“I hope you’re right.” He put his hands on the wheel. “Do you think we should get her hooked up with Alice and the coven?”
Jenna nodded. “I’m absolutely going to toss that out there. She may not need their help. And really, her magic isn’t the coven’s kind of magic. But our seers can be incredibly powerful, and as this wraith is so connected to me, she should be able to deal with him pretty quickly.”
“I really hope you’re right.” He pulled out of the driveway.
“Me too.”
Titus sat at the bar at Howler’s with a ginger ale in front of him. He’d picked a seat that allowed him to stare into the mirror behind the bar and perfectly see the booth Jenna was in. He wouldn’t be able to hear her. Not clearly, anyway. There were too many other conversations going on in the restaurant for him to make out distinct words. But if she needed him, all she’d have to do was get his attention and he’d be there.
That was also why he wasn’t drinking. He needed to have his faculties about him. If Ingvar really could help them with the wraith, there was no telling what she’d need from them. The last thing he wanted to do was slow things down because he’d had a beer.
Jenna was in the booth alone since Ingvar hadn’t shown up yet, but they’d arrived early. Two waters and two menus sat on the table. Every once in a while, he’d catch her looking at him in the mirror. She’d smile, but it was tentative and strained.
He understood. He felt the same way, although he knew it was worse for her. She was in danger through no fault of her own. Being hunted for following orders. That was enough to set anyone on edge.
Jenna’s head came up. She smiled and slid out of the booth.
He looked toward the door.
A tall, thin woman in a long black and burgundy dress flowed toward Jenna. She had black hair and dark eyes but a bright smile that helped offset her smoky makeup and the piles of strange jewelry she had on.
Everything she wore seemed to be made of bones or feathers or fur or decorated with skulls or carved with runes.
And there was an undeniable presence of power about her. In Nocturne Falls, people would easily assume she was a witch.
Jenna confirmed this was Ingvar by greeting her with a hug. The woman hugged her back. They seemed genuinely happy to see each other.
Good, Titus thought. Because Jenna was about to need her friend’s help.
The two sat and fell into deep conversation. Their server came over, but Jenna sent her away with a kind smile and a few words that Titus understood was a request for more time.
He watched them, sipping his ginger ale and occasionally giving Bridget a shake of his head to let her know he didn’t need anything.
Ingvar had the same proud bearing as Jenna. He took that to be a valkyrie thing. She wasn’t traditionally beautiful, but her strong features were captivating. At the very least, there was something interesting about her. It was hard not to look at her, actually.
At the moment, her brow was furrowed as she listened to Jenna’s story. Ingvar was nodding and seemingly listening with great intent. She reached across the table to take Jenna’s hands.
Titus took that as a good sign. A gesture of I’m here to help.
Her gaze flicked to him suddenly. Jenna’s did too. Then she waved him over.
He picked up his ginger ale and went to them.
Jenna reached for him, taking his hand as he joined them. “Ingvar, this is Titus.”
Ingvar smiled at him. Then she blinked hard, and a cloud seemed to settle in her gaze. Another blink, and the cloud was gone. “You’re…a wolf,” she said softly. “It’s my pleasure to meet you.”
“You too.” He glanced at Jenna. “Did you tell her?”
She shook her head. “Nope. Seers just pick up on things.”
He’d have thought, after years of living in this town, that he’d be used to people with extra abilities, but it was still a little unsettling to have a stranger suss out what he was within seconds of meeting. He let it go and smiled back. “Again, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Ingvar. Jenna speaks very highly of you.”
Jenna slid over and patted the seat. “Sit down. Ingvar thinks she can help. Not just with the wraith but with the spells that we’re under.”
He sat beside her, putting his ginger ale on the table. “That’s fantastic.”
“I’m glad you think that.” Up close, Ingvar’s strong features made her look worldly wise. Considering what she was about to help them with, that seemed like a plus. She also looked a little world-weary, which probably wasn’t as good. Or maybe she was tired from traveling.
But then what did he know? Maybe she always had dark circles under her eyes and a gauntness about her.
She shook her head. “But you may change your mind when I tell you what needs to be done.”
He leaned forward. “I might, but do we have any choice?”
She frowned sympathetically. “No, not if you want to protect Jenna, and for the sake of my dear friend, I pray the sacrifice is not in vain.”
“Sacrifice?” Jenna wasn’t as much worried for herself or Titus, but for Ingvar. The truth was her friend looked a little frayed at the seams. Jenna hated to even think such a thing, but there was no better way to describe Ingvar’s current appearance.
The seer nodded. “You have to offer yourself as bait. You know that. And we’re not on a battlefield where we can work in the open
