Page 93 of Wild Fires

“Again, a lot of people have played football there. It's Ravenden High.”

“In my defense, I did argue that, but when Gracie sets her mind on something she's not easily swayed.”

“From what I've heard you should be hoping she sets her mind on you then.”

“Heard about that did you?”

“Pretty sure everyone’s heard about that by now. But I can't believe you two could even think I'd be involved in something like this.”

“You have to admit your name is associated with nearly every location.”

“Nearly?”

“Old Lady Pierce's house doesn't quite add up for me.”

“That was him too? Does Carson know? Never mind. Of course he knows. He's the beneficiary of that shithole.”

“He is?”

“Yes.”

“You're sure?”

“Dude, I've been hounding him for months to clean up the yard and paint the house. It’s breaking at least a dozen town ordinances and since he cut back the trees along the side of the road it's now visible to everyone. I was willing to ignore it before when it was hidden back there, but I couldn't after that.”

“Carson was there at the fire, Vance. He and some friends were right there practically tailgating at the caution line.”

“I'm aware. Tried running them off a few times.”

A bad feeling ran down my spine causing me to shiver.

“He was right where Gracie picked up the match.”

“What?”

“Something we haven't released yet, but at every site the arsonist left a calling card. One wooden match and one black feather. At first, she argued with me that because we're all a bunch of raven shifters that feathers are everywhere. But it became too much of a coincidence. Match and feather.”

Vance gulped hard.

“What is it?”

“A single black feather?”

“Yes. Is that important?”

His cheeks turned an odd shade of red.

“After I kicked his ass over Penny, I issued him a threat. For every time he so much as looked at a woman in Ravenden, I would take one of his feathers as a reminder to stay the hell away from what didn't belong to him. We were just kids, Ry. I wasn't serious about it, and I’d never actually done it. It was just something stupid I’d spouted off. He could be such an irritating prick sometimes. Why did we ever let him hang out with us? But more importantly, do you really think he could have done this?”

“I don't know, but it may be the best lead we have yet. Drive faster.”

My raven was stressed, and I knew I wasn't going to calm down until I had my mate in my arms.

We pulled up next to Andrew's truck and I jumped out before Vance even had the car in park.

“You don't have to keep doing this,” I heard Gracie say.

My eyes darted around to see who she was talking to. There was no way it was Andrew Grimes. He was like a brother to me and I simply couldn't believe him capable of such malice. And then I noticed they weren't alone.