Page 8 of Woven Souls

“I do not condone Theo’s actions, Willow.” My voice deepens as the monster rises. “But… Knowing what drove his actions, I cannot hate him. Besides, had I realized Theo’s resolve and stepped in, that night could have ended with all of us slaughtered.”

Willow’s eyes meet mine. For a moment, time is suspended. I hold my breath. Her expression, usually readable, is a blank slate. What is she thinking? Feeling?

Before I can find out, the door opens back up, and Jonah walks in. He raises a brow as he regards our embrace. A towel is wrapped around his waist, and his hair is dripping wet. The interruption startles Willow, who pulls out of my grasp. I sigh as I lean back.

“Viktor said there’d be clothes in here, that maybe something would fit.” Jonah walks over to the dresser. “Did you get her to forgive you yet?”

“I was working on it.”

“Well, you’d think stabbing Theo and letting him bleed out would have been enough, but I guess she’s really going to make you work for her forgiveness.”

I squeeze my eyes shut at Willow’s gasp.

“You stabbed Theo?”

It isn’t something I’m necessarily proud of. The monster got the better of me. I’d reacted without thought and with the intent to kill. I’d been a danger to everyone. The other Ghosts didn’t stand a chance. With a sigh, I open my eyes.

“Yes.”

“With hisclaws,” Jonah adds before chuckling.

I turn to meet Willow’s bewildered gaze.

“Why?” she asks.

Isn’t it obvious? “I thought he killed you.”And I wanted him to suffer.

“But we’re all tied together. If I died, then you all would have died. Why even bother—”

“It looked to me more like a knee jerk reaction, rather than a well-thought-out murder,” Jonah interrupts with a smug smile. “I wish I had done it. Maybe next time. I bet you got a real good lecture from Theo after that.”

Again, Willow’s gaze is searching. I’m not sure if she finds what she’s looking for before she lies back down. I turn to look at Jonah as he yanks on a pair of pajama bottoms I’m sure were meant for Theo’s sisters. The hard set of his features tells me I haven’t won him over, but there is a small twinkle of respect in his eyes. I guess that’s a start.

Although I feel uneasy leaving things up in the air and am uncertain about how to proceed, I start to slide off the bed to give Jonah back the spot I’d occupied.

“Wait.”

Willow’s hand shoots out and takes my wrist. She turns her body to face me. This time I can read what’s written on her face and immediately scoot closer to her. I pull my wrist free so that I can take her hand.

“I know you’re hurting. If you need me, I’ll be right here,” I assure her as Jonah comes to join us on the bed. He climbs in on the other side, and the queen bed becomes a bit cramped.

I don’t complain. Willow isn’t kicking me out, yet. I’ll enjoy every moment she allows me to spend with her.

As she closes her eyes, she says, “What’s going to happen to Theo’s family now that you’re Fallen?”

I shrug, but she doesn’t see it, so I add, “I don’t know.”

There’s a short silence between the three of us.

“Other Ghosts are going to come after you now.”

Is that concern in her voice? Hope has my heart doing a backflip. If she’s concerned, maybe I can salvage this situation.

“Let them. We know all the tricks. We’ll be ready for whenever they strike. And theywillstrike. Especially when they find the heads of the three Ghosts we left behind. Until then, we’ll keep our heads low and get this curse off the two of you.”

“It would be nice not to be cursed,” Jonah muses. “Though, I wonder if I could keep the bits of me how they are now?”

“I don’t think you can keep bits and pieces of a curse,” Willow murmurs.

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