Raven Ridge (Witches of Sanctuary Book 2) by Savannah Blevins Page B

influence on any unsuspecting civilians,” I say, pointing my finger at him like a scolding mother. I really do feel like a babysitter now.
    “Fine. What about your friend? She isn’t a civilian. I remember her,” he says, nodding toward the counter. Abby is back from the stock room and standing at the counter scanning Haley’s new book into the computer. “She caused the whole building to shake that night in Charleston.”
    I glare back at him. “No. Absolutely not.”
    “Why?” He grins at me now, that love of a good challenge on his face that reminds me way too much of Julien. “She’s badass. I’m sure she could take me, and I like that in a woman.”
    I grab his head and force his eyes back out the window. “First of all, Abby has a boyfriend.”
    Lyric shrugs. “You mean that big scared guy who ran away from me last night? Minor complication.”
    This time I give his head a shove. “Secondly, an Innocent getting too close to the Haunted is one of the reasons we’re in this big mess anyway.”
    Lyric leans back in his seat and smiles up at me. “I like how you say that like it wasn’t you who got too close to one of the Haunted.”
    I glare back at him, but it does no good to deter his grin.
    “My brother loved you.”
    I turn away from him, and he sits up in his seat to make me see his face. “Julien loved you so much that he risked my life and his own to save yours.”
    “Which is why I didn’t let Reid kill you last night,” I say, spitting the words out through my teeth. “I want to find that book. I want to end this curse for you and him.”
    Lyric leans in closer. “And if the Julien we know comes back to us…what then?”
    “What do you mean?”
    Lyric playfully taps his fingers along the arm of the chair, his voice dripping into a singsong effect. “One knows not the true magnitude of love until it’s been ripped away. It is then, in the deepest part of one’s despair, that you truly know the depth of its power.”
    I glance down just in time to watch Lyric’s eyes revert back to normal. His Mr. Hyde is toying with me. I grab hold of his shirt. “This is your last warning. I don’t need you or your know-it-all Monster in there meddling in my business. Julien was my friend, and I admit we blurred the lines, but Julien knew how I felt. He knew it didn’t matter how much I cared about him, I cared about Reid a little more.”
    “Sounds to me like you’re still trying to convince yourself.”
    I shove Lyric back into his seat as I turn away from him. I’ve had enough of him today.
    “What’s going on here?”
    I glance over to see Reid coming through the door. I didn’t even register the ring. He’s carrying a giant stack of books. I glare back at Lyric. “Nothing.”
    Lyric holds up his hands. “I’ll keep my thoughts to myself.” Then he glances at Abby. Sizing her up. “Everything else…I can’t make any promises.”
    The books drop on the small coffee table next to Lyric with a thud. Reid leans over it, jerking Lyric’s chin around. “You look at my sister like that again, Cote…and you’re going to regret the day you stepped foot in Sanctuary.”
    Lyric’s eyes widen. “Sister?”
    “Twins, actually,” I say, smirking at him.
    Lyric’s surprise slowly turns into a smile. “Not to play devil’s advocate, but exactly what can you do about it?”
    A spark of lightning flashes in Reid’s eyes. It turns them completely white. I’ve never seen them do that before. “I can do a lot about it. So just try me, smart ass.”
    Lyric jumps back. “You’re—”
    This time Reid smiles. “And I suggest you keep your mouth shut about it.”
    “There’s no way,” Lyric says, gasping. “The legend. The legend says only females…”
    “Like I said,” Reid gives him the death stare, “look at my sister like that again, and that little hangover you’ve got will feel like a day at the spa.”
    Lyric slowly looks around the room. “Do the others