Page 73 of Ghostly Touches

I laugh. The sound is twisted with exasperation and fury.

“You can’t be that stupid, Kwil,” I snap once I’ve collected myself. “Do you really think that Theo will care if we’re cursed the moment our souls aren’t tied to one another? Once we’re free of each other, he’ll kill us and say it was for the best. We know way too much.”

“He wouldn’t—”

“He’s never gone to drastic measures to ensure your secrets aren’t blown?” I cut him off, not willing to let him lie to the both of us. “We’re loose ends, Kwil.”

Kwil is silent. I’m not sure if it’s because he knows the outcome of all of this or because he doesn’t want to admit that they are not good men. With a heavy sigh, I lie back onto the bed and throw my arm over my eyes.

“I won’t let him touch you, Willow.” Kwil’s voice seems to have deepened, growing cold and hard. “Neither Theo nor Viktor are allowed to harm you.”

I want to point out I’ve already been harmed by both of them, but I don’t. It’s not worth it.

“You should eat something.”

I hear the sound of Kwil’s boots walk across the carpet. It’s followed by the crackling of a paper bag being moved. Beside me, the bed dips under his weight.

“I’m not eating anything.”

Kwil sighs.

“You’ll feel better with some medicine and food in your stomach.”

“Fuck off, Kwil.” I snap. “You don’t have to play the good cop in this situation.”

“I’m not playing any role. I can’t stand being unable to—” He stops himself.

I don’t care what he has to say, so I don’t push to hear about whatever he’s unable to do.

“Please eat, Willow.” The softness in his voice surprises me.

With a huff, I drop my arm away from my face and sit up. The abruptness leaves me feeling dizzy all over again. When the room stops spinning, I look over to find Kwil watching me.

“Why does it matter if I eat? Did you put a sedative in the food to put me out so you can move me without issue?”

“No.” He pauses for a moment before he adds. “I like your figure. A lot. If you don’t eat, it will go away.”

This is not the response I expected. In fact, it’s so far from what I thought he might say that I laugh. Hard. When my amusement subsides, I grab the bag sitting next to Kwil.

“You’re a mystery to me,” I tell him as I open the bag of food. Yum, a large fry and a double stacked burger? Yes,please.

“Makes sense since I’m your Mystery Man.” He chuckles.

The smile slides off my face.

“You’re not my anything.” Not anymore. These men are bad news all around.

“We are good people, Willow. I promise, that hasn’t changed.”

My snort teamed with my eye roll seems to sum up everything I don’t say out loud because he sighs. As I sit there and pick at my food, my head throbs. Gingerly, I reach up and touch the spot that hurts the most.

“Can I see your stitches?”

Shrugging, I grab for the packet of pills Theodon left behind. Kwil shifts beside me, moving so close our arms bump into one another. When they do, a brief reprieve washes over me.

“Here, bend your head this way.”

I do, only because I’m afraid the throbbing back there is because I pulled a stitch out. Kwil’s light touch barely stings as he moves my hair to the side.

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