nasty supernatural threats with Sorren and Teag. I trained in martial arts with Teag, and while he was good enough to have won several championships in both Filipino and Brazilian styles of combat, I could hold my own. That didn’t mean I relished a fight, not with a bad nasty from beyond, or from a big bruiser who seemed to think he could push me around.
I replayed what Daniel had said. His delivery had been flat, and his manner was menacing. But had he meant it as a threat, or a warning? And was ‘Hunter’ really his last name, or his job? No way to tell. I pulled out my phone and texted Sorren, giving him a quick recap. He definitely needed to bring me up to speed on this whole situation – and Teag, too. I don’t mind putting my life on the line to keep Charleston, and the world, safe. But I do need to understand what I’m fighting. So the next time I saw Sorren, he was going to get a tart piece of my mind.
FOR ONCE, I was happy that we didn’t get any more customers that afternoon at Trifles and Folly. By the time Teag got back from settling Maggie safely at her house, it was time to close up.
“I’m meeting Anthony for dinner,” Teag said with a smile. “He’s working on that big case, so we have to grab time together when we can. Otherwise, we don’t cross paths even though we’re in the same house.” I wished them well. My last boyfriend had kept a similarly crazy schedule as an emergency room doctor, and coupled with my odd hours with the Alliance, which I couldn’t talk about, things didn’t go smoothly. Maybe someday.
“Anyhow,” Teag continued, “Text me if Sorren shows up. I want to know more about what’s going on. And in the meantime, I’m going to see what I can find on the Darke Web.” Teag’s Weaver magic works for more than textiles. He’s fantastic at weaving data strands together; his magic can hack into just about any system and never leave a trace. He’s also good at navigating the darker corners of the internet. Criminals and low-lifes haunt the Dark Web, pages regular people aren’t meant to find. But the supernatural community has the Darke Web, spelled and protected with ensorcelled encryption to keep out prying eyes. Teag takes it as a challenge to break through, and I’ve never known him to fail.
“Go for it,” I replied. “Just be careful.” On the mundane internet, you might get a computer virus. On the Darke Web, a daemon really is demonic, and it might just follow you home.
Teag grinned, and gave me a mock bow. “As you wish,” he said. Then he headed out, and I locked the door behind him.
When I got home, Baxter danced in circles, and when I picked him up to snuggle him, he licked my nose several times, then wiggled to be put down. I knew what he wanted. It was time for a walk.
Charleston is a walking city. It’s the kind of place where neighbors nod to each other when they pass or say “nice evening” even if they don’t actually know each other. No matter what the season, taking a walk along the old brick garden walls, the beautiful wrought-iron gates and the big old live oak trees brightens my mood.
Often, I’ll take Baxter down to White Point Gardens on the Battery if I want to get a nice harbor breeze. But tonight, that didn’t sound like such a good idea. White Point Gardens is a beautiful spot now, with a great view of Charleston Harbor. But long ago, that park was where the gallows stood to hang pirates, making it a place where many a soul has been trapped. I had no desire to go looking for more restless ghosts.
Baxter didn’t care where we went as long as he got to enjoy the fresh air. We were heading home when I heard the clip-clop of hooves and looked up to see Valerie leading one of her carriage tours. I waved, expecting her to wave back and keep moving. To my surprise, she paused beside me.
“Hi, Cassidy,” she said, and all the passengers, thinking this was part of the tour, echoed her greeting. I grinned and waved again.
“I’m trying out a new route tomorrow evening, and I was hoping you’d go through it with me. You know so much about Charleston’s history, I’d love to have