Page 23 of For One Night

We get close to Oscar and Oz, stopping in front of them.

“G-G-Ghost!” he stutters.

Oz winks at me before saying, “What are you talking about? It’s just us here.”

His fear increases.

“You don’t see the girl?” he asks, staring right at me.

Silas makes a big show of looking around before saying, “No, it’s just the four of us, and we are all clearly male.”

Now Oscar looks terrified as he tries to get away. He’s shaking and avoiding eye contact, looking anywhere but at me. His arms are wrapped tight around his body.

“Let me go! I have to get out of here!” he screams.

Elias steps forward. “We will let you run but I need the parser weed before you go. I’ll even do a spell to banish evil spirits as your payment.”

Well, this worked out well.

“Please!” Oscar shouts before tossing the package from the back of his jeans at Elias.

He easily catches it before pocketing it. My warlock mate makes a big show of waving his hands and chanting but it doesn’t sound like the other spell I saw him perform.

For one second I worry that he’s really about to banish me but I relax when I get reassurance down the bond from him.

I do Elias the favor of making it seem real by becoming a ghost so Oscar can’t see me. It’s ironic really that as a human I scare him but in ghost form he feels better.

Oscar’s shoulders only relax slightly.

Elias finishes his show. Bringing his hands down, he says, “There, you should be safe. Good luck.”

The three guys turn to leave and, once Oscar is out of sight, I come back to my body and join them.

10

Elias

1:30 a.m.

We start walking back to my warehouse. With this ingredient, I’ll be able to make the potion for Micaela to try. It has to work, I won’t accept anything else.

I found the recipe in one of my oldest books. It’s the only one that even mentioned ghosts but the description wasn’t clear on what would happen. It mentioned ghosts’ energy. We are running out of time, so we have to try anything that could possibly work.

I can’t believe my ghost thought I would banish her. As soon as my magic detected her as my mate, I was sold. I would sooner chop Oscar’s head off than hurt my girl.

I could have, but he’s excellent at procuring obscure items. I want that connection unless he hurts her in any way. Then, he’s dead. Along with anyone else who would do her harm.

I throw an arm over her shoulder, pulling her tight against my body. She molds to me perfectly, she was made for me. Just as I was made for her.

There aren’t many people on this side of town but it’s not completely empty. Probably exactly why Oscar chose it.

Some fucker sees us, keeps walking but then back tracks, taking a second look.

“Micaela? What are you doing with these three?” He doesn’t seem to see us as a threat. That’s his second mistake. His first was talking to my ghost at all.

“How does he know you?” Silas demands. I want to know as well.

“Hi, Grant. These are my mates! Isn’t that exciting?” She sounds thrilled, but he looks like he took a bite out of a lemon. I could make that a reality for him. Maybe pour it into all the open wounds I’m going to give him.

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