Ghost (The Halloween Boys #1) (102)
Onyx added, “Or offer me any intel on who my father is and where he may be.”
She let out a sigh and rubbed her eyes. “I’m tired.”
“Let’s get you to bed.” My strong arms scooped her up in an instant, and I carried her up to the attic. Her eyes drifted shut as she leaned into my chest, the protruding bones not bothering her. She was so accepting of me, of us, and this life. It was remarkable. Somehow, I was stronger around her, my abilities heightened, my need to be in my true form more urgent than ever. It was as if she’d given me strength. Perhaps finding your Claimed did that. I wasn’t sure. All I knew was that Claiming tied our souls together for eternity. It was a bond mysterious and powerful. But my increased power was evident. Even Vincent seemed to notice. As I tucked her into bed and removed her shoes, I shifted back into a man so I could fit in the bed and lie beside her. She was so fragile, so easily frightened, and her body tired so quickly. It would be my life’s work, from this point forward, to guard her against my kind. As I tugged her close, I promised, “I’ll always protect you, Little Ghost, from this dark and twisted world of monsters. You’re mine.”
The woods at Hallows were alive the night of Halloween. I loved the thinning of the veil that Halloween brought. A twisted anniversary for me and my boys. The night we’d failed, cursed, and killed. The name of the holiday that would haunt us and give us our titles.
“Vincent’s high off his ass,” Wolfgang spat. “The wolven have combed the forest, and there’s no trace of anything, not even a damned or a stray ghoul. You may not like the witches, but they cast a damn good spell. Whatever’s sending ghouls and legions after Blythe, we don’t have to deal with it until after Halloween.”
I kicked at a branch. “My smoke doesn’t detect anything either. It’s possible whatever was after her just wanted to test me, the Archdemon of Ash Grove. Once they saw they didn’t stand a chance, they forfeited. Could be as simple as that.”
Onyx considered while tending his campfire. The guy couldn’t be in nature for any length of time without starting a fire. Dragon and pyromaniac. “Feels a little too easy, don’t you think? And now that Vincent’s suddenly involved . . . Vampires only care for their own.”
Shrugging my shoulder, I peered into the mirror I’d propped in the crook of a maple. Skull makeup was perfect for tonight’s surprise. “Not everything’s a conspiracy. Blythe’s a mortal under the protection of an Archdemon, a dragon-vampire hybrid, wolven, witches, and a host of other meddling immortal assholes. Who in their right mind would be stupid enough to continue pursuing her?”
The flame pulsed green. After a hundred or so years, I still didn’t know what that meant, if anything. “What if whoever it is isn’t in their right mind,” he mused. “A being with nothing to lose.”
Wolf answered as my irritation grew. “That still doesn’t explain what they’d want with an average mortal. Yes, we’re into her. I mean, Ghost, she’s Ghost’s,” he recovered, not so swiftly. I rolled my eyes while slicking back my hair. My plan to give them a taste of her, to let them watch as I fucked her, backfired. They were as interested as ever. “But any creature could sooner pursue an easier human. I think we can relax,” Wolfgang said as he walked over to Onyx and wrapped his arm around him in a side hug. “Don’t overthink for a night, man. It’s Halloween.”
Onyx kept his tone casual as he asked, “So Blythe is getting the full experience downtown, huh? I noticed the cemetery emptied out quick this year.”
“She’s with Raven. I thought I’d let him usher her through the souls. They’re meeting us at The Brew Pump.” I straightened my collar. The boys and I were dressed in our eighteen hundreds finery: coats with tails, collars, the works. I hadn’t seen Blythe yet, but I was certain she’d look stunning in a period-piece dress. The thought of seeing her in a dress from my time . . .
Wolfgang chuckled, pulling on his top-hat. “She has no idea what we’re about to do, does she?”
My lips curved in a smile. “No clue.”
BLYTHE
My witch friend clicked her tongue as she scanned me top to bottom. “You look like you walked straight out of a Jane Austen novel. You know, a Halloween version of Pride and Prejudice.”
“I was always liked Persuasion better. Only I wished she could end up with all the guys and not just one.” I shrugged. “I feel so fancy.” I rocked side to side, watching my large, black gown sway. It was gorgeous ebony fabric and lace, complete with long silk gloves and my lacy black mask. Yesenia had done my hair, an updo with a few face-framing curls. “It’s not too poofy, is it?”
“Poofy was the style of the ladies back then. But no, not too poofy.”
“Yours is less poofy than mine. And wow, purple is your color.” Her gown matched mine but in a deep eggplant shade, hemmed with delicate black lace. Yesenia’s dark curly hair and brown skin shimmered. She looked like a lady. I looked like a girl playing dress-up.
She passed me my red lipstick from my makeup bag. It reminded me of the color of Onyx’s lips from the night before. . . blood tinted. “This shade, this is the one. And don’t worry, Ames is going to lose his mind when he sees you. I’ll be shocked if he doesn’t declare his love and propose right then and there.”