Page 153 of Shifting Spirits

“So, what? It’s rude to have company when you’re not dressed.”

“Yes, Alpha,” I say as I leave the room and throw on sweats.

Silas is close behind me, heading to the bathroom before he dresses.

I cover my ears as I pass, knowing if I hear him pee, I’ll need to go, too.

Adrian and Rachel come into the hall as Silas goes into his room.

I stop fingering my earholes.

“What was that?” Rachel asks, giving me an amused smile.

“That was nothing,” I tell her. “I assume you can’t still feel everything this morning?”

She shakes her head. “Last night … I don’t know what that was, but it was seriously intense.”

“Hurry up, Silas,” Adrian calls out.

We head downstairs as Silas steps onto the landing in jeans, holding a T-shirt. He tugs it over his head and follows us through the hall and into the living room.

The witch stands up. “This will just be a quick visit.”

“Carter said you had news,” Rachel says.

She nods. “I had to wait to cross check your story with the police investigation, but there’s no reason to keep you in any more suspense. Paul Winter’s death was on his own shoulders. Dorothea’s was also caused by her own actions. No further action is being taken against any of you or the others who were present for last night’s attack.”

“Oh, thank Freya.” Rachel looks so relieved.

“Now, there are a couple of other things I think you should know.”

That sounds a bit ominous. I frown at the witch.Is she a liar, really?

“The final demon, the one who tried to kill you at home,” she says. “He got here through his own magic. But it doesn’t matter that the Dark Lord was already gone by the time you killed him. He was still automatically sent to hell. So, you don’t need to worry about a demonic spirit lingering.”

“That’s definitely good news,” Silas says.

“Paul Winter’s parents,” she starts.

“Oh, Goddess, they came out here and I lied to them,” Rachel blurts.

“When was that?” the witch asks.

“Um, Christmas Day.”

“Well, that wasn’t them,” she says. “They’ve been dead since around Halloween. I believe that’s when Dorothea managed to gather the funds to come out to Midnight Valley to visit the man she was promised to by her parents.”

“Her parents?” Rachel asks. “They organized her engagement?”

“The Winters’ family was very rich. They were also secretly Dark Lord worshippers and they wanted to make sure any girl who married their son wouldn’t set him on the straight and narrow. Dorothea’s family used to be rich. They sold their daughter to be rich again, and they died a few months later in a house fire. It’s unknown if Dorothea started the fire but considering there’s evidence that she burned Paul’s parents alive it seems likely.”

“Holy fucking shit,” I mutter.

“Is that all?” Adrian asks.

“There’s one last thing, and it comes with a warning, I’m afraid.”

Shit. We should have known. The other shoe’s about to drop.

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