Page 49 of Ghostly Touches

“I like contact.” She reaches up to rub her chest as she looks away. “It eases the ache. The distance between us and the others is… uncomfortable.”

She’s hurting.

Just like the three of us were this past week away. With her beside me, that uncomfortable ache in my chest is gone, but she doesn’t have all the pieces of her soul nearby like I do. Unsure of what else to do, I give her hand a squeeze.

“I’m sorry,” I say after a few minutes of silence.

“For what?”Willow’s attention is directed outside the vehicle, her mind far away.

“That we dragged you into this,” I frown. “That now you’re in pain.”

Willow sighs loudly and shakes her head. “Tell me about being a Ghost. Who is allowed to join?”

She doesn’t want to talk about the soul thing. I suppose the conversation is uncomfortable… So why doesn’t it bother me? Why am I not upset that I’ve found myself tethered to the woman beside me? Fate didn’t decree us as mates. This union is a mistake.

Or is it?

Again, I think about my reaction to herbeforeViktor impulsively decided to take his chances with the curse. I look over to Willow. Her brows are pulled together with concern as she stares at the passing houses. She looks over at me and raises a brow expectantly. There’s so much attitude in that little gesture.

I smile again. These things are becoming more frequent the longer I’m around this peculiar woman.

“The only beings who can become a Ghost are Fae. For whatever reason, our bodies can handle the toxic air in the other realm, so we’re the ideal beings to go in and eliminate the threat. Our long lives also give us an edge. We gain experience with every fight, getting better and better at defeating monsters. We’re fast, strong, and agile. Shifters may have speed, but we’re on the top of the food chain.”

Willow snorts. “You’re beginning to sound cocky.”

I chuckle.

“I can’t help it if we’re good at what we do.”

Willow shifts so she’s turned to face me, instead of the window. “What’s the Third Realm like?”

I consider her question.

“Most of it is a wasteland. There is plant life and water, but you must be careful. Anything can be tainted with poison.” I think about the red and orange clay, the harsh, sandy conditions, and the bogs that are home to some of the meaner creatures there. I certainly don’t hate that we’re not there now.

“Theo said that you keep Ghosts on either side of the Veil. Why stay over there when you can just hang out in this realm?”

I grimace.

“Those who work in the Third Realm are the first line of defense. Yes, we kill the ever-present monsters like Mornstrikes, Tanglelings, and Shadebroodes. Those are the pests in that world, but there are other creatures over there that could be bad news if they make it over here. Our position in the Brotherhood is contingent on the fact that we can stick to our vows, most of which state we must be solely focused on the job at hand without any sort of interference or distractions. If we’re not careful, things within that realm can change our state of mind or our bodies in a blink of an eye. There are plants that can insert seeds in our bodies while we sleep and can use us as hosts. Sirens in the water can place us under a permanent trance to do their bidding. Those are just a few things that can put us in compromising situations. The second we are affected by anything on that side, or if we break our vows, we are consideredFallen.Once we notice we’ve been compromised, we’re to kill ourselves. Or if a Ghost recognizes signs that a brother has Fallen, it is our duty to destroy them before they become a danger to anyone else.”

Willow’s soft inhale does not go unnoticed.

I look over to her. “That’s why there is a first line of defense. We try to kill anything that could create mayhem before it crosses over. The Ghosts that watch the Veil from this side are the second line of defense. If a creature from the Third Realm makes it past any of us, it is destroyed before society knows about it. Or, if one of us is compromised and steps back over to this world, that second line of defense will be able to tell and take care of it.”

Willow considers this.

“If that’s the case, and there’s a second line of defense waiting, wouldn’t other Ghosts know you’re here now? And why are these monsters able to slip by them?”

Good questions.

I shrug. “There were no Ghosts to greet us on this side because we came through a very small ripple in Jonah’s cave that our Brotherhood probably doesn’t even know about. There could possibly be a ton of these smaller, unknown ripples that these monsters are working their way through to find you.”

But if that’s the case, why the large numbers now? Why haven’t there been surges of monsters coming over before, if these ripples already existed? Were they not motivated enough? Or is there something else I’m missing? I need to talk to Theodon about this and get his opinion.

Willow nods and falls silent. As we make our way out of the town, I find myself interested in where Willow’s mind has gone. What is she thinking about? Is she scared?

“Tell me why you became a Ghost,” she asks suddenly.

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