Page 39 of Haunted Hearts

I throw my arms around him, relieved that he’s here with me. Tears begin to build up and emotions knot in my throat.

“I’m ok… for now, at least.” I step out of his arms. “I keep doing this disappearing thing and it’s really not all that fun.”

Dad grimaces,Yes, well, I can explain that. Come on in where we can catch up. He glances at the others behind me.Did it happen again?

“Only once while you were gone,” Theodon answers.

I note the lack of fear in his voice as he speaks to my father. Well, maybe not lack, but definitely a significant decrease in fear since the last time I’d been with the two of them in the same room. The six of us file into Dad’s office, which is just as large as every other part of his house. Most of the room is lined with windows that look out onto a remote beach and clear blue ocean that’s situated at the back of the house. The other walls have sparse bookshelves or nothing at all. There’s a blue velvet chaise sofa facing the simple desk and chair in the middle of the room. Other than that, the room is empty.

Dad has always been a minimalist.

I follow him across his office. Rather than walk around his desk to sit down, Dad stops in front of it, turns and leans his back against it. I stop a few feet away from him, knowing that I’ll be unable to keep still if I sit down. There’s simply too much excitement bubbling in my veins. After going through hell, a day to just learn and explore who, and what, I really am, is exactly what I need.

Brock and Viktor take a seat on opposite ends of the couch, while Theo stands behind it with his arms crossed. Kwil lingers by the door like a guard, and Jonah, my sweet Jonah, practically skips to my side. His tail wraps around my waist and he takes my hand before squeezing it gently. He flashes me a grin when I look over at my cursed man and I can’t help but return it. Everything about Jonah makes the world seem just so much better. Maybe it’s his easygoing personality, or how he’s ready to face anything, no matter the situation, with a steadfast determination. Or maybe it’s because his love comes easily, and he makes it easy for others to love him. Whatever it is, my world is brighter because of this man.

Unable to stop the heat blooming in my cheeks as his love for me shines back, I force myself to turn away before I make a fool out of myself.

“Alright,” I square my shoulders and give Dad my full attention. I catch him staring at Jonah’s hand in mine before he looks up at me. I can’t tell if he approves. It wouldn’t matter either way, we’re stuck together. And as long as I’m happy, he should be too. “Tell me everything that’s happening to me and what to expect. I’m not having fun so far, but maybe you can give me a little hope that things are going to get better. Anything to look forward to?”

Viktor snorts and I swear I hear him mutter something about me always getting straight to the point as Dad’s face scrunches up with regret. Oh, ok, not a fan ofthatlook. What’s this about?

I don’t know about looking forward to anything in particular, Willie. But you’ve always been resilient, so I have no doubt you’ll conquer any issues you may face moving forward.

I scowl. “Well, that doesn’t sound at all ominous or anything. Spit it out, Dad. What the hell is happening to me?”

Dad shakes his head, chuckling.You sound just like your mother.

A stone drops in my stomach as I realize—

“Does she know that I’m dead?” I ask him quietly. “Did you tell her?”

Of course I told your mother! Dad snaps, his brows coming together.

“How’d she take—”

YOU DIDN’T EVEN CALL HER LIKE I TOLD YOU TO! HOW DO YOU THINK SHE TOOK IT?

Oops, Dad’s mad. He straightens as the room grows darker. The guys, including Brock, tense. Jonah’s hand squeezes mine a little tighter. I wince under Dad’s glare.

“Things got a bit hectic and—”

Did you even think, for one minute, that you should warn your mother that the Fae might show up atherdoorstep, asking about you and your involvement with three of their Fallen Ghosts? Dad demands.

Someone swears softly as I balk. No, that thought never crossed my mind. Horror causes my heart to flutter.

“The Brotherhood came after an innocent person?” The disbelief in Theo’s voice seems a bit unwarranted since, when we last saw his beloved organization, they were trying to capture me and admitted to the genocide of multiple worlds. “Is Mrs. Harvest alright?”

She’s safe, Dad answers, never taking his eyes off of me.And she will continue to be until I come and bring her home.

I let out a shaky breath.

“I’ll reach out to her today,” I promise, hating that I’ve been so narrow sighted. Of course the Fae, with their infinite resources, riches, and secrets would find a way to get to me. Going so far as to contact family members… I shudder.

Yes, you most certainly will. There is a scrying room where you’ll be able to reach her easily. Dad takes a deep breath to calm himself.In the meantime, we need to discuss what it means for you to be here in the Realm of the Dead. You’ve always known that things would be different for you than for other spirits, I’ve warned you as much.

I nod.

It’s not just because you’remydaughter. You’re the Realm of the Dead’s daughter. Dad frowns as he considers his next words.You belong to this realm as I do, at least in part. We are both made up of magic as old as time itself, that is infinite and ever growing. When a soul leaves its realm to come here to embark on their second life, if they carried any type of magic in their first life, that power is mutated, twisted, and absorbed within the fibers of this realm to become Death Magic. It is that magic that holds you to this form in which you stand before us all, as well as your second one. But it is also the magic that causes you tobecomepart of the realm,Willow,because youarethe realm. That is what's happening when you lose your sense of self and do what these guys consider ‘disappearing’.

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