“Me, too, friend. Me, too.
“Hopefully, he’ll sleep so peacefully.”
“If you have other things to do, don’t worry.”
“I’ll be here. I’ll be here.”
His words slowed, getting quieter. I bit back a smile. I didn’t think he realized how close he was to drifting off himself. After the excitement of finding out about spirits, passing out a couple times, staying up late with Sky to discuss all the things, and then commuting and working for over twenty-four hours straight, it tracked that he couldn’t keep his eyes open.
I’d stay and watch over them both. Within fifteen minutes, the sounds coming out of Ego were their own little melody. He snuffled and then blew out a long breath, over and over. It was the same every time, which was kind of wild.
Criss-crossing my legs, I spent some time emptying my brain of everything else and meditating. So much was going on, and it felt like each day brought new surprises. I’d found my calling and my forever love when I’d bought this haunted property, and I’d been thankful since the beginning. Who’d have thought that one decision would have a domino effect that now included a whole new life for Sky? And now Ego and Booker were becoming part of it.
I felt a breeze and opened my eyes to find Harry standing next to the bed. “Hey, Harry. Do you need me?” I whispered, not wanting to wake the other two.
He shook his head. “No, sir. I thought maybe you needed me. I could hear you thinking all the way downstairs.”
Snorting softly, I shook my head. “Not me. I was meditating.”
He quirked an eyebrow, calling me on my bullshit.
“Okay.” Standing up, I went out to the hallway, leaving the door cracked open so that I could keep an eye on Booker and make sure he didn’t look like he was being tormented while he slept.
Harry waited patiently while I pulled my thoughts together. “I guess I’m a little worried.”
He glanced in at the two sleeping men. “I’ve been listening in on Sky’s planning session with the High Priestess and your mom. I think young master Booker will be fine.”
I felt my lips tip up in a slight grin. “I’m sure he will. Sky’s lived his whole life waiting for something like this to happen. I have no doubts that he’ll rise to the occasion. And Booker…I think he’s one of us now.”
Harry dipped his chin in acknowledgement.
“Right, so then he’ll be fine, too. Eventually. Might take a while to undo some of the damage that woman caused, but we’ll be here for him.”
“Then what has you concerned?” Harry prodded.
“Do you ever feel like we’re just at the beginning? That maybe we haven’t seen anything yet?” Folding my arms over my chest, I said, “Tell me the truth. In all this time you’ve been in Willowhope, before death and after, have you ever seen this much supernatural activity? I know the pond used to have more spirits than it does now, but the rest?”
He cleared his throat and smoothed his unwrinkled shirt. “There does seem to be an influx of abilities in town.” He stared in at the two sleeping men. “Imagine, a homeless sorcerer, with no connections to Willowhope, finding himself here. And Ego, well, if Sky has magic, then it stands to reason…”
When he didn’t finish his thought, I asked, “You think Ego has gifts, too?”
Buck was really rubbing off on the other man if his eyeroll was an indication. “Master Chance, sir. Think about it. Familylines are important, and Ego is Sky’s cousin. I think it’s very probable that he has some untapped ability.”
Walking back into the room, I watched Ego sleep, recalling everything Sky had ever told me about him and the things I’d witnessed myself. My eyes widened with a dawning realization. Was it possible that…? I turned to Harry, who smiled knowingly.Wow. Ego was one hundred percent a witch, and he’d been using his power for good for a while now.
Chapter 22
King
Normally,I headed for the pond, especially when I felt off kilter. Even before I could see or speak with the ghosts out there, it had been a place of solace for me. But not today. I’d planned to check on the reunited siblings, Bessie and Beau, and encourage Norman to be nicer to Trixie, but my mind was cluttered with thoughts of Sky and what taking on this mimic might mean for him.
When I suggested heading into town and checking The Vault, Gran had vetoed the idea immediately. With Booker here, she thought it important we all stay close in case he got stuck in his dreams, and we needed to go in and pull him out. I got her reasoning, I did. Hell, I even agreed with her to some degree. But the idea of going into the Dream-veil, purposely taking the man who was quickly becoming the most important person in the world to me in there to fight some entity I didn’t understand on his own, wasn’t sitting right with me.
Jetty came into the parlor and sat in the wingback chair next to the settee where I was sitting. “What are you pouting about?” he asked in a teasing tone.
I glared at him. “It’s not funny. This is some serious shit, man.”
Jetty’s face fell into a frown, and he shook his head. “Yes, it is, so what are you going to do about it?”
