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He laughed, a guffaw sounding chuckle. “Nah. She don’t try to take over their body, not how that other ghost did with you. She just shoves her way in. Easier to do if someone is stoned. Everyone knows how she gets. Some of us were around, even watched it all happen.”

My blood curdled. “You saw her get murdered?”

He shrugged, nonplussed. “I mean, it wasn’t the most pleasant thing to watch, but her daddy had been killing girls left and right. Way more than the bodies they found. Those girls were all over the place until he took care of his daughter. She was a grown adult when she died. It’s how that one said, but he didn’t go back to the library to cover evidence. He went to burn the books out of spite. She was a ghost by then, but she had her daddy’s thirst for murder in her blood. She followed him and got so enraged that he was going to burn her books that she’s the one who killed him. He didn’t even get around to it but make no mistake. He was going to do it. He doused the place in gasoline. That’s what got her really mad. Lit the fire herself. All those girls he killed, they held the door stuck so he couldn’t get free. After that, most of them crossed over. A few didn’t, like that girl who tried to take your body.”

I was punched in the stomach all over again. “Beatrice’s dad killed Sabine?”

“Oh yeah. Uh huh.” Like he was talking about the weather. Darn that snowstorm coming in. “That girl stuck around, started following Red all over. Where do you think she got the idea to take over your body? She just did it better.” His eyes fell onto Lee. “Or worse, since she picked the Reaper’s girlfriend. That was dumb of her. Anyway.” He clapped a hand to Ethan’s shoulder. It sailed right through. “Here’s your boy. He’s still in shock from his possession or he’s stoned. Either way, I was able to corral him up here and got him to ring the bell.” He waved, so cheerful. “See you around. Also, the three of you might want to shower. Can still smell the sex on you.” He flicked his nose, chortling a laugh out. “Just kidding. I can’t smell worth shit. Wouldn’t be guarding a landfill if I could.”

“Um.” Cassian waved his hand in the air. “For the normies here, care to fill me in? And please, don’t skip any detail. I’m dying.”

I groaned.

He smirked. “Pun totally intended.”

41

COLE

“Okay.” Cassian shut the door behind us when we got inside with Ethan, locked it, and barred it with his arms crossed over his chest. “Before we go off and do some half-concocted crazy idea of whatever we’re about to do, we’re going to have that talk that we got distracted from earlier.” His gaze on Lee was meaningful and oh.

The Necromancer Talk.

Lee started to say, “I don’t think we need to⁠—”

I shot my hand in the air. “We do. I mean, I do. I want to have that talk.”

Lee groaned, looking between the two of us. “Is this a glimpse into our future? Two against one?”

“About this, yes.” Cassian moved away from the door and clapped Lee on the shoulder. “We know it’s uncomfortable for you to talk about, but we need to know what we’re getting ourselves into. Not that it’ll change a thing because we’re all madly in love with each other, or you know what I mean, but the longer we take getting to your thing, the less likely we’ll actually have the talk.”

Lee’s mouth flattened. It was obvious he didn’t want to talk about it, but his shoulders deflated.

Done. We were going to have the talk.

As if the three of us were now on the same wavelength, all three of us looked at Ethan, who was standing where we’d brought him inside and in the corner of the kitchen. His eyes were still empty, fully dilated.

Lee waved his hand in front of Ethan’s face. There was no reaction. Lee muttered, “I really hope this is mostly because he’s stoned.”

“We need someone to watch him. Or get him to wash too.”

Lee and Cassian shared a look. Neither were jumping at the chance. Plus, we couldn’t have our talk if one of us was babysitting my high coworker.

“I have an idea!” Cassian perked up. “Yeah. Yeah. Let’s try it. Can you call in Noah?”

“It’s not like I have a bell⁠—”

Poof! “I’m here.” Noah was grinning wickedly.

Lee cut an annoyed look his way. “You’re not supposed to be eavesdropping.”

Noah shrugged. “You say eavesdropping. I say being entertained.”

Lee scowled.

Cassian’s head moved between us. “Okay. I take it he’s here?” He waved a dismissing hand at us. “Don’t bother. I know he’s here. Dickhead, see if you can get Ethan to do what you want him to do.”

Noah sneered at Cassian. “This is rich coming from him. He thinks he can just order me around now? After he tried to⁠—”