Page 86 of Ghostly

The vibration suddenly shut off, blessing the room with silence.

And Ida sat on the bed, staring straight ahead. “I did it,” she breathed.

“Are you—”

“I’m fine.” A bubble of laughter escaped her, and her eyes, light and dancing, met his. “I am fine! I let it…” She clutched her stomach. “I let it take over me. I felt—all of it, everything, bubbling, raging, burning inside me, around me, like I was swimming in lava, and I—”

“You made it out,” he said, his lips spreading into a smile.

“I heard you.” She lowered her gaze to the blanket. “Thank you.”

How could one simple “thank you” make him feel more accomplished than every diploma he’d ever received?

He cleared his throat. “So, what do we do with this bad boy?”

“Don’t touch it. Sweep it into some box, and it’ll wait there until we need it. I don’t trust these things.”

“These things as in this and another locket you’ve created and has since mysteriously disappeared?”

Ida still avoided his gaze. “It’s better that way, trust me.”

“I don’t know. When I was holding it, I was pretty happy.” It had been a strange feeling—an unexplainable, but real happiness. Like when youheard a cheerful song on the radio and started singing along, believing the world suddenly turned more beautiful.

Not that he’d ever done that.

He’d wondered which emotion Ida put into it. It made him happy, but Perry almost amorous. If only Ida would tell him—was it love, and when she’d created it, had she been thinking—

“You’ve work to do.” Ida stood. “So let’s get this somewhere safe, and we can all return to our respective tasks.” She glided away, indicating the conversation was over.

But before Gabriel could get back to business, he encountered Perry in the kitchen.

“I wanted to talk to you,” Perry said.

“Something wrong with the kitchen furniture?” He’d checked it, though—five times by now. Overall, the match was at least 87%; that had to do.

“Nah. It’s about…” Perry leaned to the side to check the living room, and shut the door. “Are you sure you want me for this ritual?”

“Of course. You’re the perfect candidate.” A shiver spread up Gabriel’s arm; Perry hadn’t lied to him about something, had he?

“I’m just wondering why you aren’t the bonding person,” Perry said with a shrug.

“Me?”

“Dude.” Perry approached to a confidential distance. “Come on, you think I don’t see how you look at her?”

“You can’t even see Ida.”

“I don’t have to seeher, man! All I need is to look at you when you’re looking at her, and you’re looking like my man Jackson when he hitChampion in Fortnite,” Perry said. He put his hands to his temples and imitated an explosion. “Freaking ecstatic.”

Gabriel snorted. “I assure you, I don’t look at Ida as video game ranking.”

“It was a comparison, dude. You know what those are, I’m sure you use them all the time in your fancy speeches. Point is, you’re freaking in love with her. And just like Jackson and his ranking, you’d blow anyone who dared harm her to kingdom come.”

“Harm her? What happened to her?” Gabriel started for the door. She was fine just minutes ago—

Perry laughed and extended a hand to emphasize his point.

“It’s not what you think.” Gabriel shook his head. “Besides, it doesn’t matter. The contract suggests a family member as a bonding person. You’re family.”