Page 25 of Hot Ghoul Summer

Toby nods and backs out at once, shutting the door softly behind him.

My whole body unravels like a broken rubber band. I get clean, swallow mouthfuls of warm water just to try to get some fluids in my system, and then sit under the spray for a long, long time.

I LEAVE MOLLY ALONE. I send Musketeer up to check on her a few times, and he doesn’t bark or whimper, so that’s a good sign.

I’ve left tons of food and clothes out, and there’s a television in the bedroom. Books appeared in the hall outside her door, too. Molly’s thoughts must be losing their panicked edge, and the house’s unique abilities to provide have kicked in. The presence of books indicates that there’s been a shift from mere survival to something more relaxed.

Good. She’ll be spending more time here. I hope she’ll come out of her room, at least.

I don’t bother to hover over her—I’m too busy hovering over Gary Garmin and Theo Cross, who have parted company for now. Theo will likely send someone after him soon, but right now he’s busy scrambling with four of his underlings out of commission. The conversation is taking a turn that’s going to be decidedly interesting to Molly.

It’s time to break another rule and take a mortal with me on a little trip.

“Molly!” I rap on her door, a hard edge in my voice.

“I don’t want dinner. The chocolate and strawberries morphed into chicken strips about twenty minutes ago. With amazing honey mustard. For a prison, the menu is five-star.”

I groan and drag my hand down my face. “I’ll tell God later. No, He already knows. Come on! Time to show you that I’m not a monster.”

Molly opens the door, and my eyes practically double in size like a lovestruck cartoon character. She’s wearing a little black top and tight jean shorts that hug her bottom.

“You’re still a monster,” she informs me in a monotone voice, face flat.

“Fine, time to prove that I’m a helpful monster.”

“No such thing,” she sighs, hesitantly opening her door a little wider. “What do you want me to see?”

“Nothing here. We’re going to see Theo Cross.”

“What? Wait, didn’t you say he’s the bad guy? Did you switch sides while I was in the shower?” Molly rubs her temples suddenly. “I guess I’d need to know what side you were on in the first place...”

“I told you what side I’m on, you just don’t believe me. Well, seeing is believing, and I don’t have time to talk about this. I’m taking you with me, and you’re keeping your mouth shut and your ears open. Understood?” I demand, not caring if I sound terrifying.

Molly nods once, a frown etching into her features. I grab her elbow, and she fights me until I squeeze hard—then she stands still, defiance in her eyes.

Maybe I am a monster. I consider using the darker, more powerful side of my being to make her submissive, make her safe.

But I love her fire.

Just like her namesake hundreds of years ago.

“Let’s go,” I say softly, and then we do.

I’M HAVING A LOT OF trouble with my body right now. I’m sure it’s exhaustion and fear. I don’t like being pressed close to Toby.

But I guess part of my overtaxed system doesn’t understand that his big scary Reaper form is bad. It just feels—protected.

I do feel safe and hidden as Toby clutches me to his chest, his robes pulled over me, only leaving an inch of space between the edges of black fabric for my eyes.

The room we’re in smells like money—a mix of expensive leather, top-shelf alcohol, pricey cologne, and Cuban cigars.

In the middle of this office, a red-faced man paces while yelling into a phone, one hand pressed to his sweating brow while the other jams the phone to his cheek.

“I don’t care if you still have eyes on Garmin. You can’t kill him until we get the girl.”

I gasp, and Toby’s hand suddenly claps over my mouth.

“Sorry. Reflexes,” he whispers in my ear, hand dropping away.

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