Page 36 of Ghost
It happened so quickly I almost missed it. But within a second, his expression morphed from trepidation to something entirely different. A calm washed over him, and before I could inhale, he was sitting beside me.
“Bianca,” his lean fingers grasped my hand in a surprisingly steady hold. “Whatever it is that Miles wants to say, we can get through it together. Nothing will make us think differently about you.”
A sob hitched in my throat. “You can’t promise that.”
They had no idea how damaged I was. What if—
“I can guarantee you that is not the problem.” Miles had taken a seat in one of the armchairs. His face calmer now, even though his leg jumped slightly. “Althoughsomeone’sperception is soon to change.”
Julian tore his eyes from mine and frowned at Miles. His confusion was back with a vengeance. “Hey, watch—”
“It will be Bianca thinking differently aboutusinstead,” Miles ignored Julian, beginning to wring his hands nervously. “Unless, of course, you’d like to explain to Damen and Titus why Bianca has taken a vow of chastity.”
My thundering heart stuttered. Thechastity? What in the world did that have to do with anything?
Julian dropped my hands and his cheeks darkened. “What Bianca does with her own body is her business. It isn’t anyone else’s concern should she decide to—”
“Hold that thought.” Miles held up his hand, interrupting Julian. “As you’ve noticed, Bianca’s been trying to fit in with us.”
Oh my God. I covered my face with my hands. They had noticed. I was so ashamed I wanted to die.
“Bianca believes that we are paranormal fighting monks,” Miles finished boldly. “She wanted to know how I could ethically be a monkanda witch.”
Julian’s face transformed into shock. “What?”
By now, it was clear that parts of my theory might have been wrong. Which sucked, because it had made so much sense. After all, why else couldn’t four grown men date? And combined with theirjobs, I was so sure…
Regardless, there was still that other issue…
“And she thinks that Damen is possessed by a demon.” Miles waved his hand in the air. “Lord only knows how she came to that conclusion.”
I glowered at Miles, mentally adjusting some of the niceness-points he had accumulated.
How could he not see it? I was one thousand percent certain Kasai was a demon latching onto Damen’s life-force. “Of course he’s possessed! That entire relationship reeks of demonic entanglement.”
Miles’ hands were over his face now, and his shoulders shook. It took me a moment to realize he was laughing at me. Meanwhile, Julian was staring at me again. But this time with amusement and awe.
I wasn’t sure what to think. Clearly, theyweren’tmonks. An issue that meant I needed to reevaluate some things. But at the same time, I was horrified at their complete disregard about Damen.
“So I was wrong about yourcelibacy, I don’t care. So his master plan mightnotbe to trick Damen into losing his virginity, but that’s not the point,” I snapped, unimpressed with the both of them. “He’s atalking birdwith a strangely seductive accent. And he was brought into this realm by a summoning ceremony. Whatelsecould this be?”
Miles and Julian’s heads snapped up, and they were looking at me in disbelief. My heart, which had been pounding from urgency, began to calm.
I had gotten through.
“Kasaitalks?” Julian sounded slightly awestruck. “You heard him speak—out loud?”
Miles leaned forward in his seat. “That’s what she just said. How else would she know that he has a seductive accent?”
This conversation wasn’t going my way, and I found myself glaring at my lap.
“What does he sound like?” Miles sounded genuinely curious. It was that tone which caused me to lift my eyes. They were both watching me in caution now. “I mean, outside of the accent,” Miles added.
Damen had said Kasai had never spoken before. But I didn’t realize it was such a terrible thing. I thought it might have been unusual, not completely unheard of. But for Julian and Miles to not even know what he sounded like? “You’ve never heard Kasai speak,ever?”
The two of them exchanged pointed looks before Julian leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. “Damen probably wanted to go over this with you himself. But he and Titus aren’t here. Leaving certain things out for later has led to interesting results.”
“Stop,” Miles frowned. “It’s not interesting at all. It’s terrible.”
