Page 22 of Haunting Salem

“Uh, no. Well, technically we met Mrs. Putnam and Ms. Good at the library.” Which seemed to happen so long ago. “We’ve kind of not wanted to disturb anyone while we’re here. You deserve your privacy, so I’ve been trying to keep to the history and the abstract of Salem.”

"We appreciate your thoughtfulness. It's one thing to be a tourist hotspot and another to be a tourist attraction." I understood Jamie. She was right. I'd seen it too many times. The people involved in a particular haunting became the spectacle the curious wanted to see, not the location or why it was potentially haunted.

“So, what do you do in the great town of Salem?” I folded my hands on the table, relaxing slightly.

“Would you believe I’m a travel agent?” The twinkle in her eye said there was more to it than just being a travel agent.

"You don't fit the travel agent mold." I narrowed my eyes. "I'm good at spotting different people."

“Hit me with your best shot then.” She laughed.

“You’re Wiccan—a witch,” I murmured. “You radiate power and life. You... God, saying this makes me sound pervy, but you attract people to you. Like, they always enter your gravitational pull, don’t they?”

She tapped the end of her nose. “Good guess, Simone. There are more like us here tonight. You’re the first seer—medium psychic we’ve had join us in years. I think it’s why Zane wanted you to join us tonight.”

“Uh, I’m deff not into cult things,” I said, afraid of a repeat in the canyon.

Jamie laughed harder this time. His hand went to her belly while the husky melodic sound filtered around us. "We're not a cult. I've seen your video from Turnbull Canyon. You had an amazing experience. Do you remember any of it?"

I frowned sitting back. "Bits and pieces. Not all of it, and I don't like talking about it." A chill raced up my spine and I shivered.

“Don’t push, witch,” Kael said wrapping his arm around me. “That night holds horrible memories for my liege.”

Jamie yipped in surprise and Cian was at Jamie’s side in an instant, slamming his hands on the table and growling, like physically growling at Kael. “No, Cian, it’s okay. He startled me, that’s all. Plus, I pushed with a sensitive subject. It’s my fault. Down puppy.”

Cian frowned. His gaze locked with Kael's. If the man meant to beat the shit out of my guardian, well, he'd be in for a rude awaking. "Are you sure?"

Jamie laughed. “Apologize to Simone, please. It truly was my fault. I asked a personal question.”

Cian blew out a breath. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you, Simone.”

“Oh, you didn’t. Surprise me, sure.” I elbowed Kael. “Apologize, guardian.” I rolled my eyes and Jamie giggled.

"I'm sorry," Kael said, not removing his gaze from Cian's. "That night is a bit off-limits for us."

I glanced up at Cian again and the shimmery shadow seemingly grew in form and color. “What are you?”

Finally, he broke the pissing contest he was having with Kael and looked at me. "What?"

“What are you? You’re not normal.” I held my hand up when he curled his lip. “You have an amazing halo or aura surrounding you that’s fierce and protective. I’ve never seen that before.”

Cian cut his gaze to Jamie. “Huh, I don’t know. But, thanks for the info. Now, since I’m here, what can I get you?”

After taking our orders, Cian stepped away and Jamie rushed to apologize again. “It’s no biggie. It happens. Kael is very protective of me. I think in a way, Cian and Zane are like Kael when it comes to me.”

She nodded. “They are. Zane told me he explained to you what happened last year.”

“He did. I’m so sorry. That had to be a confusing, scary time for you.” I placed my hand on hers. The warm jolt of electricity between us had a little gasp of surprise falling from my lips. When I looked back up at her, two men and a woman were surrounding her. The pulse of love and longing filled them. Their hands were on her shoulders as they stared down at her. “Hey, tell me what do your parents look like?”

Jamie’s gaze snapped to me. “What?”

“Quick, what do your parents look like?” I glanced at the woman with auburn hair and brown eyes, she was the spitting image of Jamie, but she could also be Jamie’s sister or aunt or an even distant family member.

“Everyone says I am the spitting image of my mother. My fathers, one had blond hair and the other had dark hair. Both had blue eyes. Gideon, my brother, looks like Collin.” She pointed to the guy working the bar with Cian.

Yep, these were her parents. “Your mom and your dads are here. They’re right behind you. Your mom is so proud of you and so excited that you’ll be having her first grandbaby.”

Her mother looked at me and nodded.You hear us then?

---