The Hunt (By Kiss and Claw #2) - Melissa Haag Page 0,61
mermaid’s scratch.
“What does it mean when they all sing at the same time?”
“It means it’s time to take you home.”
The phones around us started going off. I felt mine buzz in my pocket and asked Fenris to put me down. He shook his head and looked at Jenna and the other girls.
“Head straight home. No stops. I’ll drive Eliana to the Quills’ and catch a ride home with my dad. I have a feeling he’ll be there.”
Jenna nodded, looking a little pale, and hurried away with the other girls. Fenris turned toward my car. As soon as he had me in the seat, he surprised the heck out of me by grabbing the top of my sleeve and ripping it away with one quick tug.
“What are you doing?” I said with a scowl.
“Sorry. I want to peel this away before it thaws.”
I felt a tug at the back of my arm, and a moment later, he held up what looked like a green worm.
My eyes went wide, and I open-palm hit him in the face as I squealed and tried to get away.
Chuckling, he shuffled back a few steps. The space between us did nothing to quell my racing heart.
“It’s frozen mermaid slime,” he said, tossing it over his shoulder. “What did you think it was?”
“A worm. I think I’m shaking harder from that than when I’d wanted to kill Piepen.”
“Which time?”
“Haha.”
Fenris’s smile changed slightly, looking almost tender a second before he closed the door and moved around the hood to get into the driver’s seat. Setting a trembling hand over my stomach, I tried to take a few calming breaths before speaking again.
“I don’t know a lot of banshees. I thought they only sang death’s song when someone in their house was going to die.”
“House is a loose term for anyone in their immediate vicinity.”
“Is that why you thought it was me who was going to die?”
He glanced at me as he drove and gave a brief nod. I thought about the banshee facts I’d learned.
“What would cause all of them in Uttira to sing at the same time?”
“A lot of death,” Fenris said grimly.
My phone buzzed again, and I took it out of my pocket to read the texts.
Council: All residents should return to their homes and stay there. An update will be provided within the hour.
Mom: Where are you?
Instead of texting, I called her.
“Hey, Mom. I’m on my way home.”
“Good. Do you know what’s going on?”
“Not really. I was in the Roost with some friends, and three banshees started singing. We ran outside and heard more. Adira disappeared before we could find out why they were all singing at once.”
Mom was quiet for a minute.
“A banshee sings when there will be a death in their house,” she said softly.
“Yeah, I know. But that doesn’t explain—”
“Uttira is their house, baby. Get to the Quills’. That’s the safest place for you. Drive safe, okay?”
“I will.”
“Text me when you get there.”
I hung up and looked at Fenris.
“Did you hear all of that?”
“Yeah. Sounds like something big is going to happen.”
“You say that, yet you’re super calm?”
He flashed a small smile at me.
“A banshee’s song can be sung seconds or weeks before a death. There’s no telling when this big thing will happen or how many will be affected. Likely, the Council is trying to figure that out right now. Worrying about it won’t change the outcome.”
“Then, why send us all scurrying home?”
“Home is where most people feel safest. Plus, it keeps any additional outbreaks of trouble down while the Council tries to sort things out.”
A few minutes later, we pulled into the Quills’ long drive. Every window of the house was lit, and cars clogged the turnaround before the main entrance. Fenris navigated past the mess and pulled into my space in the garage.
As soon as I opened the kitchen door, I heard voices coming from the office above. Fenris followed me through the dining room and up the stairs. We lingered in the hallway, blatantly listening to the Council’s discussion in progress.
“We need to know where the other two are,” Mr. Quill said. “Is Grace in contact with Paxton?”
“Not yet. Irene is, but she’s as unlikely to speak with us as Megan,” Adira said.
I frowned, trying to understand why they were talking about the furies.
“It’s unlikely any of them are going to come here,” Mrs. Quill said. “Megan is staying away because Eliana asked her to, fearing her mother’s hunger.”