Free Call of the Raven by Shawn Reilly Page A

nine-years-old,” Asher
snapped irritably. “What makes you think he would have told you? ”
    Nixon lowered his eyes refusing to let Asher
see that he had inflicted a painful blow. But it was true. Despite
Grant’s kindness, Nixon knew the truth. Of everyone in the
household he had known Grant the least amount of time.
    “Okay, so he might not have told me but he
would have told someone. Ari maybe. Grant wouldn’t have just left a
child, a shifter child out there in the world all alone.”
    Asher suddenly turned his back on him. “What
else did they say?”
    Nixon mentally replayed the conversation. He
had been checking out a cute blonde with an attitude at the bar so
he only got an occasional word but it was all too obvious they
wanted him to hear what they were saying.
    “They mentioned Grant’s kid and maybe going
after him to prove a point. I thought they were just mouthing off.”
Nixon knew now what it was that bothered Asher. “You think he knows
don’t you and that’s why they took him? That’s why they took Ari.
Isn’t it, Asher?”
    Asher faced him again. They both heard
Kennedy’s footsteps nearing. Nixon had wanted to spare her the news
about Grant. He hadn’t believed it possible, but Asher’s strange
reaction was causing him to have his doubts. With the same severity
as looking into the sun, Nixon boldly met Asher’s red gaze, and he
knew he was right.
    With his back to the nearing Kennedy, Asher
took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He put a hand on his chin
in a thinking posture. He could often be theatrical when he saw
that it fit his purpose, and apparently this time Asher felt it
did.
    “You said those men that provoked you were
outcasts. I find it ironic that the old healer mentioned at
breakfast there were outcasts in the hollow,” Asher said. “There’s
a place near the lake that Grant called Bear Hollow. I think I’ll
talk to the old man again and this time, actually pay
attention.”
    “I’ll go after him once I change.” Nixon got up and
started toward Kennedy, and she started following behind him just
as he knew she would. When he reached the door Nixon looked back to
see that Asher had resumed his watch before the window so he called
his name. Asher didn’t turn around.
    “You never leave so you’re not going to take off on
me or anything, right?” When Asher inclined his head, Nixon guessed
that was about as good of an answer as he was going to get.
    He knew Kennedy wanted him to explain and that was
the only reason she was following him, so he talked as he hurried
up to the third floor to his room.
    “Those guys last night at the bar just weren’t
picking a fight with me because I serve on the Pillar Council. I
can’t help but feel they were intentionally trying to start
something.”
    Kennedy folded her arms across her chest as
he stopped outside his door. “Why were you even in a bar?”
    “Well this bar is more like a pub. When Ari
dragged me to the office last month,” Nixon rationalized, “I got
bored so I decided to go for a walk around the city. I saw this pub
and thought I’d grab some lunch. That’s all there was to it.”
    Nixon put his back to the door. He noticed
her eyes as they flecked down his body. Possibly he wasn’t as tall
as Asher or Ari but he never had a problem getting glances from the
babes, including the blonde at the bar. He had just thought to make
his move when all hell broke loose.
    “Anyhow,” he said, “the owner’s brother is an
old friend of mine from school. He’s the one I told you about when
we were younger.”
    “You mean the pig?”
    Nixon tried to hide his surprise. He figured
she had long since forgotten. “Yeah, well his name’s Kurt and even
though he was older than me, he always took up for me on the
playground.”
    “I remember Nixon,” she frowned. “Why do you
feel the need to fight with everyone including me? I’m just worried
about you.”
    “Kennedy,” he firmly stated, looking straight
at her