Page 86 of Haunted Hearts

Jonah gasps in surprise, “You mean the previouskingof the Fae? Didn’t you say the Fae hung him? Why would they listen to him?”

I look over at him, “If he was remorseful, I bet that would mean a lot to them. A humble king could make a difference.”

Brock shakes his head hard, “Yeah, no. We’re not bringing spirits into the Realm of the Living. It throws this realm into chaos when that happens.” He glares over at Willow. “And I’m pretty sureyouknow that’s a rule, Willow. It was when you were alive, it still stands now.”

Her one shoulder shrug and half smile in his direction cause the reaper to throw his hands up in exasperation.

“If that’s the case, how is it that we can move back and forth?” Jonah demands.

Brock sighs, “You guys will be able to travel back and forth between the realms because you have Death inside of you and Death coincides with the living. But other spirits don’t, and they must remain here.”

The six of us fall silent. This mission is important. If we want to stop Fulton, we’ll need to stop the Brotherhood from working with him. But how do we do this without killing? What could possibly stop the Brotherhood?

“The Brotherhood controls the masses with fear,” Theodon states softly, straightening up and clasping his hands behind his back. He regards all of us grimly. “But what if the fear isn’t something they can control?”

I scowl and Brock mirrors it, but it’s Jonah that asks, “What are you talking about?”

Theo turns to Willow, a cunning smile splitting across his face. “Everyone fears dying, so what if we amplify that fear to make it so great, that nothing the Brotherhood says or does can quell it? What happens if we bring Death, or Death’sdaughter,to Everlast and give everyone a little scare?”

Oh hell.

Have Willow walk right into Everlast and let her run free? I don’t know if I’m more amused or horrified at the thought.

Willow’s soft laugh sends a chill of excitement down my spine. “You want me to play the bad guy, Theo?”

His smile turns into a full-blown grin.

“Yes, Willow, I’m asking you to be our bad guy. Think you can handle it?”

I turn to catch Willow’s eye roll. When her hands come up to her hips, I know she’s a hundred percent onboard with whatever Theodon has concocted. Her grin is full of both amusement and wickedness. My blood warms at the sight of my bloodthirsty woman.

“Do you thinktheycan handleme?”

I laugh outright, “Willow,wecan barely handle you.”

But right now, I want to try. That fire in her eyes grows hotter even as she snorts and pushes down whatever she is trying to hide from us. I move towards her, my fingers itching to touch her. I reach up and cup her cheek as I stare down at her.

“The Brotherhood, and everyone in Everlast, won’t know what hit them,” I tell her.

Chuckling, Willow hooks a finger around one of my belt loops and pulls me closer to her. I swoop down and kiss her lips swiftly.

It’s not enough. The kiss is just a tease. I want more of her.

“So how do we do this when we aren’t supposed to be seen?” Jonah asks, sitting up in his chair.

“I think maybe we should bend the rules just this once.” Willow laughs again. This time, there’s an edge to it. “Becauseall I need is an audience and the attention of the Brotherhood, and I’ll make sure they never speak to Fulton again.”

I look to the others. “If that’s all we need, then I think heading straight to the temple is where we go.”

Theo nods.

“Then it’s settled, we’ll work out the details tonight and leave early in the afternoon tomorrow.”

Kwil growls as he straightens. “I can’t wait to see the Elders piss themselves.”

Willow grins, a hard glint flashing in her eyes before it disappears. At that moment, I’m not sure who’s more intimidating: Kwil, who is clearly already visualizing the chaos that will most undoubtedly ensue with our arrival, or Willow, who’s gone unusually silent but clings to a devastatingly wicked smile.

I’ve seen Kwil in action before and it’s… violent.

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