Page 111 of Ghost

“That means we’ll have to be even more aware,” Miles broke in, the first words he had spoken in a while. “We need to let Titus know right away. As well as Bryce, Brayden, and Xavier.”

“Wait,” I interrupted. Based on previous experiences, this conversation could have continued for a while, and I probably could have learned a lot.

But this couldn’t wait, his name required immediate intervention.

“First of all, you cannot possibly be saying that I’m the xing? And what does Bryce have to do with any of this?”

The three men froze, as if they were caught doing something wrong.

“You are the xing,” Damen said slowly, giving me a wary look. “The mark proves it. And Bryce Dubois is the Wood er bashou. Yours. His entire role is to support you. Brayden is the jiangjun, and Xavier is the tongun. They are your top confidants.”

I had to make sure there was no misunderstanding here. “So, what you’re saying is that if I’m the xing—”

“You are,” Julian interjected. “There’s no doubt.”

I waved my hand, that wasn’t the point. There were more important matters to discuss. “Then you’re saying that I outrank Bryce?”

“Well…” Julian was hesitant now, and a frown touched his lips. “Yes. But that’s not how things work. You’re supposed to be working together in harmony and…”

He continued speaking, explaining, but I didn’t pay attention. There was too much information to process.

And so many plans to be made.

“Does this mean that I can tell him what to do, and he needs to listen?”

Julian’s voice trailed off, and he watched me with a curious expression. “Yes.”

Excellent. I had won.

“Focus,” Miles interjected, his voice void of playfulness. “Bryce isn’t concerning right now. I don’t have a good feeling about this. First, Bianca is unexpected. Then the spirit here is different than any we’ve encountered before. There’s a lot on our plate.”

“Although, this being her role does explain why she couldn’t leave it,” Damen mused. “Or why we couldn’t leave her.”

Julian broke in, answering Miles, “I agree. Between this and some things my mother said, we need to be extremely careful. I think we should hold off on making an announcement, even to the elders. Possibly the Dubois brothers and Xavier as well.”

That statement caused Miles to shoot a startled look at Julian. “You don’t want to tell the elders? It’s their job to help us.”

“No,” Damen agreed with Julian. “It wouldn’t be helpful for them if they knew, at least right now.”

Miles’ gaze drifted to Damen. “I understand that they’re very traditional, and this is unconventional. But she’s the xing! They don’t have a choice.”

“You honestly believe that?” Damen pinched the bridge of his nose. “They wouldn’t have accepted Bailey in the end. And we all know about their politics. No, they wouldn’t embrace this development. Especially considering that a xing has never been female.”

Miles’ eyebrows furrowed. “But you were the one who suggested it!”

“It was a theory, but it doesn’t matter. I’m not against it being her.” Damen rolled his eyes. “But certain members of the council might not agree. They have strange beliefs in certain things.”

Something about his words struck Julian. He glanced at me in sudden realization. “You think they’ll kill her for being born a girl? Just because of a superstition?”

Miles fingers gripped the arms of his chair. “They can’t do that!”

All of this was happening so fast, but this seemed like a good spot to interject. “I could die?”Was this what Julian had foreseen?

“Oh, sweetheart.” Julian sighed. “I shouldn’t have said that.” He reached out and pulled me to him, and—when I didn’t resist—folded me into his lap. I realized I should have been asking questions, or reacting in some way. But…

This entire situation sounded so… outlandish.

How could a birthmark and some ghostly encounters have the boys so certain I was one of them? Only a few days ago, I had no idea this world existed. I had been alone.