She raised an eyebrow. “Of course? The Devil of Darkvale is an of course I deliver coffee sort of man?”
“I suppose not, but it seemed like the appropriate thing to say.”
She shrugged. “Fair enough. Come on up. Carrow has a surprise for you.”
Excitement thrilled through me. Hadshe found a solution? “Of what sort?”
“You’ll just have to wait and see.” She turned and took the stairs two at a time.
I followed her to the top floor, turning right to follow her into Carrow’s small flat. It was as charming as usual, save for the unfamiliar woman sitting on the couch, a pale redhead. Anxiety radiated from her, along with curiosity. Her green eyes raced over the entire space, including me, taking everything in like she was a person from outer space.
There was something familiar about her, too. Her magical signature reminded me of another’s. But whose?
Carrow came out of the kitchen, dressed in her usual attire of dark jeans and a simple shirt. Her hair glowed golden around her head, and her beauty took me away. The newcomer was forgotten, and I held out the coffee tray. “For you.”
Her gaze landed on it, warming. “Thank you.”
I nodded.
She approached, and I held my breath, not wanting to risk inhaling her miraculous scent.
She took the tray and removed one coffee, handing it to me. Then she turned toward the oddly familiar woman and handed her a coffee. “Try this.”
“Thanks.” The woman took the coffee, her gaze moving back to me.
From behind, footsteps sounded on the stairs. I turned, spotting Eve. The Fae rushed into the room, her hair brilliant blue today. Curiosity gleamed in her eyes, and her dress looked wrinkled and worn. Two different shoes adorned her feet.
“Well, don’t you look a sight.” Mac grinned. “In a hurry this morning?”
“Give me a break.” Eve strode into the room, her gaze on the new woman. “You’re supposed to be the raven?”
The raven?
“I—?
?? The newcomer shrugged, her face utterly confused. “Apparently so, yes.”
I turned to Carrow. “What is happening?”
“You’re never going to believe this.” Carrow held up a finger, a contrite expression on her face. “But just give me a half a second?”
“Of course.”
I stepped back against the wall. A drama was about to unfold. If I’d learned anything in my long life, it was how to sense tension. And the air was loaded with it.
Carrow looked at Eve. “This is Beatrix. She’s spent the last year as the raven that followed you. You really couldn’t see her?”
Her old friend Beatrix? The one that had been murdered?
Eve sighed. “I could see her, all right? I just didn’t want to talk about it.”
“Why?” Carrow asked.
“We all have secrets, Carrow.” Eve folded her arms. “Until now, this didn’t matter. And honestly, I’m not even sure what any of it means.”
“Try,” Carrow said. “Please. Because as far as I knew, Beatrix was dead. But…”
“I’m not.” The newcomer shrugged, confusion flickering in her gaze. “I died, and I felt it. Horrible.” She shuddered. “But then something happened, and I woke up with you. Or at least, near you. I felt your presence like a light. Like something that kept me on this plane.”