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Her eyes sparkled, her whole demeanor changing as she talked about her beloved clinic.

“Anyway,” she went on, “How can I think about whether or not I should paint the walls a slightly different shade of beige, when I could be solving a ghost mystery with a handsome stra— with a stranger?”

Her face reddened.

Ethan blinked, and his pegasus shrieked with joy – but before he could fully comprehend what was going on, Margot started talking again.

“I have some old maps of Girdwood Springs from various eras that I could dig out – we could look at some from the time Curtis is from, and see if anything sparks some memories within him?” she suggested. “We could then check on a current map to see if the corresponding buildings are still there.”

Ethan nodded. “That sounds like a great idea,” he said sincerely. “Thank you.”

~Yes, thank you,~ Curtis echoed. ~As fascinating as seeing such a world is, I admit that I’m eager to get everything sorted out so that I can go home again.~

Ethan took a moment to look at Curtis. Ever since they had arrived in Girdwood Springs, Curtis had been looking and sounding more – well, not alive , obviously, but more real .

Like there was more substance to him, more detail.

His speech was sounding less stilted, too. More confident, with more personality.

And now that Margot had cast her spell, it seemed like the effect had been amplified.

Ethan had been seeing him as a troublesome spirit up until now, unable to picture him as an actual person who had previously existed, who had had a life of his own, with daily worries and pleasures. He’d wanted to help him, sure, but mostly just because he’d wanted to be rid of him.

Now, he was finding that he was actually invested in finding out what had caused him to get stuck in this purgatory, and working out how to free him.

A sudden loud gurgling sound echoed around the room, and Chloe clamped her hands over her mouth in horror.

“Oh my God, I am so sorry,” she said, her almost-faded blush coming back with full force. “It’s just that I only had a piece of cheese for lunch because I was planning on going out to get something a bit later, but then, well, all this happened, and, well…”

She looked absolutely mortified.

Reassure her, you dolt! his pegasus snapped. And then take her out to dine on the finest produce this town has to offer! Her hunger must be satiated!

“It’s nothing to worry about. Really,” he said, trying to smile in a comforting fashion. It wasn’t something he was very used to – there was no room for comfort in his family. “I haven’t eaten yet, either.”

“You should both go and get something to eat!” Margot said, beaming.

“And I would really like to get started on finding these maps. It’s all so exciting!

It’s been many years since I last met a ghost. But the food here – well, it’s incredible.

You’ll see.” She winked, as if she was sharing some kind of arcane secret with Ethan, much to his bafflement.

“I recommend the diner down the road, for sure!”

~The old tavern that we passed on the way in,~ Curtis added.

“I could absolutely murder a burger right now,” Chloe said, a dreamy look in her eyes. “And a shake. And fries. And some biscuits and gravy.”

Ethan nodded, even though the thought of going to some greasy old diner was not his idea of a good time. He would take Chloe anywhere she wanted, no matter how much suffering it meant he would undergo.

“Curtis, would you like to stay here and help me look at these maps?” Margot asked. “You could go and meet up with them later, once you’ve found what you’re looking for.”

~Of course,~ Curtis said. ~I fear I’ve been a thorn in Mr. Roan’s side since we met, so I’m sure he’d appreciate it if I allowed him some time with his lady friend.~

Ethan opened his mouth to object, though he wasn’t sure whether he should be objecting to the idea that Curtis had been a thorn in his side – which he really couldn’t object to that much, given that Curtis had kind of turned his life upside-down – or to the idea that Chloe was his lady friend.

Even though she was both a lady – albeit one that wasn’t overly lady-like – and his friend.

He hoped she considered him a friend, anyway. Or at least someone with friend potential.

While he stood there with his mouth open, Chloe grabbed his wrist, sending the thrill of the mate bond surging through him once more.

“I’m starving. My vote is for the diner,” she said firmly, pulling him toward the door. He could have resisted easily, but made no attempt to do so – and so he stumbled through the doorway, bemused, as Chloe hauled him along.

Our mate is strong of character and pursues her desires, his pegasus said approvingly. Unlike you.

“See you later,” Margot said absently, already consumed with the task of digging through a drawer.

~Farewell,~ Curtis echoed. ~Have fun.~

If Ethan hadn’t known better, he would have thought that there was a sly tone to Curtis’s voice – but when he glanced back, the ghost’s expression was completely innocent.

“Bye,” he said helplessly, as the bell tinkled overhead and the door slammed shut with a final, decisive bang .