Page 27 of Feral Possession

Dove panted, shoving a lock of hair off her forehead. Legs quivering, she crawled to the door on her hands and knees, grabbed the edge, and shoved it closed. Holy moly, that was intense. More than enough adventure for one night. She eyed the sacred markings she’d drawn around her door. The warding only worked on spirits. “What in the heck was that thing?”

Marcus emerged from his bedroom, freshly showered but far from rested. First night of sleep in days and he was more tired than when he’d closed his eyes. He adjusted the hood over his head, stepped into the great room, and froze.

Splintered furniture littered the floor. Ida stood next to the sofa, sweeping shattered glass into a pile with irritated jerks of her broom. At his arrival, she glanced in his direction and huffed a sound of exasperation.

The tops of his ears heated. Ida had been with him since he was a boy. While he may be her employer, her disapproval still had an effect on him. He stepped over the broken furniture and moved to her side, picking up a torn lampshade.

“Pardon me for speaking out of turn, my lord, but it’s past time you told the girl.” She propped her fist on her sturdy hip. “What’s the point in bringing her here if you keep her locked away where she’s no good to anyone?”

“I had my reasons.”

“Stubborn reasons, I’m thinking.” She continued her angry sweeping. “I’ve gotten to know her better these last few days since you went and made me her keeper.” Her tone snapped with irritation. “You shouldn’t mistake her impulsiveness for stupidity. She’s smart, resourceful, and quick to adapt to her circumstances. Plus, she has a good heart. It’s time you showed a little faith in her. Before something terrible happens.”

It was a glowing review, seeing as Ida was suspicious of any female who entered his life, thinking they were all after him for nefarious reasons. She wasn’t wrong. Before Marcus could comment, she picked an empty bag of croutons off the floor. “Now, where do you suppose this came from?” Her eyes flashed with horror and she gasped, clutching her chest. “You don’t think…”

Both of their heads swiveled toward the guest room. Dove’s door stood open an inch. From the crack, he registered a soft squeak and a flutter of motion before it slid closed.

His Chosen was spying on them. “Did you unlock her door?”

“No, sir. Locked her in, nice and tight last night, just as you ordered.” Ida snorted. “Told you she was smart.”

Rather than hide, Dove pushed the door wide open. Which shouldn’t surprise him. The faerie never did what he expected.

Dressed in a brightly colored bathrobe that stabbed his eyeballs, she shuffled into the room, hands tucked into her sleeves. After surveying the destruction, she met his hard stare and winced. “I can explain.”

Dread clawed up his spine. “You can explain?” He scanned her from head to toe. No blood, no scratches, no broken bones. His tension eased a bit.

“Yes.” Dove squared her shoulders as though bracing for his reaction. “I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but your penthouse is haunted.”

Ida huffed and went back to sweeping, muttering under her breath. “Don’t listen to me. What do I know? I’m just an old woman.”

“Mrs. Stoneworthy? Will you excuse us? I need to speak with my Chosen.”

“Certainly, my lord,” she said with a stiff nod, marching out of the room. “The two of you should have a nice, long chat.”

He tossed the broken lampshade into the pile of debris.

“That wasn’t my fault.” Dove pointed at the shade. “I mean, not totally. You see, I was running.”

“Running.” His stomach churned.

“Yes?”

Grateful for the hood that hid his grimace, he struggled to keep an even tone. “Start at the beginning.”

“Right.” She swallowed. “The lock on my door was loose, so I thought I’d tighten it when lo and behold, it popped open, and seeing as how I’d completed the three days as I’d promised, I decided to come out and get a snack.” She gulped oxygen. “So there I was, minding my own business, when some sort of shadow monster appeared. Not some cute little Casper type, either. I mean, this thing was powerful. You can imagine my surprise when it chased me. That’s when the lamp broke. Shortly after, I think it hurled the table at the wall. I’m not sure since I didn’t look back. I can’t say what would have happened if not for the ward on my room.”

If her robe hadn’t already given him a headache, her explanation certainly would have. “You saw it?”

She inched closer, biting her lip. “More or less. It seemed to have power over the shadows.”

“What did it look like?”

Her brow furrowed. “Angry? I didn’t get a good look at it since I was running.”

“It chased you.” By the gods, if she only knew how much danger she’d been in. But she didn’t because he hadn’t warned her. Except there wouldn’t have been a need if she hadn’t snuck out, disobeying him.

He clenched his fists, inhaling a tight breath. “Did it communicate with you?”

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