“Now that I know I wouldn’t be taking advantage of a homeless vet who really needs my help . . . I think yeah. We can date.”

“Excellent,” he said nodding. “Definitely excellent.”

Kera started to grin at Vig’s obvious—but nonthreatening—exuberance, but ended up jerking away from the protective glass when she heard something slam against it, her hand immediately grasping a knife from beside her plate.

There was a woman pressed against the glass. Blond, deeply tanned, and gorgeous, the woman was drenched and dressed in a wet suit. She peered at Vig through the window and smiled.

“Ludvig,” she said, raising her voice enough to be heard over the waves below. “So near my precious ocean. Did you come to see me?”

“No, Rada. Just having lunch with a friend.”

The woman glanced at Kera and her lip curled. “Another Crow. Like rats in the pantry . . . they just keep coming.”

“Be nice, Rada,” Vig gently warned.

“So what’s this one’s name?”

Kera glared at the woman and sneered, “New girl.”

“Fitting.” She looked back at Vig. “Tell her how it all works, Vig. I’d hate for her to find out what it’s like to be fish bait.”

Kera didn’t know why, but the threat had her diving at the glass, the restaurant’s butter knife brandished as a weapon. But the beautiful surfer was gone.

Horrified, Kera dropped back into her chair, tossing the knife onto the table.

“What the fuck is wrong with me?” Kera asked.

“You mean other than Rada being a bitch?” Vig asked casually around the last bite of his sandwich.

“I don’t care what kind of bitch she is. I tried to attack her.” Kera pressed her hand to her upper chest. Felt her heart racing beneath her fingers. “I don’t do that, Vig. I’m the calm, rational one. I was known for that in the military.”

Vig shrugged. “She kind of asked for it, though.”

“What are you saying to me? I’m acting like a crazy person.”

“No. You’re not. You’re acting on instinct. Rada’s not a friend of yours. She’s the leader of the Claws of Ran, another of the official nine of Clans.”

“Who the fuck are they?”

“Ran is the goddess of sea and storms and her nine daughters used to drag men who ventured out onto the ocean down to the sea floor in honor of their mother. But, after a while, as children like to do, her daughters got bored and went off to do their own thing. So Ran started her own human Clan. They’re all surfers and fishermen. Male and female. And Rada runs the Clan on the Pacific Coast. There’s another leader for the East Coast.”

“How many Clans do I have to worry about again?”

“Nine.Officially.”

“And unofficially?”

“That varies. Just trust your instincts. You’ll be fine.”

Vig gazed down at his now-empty plate.

“You’re still hungry, aren’t you?” Kera asked, her heart beginning to slow down, her unwanted rage beginning to taper off.

“I’m starving. I’m getting another sandwich. You want one?”

“I think one giant roast beef sandwich with extra meat is all I really need.”

Vig shrugged and stood. “Okay.”

Kera watched him walk back into the restaurant and then it hit her. The restaurant was on a cliff overlooking the ocean, and the deck was right on the edge. So Rada could not have been standing on anything. Instead, it was just her hands pressed up against the glass. How the woman got up there and stayed up there—Kera had no damn idea.

Then again, maybe she didn’t want to know.

These days, there were a lot of things she was guessing she didn’t want to know.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Vig walked Kera back to the Bird House. As they neared the front door, she stopped and gazed at the roof. “That is a lot of birds up there.”

He looked up and saw the crows and ravens that perched protectively around the Crows’ main home. The Ravens had a few of their own, but apparently they weren’t nearly as entertaining as the Crow Clan.

“They have your back, too.”

Kera faced Vig. “What if I never get along with them? What if the Crows never accept me?”

“You can always transfer to one of the other Crow units. They’re all over the States.” Vig took a step closer. “But then I’d be kind of miserable. You know . . . if you left. And then who knows how bad my thousand-yard stare might get. I might start terrorizing fast food workers, gas attendants . . . crazed cops with itchy trigger fingers.”

Kera laughed, her smile bright. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Just give it a chance. That’s all I’m asking. Before you make any decisions.”

“For you, I’ll give it a shot.”

“Thank you.”

They were silent for a moment, gazing at each other, until the front door opened and two Crows walked out with Brodie.

“Oh, hey! You’re back,” they said to Kera. She glanced at the pair, smiled, turned back to Vig, and that’s when her eyes grew wide. She spun around and stared down at her dog.

“What is she wearing?”

One Crow grinned. “Oh my God! Isn’t this amazing. The collar”—which was pink—“is studded with Swarovski crystals. It’s fabulous, isn’t it? And it was a little pricey, but don’t worry. That’s on me. But they threw in the leash—”