Page 80 of Woven Souls

With just a little push, I make it so Theo and Viktor can see what I’ve done.

At my question the spirits rise halfway out of their bodies. The Ghosts, all still hooded and cloaked in their spiritual form, look around at each other and down at themselves. One of them screams in terror. Another slides their hands over their spiritual form, as if they can’t believe what they’re seeing. Some try to climb back into their body. It’s a fruitless endeavor while I’m in control.

Viktor moves closer to us until he stands on my other side.

“This is eerie,Soiel Ywab.”

My cheeks flush under the endearment. Our eyes meet, and I notice how his darken. There’s no way he’s turned on by this… right? The heat in his unusual hemp-color eyes proves me otherwise. Shaking my head to clear the dirty thoughts starting to rush through it, I turn back at the spirits around us.

“What have you done!” the leader yells. I notice it lacks the bite it held just a minute ago.

I turn my attention back to him. “What’s your name?”

“Go to h—”

“I’d suggest telling her your name, brother,” Theo says sharply. “Or you’ll never take another breath again.”

The Ghost falls silent.

“Bardon of Moonsery.”

His name is hardly more than a growl. I have no doubt that beneath that transparent hood, his teeth are clenched, and he’s seething.

“WellBardon, here’s the thing.” I float closer to his spirit. “I will not be going anywherewithyou. Having been a hostage before, the excitement has worn off.”

“Hostage?” Bardon scoffs. “Now that we can see how powerful you really are, there’s no doubt you were the one who probably led these warriors to their Fallen status.”

Viktor snarls beside me and takes a step forward, but I put a hand out to stop him. Bardon is as good as dead. No need to get angry at a spirit.

“I’m a necromancer—” Kind of. “—not a siren, so I didn’t lead these men astray. Though, with an ass like mine, it’s enough to tempt even the most devout angel,” I tease with a smug smile.

“Willow, focus.” Theo’s grip tightens on my wrist.

Right. Back to the issue at hand. “How did you know I was here and with them?”

“The Brotherhood did some digging when they got your name off the VIN number of the vehicle in their possession. When they started noticing a trend of angry covens in the wake of every place you traveled, it raised their suspicions. No normal necromancer would be able to cause an outrage like the one you inspire wherever you go,” the leader of this band of Ghosts explains. “And it was confirmed that you are no mere necromancer by Rowan and his men. It is our duty to—”

“Rid the world of all threats not from this realm.” I roll my eyes and wave my hand dismissively. “Yeah, I’ve gotten that whole spiel a few times. Thanks.”

“Did you say Rowan?” Theo asks quietly.

Bardon chuckles darkly. “I did.”

“How?” Theo’s voice has grown awfully soft. When I look over at him, his entire body is eerily still. He looks ready to pounce.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Bardon’s jeer is so childish that I throw my hands up in the air and look at the other Ghosts, who are frantically trying to figure out a way to reinsert themselves into their bodies.

“Anyone want to tell us? The faster this questioning goes, the faster I may put you back in your bodies,” I offer. “In any case, whether you want to answer our questions or not, I’d suggest deciding how you want this to end because a body can’t last without its spirit for long. The way things are looking now, you’ll be permanently dead within a few minutes.”

“What?” one of them snaps. “I refuse to die this way! I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.”

Bardon turns around to one the Ghost who dragged out Jonah. “Shut up, Calix, now.”

“No,” the second Ghost bites back. “Gangory has a family member who is arealnecromancer who managed to contact him after learning of his passing. Gangory, Rowan, and Peeta told us everything.”

Theo hardly moves his lips as he asks, “What’s ‘everything?’”

Calix crosses his arms over his chest. “They told us the necromancer with you is a monster in disguise. That Kwil is a Tangleling you’ve trained as your pet. And how you and Viktor have been killing Ghosts who have figured out that you’ve been mining the crystals in the Third Realm to barter off to make a profit. You all are a disgrace to the Brotherhood and to your families. None of you will get away with this!”

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