She sent one of the officers in with a flashlight, but when he came out he was shaking his head. “Nothing, Chief. The fissure ends at a wall of dirt. No way could anything vanish in there.”
I turned to Tad, feeling a brief well of panic rise up. “What if he’s still alive—” But even as I started to ask, Esmara whispered in my ear.
No, he’s dead. But he’s not the only one of his kind. I’m not sure where he’s from but it’s not this world—not this dimension. When they die, they return to their home.
You’re sure?
Yes, trust me. There’s so much for you to learn. I think you need to start your formal lessons with both Rowan and Teran now.
I will. I’m also apparently joining the Crystal Cauldron.
Esmara laughed. Oh, good. I’m glad to hear it’s still around. Your great-grandmother started it…she brought the original lineage of it with her from Ireland. Rowan took over when Colleen died.
I turned to the others. “The creature’s dead. Just trust me. But there are more—maybe not here, but it wasn’t unique. Nor the last of its kind.”
Millie held my gaze. “I believe you,” she said.
“Good, because I’m telling you the truth.”
“I suppose my team just has to identify the victims’ remains, then. We’ll get to it. I’ll let you know what we find out. This is going to make for an odd report, but then again, this is Moonshadow Bay, and that’s how things work here.” She tucked her pen behind her ear, turned to her men, and they started bringing out their equipment.
I glanced at Caitlin. “Thank you. You saved my life.”
“You’d do the same for me,” she said.
“If at all possible, yes, I would.”
And with that, we headed back to the house.
* * *
That night, I bought pizza for everybody. Between Hank, Tad, Killian, and Caitlin, we made quick work of moving me back into my house. Again.
But this time, it was for good.
I left a message for Jim—the contractor—asking him to call back because I had more work for him. The storage room was just big enough to make a reading nook, and I would have him install a permanent staircase so the whole hidden trap door thing would be gone and the basement would be easier to access. I decided to ask him to drywall the basement and re-do the floors, putting in hardwoods or something else nice and airy. Then, I’d do as Rowan suggested and make it my permanent magical study.
After calling Jim, I phoned Teran and filled her in on what was happening. She came over to join the party, as did Ari.
I was standing in the kitchen, staring outside as the storm rattled the porch screens and blew branches across the yard. Killian cozied up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist.
“Hey, I’d love to take a mini-vacation with you. There’s a beautiful bed and breakfast on the edge of the bay, on Nimah Rock. It rents out for a week at a time. What say you and I head over there in February? Say a Valentine’s Day retreat?” He nuzzled my neck. “We can take the cats, or hire a pet sitter, if you like.”
I leaned back against him. “I’d love to do that. Nimah Rock is gorgeous. And it’s not so far away that if there’s an emergency, we can’t get back here really quick.”
Nimah Rock was a small island out in the bay about five miles offshore. It was home to a few stalwart people and a couple strip malls. While it was part of unincorporated Whatcom County, Nimah Rock was unofficially part of Moonshadow Bay. Mostly a few farmers lived out there, along with a community of shifters. The farmers came over to the farmers markets each summer, and the honey from that island was the best I’d ever tasted.
“Yes, let’s do it. Say, the second week in February?”
“I’ll put in on the calendar,” Killian said, pulling me in for a long kiss. “So, you think that your house is spook-free now?”
“No more spook-central,” I said with a laugh. “And hopefully, I’m done with ghosts for a while. Or at least, I hope so. I’m going to chill, start working on my magic with my grandmother and my aunt, and settle into a nice, quiet life here.”
Esmara began to laugh and I tried to ignore her as Killian kissed me again. But I could hear her in the back of my mind, snorting.
Oh January, I love your optimism, sweetheart. But trust me, you have what’s necessary to face whatever’s coming down the pipeline next. Just don’t get cocky, and don’t get lazy.
As Killian and I stepped out onto the porch to enjoy the fury of the storm, I sent a gentle Let me enjoy the night to the Ladies. All I wanted was for my home to feel like home again, my friends to be happy and healthy, Killian to be by my side, and for Xi, Klaus, and me to feel safe in a world that, all too often, seemed like it was going mad.
* * *
If you liked this book and haven’t read the first few books of my Moonshadow Bay Series, check out Starlight Web, Midnight Web, and Conjure Web. January Jaxson returns to the quirky town of Moonshadow Bay after her husband dumps her and steals their business, and within days she’s working for Conjure Ink, a paranormal investigations agency, and exploring the potential of her hot new neighbor. You can preorder the next book in the series: Shadow Web. There will be more to come of January’s adventures after that.
If you like urban fantasy with a strong hint of romance, read my Wild Hunt Series. Start with The Silver Stag, Oak & Thorns, and Iron Bones. Book 18, the last story in the series, is available for preorder now: Antlered Crown.
If you love dragons, keep an eye out for my upcoming Hedge Dragon Series, set in a connected world to the Wild Hunt. The Poisoned Forest is now available for preorder.
If you like paranormal mysteries/paranormal women’s fiction, try my Chintz ‘n China Paranormal Mystery Series. The series is complete. Begin with Ghost of a Chance.
Return with me to Whisper Hollow Series, where spirits walk among the living, and the lake never gives up her dead. Autumn Thorns, Shadow Silence, and The Phantom Queen are now available. Join the darkly seductive world of Kerris Fellwater, spirit shaman for the small lakeside community of Whisper Hollow.
If you prefer a lighter-hearted paranormal romance with some steamy vampire-witch action, meet the wild and magical residents of Bedlam in my Bewitching Bedlam Series. Fun-loving witch Maddy Gallowglass, her smoking-hot vampire lover Aegis, and their crazed cjinn Bubba (part djinn, all cat) rock it out in Bedlam, a magical town on a magical island. Start with book one of the series: Bewitching Bedlam. There are six books and several novellas in the series.
I invite you to visit Fury’s world. Bound to Hecate, Fury is a minor goddess, taking care of the Abominations who come off the World Tree. Start with Fury Rising. The Fury Unbound Series is complete.
For a dark, gritty, steamy series, try my world of The Indigo Court, where the long winter has come, and the Vampiric Fae are on the rise. Begin with Night Myst. This series is complete.
For all of my work, both published and upcoming releases, see the Bibliography at the end of this book, or check out my website at Galenorn.com and be sure and sign up for my newsletter to receive news about all my new releases.
QUALITY CONTROL: This work has been professionally edited and proofread. If you encounter any typos or formatting issues ONLY, please contact me through my website so they may be corrected. We’ll add these to our to-fix list and when it’s time to put out a new edition, we will make changes. Otherwise, know that this book is in my style and voice and editorial suggestions will not be entertained. Thank you.
Playlist
I often write to music, and HARVEST WEB was no exception. Here’s the playlist I used for this book.
A.J. Roach: Devil May Dance
Air: Napalm Love
Android Lust: Here & Now
Arch Leaves: Nowhere To Go
The Black Angels: Currency; You On The Run; Vikings; Holland; Don’t Play With Guns; Always Maybe
Black Mountain: Queens Will Play
Black Pumas: Sweet Conversations
&nbs
p; Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: Fault Line; Shuffle Your Feet
Bobbie Gentry: Ode To Billie Joe
Boney M.: Rasputin
Broken Bells: The Ghost Inside
Chris Isaak: Wicket Game
Commodores: Brick House
Crazy Town: Butterfly
Creedence Clearwater Revival: Born On The Bayou; Green River; Run Through The Jungle
David Bowie: Golden Years; Heroes; Without You; China Girl
Dire Straits: Money For Nothing
Don Henley: Dirty Laundry; Sunset Grill
Eastern Sun: Beautiful Being
Eels: Souljacker Part 1
Elton John: Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting; Rocket Man
FC Kahuna: Hayling
Faithless: Addictive
Fats Domino: I Want To Walk You Home
Fleetwood Mac: The Chain; Gold Dust Woman
George Benson: On Broadway
Gordon Lightfoot: Sundown
Heart: Magic Man; White Lightning & Wine
Imagine Dragons: Natural
Jay Price: The Devil’s Bride; Dark-Hearted Man; Coming For You Baby; Boneshaker
Jeannie C. Riley: Harper Valley PTA
Jessica Bates: The Hanging Tree
Jethro Tull: Jack Frost And The Hooded Crow; I’m Your Gun; Motoreyes; Overhang; Witch’s Promise; Raising Steam; Journeyman; Weathercock; Rare And Precious Chain; Back To the Family; Taxi Grab
John Fogerty: The Old Man Down The Road
Johnny Otis: Willy & The Hand Jive
The Kills: Nail In My Coffin; Sour Cherry
Leonard Cohen: You Want It Darker; The Future
Lorde: Yellow Flicker Beat; Royals
Low: Witches; Plastic Cup; Half-Light
Matt Corby: Breathe
Outasight: Fire It Up; The Boogie; The Bounce
PJ Harvey: The Words That Maketh Murder; The Colour Of The Earth; The Glorious Land; Good Fortune
Pati Yang: All That Is Thirst
Red Venom: Let’s Get it On
REM: Drive
Robin Schulz: Sugar
Shriekback: Underwater Boys; And The Rain; The King In The Tree
Tamaryn: While You’re Sleeping, I’m Dreaming; Violet’s In A Pool
Tom Petty: Mary Jane’s Last Dance
Trills: Speak Loud
The Verve: Bitter Sweet Symphony
Biography
New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today bestselling author Yasmine Galenorn writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance, and is the author of eighty books, including the Wild Hunt Series, the Moonshadow Bay Series, the Fury Unbound Series, the Bewitching Bedlam Series, the Indigo Court Series, and the Otherworld Series, among others. She’s also written nonfiction metaphysical books. She is the 2011 Career Achievement Award Winner in Urban Fantasy, given by RT Magazine. Yasmine has been in the Craft since 1980, is a shamanic witch and High Priestess. She describes her life as a blend of teacups and tattoos. She lives in Kirkland, WA, with her husband Samwise and their cats. Yasmine can be reached via her website at Galenorn.com. You can find all her links at her LinkTree.
Indie Releases Currently Available:
Moonshadow Bay Series:
Starlight Web
Midnight Web
Conjure Web
Harvest Web
Shadow Web
Hedge Dragon Series:
The Poisoned Forest
The Wild Hunt Series:
The Silver Stag
Oak & Thorns
Iron Bones
A Shadow of Crows
The Hallowed Hunt
The Silver Mist
Witching Hour
Witching Bones
A Sacred Magic
The Eternal Return
Sun Broken
Witching Moon
Autumn’s Bane
Witching Time
Hunter’s Moon
Witching Fire
Veil of Stars
Antlered Crown
Lily Bound Series
Souljacker
Chintz ‘n China Series:
Ghost of a Chance
Legend of the Jade Dragon
Murder Under a Mystic Moon
A Harvest of Bones
One Hex of a Wedding
Holiday Spirits
Well of Secrets
Chintz ‘n China Books, 1 – 3: Ghost of a Chance, Legend of the Jade Dragon, Murder Under A Mystic Moon
Chintz ‘n China Books, 4-6: A Harvest of Bones, One Hex of a Wedding, Holiday Spirits
Whisper Hollow Series:
Autumn Thorns
Shadow Silence
The Phantom Queen
Bewitching Bedlam Series:
Bewitching Bedlam
Maudlin’s Mayhem
Siren’s Song
Witches Wild
Casting Curses
Demon’s Delight
Bedlam Calling: A Bewitching Bedlam Anthology
The Wish Factor (a prequel short story)
Blood Music (a prequel novella)
Blood Vengeance (a Bewitching Bedlam novella)
Tiger Tails (a Bewitching Bedlam novella)
Fury Unbound Series:
Fury Rising
Fury’s Magic
Fury Awakened
Fury Calling
Fury’s Mantle
Indigo Court Series:
Night Myst
Night Veil
Night Seeker
Night Vision
Night’s End
Night Shivers
Indigo Court Books, 1-3: Night Myst, Night Veil, Night Seeker (Boxed Set)
Indigo Court Books, 4-6: Night Vision, Night’s End, Night Shivers (Boxed Set)
Otherworld Series:
Moon Shimmers
Harvest Song
Blood Bonds
Otherworld Tales: Volume 1
Otherworld Tales: Volume 2
For the rest of the Otherworld Series, see website at Galenorn.com.
Bath and Body Series (originally under the name India Ink):
Scent to Her Grave
A Blush With Death
Glossed and Found
Misc. Short Stories/Anthologies:
Once Upon a Kiss (short story: Princess Charming)
Once Upon a Curse (short story: Bones)
Once Upon a Ghost (short story: Rapunzel Dreaming)
Magickal Nonfiction:
Embracing the Moon
Tarot Journeys
Harvest Web: A Moonshadow Bay Novel, Book 4 Page 20
