Ravenous Beasts by Lauretta Hignett

Author:Lauretta Hignett [Hignett, Lauretta]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-01-14T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 17

Ifound the office downstairs behind the sweeping staircase, where the red-headed man from Susan’s thoughts was excitedly tapping away on an ancient laptop.

He glanced up as I entered. “Hello!” Chuckling, he pushed his wire-rimmed glasses up on his nose. “Are you lost? Did Susan leave you behind on the tour?”

The cork board was behind him, the picture of Sarah right in the middle. I glanced back at him and saw the flare of nervousness in his thoughts. “Miss? Are you okay?”

“Rodrick Smithson, I presume.” I wandered in and plonked myself in the armchair in front of his desk. “Susan’s husband, owner of River Willow Estate.”

“That’s me.” His brow furrowed. “Can I help you with something?”

“You sure can.” I watched his thoughts for a second, trying to decide how to proceed. A flash of green rolled over his iris; I caught it and smiled. “You’re a witch.”

“Oh.” He gave a start. “I apologize. That chair has a truth-telling charm embedded in the upholstery. An old family spell,” he added, with a rueful grin. “I didn’t realize…” He gestured at me, inviting me to tell him what kind of supernatural creature I was.

“Part-high fae,” I lied. His spell obviously sucked.

“Aha.” He grinned at me and ran his fingers through his messy hair. Rod really leaned into the wacky-academic aesthetic. “That’s why I didn’t place you. We don’t get many of you folks down here; I admit I haven’t dealt much with the fae.” He winked. “I think it’s the climate. The fae aren’t known for sunbathing and surfing.” He chuckled merrily.

I echoed his laughter. “Indeed.”

“My aunts are going to get a kick out of this,” he said, gazing at my face happily. “We’re an old coven, and we’re a bit boring. I’m always trying to shake things up a bit.”

I leaned forward, tapping the desk. “Can I be frank with you, Rod?”

He shifted in his office chair uncomfortably and gave a short nod. “Go ahead.”

“I hear business isn't doing so well.”

His eyebrows shot up. “Are you here to offer me some kind of Devil’s deal? Promise of riches in return for an odd favor? A good luck charm for my firstborn?”

“Oh, no. Not at all. I’m not here for anything in particular; I just wanted to make sure I could speak freely with you. I was just passing by, and I sensed an enormous presence here at this old plantation. I wanted to check it out. But your wife, Susan, is strangely reluctant to share the history of Willow River, so I thought I should seek out someone more willing to share some stories.”

“Aha.” His eyes fell on the desk in front of him. “Well, the plantation does have an awful history, just like all the old towns around here. Susan and I bought this place over a decade ago. Both of us are locals, and we just wanted to share this beautiful slice of history with the rest of the world. The sugarcane fields are long gone, of course, so it made sense to turn the house into a function venue.

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