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  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

  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: Ma
gic 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