Page 21 of Back in the Hunt

Nelson coughed and gave Merlin’s head a swat with his notebook. “Tell him what Howard told you or we’re locking you in the storage room.”

“Will you be joining me?” Merlin turned to Nelson and batted his lashes.

“Sure,” Nelson said with a nod. “I saw a trunk you might fit in and it looked sound-proof.” He gave Merlin a hard look, threatening him with the notebook again before flipping it open. “Tell them about Ronan O’Sullivan.”

“Yes, yes! Mr. O’Sullivan!” Merlin ducked and swatted, looking peeved. “Someone attacked the old sea dog a few days ago.”

Bryn frowned. “Sea dog?”

“In this case, a seal. He’s a merrow,” Merlin said and Howard nodded, humming in concern.

“He can be a bit gruff and rough around the edges, but Ronan O’Sullivan is a good man who just wants to be left alone.”

“I like your old friend already,” Bryn said. “He’s okay?” he asked, causing Merlin to snort.

“He’s old the way you are and says he’s on the mend. His account sounds very similar to yours: a cold shadow in the shape of a child that tried to drain his energy. Ronan can take care of himself, thank goodness, but I’m even more intent on finding this one that calls itself Abhartach,” Merlin said angrily.

They all agreed that it had to be found and stopped as Bryn paid for their purchases. Before they could leave, Howard made Bryn and Everly promise to return again soon.

“I love Howard,” Everly declared once they were in the car and heading back to Georgetown. “He said I could help at the store when it’s safe for me to have a job again!”

“That’s great,” Nelson said, glancing at the rearview mirror and catching Bryn’s gaze for a moment. “If there’s anyone who understands the importance of starting over, it’s Howard. He’s been hurt in just about the worst way possible, but he keeps his chin up and does whatever he can to help his neighbors.”

“Why? What happened to Howard?” Everly asked.

Bryn didn’t like the way Merlin shuddered and sniffled at his window so he put an arm around Everly for protection. “Why do I know that name? Bippity Boppity Books?” Bryn asked, receiving a weary sigh from the driver’s seat.

“Because Howard Sherwood is the father of Julian Sherwood, one of the people responsible for the Moon Murders,” he explained in his low, steady rumble, but Everly smothered a watery gasp with both hands.

“Poor Howard!”

No one felt the need to say anything else, because there was nothing else to say about the sweet, old man. Almost everyone in the country had heard about the six young women who had been abducted and the dead girl found tied to a tree in New Castle. Nelson and Nox had been credited with rescuing the girls from Julian’s basement, but Bryn didn’t need to look very closely to see that there were still scars.

Now, he understood why Merlin, Nelson, and Nox visited a charming yet otherwise unremarkable occult shop on a weekly basis. He felt the same protectiveness toward Howard after only one visit and was suddenly grateful to Merlin for allowing them to tag along. They had learned a lot about Everly and a merrownamed Ronan O’Sullivan, but Bryn had met another kind and gentle soul who was worthy of his friendship and protection.

“We’ll bring Fletch and Arawn with us next time,” he said and Everly nodded.

“I’d like that. Maybe we can bring Howard a gift when we come back.”

This time, a smile crinkled the corners of Nelson’s eyes when they met Bryn’s through the mirror. “You want to bring Howard a gift? That’s very nice of you.”

“I think so too.” Everly hummed thoughtfully as he nodded. “We just need to figure out what kinds of things Howard likes.”

Seven

Perhaps Everly had spoken too soon when he said he didn’t mind being confined to Nox’s townhouse. It was a beautiful morning and the front garden looked as warm and inviting as spring. A Pipevine swallowtail butterfly flittered in the wild bergamot and bee balm, and Everly ached to follow it and bury his face in the sun-warmed grass and leaves.

“I was just on my way out to gather some herbs to dry,” Merlin said when he found Everly with his nose pressed to the window. “Would you like to help?” He held out an old-looking harvest basket and a pair of shears.

“Yes! I would, I would!” Everly hopped off the window seat and beat Merlin to the door. “Bryn went for his run,” he told Merlin as he took them, earning a knowing hum.

“He did seem particularly surly this morning so I imagine we won’t be seeing him for a while,” he said, clicking his teeth as he set a wide-brimmed hat on his head and tied the bow under his neck. “But he forgets that he isn’t the only one who gets frustrated and needs to stretch his legs.”

Everly cracked the door and peeked around it, sniffing at the air and sighing at the fresh breeze. “He’s afraid something willhappen to me but it looks safe. There’s a butterfly I want to meet,” he whispered, tiptoeing onto the stoop.

“You’re perfectly safe here, Everly. This whole lot is warded and under the care of two powerful witches, and there is also a federal agent and a second spectral hound guarding the property. But those old shears are made of iron, if you should need to cut a bitch,” he added with a tip of his chin.

“Ha!” Everly turned, brandishing the scissors like a pirate, but his feet tangled. He toppled back and landed on his bottom with a soft “Oof!” The butterfly tickled his ear as it passed. “Bye!” He waved as it went over the wall and into the neighbor’s yard.

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