Page 77 of The Lighthouse Keeper

His voice was hoarse, as if he’d been screaming at the waves.

“How did you survive the storm?”

His answering shrug was careless, maybe too careless. “Equal parts weather shields and prayer.”

He sounded convincing enough and then I cottoned to the reason for his uncertainty. Rafe stood behind me, one hand on my shoulder.

Mine.

He didn’t need to say the word out loud. I gave Rutger a sheepish grin. He squeezed my hand and let it drop.

“Let’s get inside.” I turned toward the house, which left me face-to-chest with Rafe.

He stood so still it was like he’d been carved in stone. “To the house, Rafe,” I murmured. His eyes were black pits, and salt scum spattered his glasses. When he still didn’t move, I put a hand on his cheek. “We should go in.”

He covered my hand with his, and while he didn’t relax, he did turn toward the house. I’d have some explaining to do, but Rutger would understand.

At least I hoped he’d understand.

Five people made Della’s little kitchen too crowded, but it was the only warm place in the house. Della’s oil lamp didn’t give off much light, so I added a pair of witchlights, floating them along the ceiling. After a round of introductions, I busied myself draping wet outer garments around the living room, where they’d either dry or freeze. Rutger’s bag with a change of clothes had been lost at sea, so I showed him the bedroom and offered to let him wear some of mine.

Rafe’s jaw tightened at that, and I had to remind myself that I was Rafe’s first lover. And that he’d been raised in the woods. And that he was powerful enough to do real damage if pushed.

It didn’t make me happy, but he subsided into a state of withdrawal. I’d talk to him later, too. First, though, we needed to figure out what the hell Rutger was doing here.

“I just telegraphed Madam Munro this morning. How did you get here so fast?”

We’d given Rutger a seat at the table in deference to his extreme exertion. Margaret had the other seat. Della had wanted her to stay in bed, but Margaret insisted on joining us.

“I left San Francisco two days ago,” Rutger said. “Munro wanted me out of the way, and figured if I came here, I could keep you out of trouble.”

Rafe’s huff of annoyance was unmistakable. We stood side-by-side, leaning against the wall with me closest to the stove. I didn’t respond, except to shift my weight closer to him. “Where were you? The last time I talked to her, Madam Munro said you were missing.”

His expression sobered. “That’s a story for another time. Suffice it to say that after finding me, she put the entire Council to work on figuring out what happened.”

As much as I wanted to demand he tell me everything, I settled for an easy smile. Or, as easy a smile as I could manage with a growling lover at my side.

I would definitely have words with Rafe about his behavior, although part of me was secretly pleased that he cared about me so much.

Only a wild man brought up in the dirt could possibly care that much about you.

I closed my eyes, drawing in a deep breath. The voice lied. It had to be a lie. “Sounds like the telegraph I sent won’t bring us the help we need.”

Della tsked, her back to the rest of us. She stirred something on the stove, surrounded by the scent of a hearty stew.

Rutger gave an apologetic shrug. “Doubtful she’ll send anyone, but, well, I’m here.”

“And I’m very glad.” I wasn’t going to pretend Rutger and I weren’t friends. Rafe would need to adapt.

Rafe spoke up, his voice rough and low. “What can you do?”

“I’m a ritual master.” Rutger sat straighter in his chair. “I can do most anything, but it takes time to set things up.”

I caught Rafe’s wrist in my hand, spread my fingertips over his palm, and gave him an affectionate squeeze. “Aside from the storm tonight—"

“It’s not over,” Margaret said, interrupting me. “I’ve built a buffer around us and diverted some of its energy to both the north and the south, but it’ll regroup and come at us again.”

“Lord.” Tension crawled up the back of my neck. “In addition to the storm, a group of witches are trying to form a Seattle Witches’ Council. They want Della and Rafe to join, and they’re quite troublesome about it. And”—I glanced at Rafe, inviting him to explain the Ferox Cor.

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