Page 78 of The Curse of Redwood

“You don’t want me to come back?” I asked, as my heart cracked.

“Want has nothing to do with it, little dove.” His fingers slid through my hair. “You mean too much to me. I have been selfish long enough and must let you go.”

“Why?” The crack in my heart widened.

“The sickness of this mansion has seeped into you,” he answered, as sadness penetrated his gaze. “Last night was proof of that. Darkness moves over your skin, searching for a way inside. You mustn’t let it. It’s not too late to change the path you’re on and leave this place behind you once and for all.”

“How come you always stare at me like you’re ready to say goodbye?”

“Because I am,” he said, resting his head on mine. “Just this once, please do as I say.”

“We’ve already been over this.” I pulled back and peered deep into his blue eyes. “Being with you is worth the risk, Zeke. When will you see that and stop pushing me away?” My voice cracked, just like my heart, as I then said, “You are my home.”

A sound escaped him, a mix between a whine and a soft cry. He clutched the back of my head and pressed his cool lips to my cheek. “And you are mine. Which is why I cannot bear it if something happened to you because of this dreaded curse. I would live a thousand years and still never be able to forgive myself.”

A tear slipped from my eye, and I held him as close as possible. He had finally confirmed what I knew in my heart; that we belonged together. However, cold then shot down my spine, and I shoved him away from me.

“You beast,” I spat, my entire body shaking with rage. The action—and words—weren’t mine. It was a lot like in my visions; I was seeing through my eyes, but I had no control over myself. Someone else did.

“Carter?” Zeke asked, reaching for me.

“You would never forgive yourself?” I growled and swatted his hand away. “Why is he so important to you? He is nothing! Yet, you speak such sweet words to him. You spoke them to me too once.” I flung forward and grabbed Zeke by the hair, yanking his head to the side. “Then, you stood by and let them kill me.”

Zeke gaped at me as terror filled his eyes. “Philip?”

The world spun, then, and I collapsed to the bed. My skin felt hot, but my blood coursed through me like ice. It made no sense. And it scared the daylights out of me. The presence had fled, giving me back control over my body, but all I could do was curl into a ball and do my best to hold myself together.

“Zeke,” I said, as frightened tears streamed down my face. “That… that wasn’t me. I…” I choked on a cry. “I don’t know what’s going on.”

Zeke didn’t react at first. He could only stare at me in shock. And then his arms came around me. “You were right before,” he whispered in a lifeless tone. “Redwood really is a part of you now.”

“I’m connected to Philip, aren’t I?” I asked, staring at him through watery eyes.

“It appears so. Though, I fear it’s more than just a connection. He has a hold on you.”

Frustrated, scared, and confused, I sat up and wiped at my eyes. “Are you saying I’m possessed or something? How is that even possible? I thought only demons could possess people.”

“I don’t have an answer for you,” Zeke said, sounding so unlike himself. “I know very little on the subject.” He got off the bed and retrieved the necklace from the floor, clutching it in his hand. “The man who gave this to you… perhaps he can help.”

“You can help too.”

“How?”

“You can tell me about Philip,” I said. “If heiscontrolling me in some way, why is he so angry at you?”

Zeke’s body glimmered as he fought to stay in control of his emotions. “Because I’m the reason he was killed.”

The buzzing of my phone on the nightstand caused both of us to jolt. Zeke peered at it curiously as I snatched it up and looked at the screen.

“Taylor’s calling me,” I said, before answering it. “Hello?”

“Hey, where are you?” Taylor asked. “I just came to your house and you aren’t here. Rich says you’re not at work either.”

“I’m…” Shit, I didn’t know what to tell him. So, I went with the truth. “I’m at Redwood.”

There was a pause.

“Like… the haunted mansion? Dude, why the hell are you there?”