Page 92 of Ghost

My heart never pounded this much around Finn.

Which was a dangerous path, I couldn’t entertain these feelings. Finn had been safe in that regard. But there were some things better off alone.

“What are we playing?” I asked, trying to think of anything else.

Maria giggled, a little bit evilly, in response. Her back remained facing me, blocking me from seeing what she was doing. “It’s a surprise.”

Damen had taken up residence in one of the armchairs, his right leg draped over his left knee. He surveyed Maria with a critical eye. “Out of all the possible games in the world, why this one?”

Whatever it was she was preparing, he didn’t appear to like it one bit.

“Because it’s precious,” Maria hissed at him, almost too low to hear. “Don’t be jealous because you didn’t think of it first.”

Damen frowned at her, raising an eyebrow. “I’m not jealous. If anyone would be jealous, it’s Titus. Speaking of, does he know what you’re up to? Those have to have come from his private collections.”

“Foryourinformation,” Maria snapped. “This was taken frommypersonal collection. Titus doesn’t collect board games.”

“Really?” Miles walked into the room, carrying two boxes of pizza, as Maria spoke. He placed the containers on the coffee table and studied the game. “I never took you as the girly type.”

“Oh shut up,” Maria snapped her head toward him. “I was actually quite girly as a child. And I still appreciate some things. I’ve just outgrown others.”

Miles’ eyebrows furrowed. “But—”

“All done!” Maria interrupted Miles, facing me with a flourish. “It’s best played with four players. We’ll kill some time before Julian arrives, then the real fun can begin.”

“What do you mean ‘real fun’?” Damen muttered. “And what’s this nonsense about four players?”

Maria waved her hand in the air, not even glancing at him. “We girls are going to end this haunting ourselves. I can get more done than you guys in two days, at any rate. First you need to draw out the spirit. Then, you destroy it.”

Miles sat on the couch, giving Maria a disbelieving look. “How do you plan on doing that?”

“You’ve got everything you need right in this room,” Maria said, nonchalantly. “It’ll be alright. She’s tougher than she looks. Right, Bianca?”

“Yes?” I was pretty tough. Though I had no idea what she was plotting. “I can help?”

Finally, was this my opportunity to be useful? I did so want to be useful.

“No,” Damen glowered, his voice suddenly a deadly thing not to be argued with. “We’re not using Bianca as bait. And we aren’t going to antagonize anyone without information—they aren’t stable and Bianca is already a target. Besides, he’s still looking into the history. All we can do now is monitor and research. The only way we’d do otherwise is if it approaches us.”

Oh…My enthusiasm deflated a bit. I didn’t want to be bait either, not for this ghost.

Maria shrunk under Damen’s anger, and a hint of fear crossed her expression. But a moment later, it was quickly masked with indifference.

“It was only a suggestion.” She shrugged. “In any case, yes. This is a four player game. Are you going to deprive this poor girl of this essential experience?”

“What experience?” I was still sitting on my knees on the other side of the room.

“I’m glad you asked.” Maria jumped toward me, dragging me forward until I was seated on the floor in front of the table. “Voilà!” She gestured toward the centerpiece dramatically.

I wasn’t sure what I was looking at. It appeared to be a circular board game. In the center was a round container, with its lid off. Inside of the container was a pile of colored jewelry.

But that wasn’t what had captured my attention.

Resting around the circular box, was a glittering silver crown. It was shiny, and probably very real. It seemed like something out of a fairy tale.

“Oh…” I reached out my hand to touch it. “What’s this?”

“No touching.” Maria slapped my hand with the rolled up rule book as she settled at my side. “You need to win the crown. You can’t wear it otherwise.”