Page 91 of Ashes and Lilies
“That’s not what he meant!” Miles threw his hands up in the air.
I touched my lips. “It must be. Besides”—I clenched my fists as my shoulders shook—“he should be the one afraid.”
Miles took a step back and lifted his eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
Who did Damen think he was? I’d come to him for help. Therefore, I was, technically, the client. He had no right to dictate what I considered a job well done.
“It’s my ghost,” I told him.
“You can’t own a ghost.” Miles shook his head. He pointed atthe others. “Besides, even if you and I can get away with it, he’ll kill them for sure.”
I looked at them.
Finn did appear to be somewhat frightened, but it was me he was looking at. Meanwhile, Anthony and Brayden both wore equal looks of glee.
“Do you want to leave?” I asked them. I didn’t want anyone to be put out on my account.
“No—” Anthony replied. “We’re good here. Carry on.”
“We’re not good!” Finn snapped at him, but I ignored him. It wasn’t like Damen was going to hurt his own brother. Besides, he was supposed to do my bidding. He owed me in order to get back on my good graces.
“Right.” I dropped to my knees and opened the bag.
The salt was right on top. The bottom of my braid brushed against my bare ankles as I offered the brown bag to Miles.
His gaze softened, and once more, he resembled the sweet, darling witch I’d come to know.
“Here,” I told him. “I got this for you.”
“I got it!” Finn protested.
“Witches like salt, right?” I asked.
Miles’s taut form relaxed further as I watched, and his cheeks were dusted with pink.
“Thanks,” he said, taking the satchel from my hands. “I can’t turn you down when you put it that way.”
“I bought it from the supermarket,” Finn added.
“Just give me a few minutes.” Miles touched my head, and his mellow voice made my skin tingle. “And you’ll have your magic circle.”
18
“So”—Braydenstood beside me while Miles completed his salt circle. Even though he’d been so happy with Anthony, he was much more serious when he approached me—“have you thought about how you’re going to summon the ghost?”
“You can’t just wish it to you?” I clarified.
“No,” Brayden said, shaking his head.
Then, not all my research was useless, and my ghost documentaries were accurate once more. “It’s a good thing I have this, then,” I said, reaching into my pocket and pulling out the ring that once was mine. I held it in my palm between the two of us. “I used it with Rosalie, but I think there might be a connection here too.”
“What the hell?” Miles exclaimed, looking up from his salt circle. “Did you steal it from my bag?”
“I did not steal anything,” I said, holding it to my chest. “I’m borrowing it. Besides, I left the watch, so you won’t even notice.”
Miles was pouting. “But I don’t want Julian’s watch.”
“I can’t believe you still have that thing.” Finn was looking atit with a narrowed gaze. “It had to have been down in that basement for at least fifty years.”
