Page 3 of Woven Souls

Chagrin keeps the heat in my face.

“I couldn’t have you waking up and trying to take off right away. It would draw too much attention. This house we’re in… It’s not a safehouse. Not like the others at least. We must keep our heads low here, and that’s going to be difficult with neighbors. I only wanted to make sure you understood that before I bring you upstairs.”

She scoffs.

“I swear to you, Willow, I don’t want you down here, but this place… It’s not for us. It’s for my family should they need to run. I have to make sure this place stays safe, and to do that, I need to keep a low profile. Having you scream for help or attempt to climb out a window once Jonah wakes up would certainly draw unwanted attention to the house.”

Willow’s brows scrunch together. I can’t tell if it’s from confusion or concentration. Judging by how heavily she’s leaning against me, I’m pretty sure I’m the only thing keeping her upright. Willow shrugs weakly.

“I don’t have to make a sound or move from this spot to escape.”

Unease slides down my spine. Yes, she’s been quite resourceful this past week it seems. Just to avoid us she was willing to make the spirits in this area visible for the human population. Thankfully, the news made it look like some sort of stunt as part of a protest put on by some college students.

“You would use your Death Magic to escape.” It’s not a question, just a speculation.

One corner of Willow’s mouth twists up in a weak yet cruel smile.

“Afraid I may use it against you?”

Without having to think about the answer, I shake my head. “No, I’m not.”

“Hm… I thought you were smarter than this.” Willow’s body trembles slightly under my arm.

I stare at the side of her face, imploring her to look at me.

“You won’t use it against me or the others. Not because you can’t, but because you’re not a malicious person,” I tell her firmly. “Do you know what else I think? I think this entire time we have been together, you were strong enough to get us out of any mess we found ourselves in, yet for the most part, you let the three of us handle threats. And I think you didn’t do anything to stop me from stabbing you or stop Rowan and his men, not because you couldn’t, but because you were trying very hard to keep a secret. One you’d take with you to the grave. So showing off what you can do now doesn’t seem in character.”

Under my arm, I feel her shoulders stiffen. The sound of her breathing hitches. I’ve hit my mark. I knew it. I’ve been thinking about this all week. Willow isn’t a necromancer, just as Gangory said. Whatever it is she is, Willow is all about keeping that part of her to herself.

“I’d like to ask you if you could keep your Death Magic to a minimum too, please,” I add after a few minutes of silence. “I really don’t want spirits lingering outside the house. The neighbors will certainly talk then.”

I hope to lighten the mood, but Willow doesn’t smile as she stares around us.

“So, no screaming, running, or using magic?”

I nod. “Essentially. That doesn’t seem too hard, does it? If you can promise to do that, I can bring you upstairs right now.”

“Down here or upstairs. It doesn’t make a difference. I’m still a prisoner.”

I bow my head as my heart twists painfully. “I don’t want to do this to you, Willow. I swear it on my life—”

“Well, that’s something, since you’re willing to go to great lengths to protect it.”

Her interruption doesn’t faze me as it once would have.

“Exactly.” I nod. “I simply… I simply need you to promise to keep your head down while we’re here. It’s not just my life that could be at risk if we draw attention to this house.”

Willow shakes her head but says nothing.

A heavy silence hangs between us. I hate it. Willow isn’t the silent type. After a week of driving around with her, I’ve learned she’s a lively woman with the ability to talk about anything and everything given the chance. She and Jonah can fill a four-hour car ride with chatter without stopping to take a breath. There’s a strange desire in me for that same type of relationship with her. I want her to be that comfortable talking to me. It was refreshing after years of solemn conversations or complete silence.

Unable to resist the urge to touch her, my hand comes up and strokes her cheek. Willow leans into the gesture as she closes her eyes. I’ve missed this woman so much it hurts. Nearly as much as being apart from my soul. I brush a small curl behind her ear.

“I want you to be free, Willow. I do.”

Because I’m looking at her face, I catch her expression shifting before she tries to cover it up.

“Okay, Theo, fine. I won’t run.”

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