Page 76 of One Bad Knight

Gatsby’s hand squeezed mine.

“She is.” Travis nodded. “She wanted me to let you know that when Gatsby destroyed the demon, she and all the other souls were set free. She’s been spending a lot of time with you in the kitchen lately.”

Tears gathered in my eyes. I had been feeling her presence so strongly since that night, I thought I’d only been evoking her memory to make me feel better, but no, she was really here.

Travis’s head tilted in a new direction, as if interrupted. “There is another woman here. She says her name is Anne.” Travis gave us an expectant look.

Gatsby and I exchanged a glance, but it was apparent neither of us knew who he was referring to.

Travis tilted his head, as if listening intently. “She says you saved her children.” Then his face smoothed of concentration as if realizing. He turned to Gatsby. “It’s the woman you told us about. The one you killed to save her two kids from being sacrificed in fire.”

Gatsby’s hand gripped mine harder as he stiffened.

“I’m—” His mouth flapped open as if he couldn't find the words.

“She wanted you to know how grateful she is that you came and saved her babies. If it weren’t for you, they all would have been killed. She needs you to stop blaming yourself in her name. She hears it every time, and needs you to forgive yourself, for the both of you.”

Gatsby swallowed hard, looking like he’d eaten a hornet. I squeezed his hand back, knowing forgiving himself was one of the hardest things for him to do.

Travis excused himself after delivering the messages, saying the ghosts had gone but my mother would be around for a little while.

When Gatsby made a panicked face, Travis added on her behalf, “While keeping a respectful distance.”

Lord knew I'd already begun reclaiming the big mansion as my own by beginning to redecorate the place, opening the ballroom up for art classes and, of course, screwing in most every room in the house.

My uncle may have been arrested, but the house had always been in my name and was mine to do with what I wanted.

After Travis left, we made sure to continue the tradition by taking to one of the spare bedrooms. By the end of it, we were covered in sweat, the sheets and pillows were strewn all over the room, and a bedside table was flipped over. That one was my fault.

We sat on the floor, our backs against the side of the bed.

“Fuck, Kat,” Gatsby panted alongside me.

“Again?” I asked, shooting him a wicked smile.

He shot me a dark look that promised he’d resume doing all bad naughty things to me once he recovered.

He suddenly had me on my back, his hand around my throat, squeezing in that way that sent moisture toward my legs.

“You know what I’m going to use you for, princess?” he asked, a deliciously dark smile on his face.

“What?” I shot back in a sassy tone.

His hand slid around my neck to weave his fingers into my hair as he trailed soft, teasing kisses from my collarbone up to my ear.

“For love,” he said in a husky voice.

I closed my eyes, as my hands clung to his back. I felt like the sun was exploding inside me at his confession.

“I love you too,” I said back.

Gatsby plundered my mouth with his hot, slick tongue, as I reveled in the feel of his naked body against mine. I thought he’d been my lost boy, but he’d never leave for Neverland again. I knew Gatsby would stay here with me, and I’d love him enough to make up for all the love he’d been denied in his life.

The click-clack of nails on wood came from around the corner to stop at the threshold of the door. I smiled into Gatsby's mouth, knowing Bear would be more than willing to help too.