by Gwen Knight
Louis shot the necromancer a glance, his whole being swaying toward her as though her power called to him.
“Holy crap,” Kendra whispered. “Ghosts are real? Did you know that?”
I hadn’t. I’d never given them much thought, to be honest.
The necromancer continued her show, asking Louis to perform some simple tricks. And if the shit-eating grin on his face was evidence of anything, he was loving every moment of it. Likely the only time a ghost got a little attention.
“Do you think…” Kendra’s voice drifted off.
“What?”
She turned toward me, her eyes wide with emotion. “Do you think Daniel is a ghost?”
Her question twisted something in my chest. Daniel meant so much to her, I knew that. But if he was a ghost, I didn’t want to know. I didn’t want to know that he was watching her, waiting for her on the other side. It made me feel like an…interloper, almost. But I refused to give in to any sort of jealousy.
“We could always ask her,” I suggested.
Kendra paled. “We couldn’t, could we? What if he…I mean, wouldn’t it better if…”
“If it helps you sleep better at night, we should ask. What if you regret not asking?”
She nibbled her bottom lip, but eventually nodded.
Maybe I shouldn’t have suggested that. I couldn’t imagine seeing Daniel in ghost form would help Kendra move on. On the other hand, it could give her closure. Something she desperately needed.
“Come on,” I said. I took her hand and led her through the crowd.
The necromancer eventually finished her show, then hung around to answer a few questions. Once everyone dispersed, she turned toward us with an intriguing light to her eyes. Almost an unnatural green sheen.
“You can summon ghosts,” I said, stupidly stating the obvious.
“I can.”
“All ghosts?” Kendra asked, her voice a mere whisper.
“I’ve never had one ignore me yet.”
“And…do all the dead become ghosts?”
The necromancer’s expression softened. “No, not all. Some move on immediately. I find it all depends on their situation when they pass. If they had unfinished business, they tend to cling to the physical world the longest.”
Kendra wrung her hands, perhaps afraid to ask her next question.
“I know this isn’t part of your job description,” I said. “But would you be willing to try and summon someone?”
The necromancer’s eyes narrowed on me. “Why?”
“My mate died a year ago,” Kendra finally said. “I…I was wondering if maybe, if it was possible…to talk to him again?”
“Your mate?” The woman’s eyes darted to me.
I nodded. I didn’t want to be the thing standing in her way from fulfilling Kendra’s request.
The necromancer stole a quick glance around, then stepped toward Kendra. “I can try, but there’s no guarantee he’ll show. He might have moved on, or he might not…want to talk to you, if you get my meaning. And I refuse to force ghosts to do something they don’t want to do. I might have complete control over them, but I try not to force that on him. It must be his choice.”
Kendra nodded. “I understand.”
“All right. What’s his full name?”
“Daniel Allan Daye.”
The woman nodded, then closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath. This time, no fire ignited from her hands, and the candles laid dormant. I sensed power flowing from her, but nothing like the show she’d put on earlier.
Her eyes twitched, and her mouth pursed. Her head cocked, and she pushed her power further. It looked as though she was engaging in a silent conversation with someone. After a few moments, her hands clenched, and green flames slid over her fingers.
Then, just as quickly, the fire died, and the necromancer opened her eyes. “I’m sorry, but I can’t find him.”
“Can’t find him? What’s that mean?”
The woman gave a light shrug. “Either he’s already moved on, in which the only way to summon him now would be to resurrect him from his grave. Which, believe me, you do not want to do. Or he refuses to answer my summons. Which is…possible.” She shot me another glance.
I understood her unspoken meaning. If Daniel was a ghost, he would know about me. And perhaps refused to show because of that.
“Thank you for trying,” Kendra mumbled.
“I can tell you this, though. We cling to the dead because we don’t understand death.” The necromancer gestured toward herself. “I do. I’ve seen things people haven’t. Been to the…spirit world. Sometimes our refusal to let go of our dead keeps them rooted in place. If you truly cared for this man, let him go. It’s best for you both.”
Kendra nodded, though I saw sadness in her eyes. She’d wanted to speak to Daniel again, if only once more. I tucked an arm around her shoulders, pulled her into my chest, and brushed a kiss against her brow.
“Come on. Let’s get some ice cream or something,” I said. “I think I saw a horror-themed ice cream sundae bar.”
She gave a watery laugh and nodded. “We’ll take some to Brittany. I’m sure she’d love a boo-berry sundae.”
I snorted back a laugh. Quite the groan-worthy pun. And one of the reasons I loved this girl—a realization that stopped me dead in my tracks. It shouldn’t have surprised me. The way I’d felt when I first spotted her in the dining room, the way I felt for her now. Hell, the woman was moving to a new state to be with me. And moving in with me. Of course, I loved her.
“What’s wrong?” Kendra asked.
I stared down at her, memorizing her features. I was in love with her—with everything about her. Her laughter, her jokes, even the sadness she carried with her.
She touched my arm. “Leo? You okay?”
“I’m more than okay,” I told her. “Just had a small epiphany, is all.”
“Oh, yeah? Anything good?”
“Well, I should hope so.”
“Do tell, then. And make it quick, I want my ice cream.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Oh, nothing big. Just that I love you.”
She froze, her eyes wide. “You…what?”
“You heard me,” I teased. “I figured I should tell you, in case you wanted to know.”
“You…”
“Love you, yes.”
I waited with bated breath, hoping she felt the same way. But her silence was a tad disconcerting. After a few heart-pounding moments, she grinned, rose up on her tiptoes, and kissed me.
“Good, because I love you, too.”
“Damn straight you do,” I said with a wink.
“Good think you don’t suffer from a lack of ego.”
“Not in the least, baby,” I teased. “Now, come on, let’s get you some ice cream before someone else eats it all.”
17
Kendra
Let him go, the necromancer had said. Those words still resounded in my head, because she was right. I had to let Daniel go. It was only fair, after all—for all of us. Leo deserved a mate wholly dedicated to him, I deserved a life beyond death, and Daniel deserved to finally rest in peace. Funny how my family had been telling me the same thing for the past year, but it’d taken the words of a stranger for it to finally sink in.
I had a whole new life awaiting me out there. And I wanted to welcome it with open arms. That meant packing up the cabin and selling it. I’d thought about offering it to the pack, but I couldn’t. They’d taken enough from me—they wouldn’t get our former home, too.
After the festival, I’d returned to my room to pack my things, and found Brittany in the middle of a video call with my parents. Unsurprised, I’d readied myself for a barrage of insults and questions, only to learn my parents completely supported this new adventure of mine. Though, my mother had made a snide comment about how me moving to a new state wouldn’t make much of a difference, considering I never visited anyway. I’d gritted my teeth, nodded at her perfect visage, the
n grabbed my luggage and went to work. At least my father had seemed truly happy for me.
Brittany, on the other hand…
She’d sulked the entire way home. Which had made for a very long day of travel. I understood her anger. We’d never been apart our whole lives. Growing up, it’d always been the two of us against the rest of the world. And now, she felt abandoned. No amount of reassurance would convince her otherwise. She’d have to come to grips with this on her own.
In the meantime, however, she kept scowling at Leo in the rearview mirror, as though this was all his fault. Her sullen attitude made me laugh. It reminded me of when we were kids, and I’d eaten her Halloween candy.
We pulled up to the cabin and Brittany killed the engine. I stared at the familiar planks of wood, and felt a strange sense of dread sweep over me. I really didn’t want to go inside, but I needed my things.
As a group, we exited the car. Leo stepped up behind me and brushed the small of my back. It’d taken a small fee, but he’d managed to reroute his flight home and add another seat for me.
“Ready?” he asked.
Good question. I stared up at the cabin, and with a deep breath, nodded. Today felt like a whirlwind even though all we’d done was come home.
“Let’s do this,” I said.
On the way home, we’d agreed that whatever remained of Daniel’s would go to a charity. It wouldn’t take long since I’d already packed it up. But the personal things, like our photo albums and whatnot, I’d put those into storage. All the furniture would remain here to entice a new buyer. I was hoping it wouldn’t take longer than a few hours to pack my things, then I’d send someone to collect Daniel’s stuff.
I strode toward the cabin and fished out my keys, about to unlock the door when I caught a hint of a familiar scent. Keys in hand, I paused and lifted my chin, my nostrils flaring. I couldn’t place the scent. It was faint, tinged by a recent snowfall, but there was something oddly familiar about it.
“What is it?” Leo asked.
“That scent…”
I pocketed my keys and rounded the side of the cabin. Anyone else might not have noticed the differences, but I did. I’d lived in this cabin for the past year on my own. The shovel wasn’t where I’d left it, and the deck broom now rested on the opposite side of the door.
Could I have moved them and not remembered? Maybe this was all in my head?
But that scent…
“Kendra?”
I turned toward Leo. “The shovel and broom aren’t where I last left them.”
His brows knotted as he turned toward the cabin and drew in his own deep breath. “I smell snow and a male’s fragrance. It’s faint.”
The same things I’d picked up on.
I returned to the front of the house to find Brittany still leaning against the car, her arms crossed over her chest. Guess she couldn’t be bothered to help solve this mystery.
“Let’s go inside,” Leo suggested. “Might help you figure out what’s going on.”
“Yeah.”
I glanced at the driveway, only now noticing the faint imprint of tire tracks beneath ours. Someone had been here. Recently, too.
Slipping my hand into my pocket, I pulled out my keys and approached the door. Maybe one of my neighbors had dropped by. I jammed the key in the lock and twisted. The door popped open, and Leo and I slipped inside with Brittany tagging along. The familiar scent of hardwood washed over me, but beneath it was that familiar tug.
Something definitely wasn’t right. The scent grew stronger as we stepped inside. Whoever had dropped by had come inside the house.
Leo tensed next to me, his nose telling him the same thing as mine.
And if I wasn’t mistaken…
“He’s still here,” I whispered.
The fragrance was much stronger inside. The further I ventured within the cabin, the stronger it grew.
“Let me check it out,” Leo grumbled.
“No. You don’t know the floor plan.” I didn’t wait for a response. If someone was squatting in my cabin, I wanted to know. I followed the scent through the living room, into the kitchen, through the hallway, and stopped in front of my bedroom. The door was shut tight, but the scent was strongest here. Whoever my squatter was, they’d set up residence in my bedroom.
Wasn’t that disturbing as all hell…
Leo took the lead and grabbed the doorknob. He glanced my way, and when I nodded, he twisted the handle and shoved open the door.
But the sight that greeted me was one I never would have imagined possible.
“Daniel,” I whispered. I shook my head in an attempt to clear my head. Maybe my eyes were playing tricks on me. But there he stood. And from the look on Brittany’s face, he most certainly was not a figment of my imagination. How… How was this possible? The first thought to cross my mind was, had I done this? The necromancer on the boat? She’d attempted to summon him, but it hadn’t worked. Was this real? Was he actually Daniel? He didn’t look like a ghost. Not transparent in the slightest bit. He looked healthy, and whole, and alive.
Alive.
Daniel.
Was alive.
This couldn’t be possible. But I could hear his heart beating. See his chest rising and falling with breath. The flush of color in his cheeks.
“Kendra,” he rasped.
Before I could utter another word, he crossed the room and swept me up into his arms. Solid arms. Arms that hadn’t held me in a year, and I’d thought never would again. I couldn’t help but sink into the embrace. This was all I’d wanted for what felt like forever. His scent—the familiar aroma from the living room—invaded my nose and filled my lungs.
Daniel.
But the dream soon crumbled into a nightmare. Heart pounding, I shook my head and stepped out of reach. This was far too much to handle. I needed space to think. I shot Leo a glance and spotted an equally befuddled expression on his face. And not only befuddled, but heartbroken. I saw the pain shimmering in his eyes, scented his anger in the air. Not that he’d ever show it.
“Daniel?” Brittany asked, her voice meek. She eased up behind me, her shoulder brushing mine. “How’s this possible?”
The million-dollar question I needed an answer to. It couldn’t have been the necromancer. She’d explicitly stated that resurrecting someone was bad. Doubtful she’d go ahead and do that without consent. And no scent of death lingered on him. He smelled like Daniel.
Still stunned, I glanced past him to find our bedroom in a state of disarray. He’d strewn boxes across the floor—the same boxes I’d packed his things in. He’d unpacked them, and returned everything to its correct place. Our weddings photos shone on the nightstand, images of us hung from the walls, his clothes once again folded in his drawers.
“What the hell is going on here?” I demanded. “You…you were dead. I saw you. I saw Benjamin kill you.”
Daniel winced, then rubbed the back of his neck. “Right. About that…”
About that? What was that supposed to mean? “How are you standing here? How are you alive?”
“I, uh, never died.”
My mouth gaped open. I had no idea how to respond to that. No idea how to feel about any of this.
He’d never died? But…I’d watched Benjamin strike the killing blow. I’d seen the blood, watched Daniel fall. He’d died.
A deep growl echoed through the hallway, but before I could pinpoint it, Leo lunged into the room and snatched Daniel up by the throat. I watched in horror as Leo heaved him into the air and squeezed, choking the life out of him.
“Leo!” I shouted.
“You lying, deceitful bastard,” Leo snapped. Claws sprouted from his fingers and punctured the side of Daniel’s throat. “I should rip out your throat right here and now.”
I rushed into the room and grabbed his arm. “Stop! You’re hurting him.”
Leo snarled, his face slowly morphing into that of a lion. “I should kill the bastard.”
“What? Why? Woul
d you put him down?”
He curled a lip, then threw Daniel into the nearest wall without so much as breaking a sweat. I stared in awe at Daniel’s crumbled form. I’d always thought him to be so strong. An alpha’s alpha. But standing next to Leo, I realized the level of power he possessed. Daniel was nothing but a puppy compared to him.
“Can someone please tell me what the hell is going on?” I shouted.
“And me,” Brittany commented. She stood off to the side of the room, keeping her distance from the developing situation.
“He faked his death,” Leo rumbled, his golden gaze alight with an unexpected rage. “Didn’t you, Daniel?”
I swung my attention back to Daniel, aghast at the accusation. No, Leo had to be mistaken. Daniel would never do that. He’d never lie to me like that, never hurt me like that.
But instead of countering Leo’s words, Daniel merely picked himself up and touched his injured throat. He flashed his own teeth at the sight of his blood.
“Tell her,” Leo snarled. “Tell her what a coward you are.”
“It can’t be true,” I whispered.
Except, Daniel wouldn’t even look at me. Was Leo right? No. No. Daniel had saved our pack. He’d swept in, demolished the old alpha, fixed everything. It didn’t make sense to bail on the pack, on me.
“I thought I wanted to be an alpha,” Daniel grumbled, still rubbing his neck. “But you don’t understand. The constant pressure to be Mr. Perfect, all the time. To handle an endless stream of problems. To constantly listen to people complaining and whining instead of fixing their own lives. I wanted out.”
“You…wanted out? Why didn’t you say something?” I shouted. “Why put us through this? Why do this to me?”
“You think I wanted to look in your eyes when I told you I failed? That I wanted to abandon the pack? You never would have left.”
Ironic, considering that was exactly what I was doing now.
“You didn’t even give me a chance,” I whispered. “You just…acted. And to arrange all this. To lie to us. I believed you were dead. I mourned you.”
“That was the point,” he said.
He finally met my gaze, but his green eyes weren’t familiar anymore. It was like staring at a stranger. A fresh wave of anger surged through me. The bastard had put me through hell! He’d destroyed me, all for his own selfish reasons. What kind of sadistic asshole did this to someone they supposedly loved?