Page 2 of Signs and Wonders

“Kinda nice to get a simple salt and burn,” Evan observed as he limped back to where they parked. “Change of pace. Keeps us in practice.”

“Like that was an issue,” Seth snarked.

They drove Seth’s black pickup back to the campground where they had parked the RV. “Figured we’d take the rest of the day off to recuperate and go on to Pittsburgh tomorrow,” Seth said.

“It’s still early,” Evan remarked.

Seth arched an eyebrow. “And you’re limping. I bet your shoulder is killing you.” He gave a knowing look at the way Evan held his left arm.

“Nothing some ice won’t fix.”

“Yeah, well my back hurts from getting body slammed, so indulge me.” Seth knew that Evan wouldn’t argue about taking the day if it was for Seth’s benefit.

“Do we need more supplies?” Evan dropped his argument and eyed Seth with concern.

“I stocked up on Advil and sports cream before we left Cleveland.” Seth grimaced as he turned the steering wheel, and his shoulder twinged.

They went through a burger drive-through for lunch and pulled into the campground, tired and aching.

“I really don’t feel like setting up the hitch right now.” Seth rolled his shoulders and winced as he eyed the connector between the truck and fifth-wheel trailer.

The RV had belonged to Seth’s parents, who were planning a grand adventure to celebrate retirement. They died in a car accident before that could happen, leaving the Silverado and RV to Seth.

“Go shower, and I’ll set out the first-aid kit.” Seth hoped neither of them suffered worse than pulled muscles. “I’ll go next, and we can patch each other up. I’ve got chili in the slow cooker for dinner, so we can take it easy the rest of the day.”

“Does that include the healing power of a hand job?” Evan gave him a naughty grin.

“Good endorphins speed recuperation.” Seth winked.

Unfortunately, the RV’s shower wasn’t big enough for both of them. Seth was six foot three, with dirty blond hair, chocolate eyes, and an athletic build. Evan stood just as tall, but built slimmer, with chestnut hair and hazel eyes. Finding a hotel with a shower to accommodate them both was a treat.

Seth made a pot of coffee and set out supplies while Evan showered. He swallowed some ibuprofen and checked the ice packs in the freezer. The image of Evan falling backward toward the staircase flashed on repeat in his memory, and he remembered how his heart froze, thinking he was going to see Evan tumble to his death.

When we finish with the last witch disciple, we’re done with this crazy life. We’ll get a house with a big shower, maybe in the mountains or at the beach, and we’ll stop hunting things that go bump in the night.

Five years ago, Seth came home from the Army happy to be with his family and ready for new beginnings. He and his younger brother Jesse planned a night out making a silly ghost hunting video at a supposedly haunted underpass. Even now, Seth couldn’t clearly recall the details of the attack that left him unconscious, but when he woke, he found Jesse’s bloody body in the branches of a tree where a sheriff’s posse once hanged Rhyfel Gremory, a powerful dark witch.

No one believed Seth’s account, and for a time he was suspected of the murder. When he refused to recant his story, he spent months in a mental health facility until he learned to say what they wanted to hear to gain his freedom. While he was there, his parents died and their house burned, leaving him only the truck, the RV, and the Hayabusa motorcycle he had bought when he first returned from the service.

He vowed vengeance on whatever had killed Jesse and sought out anyone who could teach him about the supernatural. That led him to a couple of seasoned monster hunters—Milo and Toby Cornell—who took him in and gave him the knowledge and skills he needed for his quest.

Gremory’s coven of a dozen warlocks had sworn vengeance on the sheriff and his posse who killed their master, creating a cycle of ritual murders to punish the deputies’ descendants. Seth set out to stop them and fell in love with their next intended victim—Evan.

“There’s not much in life that a hot shower doesn’t make better.” Evan limped into the kitchen. “You made coffee. I love you.”

“For my coffee?” Seth teased.

“And other things.” Evan pretended to need a few seconds to think. “Your chili’s pretty impressive too.”

Seth flipped him off as he headed for his shower.

“You’re good at that too,” Evan joked.

“Later—if you’re nice to me.”

“Hey! I can be very, very nice,” Evan called after him.

Seth let the hot water sluice away sweat and dirt, keeping the spray trained on his sore back. When the hot water ran out, he toweled off and went back to the kitchen, where Evan had put out some snacks.

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