Read Online Call of the Raven by Shawn Reilly - Free Book Online Page A

brushed snow
from his backside.
    When he turned in the direction of the car
she let out a gasp of recognition and headed for the ravine.
Reaching out and grabbing her by the wrist, he pulled her back. A
part of him was jealous that she was so concerned for Ari, the
other was just as concerned, but he knew the part that always
won.
    “I think I should probably have a look
first,” he told her. “It looks as though his car has been there a
few hours.”
    “So is Ari in there or not?” she barked.
    “Give me a moment, your highness; I haven’t
even reached the car yet.” Nixon no more finished his words when he
heard a cracking sound and realized too late that he was standing
on ice. He slid, lost his balance, and even though it was his
bottom that hit the hard frozen ground, the pain racked upward to
his head.
    Tired of his futile attempts, Kennedy marched
down the ravine, sliding her feet under the snow to keep in contact
with the ground. Hitting a slippery spot she stiffened and slid the
remainder of the way, right into the driver’s side door.
    She tried the handle but the door refused to
give. Looking as though she were about to cry, she sent a pleading
look his way. Sighing, he started for her. He could tell by the way
the car was wrapped around the tree that Ari had lost control.
    The sweet smell of antifreeze filled his
nostrils. He trudged to the window and with a bare hand wiped away
the two inches of snow accumulated there. Once he cleared a big
enough spot, Nixon leaned over and pressed his face against the
glass. There was no sign of Ari.
    Moving to the back windshield, he repeated
the process only to shake his head in uncertainty. He rubbed his
hands together to regain some warmth as Kennedy watched him for
signs.
    “Well he’s not here but his phone is next to
his briefcases and his coat is lying on the backseat.”
    Kennedy looked around in any direction that
Ari may have gone. “He doesn’t like to drive with his coat on
because the bottom rubs against the dirty floor mat,” she said,
“but he wouldn’t have gone on foot without it.”
    She closed her eyes, inhaled deep and Nixon
saw the lines in her face relax. “I don’t smell any blood, but I’m
picking up something other than Ari. I can’t explain it though. My
senses are all mixed up. Maybe it’s the snow masking things.”
    “Yeah, I picked them up too,” he said.
    “Them?” Kennedy titled her head back and
sniffed the wind trying to determine the scent. Nixon ignored her
for now and rubbed the sides of his arms. He tried the door again
but it didn’t budge. He found it odd that Ari would have taken the
time to lock the car, if perhaps he had been abducted. He examined
the ground for any signs of Ari that she might have missed.
    The snow was falling at a steady speed and
their tracks were all but gone. Even as a tiger and a falcon, they
would have a hard time tracking in this storm. Shivering, Nixon set
his gaze on Kennedy. This time he didn’t try to disguise his
apprehension.
    “What’s going on?” she seriously asked. “What
aren’t you telling me? What did you mean by them ?”
    Nixon shook his head. “I think Ari might be
in trouble.”
    “You think?” Kennedy pointed at the car
smashed against the tree. “What possibly gave you that idea?” She
threw her arms up in surrender. “Come on Nixon, what’s really going
on?”
    “The scent you can’t explain belongs to
fowlers. They change so much, it’s hard to maintain their nature.
Only another fowler like me can pick them up.”
    She scrunched her face, and gauged his
expression. “You’re the only fowler I know,” she said.
    “Fowlers keep a low profile but that doesn’t
mean they don’t exist. There were a few at the pub last night. They
claim Asher expelled them from the Union for no apparent reason
seven years ago, and according to how hard they swung at me, I’d
say they’re still pretty pissed about it.”
    Kennedy disbelievingly shook her head