Page 25 of Haunted Hearts

The way his voice becomes rough is the only indication that this man isn’t lacking emotions. Out of all the spirits I’ve encountered, these three Fae men are some of the hardest to read. If it wasn’t for how desperate they’ve been to help her, to stick by her side, I’d say they weren’t interested in her at all.

“No, of course not.”

“‘Of course not’,” He repeats mockingly, before his brows crash together and he leans over her to get into her face. “Well, it should, Willow!”

While Willow appears unfazed by the posturing, I tense and take a few steps towards the two of them.

“Why?”

Willow's question causes Viktor’s face to redden. “BecauseIdid this to you! I’ve torn you to pieces all because I had to touch that damn book—”

“Don’t worry, Viktor, you’re not the only idiot under this roof. I touched the damn book too,” Jonah says as he comes rushing into the room.

I watch as relief, joy, and absolute love brighten the guy’s face as he makes a beeline for Willow. Out of all of them, Jonah is my favorite of Willow’s friends. When Jonah gets to my woman, he scoops her up and twirls her around. Willow’s laughter drags a smile from me, despite the intrusion on our time together. That smile fades, however, when Kwil prowls into the room. Something in the air shifts whenever this one is around. There’s a predatory air that hangs thick in his presence.

I don’t miss the way his eyes lock on to Willow. The hungry look in his eyes is so intense that I’m afraid for Willow’s safety. More with him than with surly Viktor. That unease shifts to confusion however, when that intense stare averts when she looks over at him. He slows, lingering further from the others, his body tense.

Jonah places Willow on her feet, kisses her thoroughly, and then steps back.

“How are you feeling?” Jonah asks her, his tail wagging behind him.

Before Willow can answer, the door to the suite opens and Theodon strolls in. Dressed and bright-eyed, I know the guy has been up for hours. I’d seen him slip out of the apartment earlier and head to the library. Proof of his whereabouts is nestled under his arm. He places the book on the small side table next to the couch as a member of Death’s staff pushes a cart of food in behind him.

A violent surge of rage boils my blood and sends a jolt to my heart as I glare at Theodon.

This is the man who set in motion everything that led to Willow’s early demise. While I’m thrilled that now I get to be with the woman I’m supposed to be with, it’s because of him that she’d met such a grizzly fate. Theodon may not have physically killed her, but he most certainly had a hand in it. I watch as he approaches Willow, his movements unhurried. The hard lines and angles on his face seem to sharpen with each step. The woman he’s bound to is up and here, and he’s not excited? Maybe there are no deep feelings for her on his end. Just because their souls are soldered together doesn’t mean feelings have to be involved, I suppose.

Is it possible that with a bit of a push, he could be no more than an occasional visitor in Willow’s second-life? Their souls will have to be near one another so as not to tear, but near doesn’t mean living together. If Willow can see just how selfish, near-sighted, and dangerous Theodon of Windom is, maybe she’ll send him away. The thought of sending him packing lessens my rage. As if he can hear my thoughts, Theo’s gaze flickers over to me. A smoldering look of contempt briefly touches my face before I’m ignored completely.

As Kwil and Jonah finally step back to give Willow some space, Theodon moves towards her and cups one of her cheeks with his hand.

“My queen,” he whispers.

“My king.” Her response is filled with so much emotion that my conviction to push Theodon away from her wavers.

Theodon leans down and kisses Willow. There is nothing impersonal about it. The deep kiss is thoroughly claiming and heated. Is this real? Or just for show? When they break apart, Willow looks up at him like he hangs the stars. Taking her hand, Theo leads her over to the table that has just been set by the young man on staff who scurries out of the apartment without saying a word.

“There is much we need to fill you in on, how about we do it over lunch?” He offers as if it had been his idea in the first place.

I glare at his back as the others follow them. I’m the last to move, my feet feeling like lead as I approach the group.

Willow allows Theodon to guide her to the table, but she stops to look over her shoulder, right at me.

“Come on, Brock. When we eat, we eat together.”

Over her head, Theo’s pupils narrow at me, but he says nothing. I grin at Willow.

“Don’t worry, baby girl. I’ll be by your side for the rest of your second-life.”

Chapter9

KWIL

“—other than uncovering the corruption in the Brotherhood and Fulton escaping the Realm of the Dead, you haven’t missed much. You’ve only been disappearing and reappearing and sleeping for a little over two days,” Jonah says between bites of his sandwich.

His tail has wrapped itself around Willow’s waist, holding her in place while we eat. Theo is on her other side, his eyes never leaving Willow’s face as she picks at her food. Under the table, I catch sight of Viktor pressing his foot against hers. The only peoplenottouching Willow are me and Brock.

And it’s not because I don’t want to be. Judging by the distance in her eyes and her closed off body language since we sat down, I don’t think Willow necessarilywantsto be touched.

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