Chapter 1 #2
The others chuckled, and I rolled my eyes, determined not to give them any more fuel. I reached into the box of ornaments and pulled out an angel, its wings delicate and dusted with glitter. Climbing the ladder, I kept my focus on the tree, ignoring the lingering smiles around the room.
When I reached the top, I placed the angel carefully on the highest branch. The tree swayed just slightly, but the angel stayed put, looking serene and unbothered by the chaos below. I climbed back down, brushing imaginary glitter off my hands.
“Perfect,” I said, stepping back to admire the tree. But even as I smiled, I couldn’t help but replay Greyson’s words in my head.
Nishi’s eyes locked onto my belt, a knowing smirk curling her lips. She pointed. “Is that new?”
I glanced down at the silver-throwing star clipped securely at my side, then shrugged. “It’s a gift from Odin.”
Her eyebrows shot up, and she looked both impressed and mildly jealous, which was saying something. “Odin? What, did he just decide it was your birthday?”
“Something like that,” I replied, pulling the star free and holding it out to her. The intricate etching along the edges glinted in the light, runes carved into the steel in a beautiful and deadly way. “Here, take a look.”
Nishi took it with the reverence of someone who truly appreciated a well-crafted weapon. She turned it over in her hands, inspecting every angle. “Nice,” she said finally, her tone carrying a note of approval. That was high praise, coming from her.
I took it back and clipped it to my belt, and the smooth motion was almost automatic. “They are a little lighter weight, but I haven’t had much time to try them out yet,” I admitted, though the urge to throw something was itching at the back of my mind.
Nishi’s smirk widened. “We can practice upstairs after we’re done decorating. I’d love to see what those can do.”
The others might have rolled their eyes but didn’t say anything. This was just who we were—a little chaos, a little combat training, all wrapped up in holiday cheer.
“Deal,” I said, pulling another ornament from the box with a grin. “Let’s finish this tree first. Then we’ll see how well these suckers fly.”
Her nod was quick, eager. If Nishi was excited, I knew I was in for a solid sparring session. And honestly, I couldn’t wait.
The soft chime of the door turning made me glance up from the ornament I was holding. I turned, and there he was—my son, Liam, standing in the doorway with a large box in his arms and an easy smile on his face.
“Hey, Mom.”
I blinked, caught off guard. “You’re early,” I said before I could think better of it, and immediately regretted it.
He grinned, that same boyish charm that could disarm anyone. “I know how much you love surprises.”
The ladies burst into laughter because, of course, they all knew how wrong that was. I shot them a look as Liam walked over, setting the box down in front of me. It wasn’t even wrapped, which was just like him. Practical, direct.
“What’s this?” I asked, glancing at the picture on the box. “A fancy coffee maker?”
“You’re always talking about how much you love those fancy coffees,” he said with a shrug, as though this was the most obvious gift in the world.
I nodded, even as Nishi barely managed to suppress a grunt. I could see the corners of her mouth twitching, but she held it in. Barely.
Liam leaned in and hugged me, lowering his voice so only I could hear. “I know it’s not really your thing, but Max and I figured your customers might like it.”
“Ah,” I murmured, the pieces falling into place. He wasn’t wrong. The people passing through my world loved their caffeine, and a fancy coffee maker wouldn’t hurt. “Thanks,” I said, giving him a warm smile despite myself.
As I set the box down on the table beside the trays of cookies and sandwiches, I couldn’t resist adding, “Just so you know, I’ll still be going to Danny’s.”
“Wouldn’t expect anything less,” Liam said, his grin widening. He sat on the couch, glancing around the room. “The place looks great. How is everyone?”
The conversation shifted as the ladies started asking him about his girlfriend and Max, my business partner. He gave them easy, relaxed answers, clearly enjoying the attention. My chest tightened slightly when the topic turned to Ravenholde and how busy things had been here.
I tried to downplay it, mentioning a few jobs in the city without going into detail. I didn’t want Liam to know about the truth of the supernatural underbelly of Ravenholde—my real world. He was human, and the less he knew, the safer he’d be.
He didn’t seem to notice the careful way I chose my words, though. His smile never faltered, and his questions about how things were going stayed blissfully mundane.
As the conversation continued, I caught the knowing glances from the others—Aurora, Nishi, Eve. They could read me better than anyone. I gave them a subtle shake of my head, silently asking them to let it lie. And to their credit, they did.
Liam had no idea about the supernatural world or the shadows lurking just beyond the edges of his perfectly normal life.
And I couldn’t tell him. Not because I didn’t trust him.
Liam had the heart of a lion and the brains to match, but because knowing the truth would put him in danger.
Worse, it would shatter him. The truth about Luke, about what he really was…
and who killed him. Liam would never recover from that. And I couldn’t do that to him.
When he asked another question about the bounties in Ravenholde, his curiosity piqued by the scraps of information I’d shared, I deflected with practiced ease. “How’s business in Cincinnati?” I asked, turning the conversation back to safer ground.
Liam leaned back on the couch, running a hand through his dark hair. “It’s steady,” he said. “Max is still looking for another bounty hunter, though. Can’t seem to find anyone who meets his standards.”
I nodded, pretending to be interested as I placed another ornament on the tree. But then his tone shifted, and my stomach tightened.
“I was thinking,” he said, leaning forward, “maybe I could help you more around here. You’re obviously raking in the business, and I’ve got the experience. Plus, I’d love to be around more.”
I froze, my hand hovering over the ornament box. His words hit me like a punch to the gut, and it must have shown on my face because he frowned.
“What?” he asked. “You look like I just offered to join a circus.”
I forced a laugh, but it felt thin. “It’s just… I’ve got my system, you know? And things in Ravenholde are—” I paused, searching for the right word, “different. The clients are… particular.”
Particular. That was one way to describe supernatural bounties that could tear a human apart without breaking a sweat. The thought of Liam walking into that world, oblivious to the danger, made my blood run cold.
He grinned, clearly misinterpreting my reaction. “I’m serious, Mom. I’ve got the skills. You’ve always said I’m a quick learner. And with the volume of work you’re pulling in—”
“You’re doing great in Cincinnati,” I cut in, my tone more abrasive than intended. “And Max needs you there.”
Liam tilted his head, studying me with a look that said he wasn’t entirely convinced. But he let it drop, for now. I turned back to the tree, pretending to be focused on finding the perfect spot for a glittery snowflake.
Inside, though, I was unraveling. Liam’s desire to help came from a good place, but he had no idea what he was asking for. And I had to make sure he never found out.
My phone rang, and I practically lunged for it, desperate for the distraction. When I saw Carnell’s name flash across the screen, I couldn’t hit the answer button fast enough. “Hey,” I said, trying to keep my voice casual.
“There’s been a murder at the Christmas Village,” Carnell said without preamble, his tone grim.
I blinked, my grip tightening on the phone. “And you’re calling me because…?”
“Because,” he said, his voice dropping into that deep, ominous tone that meant trouble, “the victim was chained and whipped. With birch branches.”
The room seemed to freeze around me, the cheerful warmth of the holiday decorations suddenly feeling too bright, too loud. “That’s… specific,” I managed. “Anything else?”
“I’ve got a bad feeling about this one,” Carnell admitted, and that stopped me cold. Carnell didn’t get bad feelings often, but when he did, they usually came with a hefty dose of supernatural trouble.
I rubbed at my temple, glancing at Liam, who was laughing with Nishi about something I couldn’t quite catch. “Carnell,” I said carefully, lowering my voice, “Liam’s here.”
There was a brief pause on the other end of the line. “How long?”
“He just showed up with a coffeemaker.”
Carnell’s sigh carried a heaviness I could feel through the phone. “You’ll have to handle this one carefully, then.”
I turned away from the group, my heart thudding in my chest. Carefully was putting it lightly. Investigating a murder, especially one with the hallmarks of something supernatural, while Liam was here would require the kind of juggling act I wasn’t sure I was ready for.
“Send me the details,” I said quietly, already shifting into problem-solving mode.
“You sure?” Carnell asked, his voice edged with concern.
“I’ll figure it out,” I promised, even as my mind raced. Liam couldn’t know. He couldn’t be anywhere near this. I’d just have to keep him distracted long enough to handle whatever nightmare had landed in the Christmas Village.
“Be careful,” Carnell said, and then the line went dead.
I slipped the phone into my pocket, plastering on a smile as I turned back to the group. “Everything okay?” Liam asked, his brow furrowing slightly.
“Yeah,” I lied, grabbing another ornament. “Just Carnell. Nothing to worry about.”
But inside, the worry was all I could feel.