Page 88 of Malice

“Is it not against the law to love a man?”

“Samuel,” another spirit chides. “That is a private matter.”

“It’s okay,” Hudson says. “It’s not against the law anymore.”

“You can… love openly?”

Hudson nods, wrapping his hand around mine. “Yes. Not everyone in society accepts it. We still have some challenges, but where we live, it’s accepted.”

“Can you marry?” another male spirit asks.

“We can,” Hudson says. “We can have a home together, raise a family if we want to.”

“Children?” a young woman gasps. “How do two men have a baby? Has the world changed that much?”

“Uh, sometimes. It’s… complicated. Some men can have babies, but there are other ways for those who can’t. Like adopting a baby.”

“Adopting?” she asks.

“Caring for a baby when the others can’t. Sometimes, it’s an agreement between a woman and two men to have a baby for them. There are ways.”

“Will there be children here?” an older woman asks, clearly not excited by the prospect given her tight lips and disdainful tone.

“No,” Hudson says. “Maybe some pets, but no human children.”

“Good. They’re destructive little beings. Noisy too.”

I chuckle as Hudson looks at me with a warm smile on his face.

Crash nudges my arm. “Uh, I can feel it intensifying.”

“Me too.” I shift my gaze to the ceiling. “It’s still in the attic.”

“It’s not returning to the kitchen,” Crash says. “Whatever Wilder did removed the attachment.”

I blow out a breath. “I have to prepare for what’s going to happen next. As it gets stronger, shit’s gonna get crazy.”

“We’ll be here to help,” Crash says, gesturing to the house spirits who nod in agreement.

“Just keep Hudson safe when I’m not here.” I turn to face him. “He’s precious to me.”

Hudson’s gaze softens before he steps forward and presses a kiss to my lips. “You can do this. I’ve seen how amazing you are, and I’m not scared anymore.”

“Cute,” Crash says. “But you should be. You haven’t seen anything yet.”

Hudson’s expression hardens. “Yeah, well, I’m done being afraid of him. It. Whatever. If I could bring him back to life just to kill him I would.”

I brush my fingers across his cheek. “I’ll get rid of him. I promise.”

“I know you will. I’ve never believed in anything more than I believe in you.”

“No pressure, am I right?” Crash chuckles.

I shoot a glare at him and he coughs before disappearing. The house spirits dissipate too, leaving Hudson and me alone in the hallway.

As I gaze into Hudson’s pretty eyes, I see a future I never envisioned reflected back.

Laughter.

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