Page 24 of Woven Souls

“Is this a way to get back into her good graces? Look, Jonah, nothing against you, but this is… strange,” Kwil agrees, giving me an apologetic look before turning his attention back to Theo. “Do you think winning Jonah over is one step closer to winning Willow’s favor back?”

Theo shakes his head.

“No, that’s not it.” The leader of the ex-Ghosts turns his attention back to me. “Before, it was always us versus you and Willow, or at least that’s how I saw it. But in reality, the five of us became a team the moment Willow tethered us together. So, it’s time I started treating you like a member rather than an outsider.”

Frowning, I look from Theo, to Viktor, and then to Kwil.

“You guys still consider yourself a team even though you’re not Ghosts anymore?”

“We’re a team,” Theo asserts firmly. “We may not have been before, but it’s imperative we band together to make sure we survive. I made a bad call, and I’ve realized that I’ve been making the wrong call for a while now. Willow wants to lead, and I say let’s give her this opportunity. If anyone is capable of keeping our asses in line, it’s her. But the four of us need to be on the same page. We look out for each other, but we also make it a priority to look out for Willow, too. She doesn’t deserve the mess we’ve made of her life, so from here on out, let’s make it easier on her. Whatever we can do, we do it. Understand?”

Viktor stops adjusting his tie to turn around and look at Theo.

“For Willow,” he says softly with a bow of his head.

Kwil pushes off the door and moves closer to my side. Slinging an arm over my shoulder, he meets Theo’s gaze. “For Willow.”

Theo nods and looks at me.

“It’s always been for Willow,” I state firmly. “And it will be until my dying breath.”

* * *

Willow has beenin the bathroomforever.

“Willow, hurry up! We’re going to be late!” Viktor bellows as he paces at the foot of the stairs.

Leaning against the wall across from the bathroom, I try hard not to be just as impatient as Viktor. Tonight, Willow will be facing a warlock with untold power. If those spells inside the book Theo’s hidden are any insight into his mind, then we’re dealing with a fucked-up individual. If there was any other way to get Fredrick off our backs, I’d suggest it. But as it is, none of us seem to think the curse can be removed any other way than to go directly to the source.

I shove my hands into the large pocket of the hoodie Willow got me and sigh. Kwil is wearing a matching one. The hood will hide my horns and much of his face. What the hood won’t cover, the three-in-one scarf thing Willow ordered for Kwil will cover the rest. It currently hangs around his neck, ready to be pulled up if need be.

Kwil, pacing slowly beside me, comes to a stop in front of the bathroom door. His knuckles rap against the door gently.

“Willow? You good?”

We can both hear her exasperated sigh before the doorknob turns and the door opens.

“You can’t rush perfection, boys,” Willow says as she steps out of the bathroom.

The air rushes out of my lungs.

Willow’s dress, black and shimmering with sequins, hugs her curves so perfectly she’d make a goddess jealous. The low neckline shows off the swell of her breasts, both enticing and classy. When she gives us a twirl, I can’t ignore the way the dress accentuates her butt perfectly. Willow has twisted her curly hair half up and has brought the other half over her shoulder. Her lips are painted with a natural lipstick, and her green eyes are enhanced with a smokey look.

I can’t speak.

Maybe I should pick my jaw up off the floor before trying to find the words to tell Willow how stunning she looks.

Kwil steps forward so he’s directly in front of her and places his hands on her shoulders.

“Go take the dress off,” he orders. “You’re not going. You’re staying here where I can ravish you.”

Willow’s brows rise, one side of her mouth pulling up into a smile.

“How about I let you take it off when we get back tonight?”

I grin when I hear his swift intake of breath. Stepping around him, I lean forward and kiss her cheek.

“I want you to wear this dress while I bury myself in you from behind,” I tell her. “Kwil can take it off afterwards.”