Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 71312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
“Everything is accounted for,” Nik says.
“I can go check and see if the oven was left on,” Ethan offers but I shake my head.
“It’s okay, Hunter can—” I cut off, remembering that I can’t send a normal dog into the kitchen to tell me if the oven is on or off.
“The pie is in the warming drawer,” Nik recalls.
“Right, that’s probably it.” I smile and go back to my food, taking a few more bites before switching to wine. An uneasy feeling starts to creep over me so slowly I don’t realize it until I’ve finished all my wine and set the empty glass back down. Leaning back, I half pay attention to a story Harrison is telling us about something that happened at work. My mind wanders and for some strange reason, it feels like I’m waiting for someone to come join us at the table.
“You okay?” Ethan asks softly, hand landing on my thigh.
“Yeah,” I reply right away. It’s an automatic response from me, even though Ethan always wants a genuine response. “Just, uh, lost in thought.”
“What are you thinking about?” Saanvi asks.
“Horses.” I force a smile. “I’m pretty much always thinking about horses. It’s kinda funny, actually. I think about them all day but when I’m out in the barn with them, my mind is quiet.”
“That was one thing I loved about riding. As soon as I got in the saddle, my problems faded. Then I worried about not falling off, which oddly I’d rather worry about than real life troubles.”
“Hah, I know what you mean. It’s such a good way too—”
Hide.
I cut off with a gasp at the sound of the hoarse whisper, dropping my fork onto my plate and spinning around so fast I bump into the table and almost cause everyone’s drinks to spill. My hand goes to the back of my neck, where I swear I felt cold breath against my skin as something whispered to me.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to shock you,” Ethan tries to cover up, bringing his hand to my shoulder. “Guess I should keep my hands to myself at the dinner table, right.”
“I hate when that happens,” Nik goes on, blotting up a bit of wine that spilled out of Ethan’s still-full glass. Knowing he’s not going to drink it, I reach forward and grab it, sucking down a big mouthful.
Smelling smoke, feeling cold breath on the back of my neck, and hearing voices…I’m either going crazy again or somehow, despite all the warding, a spirit has followed me home.
Chapter
Twelve
“Anything?” I whisper to Hunter. I snuck away saying I needed to use the bathroom and am standing in the hall right before the powder room with my hands outstretched. “I don’t feel anything either.” Biting my lip, I let my hands fall to my sides. A chill came over me, but it’s probably because this old house doesn’t retain heat all that well and it is getting colder outside now that it’s dark.
“This house isn’t haunted.” I take a few steps down the hall, unable to shake the feeling that someone is in the living room waiting for me. “It can’t be because I would have known the first time I stepped foot in here.” I’m starting to feel more and more on edge, which is something I’m familiar with from picking up a ghost’s emotions. Shaking my head, I move to the middle of the living room.
“Look,” I start in a harsh whisper. “If you’re trying to get my attention, I’m listening.” I wait a beat and sigh. “I won’t cleanse the house yet, but just, uh, lay low for the next few hours, okay?” Standing perfectly still, I listen for the smallest of signs before going back into the dining room.
Everyone is done eating, and we all agree that we’re too full for dessert just yet. I start clearing the table, hoping to get a few minutes in the kitchen alone with Ethan so I can tell him what happened. It’s not like he’ll be able to detect anything I can’t but being on the same page keeps us both sane.
“What’s going on?” he asks as soon as we get to the sink. I put the plates I was holding in and turn on the water. Ethan’s hands land on my hips and he steps close, body just inches from mine. Heat comes off of him in waves, and I close my eyes, tipping my head up. The fact that I almost lost him to a life sentence for a murder he didn’t commit hits me and I close the small distance between us and kiss him.
Ethan slides one hand down my back and brings the other to my head, taking a fistful of my hair. He pushes his tongue into my mouth, kissing me harder. I softly moan as I wrap my arms around him, forgetting about everything else in the world for a moment.