Page 19 of Soul

“What?”

“Mom says we must leave because you may be a bad man. That you might hurt us. Would you do that?” she asked.

“No!” I exclaimed, even as I tried to stop my smile.

Maci was deadly serious. This shouldn’t be amusing, but what was the betting Maci had been told to stay away and yet here she was?

“That’s the truth,” Maci said thoughtfully.

“Naturally. It would be pointless lying to someone who can sense a lie,” I replied.

“So, we don’t need to go?” Maci asked.

“As far as I’m concerned, no. But your mother knows best,” I answered diplomatically.

Maci poked her tongue in her cheek. “Ham doesn’t want to. And I do not think Mom wants to either. This is great.”

“What is?” Ham demanded. “Maci, don’t you ever learn? You were told to stay away, and you’ve ignored her again!”

“But I asked Soul if he wants to hurt us, and he said no!” Maci replied.

“And you believed him!” Ham sneered.

“I can tell if he is lying,” Maci snapped, looking upset.

“Yeah, and he’s got the same ability as you. What if he has learned to hide a lie?” Ham demanded angrily.

Maci opened her mouth and shut it again.

“And this is why we need to move. You can’t control yourself. You’re so stupid!” Ham yelled.

“Hey! That’s enough!” I boomed. “Your sister is a little girl. You are older than her and should be looking after her. Constantly yelling at Maci doesn’t help anyone.”

“What would you know?” he demanded.

“What is going on here?” Bryony asked, her head popping up over the fence. I noticed how her eyes lighted on my bare chest before she looked away. But her tongue popped out and wet her lips.

“Maci snuck out again!” Ham accused.

“It seems so,” Bryony replied, and I caught the disappointment in her voice. Maci clearly did, too, because she winced.

“Sorry,” she murmured.

“Sorry doesn’t stop you, Maci. You knew my thoughts and feelings and have still disobeyed me. Please come home right now, and you too, Ham. I apologise for any disruption,” Bryony stated stiffly, avoiding my gaze.

“But Mom. I asked Soul, and we don’t have to move!” Maci exclaimed.

“What?”

“I asked him if he wanted to hurt us, and he said no. We don’t have to move,” Maci explained.

“You did what?” Bryony demanded, and even I caught the anger in her voice.

Maci crumpled in on herself.

“Bryony… she just wants to know people who share psychic abilities. Nobody would hurt her,” I tried soothing shit over. And instead, made it all worse.

“Okay, tell me, have you ever hurt someone on purpose?” Bryony demanded, and I froze.

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