Page 56 of Woven Souls

I can’t help it. I beam at Viktor. The gall to stand next to Death, knowing what my dad’s presence does to people, is admirable. Viktor’s ears turn pink when he notices my expression, but otherwise, he remains unfazed.

My dad bows his head to acknowledge him before he looks over at me.Do you still have this cursed book? I will take it with me. Whatever spells or curses are in it will not affect me and will become moot once in my realm.

Jonah jumps to his feet. “I’ll go get it. Theo, where’d you put it?”

There’s a short pause before Theo bites out, “In the basement, stashed within a box, tucked into the corner of the room.”

Jonah nods and trots out of the room quickly to retrieve the book. Tension eases out of my shoulders. With that thing gone, at least when we leave this house, it won’t try to possess me or take my powers. As we wait for Jonah, Dad gives me a pointed look.

You know I’ll have to tell your mother about these four.

I wince.

“You can’t just tell her that I have four really good, super-hot friends who always want to hang with me because I’m so cool?”

Dad chuckles as Kwil squeezes my hand.

He raises a brow.You know she’ll sense something is going on the minute she meets them.

Jonah trots back into the room with a leather satchel in his hands. My father takes it from him and gives me a warm smile.

You are a strong woman, Willie. Be careful. I want you home with me, but I don’t want you to get there prematurely.

Dad looks at the guys in the room.Take good care of my daughter, or I’ll make your afterlives a living hell. Do you understand?

The four of them quickly bob their heads up and down. I snicker, and it earns me a wink from Dad.

Happy with their answers, my dad gives me a farewell salute and steps back into the Realm of the Dead.

Chapter13

JONAH

The minute that Daddy Death is gone, the windows start rattling. Hard.

Everyone jumps as their attention swings to the two windows in the room. But it’s not just these two the spirits are pounding against. Even from where I sit, I can tell every single window around the house is rattling. The house shakes as they move from windows to the walls and doors. Even without Willow’s help, I swear I can hear them screaming.

Kwil yanks Willow away from the nearest window. “What’s wrong with the spirits?”

“They felt my dad and expected him to take them with as he crossed back over.” Willow flinches at the hard pounding against the door. “They’re really pissed.”

“Can you take care of this?” Theo’s hand grips his sword as the pounding gets louder. “There’s no way the neighbors won’t notice us getting haunted.”

“Um, didn’t you just hear Death?” I jump to my feet and hurry over to the group. “He told Willow not to do that. It draws too much attention to her.”

“He also said that it would be foolish to tell Willow not to use her powers when she needs them,” Viktor counters. “I’d say getting rid of angry spirits is a good time to use them.”

“I’ll go appease them and then send them over.” Willow takes a step towards the door, but Kwil pulls her right back.

“Not out front, it’s broad daylight. Go talk to them out back.”

He drags her down the hallway, and I follow. Kwil throws open the back door, and when I step out, I’m pleasantly surprised I’m not immediately jumped by several hundred spirits. I let out a shaky breath as Willow pulls her wrist loose, trots down the four brick steps, and then hurries to the middle of the simple, yet elegant courtyard.

“Alright, alright! I know I promised to help you, but you can’t make a scene like this,” Willow hisses as she turns in a large circle. “If you calm down, I’ll sit here for a bit and take care of you, okay?”

Gradually, the attack on the house relents, which allows the tension to ease out of my shoulders. With a huff, I look over at Kwil.

“It’s kind of hot that our girl can control spirits, huh?” I laugh at the look of exasperation on Kwil’s face.