I let Ridley drag me down the other side of the hill while Link tried to talk his way out of trouble with Uncle Macon. John trudged behind us, his boots as heavy as any Mortal’s footsteps.
If I closed my eyes, I could pretend they were Ethan’s.
But it was getting harder and harder to pretend. I was Kelting to him before I even realized it, the same three words over and over.
Please come home.
I wondered if he could hear me. If he was already on his way.
I counted the minutes, wondering how long we should wait before checking on the Book. Even Link and Ridley’s banter couldn’t distract me, which was saying a lot.
“I think all this quarter-Incubus stuff is going to your head,” Ridley said.
Link flexed. “Or maybe it’s taking out the baddest badass around.”
Ridley rolled her eyes. “Please.”
“Do you two ever stop?” John asked.
They both whipped around to look at him. “Stop what?” they asked at the same time.
I was about to tell John not to bother, when I saw a streak of black in the sky.
The crow. The same one that had watched us when we went to meet Abraham. Maybe it was following us.
Maybe it knew something.
It dipped and circled the area above Ethan’s grave.
“It’s the crow.” I took off back up the hill.
John ripped and appeared at my side. “What are you talking about?”
Link and the others caught up to us. “Where’s the fire?”
I pointed at the bird. “I think that crow has been following us.”
Uncle Macon studied the bird. “Interesting.”
Ridley smacked her gum. “What?”
“A Seer like Amarie would tell you that many believe crows can cross between the world of the living and the world of the dead.”
We made it over the rise. Bade and Boo were staring up at the sleek black bird.
“So what? Even if it could fly from world to world, you really think that little bird could carry The Book a Moons?” Link asked.
I didn’t know. But the crow was connected to Ethan somehow. I was sure of it.
“Why is it circling like that?” John asked.
Ridley strolled up behind us. “It’s probably scared of the giant cat.”
For once, she might be right.
“Bade and Boo, go home,” I called. The big cat’s ears perked up at the sound of her name.
Boo hesitated and looked up at Uncle Macon.