Page 4 of Feathered Web

“It’s always hard to lose friends.” Killian straightened as the waitress returned, removing his arm so he could accept his drink.

“Your other party is here,” she said. “Should I show them back?”

“Yes, please,” I said, pulling out my compact for one last check. It was amazing my mascara hadn’t run during the various points through the afternoon, especially during the bouts of crying. But it was waterproof, and it worked great.

“Are you nervous?” Killian asked.

“Kind of. I’ve never met a spirit shaman before. They’re unique in the Otherkin world. They’re not witchblood, though they have magic when it comes to the dead. They’re few and far between—born only to nine families through the centuries.”

Killian frowned. “Yeah, and their guardians are a unique type of wolf shifter, set apart from the rest of us.”

The hostess appeared, a couple behind her. The woman was around five-six, smaller than I was but not stick thin, and she had jet black hair and eyes that shimmered like honey. But as I watched, their color flowed into chocolate. The man was around Killian’s height, and their hair color almost matched—a wheaten color, though Killian’s had hints of gold and was shoulder length and curly, while Bryan’s was ashen, short, and wavy. Where Killian was stocky and muscled, Bryan was muscled and trim.

I slipped out of the booth and so did Killian. We stood. “Kerris?” I asked. “I’m January Jaxson. And this is my husband, Killian O’Connell.”

Kerris gave me a hint of a smile, and she shook my hand. “I’m Kerris Fellwater, and this is my husband, Bryan Tierney. Thank you for seeing us.”

I slipped back in the booth and scooted toward the center—it was one of those rounded semi-circle booths—and Killian sat on the other side of me. Kerris sat to my right, and Bryan sat to Killian’s left.

The waitress waited for us to be seated, then asked, “Would you like drinks?”

Kerris nodded. “Hot cocoa, please.”

Bryan ordered a cup of coffee.

The waitress handed us menus and left to get their drinks.

“So…welcome to Moonshadow Bay. Have you ever been here before?”

Kerris leaned back against the booth. “No, I haven’t. I lived in Seattle until Whisper Hollow called me back.” She felt like death, to me. But death dancing, death singing, death smiling—not grim and unyielding. It was an odd juxtaposition, and it threw me a little, but then I decided to accept it, rather than analyze it.

“I lived in Seattle too, until things went south with my ex,” I said. “My parents died, so I came home to Moonshadow Bay.”

“The shadow towns, they call us back when they need us,” Kerris said. “Peggin told me she met you, and about the Woodlings. She’s been able to connect with a few that we didn’t know were around Whisper Hollow.”

“Yes, and I have to tell you—I met the Crow Man a year ago. And he came to me in my dreams last night. I made a promise to him, and I think he’s calling it in with your visit.”

Kerris was about to say something when the waitress returned with the cocoa and coffee, and she prepared to take our orders.

I glanced over the menu. “I’d like a bowl of clam chowder, and for my entrée, I want the halibut and chips.” I folded my menu and handed it to the waitress.

Kerris ordered a filet mignon, steak fries, and salad. Bryan ordered the same, and Killian asked for the Chilean sea bass, rice pilaf, and a garden salad.

After the waitress left, Kerris let out a long sigh.

“The Crow Man gets around,” she said, her eyes gleaming. “I remember when he called me back to Whisper Hollow. But yes, I think this is his call to pay your debt. The gods and their messengers never forget favors. They’re almost worse than the Fae.”

“Well, he did us a good deed. In fact, he saved my boss’s life—and my boss is also a good friend. So I’m willing to pay the price, as long as it doesn’t conflict with my oath to Druantia.” I knew that some people wouldn’t see it that way, but without the Crow Man’s help, we wouldn’t have been able to locate Bigfoot.

At her look, I shrugged. “Long story. I’ll tell you sometime if you like. But please, you sounded so worried this morning. What’s going on? How can I help you?”

Kerris sighed, glancing at Bryan. “Okay, there’s a problem in Whisper Hollow and it connects to Moonshadow Bay. Have you heard of Penelope, the Gatekeeper?”

Puzzled, I shook my head. “Not that I know of.”

“This is also a long story, but I’ll make it as simple as I can. In Whisper Hollow, the Hounds of Cú Chulainn work against the spirit shamans. They’re enemies of the Morrígan, and the spirit shamans serve the Morrígan. A woman—an old witch named Magda Volkov—works with the Hounds. Magda had two daughters.”

As Kerris wove the story, I found myself mesmerized.

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