Page 103 of Ghostly Touches

“There is nothing we can do now except tolerate their presence.” Theodon pauses. “Quite frankly, this situation here has me more worried than the trouble the two of them present. Who’s been staying in this house collecting things from the Third Realm?”

I shake my head as the two of them fall silent. Hopefully, my mother can get me out of this mess. Or at least contact Dad to see if he can use his powers to do something. Fuck these guys.

Swallowing stiffly, I walk into the kitchen, pretending I didn’t overhear them. Both men glance up only to go back to staring at the map.

“I’m making dinner,” I announce.

Theo makes a face as he looks up at me. As he opens his mouth to object, I cut him off, “I said, ‘I’m making dinner.’”

He lets his protest drop with a tick of his jaw.

* * *

“Fuck, this is good.”Jonah’s appreciative groan is loud in the large kitchen as he takes a bite of a crispy, crunchy chicken thigh. “Please, never stop cooking for me ever. I promise I’ll always do the dishes.”

I smile, but my mind is miles away. My heart won’t stop beating rapidly. I hoped cooking would calm me down, but I can’t stop replaying the conversation Theo and Viktor had and what the spirit said about Ghosts before they went over. Are theyallbad? Have we, as a society, idealized these mysterious warriors because we don’t know much about them? I don’t want to admit I’m scared, but deep down I’m beginning to think that Ghosts, all of them, can’t be trusted.

“Here, plate up the food like this. You want a good pile to dig into at the table.” I show Jonah how to stack the fried chicken onto the plate beside the mash potatoes so they’re not touching but also giving room for the corn in the pot.

“Like this?” The concentration on Jonah’s face is adorable.

I wish I could focus on that rather than our situation. “Yup, good.”

He flashes me a wide, sunny grin and carries the full plates over to the table. Watching him walk away, I note how terribly thin the guy is. I’m not sure if it’s his frame or if it’s from years of starving in his cave, but that’s definitely something I can fix. Especially since he can inhale a meal like it’s air.

“Want me to spit in Viktor’s?” he says.

I snort. “Please don’t ruin my cooking like that.”

Jonah stares hard at the plate he’s just set down. There’s no doubt in my mind he’s seriously contemplating it. Giggling, I nudge him aside and place another full plate down.

“Don’t do it. Go get Theo and Viktor to tell them dinner is ready. I’m going to take a plate out to Kwil.”

I turn to walk away, but Jonah’s tail wraps around my waist. His tail spins me around and pulls me closer to his chest.

“Something is bothering you.” His brown eyes search my face as his blond brows come together.

I purse my lips tightly as I debate telling him what’s on my mind. What will telling him do? Create a larger wedge between us and the Ghosts? Probably. That won’t help anyone. It’s best to keep my annoyance to myself.

“It’s nothing, just tired. I’ll be right back.”

“Kwil can have his dinner later,” Theo says as he strolls into the room. “He’s scouting. Dinner is a distraction.”

I ignore him. Instead, I build a plate for Kwil and myself and move to leave the kitchen. Theo’s hand lands on my shoulder, halting me.

“I said no. Come eat.”

My eyes land on the hand resting on my shoulder. Anger bubbles up. How dare he tell me no? I’m not one of his men to order around. I let my eyes trail up his arm and make it a point to meet his gaze.

“Let go of me.”

Theo’s exasperated sigh only infuriates me. His hand drops away as he takes a step closer. His unusual eyes travel over my face looking for clues.

“What’s going on, Willow?”

“Nothing.”

Viktor strolls into the kitchen just then. He must have heard Theo’s question because he sighs loudly.

---