Page 71 of The Protective Gryphen

That was all he had to hear.

Ian jumped, grabbed Gryphen’s hand, and started running out the way they came in. They ran fast, and they DID NOT look back.

Oh, hell, no.

There was no mistaking what that sound was.

A ghost.

They weren’t the only people in that castle, apparently. Ian, Gryphen, and Graham had company.

When they got to where the electricity was brand new, and there was lots of lighting, they finally stopped.

Ian was breathing heavily.

Gryphen was not.

That said a lot about who worked out and who was not in shape.

“What the fuck, Gryph?” he asked, staring back down into the darkness. “Did we just hear a woman crying in a castle crypt?”

Uh, yes.

“I’m gonna say ghosts? This place has one and now, we know about it, Nancy Drew. Good job.”

He stared at him.

“Nancy Drew?” he asked. “Did you just call me a girl?”

He shrugged.

“If the mystery solving loafer fits, wear it. I’ll be Bess, because she was the one who always told Nancy it was a bad idea.”

He snorted.

“Focus, Marine. Are you telling me that you believe in ghosts?” Ian asked.

Gryphen was honest.

“Do you know how many people have died here since this castle was built in the sixteen hundreds? Through wars? Through a plague or three? Through disease? Add in there’s a bunch of crypts in the lowest part? Yep. I believe. You missed the whole week where The Fort was haunted by a dead soldier.”

Ian blinked.

Had he heard him correctly?

The Fort had been haunted?

“What?”

He wasn’t going there, but Ian was free to dig into that mystery too all on his own.

“When we get home, ask Elizabeth if she believes in ghosts, and ask her about Trey. She’ll go pale, and run. That’s all you need to know. I absolutely believe.”

Ian wasn’t sure he did.

“I’ve never seen one, so I’m not sure if I believe it or not,” he admitted.

Well, Gryphen did.

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