Page 145 of Candy & Her Saints

Ghost’s breathing deeply like he’s savoring each smell, determined not to miss any sensation of his first time out of the basement.

His feet are bare, but he has one of Thomas’ white work shirts open loosely over his tatty t-shirt and jeans.

He’s also carefully slicked back his platinum curls, making his masculine features appear even sharper.

This is the first time that I’ve seen him in the natural light, and his skin is more flawlessly pale than I’d imagined.

He’s fucking breathtaking, mine, free at last and in my kitchen.

I’m shrugging out of Thomas’ hold and rushing across to meet Ghost, before I know that I planned to.

“Ghost,” I repeat, whispered now against his neck, as I clutch onto him.

He nuzzles against me in turn, chirping and purring.

He’s vibrating with a vibrant joy that I can feel in my soul.

Ghost’s scent is sweeter with happiness than normal.

Sugar slinks into the kitchen, winding around Lincoln’s ankles. She’s luxuriating in the sun.

Lincoln leans down to stroke her back.

Sugar arches her back in encouragement. Then she prowls further into the kitchen to curl up underneath the window in a pool of sunlight.

I pull back to study the expression in Ghost’s eyes.

There’s still a bruise along Ghost’s cheek, where Richard struck him. His lips are swollen from being gagged.

But I know that look.

It’s hope.

“We have two days,” I say. “You’re never going back into that basement. We can spend them together up here, right? And after that, we’re making our move. We know the dangers but we’re not waiting any longer because I won’t put you back into the dark.”

Ghost winks, before sliding his hand into his pocket and pulling out his adapted iPhone.

His fingers hover over it for a moment, before he types.

Then the words are spoken aloud in an educated, American voice. “Who said that I didn’t put myself into the dark? The best card tricks are the ones that no one sees coming. Who’d suspect the feral Omega of being the genius mastermind? How’d you like my poker face?”

What the fuck?

My mouth gapes open.

I push Ghost back for a moment to study his face.

Lincoln pushes his hands into his pockets. The sunlight catches on his snake earring.

“Smart and badass. Just my kind of Omega.” Lincoln smirks, strolling across the kitchen to throw himself down on the wooden bench. He traces over the picture of the gargoyle on the table in fascination. “And look, I have both the male and female version. I’m a lucky guy.”

My heart speeds up. “What the hell do you mean, my little gambler?”

“He means that we have a final secret to tell you.” When Thomas’ expression becomes unexpectedly serious, my pulse races. Secret? “But first…”

Thomas takes a couple of long strides across the kitchen, until he’s standing in front of Ghost and me.

Surprised, I step back to the side of Ghost, holding his hand.

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