Page 57 of Stalked By Shadows

“Out in the desert that night, when my base was destroyed, the wind howled like some sort of banshee.” I frowned. “I’ve been researching a lot of legends today. Anyway, I still tense up if the wind howls like that. If I heard it every night, or it intensified and got closer? I’d be freaked out too. I’m sorry that this is happening to you. I hope this helps a little.”

“Sorry about last night,” Micah said quietly.

“For what?” I asked, genuinely confused.

“The sex thing.” He looked away. “I was trying to use you as a distraction.”

“Ah. I don’t mind being a distraction if that’s what you need. I wanted you to seemewhile we were together. Does that make sense?”

He nodded.

“And you weren’t seeing me, were you?”

“No. I was too afraid. It hasn’t tried to come inside in a very long time. I thought maybe if I could turn my brain off and not think then it wouldn’t matter.”

I slid closer to him and wrapped my arm around his shoulder, pulling him into a sideways hug. I kissed his forehead again, then rested my chin on the top of his head. “This okay? Me touching you?” I clarified.

“Yes. I like that you don’t hesitate to touch me. Like you’re not afraid that touching me will curse you.”

“You’re not a curse.”

“Hmm,” was all he said.

Only time would tell. I didn’t think he was a curse even if misfortune happened around him. It wasn’t his fault. “Well, we’ve got the monster busting kit together. Blessed cats, infused with special earth protection crystals and pure salt. Guardian gnomes. Fairies to watch over your plants and trees, and technology for the modern stuff in case some rougarou comes loping to your door.”

“I’ve seen some believable pictures of werewolves,” Micah said of the rougarou comment.

“But not likely one in your garden as I suspect he’d make a bigger mess than knocking over some gnomes.” I took his hand in mine and squeezed it. “Do you know what’s best about all this?”

“I didn’t have to pay for it?” Micah groused.

“Oh, you’re a comedian. Funny. No, smart ass, the best part of all this is that your friends are here for you, trying to make you feel better.”

“Even if I’m nuts.”

“I heard and saw it too. So I’m as nuts as you.”

He sighed, and turned his head to look up at me, expression thoughtful. “I like you.”

I grinned at him. “I like you too.”

“Aw,” Sky said, overhearing. “Look at the feels.” She rushed our way arms spread wide and wrapped us in a bear hug belying her small size. Brad laughed and copied her.

“Don’t you dare,” I told Lukas when he headed our way, a serious smile on his face. He did anyway, wrapping all of us in his huge reach and squeezing until we all groaned. Tim shook his head like we were all nuts.

“On the happy feels note, I have a bit of bad news to deliver,” Lukas said when he let go.

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Really? Burst our bubble?”

He stepped away and held up his hands in surrender. “Not my fault. I’m the little guy on the messenger board for this one. The cemetery is still a no-fly zone today. The department says probably by midweek it will be clear. I know you usually have Saturday tours, Micah. Sorry.”

“I already rescheduled or refunded people for today. Some are going on a ghost tour instead since they wanted the full moon atmosphere for the cemetery and today is the last day of it.”

I hadn’t even thought of that. Did that mean there was another legend somewhere I had to research and add to the garden?

“Tonight is the kid’s tour,” Sky said.

“Yep,” Micah said. “And I’d like to show Alex how to close tonight. So it’s okay that we only have one tour today.”