Page 54 of Ghostly Touches

Instead of letting Willow go, Viktor leans forward and bares his teeth in her face. He bends his head down and runs his nose along her jawline. I can see Willow relax under the contact, and Viktor’s body shudders. I take another step forward in case he snaps. Viktor’s temper is wild and unpredictable that way.

“I asked you a question. Speak, necromancer,” he says through clenched teeth. His fingers sink deeper into her skin as he grips her neck tighter.

“Because your soul was separated from you for a few hours,” Willow says, turning her face away from the nose still skimming against her cheek. “And distance will only make it worse.”

I can see Viktor’s fingers press harder against her throat, and I can’t stand it any longer. Using the hand on his shoulder, I push Viktor away.

“Don’t put your hands on her again,” I snap at him.

“I didn’t hurt her,” Viktor counters calmly as he takes another step backward, but not before reaching down and grabbing a grocery bag.

He turns and heads back into the house without another word. Willow sighs.

“You may look like a monster, but honestly, it’s the man walking away that makes me nervous.” Her soft confession follows her down as she drops to her knees and picks up the spilled items.

I crouch down and help her pick up the scattered food. If I could promise Willow that Viktor isn't someone to fear, I would. But Viktor’s sight isn’t the only thing going. His sanity might be fading as well.

“I’ll watch over you,” I promise.

Willow chuckles as she stands with the bags in her hand. When our eyes meet, hers are glowing brighter than before.

“The only person who needs to watch their back here is Viktor. Now, let’s go give this collar to Jonah and see if it helps him.”

A chill of unease sweeps through me as Willow steps around me. Viktor may be mean and brash, but there’s something about Willow that makes me believe she isn’t exactly what she appears to be.

Inside, we find Jonah tied up in the middle of the dining room. The large table and its chairs have been pushed to the side, lining the walls of the room. Theodon stands in front of Jonah with his arms crossed over his chest, as if he was just in the middle of a conversation with the cursed man. He looks up as we enter the room. Willow takes the grocery bag from my arms and heads to the kitchen as I come to a stop near my leader. He watches Willow until she’s out of sight before turning his attention to me.

“Everything went smoothly in town.”

It’s not a question but I nod all the same.

“It took you two a while.”

Again, not a question. The lack of infliction in his voice would convince almost anyone else that he’s bored, but I know better.

“Willow got held up at the apothecary and then insisted we go to the grocery store.”

Theodon’s pupils narrow, and his mouth twitches downwards. Before he can say anything else, Willow and Viktor come back into the room. Viktor lingers a few feet away while Willow walks towards us. She stops in front of Theodon, who regards her with a nod.

“Here.” She lifts her hand and holds up a small bottle. “For the book.”

Theodon doesn’t take it right away. He regards the small bottle for a moment before finally lifting his hand and taking it from the necromancer. Willow steps around him to come up to Jonah. Although Jonah doesn’t have eyes, he seems to know she’s there. His mouth stretches into a wide, toothy grin as she loosens the knots binding his hands. With deliberately slow movements, he lifts his large claws and caresses her cheek. They both tremble at the contact. Willow smiles down at him with a twinkle in her eyes. My jaw clenches as I tense, ready to grab her if need be. I know he’s a man beneath that rough façade, but still. Seeing Willow that close to a Shadebroode is nerve-racking.

Willow holds up a simple leather collar, like one for a pet.

“This is supposed to help shifters hold their human forms,” she says. “Do you mind if I put it around your neck?”

Immediately, Jonah drops his hands and tilts his head to give Willow better access. Her smile widens and she moves to clasp the collar around the Shadebroode’s neck. He cries out, and his body begins to jerk. Theodon grabs Willow’s arm and yanks her back as Jonah begins shaking violently. His screams of agony fill the small house. Willow cringes into Theodon, who pulls her closer to his body while Viktor’s hand falls to the hilt of his sword, waiting for a reason to attack. Slowly, Jonah’s body begins to shrink. The dark, rough skin flakes away. Teeth fall from his mouth, and his nails pop off. Steam rises off his body as his bones contort. The spikes along his back even begin to shrink into his spine.

In the next minute, a young man, probably around Willow’s age, is lying naked on the ground. He still has a thick black tail, and has horns protruding from his mop of curly blond hair, but the rest of him is human.

Jonah slowly rises onto his hands and knees, panting hard as the change ends. Steam is still rising from his body, and his muscles are taut. The only sound in the room is from his panting. I glance over at my brothers, who stare at Jonah wide-eyed. Willow’s brows are pulled together in concern, and her bottom lip is trapped by her teeth as she watches on with worry.

Slowly, he comes to his feet, staring at his hands as he does. After wiggling his fingers a few times, he balls his hands into fists. He rolls his neck to stretch it out then lets out a relieved laugh.Jonah looks up slowly. He glances at me, to Viktor, and then towards Theodon and Willow.

Willow steps out of Theodon’s arms towards the man, her eyes as large as saucers. Jonah grins as she comes to stand right in front of him. She reaches out to touch his cheek, as he did with her only moments ago. Both shiver at the contact.

“Finally,” he says. “Now, let me do this the right way.”

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