Page 68 of Ghostly Touches

Theo moves closer to me, his eyes on Willow.

“Once our superiors find out that Willow owns the vehicle the others took, they’re going to do some serious digging into her background. What are they going to find?”

“I’d worry more about yourselves than what they think of Willow.” I don’t like the hard look he’s pinning her with.

His gaze flickers up to my face, his expression hardening even further.

“It won’t take them long to realize that Willow is with us after what the others saw today. Trust me, if they get their hands on Willow, it won’t bode well for any of us.No oneis supposed to know about Ghosts. An infrequent sighting is one thing, but to know everything that she does about us? They won’t like that.”

I have a feeling that Willow can take care of herself when it comes to other Ghosts. The only reason she’s been tolerating these three is because she’s tied to them.

“The Brotherhood is known for their more extreme measures to maintain our secrecy,” Kwil says after a moment. “You think they’ll find an excuse that will justify killing her to keep her quiet about Ghosts.”

Theo nods. “We need to know everything about this woman. I refuse to be caught off guard if they find something we weren’t expecting from this necromancer. Maybe we can use her as leverage…”

“You think getting caught is inevitable.” The acceptance in Kwil’s voice worries me.

Apparently, it bothers Theo too because he whirls around to face the other Ghost.

“They willnotcatch us,” he vows. “I just don’t want any more surprises. If she can keep the others off of us with whatever powers she may have, I’ll use her as a line of defense.”

I scowl. “She’s not a weapon.”

Theo doesn’t turn around to face me when he replies, “She’s whatever I need her to be.”

My tail whips back and forth behind me on the dining room floor as my internal alarm bells go off. I don’t know what Willow is, but I know she’s special. And powerful. If the Ghosts find out just how powerful she is, I’m afraid they’ll do something dramatic. What? I’m not sure, but I’d hate to find out.

As a thief, a con artist, and someone who has an eye for valuable things, I know when I have something incredible, and Willow is it. Maybe my desire to protect her stems, just a little, from selfish reasons. I shake my head as I look down at the woman in my arms. I won’t think about that now. There’s no way I could be coveting a woman because of her abilities. Right? No. This is definitely because I’m in her debt.

“She’s an innocent woman in all of this,” Kwil points out coldly. “We’re not going to use her for anything.”

I snort. “Viktor’s already using her as a punching bag. Why not as a shield?”

Theo’s gaze slides over to my direction. Though his expression never changes, a fire burns in those fuchsia-colored eyes.

“Careful, Jonah. I will not allow an outsider to cast stones.” His words are softly spoken, but the threat is there.

“He’s right, though,” Kwil comes to a stop in the middle of the room. “Viktor’s actions could have killed her, and then we’d all be screwed. What happens if he does this again?”

“He won’t.” Theodon turns to the hooded Ghost. “It was a lapse in judgment.”

“It’s foolish to think that it won’t.” Kwil’s disgust is loud and clear despite his quiet voice. “His patience with her and Jonah here, is worse than it normally is.”

Theo places his hands on Kwil’s shoulders.

“You’re feeling the effects of your missing soul. You’re overly worried about the necromancer. She’s fine—”

Kwil knocks his hands away.

“It’s not that, Theodon! I swear it,” Kwil snarls. “We’re supposed to protect the people in this world, not harm them. Viktor’s out of control. What about next time?”

“There won’t be—”

“You don’t know that!” Kwil argues.

Suddenly, he turns and heads directly towards me. Instincts tell me something’s up. I’m on my feet with Willow in my arms in the next instant. How I managed such a feat, I can only assume is because I still have the monster’s strength despite the collar. My tail flails around behind me as I brace myself for trouble.

“Give her to me.” Kwil demands in a deep, strained voice.

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