Page 17 of Bear Naked Truth
Whatever bound this spirit to the house, it wasn’t just pain.
It washer.
He found her the next morning in the sunroom, sitting cross-legged on the bench he’d built, surrounded by candles and half-drawn sigils. Her hair was pulled into a messy bun, wisps falling around her face as she scribbled notes into her journal with an intensity that made his bear paw with unmet needs.
“You didn’t sleep,” he said quietly.
She looked up, eyes shadowed but alert. “Neither did you.”
He stepped inside, rubbing his chin with thought on how to word this. “Had another dream.”
Her pen paused. “The same one?”
“Getting clearer.”
He sat beside her, careful not to disturb the circle of chalk she’d drawn around her workspace.
“They’re not yours,” she said softly. “The dreams.”
“I figured.”
“They’re memories. From the spirit. Or… someone close to it.”
“Someone like Evelyn.”
Her eyes snapped to his.
“You heard her name too?”
He nodded.
“I think she’s the key,” Autumn said, voice trembling just slightly. “But I don’t know if she’s warning me or…”
“Claiming you?”
Autumn didn’t answer.
Dorian leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
“You don’t have to do this alone,” he said. “You know that, right?”
She didn’t look at him.
“I’m used to alone,” she said after a long moment. “Alone doesn’t break you and it’s how I’ve always done it.”
He reached out, slow, deliberate, and brushed her hand with his. Just his fingers over hers, light and warm.
“You’re not breakable, Autumn. You’resharp.That’s different.”
Her lips parted, but she didn’t speak.
But she didn’t pull away either.
9
AUTUMN
After Dorian had left her in the sunroom about the dream, she decided it was time to see if Evelyn was ready to talk.
