Page 68 of Haunted Hearts

I’m guided towards an empty stump, one of many that are placed in a ring around the bonfire, and take a seat beside Tootsie. Kwil remains standing close by while Brock takes a seat on my other side. Theo leaves us to introduce himself to the others and to grab a plate of food. Jonah is on the other side of the large fire, declaring loudly that he could eat the whole pig on the spit if given the chance. Music flares to life from somewhere close by.

“So, Willow,” Tootsie turns her head to look at me. Her gaze is sharp and full of interest. Well, her good eye is sharp and focused. Her left eye is clouded and dead. “How did Brock get so lucky to stumble upon you? Were you one of the souls he reaped?”

Caveman chuckles, “Wait until you hearthisstory, Tootsie. This is going to blow your mind.”

“Wait, you told Caveman a secret?” Tootsie’s gaze shifts around me to Brock. “Really?”

When I look over at Brock, I catch him rolling his eyes so hard I swear I can hear them. I knowthatlevel of exasperation. Unable to stop myself, I laugh softly.

“It was a tradeoff of information, nothing personal,” Brock answers.

“Nothing personal? Well, itfeelspersonal.” Tootsie turns her attention back to me. “So, how’d you guys meet?”

I grin at her, “Brock saw me in the Realm of the Living and then persisted to stalk me for a few years. I think your friend may be a pervert.”

Tootsie blinks in surprise before throwing back her head to laugh. Caveman chuckles deeply and Arty outright gawks.

“I always knew Brock the Rule Follower was a pervert,” Arty states triumphantly, once he finds his voice.

“Great, they’re never going to let this go,” Brock groans. “And rules are put in place for us to follow, Arty.”

Arty snorts, “No, I don’t think so. I think we’re supposed to test those limitations, but we can agree to disagree. Anyhow, now I understand why you’ve been MIA for years. We were all sure that you grew tired of us. Turns out, you were just being a creepy pervert.”

Brock sighs, “I said I was sorry, guys.”

Caveman nudges Arty but looks pointedly at Brock, “Ask how he was able to stalk our guest with the Veil closed.”

Arty’s furry brows come together as he considers this. “Wait, howdidyou do that?”

Brock glares at Caveman but looks over at Arty. My reaper opens his mouth, but I beat him to the answer,

“I could open the Veil,” I tell him in a stage whisper. “I was sending souls over, and Brock would take them the rest of the way. He was workingandstalking, I feel like that should win him some brownie points.”

Arty and Tootsie gasp loudly, leaning away from me as they process the information. Caveman only laughs.

“Told you this was going to blow your mind,” he tells Tootsie.

“Wait, that was you?” Tootsie ignores her friend as she leans forward again and she searches my face. “Youwere sending all those souls over? The Ward would get a sudden influx of spirits, and no one could figure out how these souls were getting here.” She looks over at Brock who grimaces. “You never said a word.”

“Yeah, well, I wanted to keep Willow for myself, what can I say?” His grimace turns into a wide smile.

“I didn’t think a goddess could open the Veil from the Realm of the Living. You must be pretty darn powerful,” Tootsie notes.

Arty wiggles his eyebrows at me. “I wish Brock would have told us about you. Then we could have stalked you too, since we had the time. You’re pretty great to look at.”

I laugh again. It covers up Kwil’s soft jealous growl. “I think one stalker is good enough for me.”

“Do you think that’s what Remy is doing? Now that we can cross over, he could be stalking a pretty lady?” Caveman asks, frowning.

He offers me a handmade wooden mug filled with something warm and full of spice. I take it gratefully. Tentatively, I take a sip and nearly groan. It’s a spicy apple cider. I could kiss this man.

“No, Remy wouldn’t have left us high and dry like Brock here,” Arty shakes his head grimly. “Something happened to him.”

“Nothing happened to him, Art. He’s just missing,” Tootsie tsks. “Brock’s paranoia is rubbing off on you.”

“Then where is he?” Arty snaps back.

A reaper’s missing? My eyes flicker over to Theo. He must feel my gaze on the back of his head, or maybe he heard where our conversation turned, because he looks over his shoulder at me. His jaw clenches. I glance back at Brock. Why wouldn’t he say anything to me about this?

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