Bayou Shadow Hunter. Debbie Herbert

blankets were spread in a circle around the campfire. They each went to a blanket and sat, except Tombi. “You can have my blanket,” he said, pointing to one. “I’ll stand.”

      She sank down and crossed her feet beneath her. Annie tried to relax and open her senses, but it was difficult as the others stared at her expectantly. As if she was some kind of circus performer. She closed her eyes, more to shut out their stares than out of necessity.

      The unnatural quiet unnerved her. How did they do it? They each had some type of guard up, some way of blocking their music. Her palms gripped her knees. Very well. She’d try to wait them out, see if any sound escaped.

      The vibrations of a deep rumbling laugh iced down her spine. Witch. The word was an accusation, underlain with mirth. Be gone, little girl.

      Annie opened her eyes and met their curious, blank stares. “Did you hear that laugh? That voice?”

      No one spoke.

      Tombi uncrossed his arms and sat beside her on the blanket. “What did you hear?”

      She bit her lip. Had the laugh and the words come from one of the hunters, or was there something else out there? Something just beyond the ring of trees and the safety of the fire where shadows lengthened and danced?

      Annie shook her head slightly and closed her eyes again. Silence blanketed her as thick and unrelenting as a stone wall. It was hopeless. Nothing else was coming through that wall.

      She opened her eyes. “I don’t know how y’all do it, but I’m impressed.”

      â€œDo what?” Chula asked.

      â€œClose off your energy.” Annie turned to Tombi. “Isn’t that how you described it? Keeping everything closed in?”

      Tallulah made an impatient tsk sound. “Why did you tell this girl our secrets? For all we know, she could be one of them.”

      â€œOne of who?” Annie asked.

      â€œDon’t act so innocent,” Tallulah snapped. “If there’s someone controlled by the dark side, my guess is that it’s you.”

      Annie rose to her feet and took in their hostile stares. “I didn’t have to tell Tombi what I heard last night. I didn’t ask Bo to seek me out. And I certainly don’t have to take your attitude.”

      She stalked off. Screw them. She’d tried. Not her fault if they had some special power to resist her hearing.

      Dry grass crunched in the parched soil behind her. Tombi stepped to her side and walked, matching her pace.

      â€œI’m not going back there,” she spat, “so don’t try to talk me into it.”

      He said nothing but walked in front of her as they reentered the narrow path. He held back branches to keep them from slapping her in the face. A snapping, crackling sound simmered in the air swirling around him, like dry brush catching fire.

      â€œYou’re angry with me,” Annie said. “I really did try. But your sister...” She tried to collect her temper. She still needed his help and insulting Tallulah wouldn’t serve her cause. “You are going to help me. Right?”

      * * *

      She looked desperate, but Tombi hardened his heart. He wasn’t about to give up. Not as long as Bo was trapped and not as long as Nalusa and the other shadow spirits grew and trespassed the ancient boundaries.

      â€œEventually,” he promised. “What did you hear back there?”

      â€œNothing that can help you.”

      Tombi stopped in his tracks and folded his arms against his chest. “Might as well spit it out. I’ll be out in these woods through the night anyhow.”

      â€œDo you live out here all the time?”

      â€œOnly one week out of the month, around the full moon.”

      Her dark eyes widened. “We believe in the power of the full moon, too.”

      â€œWe?”

      â€œMy grandmother and I.” She swallowed. “And others like us.”

      â€œOther witches?”

      â€œWhy must you put labels on people?” she countered. “We’re known by many names, and we all have different practices—root workers, healers, pagans and, okay, witches.”

      â€œDo they all hear as you do?”

      Her full lips twisted in a scowl. “No. I’m the lucky one.”

      Tombi shook off his fascination with Annie and her kind. “You neatly skirted my question. What did you hear back there?”

      She sighed, realizing he would interrogate until she answered his question. “A laugh. Not a funny one, but the laugh of the evil or crazy or demented. And then...the voice called me a witch and told me to go away.”

      Tombi considered her words. He hated knowing Nalusa knew of Annie and her gift and their connection, but Nalusa must be worried to warn her off. That was, if Annie wasn’t in league with him to start with.

      â€œSo, just like that, you’re giving up?”

      She winced at the sharp edge of his tone. “The attitude of your sister and your friends didn’t make me want to stay and try harder.”

      He grew hot thinking of Tallulah’s antagonism. Annie didn’t deserve to be treated that way. Even if he had his own suspicions, nothing would be gained by hostility.

      â€œThey can’t help but be suspicious of strangers. Time and again, Nalusa has gained a foothold over people, even if only temporarily. Made them say and do things they wouldn’t normally do.”

      Annie lifted her chin. “I can assure you that I’m in complete command of my own thoughts and actions.”

      â€œI’ll help you, but you have to help me, too.”

      â€œCan’t you just say some words and cure me?”

      â€œNothing’s that easy. It’s a process. It takes time to learn to control your energy.”

      â€œYou say you don’t trust me. That goes two ways. I think you’re dragging out everything to suit your own purposes.”

      â€œYou’ve barely spent five minutes among us. You’ll have to gain their trust.”

      â€œOr catch them unawares,” she muttered.

      â€œThat would be hard to do. Our hearing may not be as sharp as yours. But we can sense energy before it senses us.”

      â€œYou have to sleep sometime.”

      Of course. He should have realized. Tombi laid a hand on her thin shoulder, noticing his palm engulfed the side of her neck and curve of her shoulder. “Come meet us tonight. Hunt with us and spend the night.”

      Her eyebrows drew up. “Spend the night with you in your tent?”

      An image of Annie, naked and curled up beside him, flushed his body with desire. “I can spring for a new tent and sleeping bag,” he said past the dryness at the back of his throat.

      â€œI’ll think—” She came to a dead halt and tilted her head to the side, listening to a faint sound.

      â€œWh—”

      She raised a finger to her lips to silence him. Her forehead wrinkled, and her eyes grew distant. Suddenly, Annie grabbed his arm