Page 56 of Ghostly Touches

I roll my eyes.

“I wastryingto prevent what happened to your stupid friend here.” I jerk my thumb towards Viktor.

“Call me stupid again, and you’ll find yourself without a tongue.”

I don’t think his threat is an empty one. Still, I can’t help but get under his skin.

“What would you rather have me call you? An idiot?”

Viktor takes a step towards me while his brows come together. Theodon shoots him a dark look that halts his progress towards me. I turn back to the leader of this group and add, “I didn’t fight you when you captured me in the hopes you’d figure out I’m not what I seemed. But it turns out you’re just a bunch of assholes and didn’t give a fuck about anything other than your situation with your Brotherhood.”

“Have you read the book?” Theodon asks, ignoring my jab.

“Yes.” Theodon’s eyes widen in surprise, and I give him a smug smile. “Yeah, I know you’re struggling with it. Sucks, huh?”

Theo already took the stuff that Willow bought him and used it on the book while the Ghosts ate in the kitchen. From the sounds of it, the spray hasn’t helped him read what’s inside of it.

“How can you read it?” he demands through gritted teeth. “Better yet, how can you both read it, and we can’t?” He glances at Willow suspiciously.

“Because there’s a spell on it,” Obviously. “Inside, on the first page, it says only those strong enough to wield the magic in the book or those cursed from it can read the spells found inside.”

Theo frowns as he considers this.

I notice the way his eyes slide over to Willow curiously before he shakes his head. What is he thinking? Is he dismissing that idea that she’s not strong enough to wield the magic inside? I hope so. Looking over at Willow, I find her rummaging intently through the bag of food making it a point not to meet a single person’s gaze. I almost smile. I may not haveseenexactly what she is, but I know enough to realize Willow is certainly more than what she appears. If she doesn’t want to tell them her secret, I’ll keep it safe with me.

With a shake of his head, Theodon asks, “Has there been anyone else who’s stumbled across this cave during your time there?”

“Just that thing you call a Tangleling, which you chased into the cave, and a bunch of whatever I became.” I bite into a dumpling and sigh. Has food always tasted this good?

“Is that a bad thing?” Willow’s question pulls my attention from the food. I look to her and then to the Ghosts, who exchange looks with one another.

“It confirms there’s a ripple, or a thin spot between realms, in that cave. We shouldn’t have been able to get through, let alone the Tangleling or any Shadebroodes,” Kwil explains before looking at Theodon. “How hasn’t the Brotherhood detected that cave?”

“It could be because I’ve killed every monster that’s come through. Maybe since these things aren’t out attacking people, your Brotherhood has been none the wiser.”

Theodon nods as if he agrees with me.

“We need to alert the Brotherhood,” Viktor declares. “They’ll be able to post Ghosts in that area.”

Theodon shakes his head. “No, the Brotherhood cannot know we’ve been to this side. It will bring up too many questions. We need to go back over to the Third Realm, draw attention to that area, and let other Ghosts stumble upon it.”

Silence meets his suggestion.

Go back over? To the Third Realm? I think I’d rather be dead. That horrible place where the sky is always red, sand flies in every which way, and the foul stench in the air… Yeah, no, I’m not going back. I wouldn’t subject Willow to that either, which would mean leaving her behind.

I wince as I think about the discomfort I felt over the past few hours. With Willow away, it was like her absence was sending stress fractures through my soul, like glass when too much pressure is applied.I could tell when they were drawing near to the house because it was getting easier to breathe. I’m not a fan of pain. Whatever I can do to avoid it, I will. If that means sticking close to Willow, so be it.

“Would you be willing to transcribe the book?” Theodon asks me. “If we know what’s in it, maybe we can figure out who wrote it. Then, perhaps we can find them and have them lift the curse on the two of you.”

“No,” I tell him curtly.

His pupils narrow on me. “Why not?”

“There’s something wrong with the three of you. All you’ve been doing is hiding and running, both in this world and the Third Realm. That’s pretty fucking sketchy already. Then, considering how you’ve treated me and Willow, I’m pretty sure I’m talking to the bad guys in this whole thing. And this one—” I point to Viktor. “—is a cruel fucker who gets off on beating people. I’m not giving him access to anything from that book. It’s just a bunch of crazy, sadistic spells. What’s in there is definitely not for the general public to use.”

“We thought you were a Shadebroode,” Viktor growls. “How were we supposed to know you weren’t?”

“If you thought that, you would’ve killed me. But you three knew I was different, so you kept me around,” I say, glaring at the other two Ghosts.

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