Page 66 of Raven

“He won’t get anywhere near the kids,” I growled.

My hand found the small of her back.

“Don’t worry, I’m here with you.”

She wasn’t hiding behind me.

She was ready for whoever showed up.

Mandy stood, tense. Ears pricked. A low growl in her throat.

“What is it, girl?” I whispered.

She stared at the door, one paw forward, the hair on the back of her neck standing up.

“Someone’s out there,” Beatrice said, voice like steel.

She pressed her ear to the door.

I joined her.

Every nerve in me locked into place, waiting for the next sound.

Waiting for the next move.

32

Raven

Beatrice held her breath,her ear to the door.

I crouched beside her, heart hammering, the silence pressing down like a storm just about to break.

Mandy growled again, low and guttural.

Then—footsteps.

Slow. Deliberate. Just outside.

Beatrice’s eyes snapped to mine. She nodded once—confirmation. We weren’t imagining it.

Someone was out there.

I stood, already reaching for the folding blade I kept in my boot. Beatrice moved to the opposite side of the door, grabbing the metal IV pole and positioning it like a bat. Mandy stayed close to the kids, hackles raised.

I looked at her and shook my head.

“Beatrice, stay over there with the kids.”

I didn’t think she was going to listen to me, but she walked over to the bed.

Whoever it was, they didn’t knock.

Instead, a shadow paused in front of the frosted glass window. We could see the silhouette—a tall figure standing motionless, just watching.

Beatrice’s jaw clenched.

The boy in the bed whimpered, sitting up again. “Is he back?” he whispered.

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