Page 16 of Soul Bound

“When you spend three months locked up in a mental institution, you tend to pick some shit up.” I shrug nonchalantly.

“Youwhat?” Ranger’s jaw drops.

I see Thalia’s figure flicker in and out by the couch we had been sitting on. “There she is!” I move toward her. “Thalia, stop this. I said I would help you. He doesn’t have to come with us. I think we should leave these poor people alone, we’ve caused enough of a disturbance. And I’m not one hundred percent sold that I’m not going to be eaten by one of them.” I slide my gaze to Ranger’s twin.

“You’re not Little Red Riding Hood, calm down.” Ransom narrows his eyes.

Thalia didn’t like my answer because the vase holding the yellow sunflowers on the coffee table goes flying across the room, breaking into pieces at Ransom and Remi’s feet.

I’ve dealt with my fair share of pissed off spirits before, but none of them have been able to move things like Thalia.

“How do we make it leave?” Ransom growls, the noise more animalistic than human. “My wolf is not enjoying this.”

“Mine’s freaking out,” Remi admits, she winces slightly.

Pru purses her lips. “Mine is intrigued, she doesn’t feel threatened.”

“That’s because your wolf is a badass bitch who thinks she can defeat anything,” Remi scoffs.

“True.” Pruitt smirks.

Ranger growls, silencing them. “Shut up.” He moves to stand behind me again, not touching me this time, but close enough I can feel the heat from his body on my back. “I can’t see her anymore.”

“That makes sense, it takes less energy for her to appear as a reflection,” I mumble to him, never turning away from Thalia. “We need to leave,” I reiterate to her.

“No!” she cries, so loud it makes me wince. By the way the four other people in the room jump, they heard her too. Interesting…

“Okay even I heard that, and she soundspissed.” Remi gives me a wary look.

“The flying vase and broken chandelier weren’t evidence enough that she’s a little peeved?Really?” Ransom stiffly says to his sister.

“Thalia,” I try again, my voice calm and even. “You need to chill out so we can leave these people. Look at them, they’re afraid.”

Of the four of them, Ransom looks the most uncomfortable. I don’t blame him, it’s not every day people have to face the fact that ghosts are real. I don’t have to be standing next to him to know he’s practically vibrating with nerves at this point. I’m genuinely impressed by Ranger; I don’t feel any fear coming from him. I’m usually good at sensing people’s emotions and he’s as calm as can be.

“Can she hear me?” Ranger asks me, his breath tickles the back of my neck when he speaks.

I nod.

Ranger moves forward and does something weird. He puts himself in front of me, so his body stands between Thalia and me. My eyes narrow at this action, is he protecting me from her? He can’t even see her, yet he’s going toprotectme from her?Huh.

“Where is she?” he asks.

I lean around his body and motion in the general direction that Thalia stands. He pushes me back again and I grumble under my breath about how he’s being stupid.

“Thalia. I promised you I would help you find your baby and intend to keep that promise.”

My eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “You will?”

“Ranger…” Pruitt starts, but he cuts her off with a look.

“Yes. I saw what the facility was like and I don’t want her innocent child there any longer than she has to be. I don’t know where we’ll start looking for her or how long it will take to find the baby, but I promise I will—thatwewill.”

Thalia gives me a soft smile and she disappears. Just like that, the room is back to its normal temperature and the flickering lights have ceased. We all release a collective sigh of relief when we start to feel our limbs start to warm up again.

“That was fucking weird. Let’s agree toneverdo it again.” Remi shudders.

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