Page 9

His outline shivers. For a heartbeat, the stone behind him replaces half his body. His hand remains visible where it rests against the angel’s shoulder, though the rest of his arm fades to a pale blur.

I cross the path toward him.

Ezra straightens as I approach. His smile remains, but the apple note in his scent thins.

“Too close to the gate,” I say, keeping my voice low.

“I wanted to meet our guest.”

“You could’ve waited.”

“She smelled interesting.”

Pepper lifts one finger. “I’m standing here, and my scent has had enough public discussion for one day.”

Ezra’s smile brightens. “To be fair, it’s a scent that demands discussion.”

Pepper’s cheeks flush pink.

I reach him and place my palm against the side of his neck. For a second, my hand passes through cool air. Then Ezra firms beneath my touch. His pulse beats against my thumb, light and uneven. I stroke once beneath his ear, grounding both of us through the bond. His eyes close as he leans into my palm.

Pepper watches us. The curiosity in her face changes when she sees the old bite scar near Ezra’s collar. Her attention drops to the matching scar visible just above the neckline of my tank, then returns to our joined bodies. Her scent turns warmer.

Ezra opens his eyes and glances toward her. “She’s pretty.”

Pepper nearly chokes on her water. “He’s solid now.”

“For now,” I say.

“That is an alarming answer.”

“Ezra comes and goes,” I say.

Ezra raises a hand. His fingers fade from view before he finishes the wave. “Sometimes more enthusiastically than others.”

Pepper steps closer. “Can you feel the ground?”

“Yes.”

“Temperature?”

“Usually.”

“Pain?”

Ezra’s humor fades around the edges. “Yes.”

“Do cameras record you?”

“Poorly.”

Does this happen everywhere or only inside the cemetery boundary?”

Ezra’s eyebrows rise.

Pepper catches his reaction and stops. “Sorry. That was a lot of questions at once.”

“I’ve had worse.”