ultimately landing on me.

  “I wondered if I would ever see you again,” he said by way of greeting.

  I frowned, casting a quick look at Gunner before licking my lips. “I don’t remember seeing you the first time,” I said. “You’ll have to refresh my memory.”

  “Perhaps you should introduce your friend to us before we get started, Drake,” Rooster interjected, shooting me a reassuring look before continuing. “I think that’s probably best for all concerned.”

  Drake let the door swing shut and followed the older man to the center of the bar. “This is Ezekiel Washington. I met him years ago, before my life became all about my sister, and he told me some interesting stories.” His eyes locked with mine. “He happens to know some Children of the Stars.”

  My heart lodged in my throat and I had no idea how to respond.

  “There’s no need to be so dramatic,” Ezekiel said, his eyes boring into me as he sat at the table directly behind my stool. He was so intense it was as if he was trying to peel my skin back a layer at a time and see what was underneath. “Drake is right. I’ve had occasion to meet some of your people, Scout. That’s your name, right?”

  Even though my mouth felt as dry as a desert I found my voice and nodded. “That is my name.”

  “But not the name you were born with.”

  I swallowed hard. “I have no idea if it’s the name I was born with. That’s probably unlikely, but never say never.”

  Next to me, Rooster shifted on his chair. “Scout doesn’t remember her childhood. Everything before she was found and put into the system is missing. If you know something about that, now would be the time to share it. Drake has promised Scout answers regarding her past in exchange for what she did for his sister. I think now is as good a time as any to pay up.”

  “I don’t have specific answers for her,” Drake insisted. “I told you that before. I said I might be able to find some, which is why Ezekiel is here. I owe you a debt, Scout. This is the best way I know to pay it. He used to tell me stories of the Children of the Stars years ago. I’m hoping he can help you.”

  I was normally the talkative sort. In fact, people often complained I talked too much. However, I had no idea how to respond to any of this at the moment.

  “Baby, you don’t have to do this right now if you’re not ready,” Gunner whispered, his hand on my back and his mouth close to my ear. “Do you need more time?”

  When I risked a glance at him, I found earnest concern staring back at me. “I’m fine,” I said, grateful that my voice sounded strong. “I’m just taking it all in.”

  “You always were an inquisitive child,” Ezekiel commented, causing my heart to skip a beat. “I remember when you were two. You were with your grandfather and asked a nonstop string of questions that was so obnoxious I thought I might lose it. Yet your grandfather patiently answered each one. He was convinced you were a genius of some sort because of the questions you asked.”

  I clamped my jaw shut and tried to remain calm. It was beyond difficult.

  “You knew her as a child?” Gunner sounded dubious but he never moved his hand from my back. I appreciated the contact. He was serving as my anchor because my head felt as if it was going to fly off my shoulders at any moment, spin around at a fantastic rate, and ultimately explode.

  Ezekiel nodded, his smile kind. “I don’t remember your name. I’m sorry about that. You were little and your grandfather had multiple grandchildren. I remember his name. Geoffrey.”

  “Hold up.” Rooster’s eyes narrowed, focusing on Ezekiel. “How do you know Scout is the same child you saw back then?”

  “She has a unique look, and the magic that spouts off her is pretty obvious.”

  Gunner frowned and turned to Drake. “Who is this guy?”

  “He’s a shaman,” Drake replied. “He helped me when I was younger, struggling. I wouldn’t have brought him here if I thought he was dangerous to Scout. I owe her for what she did for my sister. She could’ve died in the process. I won’t forget that.”

  “She did almost die in the process,” Gunner groused, still agitated by what happened that day in the woods. “She was ready to sacrifice herself for all of us.”

  “I didn’t, though,” I reminded him, patting his hand. His frustration was enough to snap me out of my malaise. “You said my grandfather’s name was Geoffrey,” I prodded. “What was his last name?”

  “Martin. Or Maybe Markham. I’m not a hundred percent sure, and I’m sorry. My memory isn’t what it used to be. I apologize.” Ezekiel looked appropriately contrite. “I can’t remember specific details.”

  “Yet you remember Scout.” Gunner made a growling sound deep in his throat and then started shaking his head. “See, this makes absolutely no sense to me. How can you remember a two-year-old child and know that she grew up to be this woman, but you can’t remember a name?”

  Ezekiel shrugged. “I can’t explain it. I remember the magic more than anything. She’s got an interesting aura. I’ve never seen it before or since.”

  “But—”

  I held up my hand to quiet Gunner. “Let him talk. Even if I’m not the same child, and I’m not saying I am either way, there’s no harm in letting him talk.”

  Ezekiel beamed at me. “See? You’re thinking.” He tapped the side of his head for emphasis. “As for your grandfather, we lived in the same town.”

  “Where?”

  Ezekiel furrowed his brow. “Here in Michigan. It was in the middle part of the state, down by Bay City.”

  That was news to me. “Continue.”

  “There’s not much to say.” Ezekiel was rueful. “We had coffee together at the diner most mornings. He would talk about his farm and family. I would do the same. We were friendly but not close. A few times he brought you with him to the diner because he was babysitting.”

  “Did he bring the other kids?” I queried. “You said he had more grandchildren.”

  “I don’t remember him bringing more children. Only you.”

  “And you recognized my magic?”

  “I recognized his magic first,” Ezekiel replied. “He recognized mine as well. We never spoke of it, although he did let a few vague things slip. I knew you were Children of the Stars. He was part of some important council, and toward the end, right before he disappeared, he started ranting and raving one day about this council not doing what it was supposed to do and protecting you.”

  I rubbed my forehead, trying to absorb the news. “If he had multiple grandchildren, why would he be worried about protecting me?”

  “Because you were special,” E
zekiel replied simply. “Even I could see it. You were bright, engaging, and smart as a whip. He was genuinely fond of you. More than that, he always put a lot of emphasis on your future. He said you were the hope of the family, although I wasn’t quite sure what that meant.”

  I pressed my lips together. Gunner shifted so he was closer to me, lending me a bit of his warmth.

  “What happened to the grandfather?” Gunner asked. “Obviously he doesn’t live in Bay City any longer.”

  “No, he doesn’t.” Ezekiel shook his head. “I’m not quite sure what happened to him. In the weeks leading up to his disappearance, he kept mentioning this council not doing the right thing. He was angry, furious really, and he was really worried about you.” His eyes were kind when they locked with mine.

  “I’m not an expert on what you are, or what you can do, but there was real fear living in his heart for a few months there at the end, Scout. He loved you but felt you were in danger. He said he had a plan should it come to it, but he didn’t want to activate that plan. That was the last I ever heard from him.

  “He missed three coffees in a row before I went to check his farm. It was empty. Everything was gone essentially, other than some things that were too big to move. After the fact, I heard his house went back to the bank because he never made a payment on it again. He simply vanished.”

  “What about his family?” Rooster asked. “What happened to them?”

  “They vanished with him. None of them were ever seen again. That’s why when Drake mentioned stumbling across a Child of the Stars, I wanted to see you. He showed me a photo and I knew the second I saw you who I was looking at. I assumed you would be able to provide me with answers. Apparently, that’s not the case.”

  I didn’t know what to make of any of it. It was a ridiculous story. Yet I couldn’t completely dismiss it.

  Perhaps reading my distress, Gunner moved his hands to my neck and started massaging. “Why don’t you start again? From the beginning. We need to know everything.”