Page 6 of Twi-Flight (Ghostlight Falls #6)

“I’m just walking home. I’m fine, I know about the Trolls, and the Ghosts, and the—aliens.

” I fumble, well aware that there’s so much about Ghostlight than what I’ve seen.

“I promise not to fall into the Wonderhole.” I insist, trying to ignore the sinking feeling that Eggward is one of those things I don’t really understand.

“Were you watching from the treeline? Back there at the park?”

His feet scratch idly at the ground, the way that he does when he’s feeling nervous. I love that I’ve already learned so much about him, I already know his ticks and habits. He’s uncomfortable with being caught. The idea of him watching me sends a little shiver down my back.

“Were you…watching me?” I crane my neck trying to get a better look at his face.

“Maybe I just wanted to be sure you didn’t hurt yourself again.” He grumbles, but there’s an amused lilt in his voice. He enjoys helping me. He enjoys watching me.

“Is that it? That’s why you came?” I ask, trying to hide my own amusement.

There’s no vocal answer, but his silence says everything.

Somehow even the air feels heavier around him.

The deep odd weight of his nearness. I can tell he’s attracted to me, but he’s not going to admit it, he’s not going to do anything but stare and make me feel—intense.

“Well, if you want to watch me, then you can watch me walk home. Alone. Where I will be alone. All by myself.” I turn on my heels and head toward Lucy’s house.

“Do you want to be alone?” His voice cuts through the night to catch up with me and then he adds more softly. “May I escort you?”

I stop in the middle of the sidewalk. Face pointed down so he can’t see the smile I’m fighting.

“Sure.” I tell the ground, taking just a moment to hide my pure satisfaction before I turn around. “I could use the company.”

It’s only a short distance, Lucy’s house is just a couple blocks behind the school, very convenient for a second grade teacher.

But I take several wrong turns extending the ten minute walk into nearly half an hour when I make a left instead of a right.

If Eggward notices what’s happening he doesn’t call me on it.

Just walks beside me, while frog song surrounds us.

My hand itches with the urge to reach out and touch his.

They are so close our knuckles almost graze.

We make it all the way to the block I live and we’ve barely said two words to each other.

My phone buzzes. I glance at the screen.

Lucy: Not going to make it home tonight. Hope you are doing well?

Me: Just eating junk food on the couch.

Lucy: Your pin says you aren’t home yet?

Me: Am I going to regret sharing my location with you?

I feel a little guilty and immediately admit.

Me: I’m okay. I’m with Eggward.

There’s an instant response, a string of indecipherable emojis, but the eggplant makes more than one appearance.

Lucy: Alright, have fun eating ‘junk’ food. See you in the morning.

I smirk at my phone.

Lucy has always been self-confident, but lately she’s extra intimidating, and taking no shit from anyone. It’s impressive. Wholly inspiring. She is consistently going after what she wants. And I wish I could be the same. I wish I wasn’t just going home to a couch and some snacks.

“Do you want to keep walking?” I ask without taking my eyes off my phone, before I have a chance to chicken out.

“Yes.” His reply comes almost as quickly, and my heart speeds up. I veer to the direction that isn’t my house and keep walking. He’s right there beside me.

The silence stretches between us as I wander almost aimlessly. Every time I talk to Eggward I’m alternating between reading too much into things, and then thinking he wants nothing to do with me. If I can just get him to open up.

“I used to come here every summer, to stay with my dad.” I say as the Wonderhole comes into view.

“After my parents got divorced, my mom remarried. She traveled a lot for my step-father’s job.

So spending summers in Ghostlight was the most stability I really got as a kid.

I think it’s one of the most interesting and beautiful places I’ve ever lived. ”

“Same.” Eggward faces the star filled sky, I can almost make out the profile of his face in the moonlight. At this point I’m barely curious about his looks. I want to know more about him, as a person. “Not the dad part. But, it’s really beautiful here. Special.”

“Where were you before?” I ask.

“All over.” His answer is just vague enough to drive me crazy. “I decided to settle down when Alice found me.”

“That’s when you became a farmer?”

“I don’t run a farm,” his voice hits an irritated tone. “It’s a rescue.”

“Right, sorry.” I say quickly, feeling truly embarrassed. “I know that.” We reach the edge of the Wonderhole and the depths of it disappear into pitch black beneath us.

“And how do you know Jace?” The question cuts through the night, coming out almost accusatory.

“We’re just friends.” I can feel my cheeks getting warm as I start to stumble for an explanation. “He, Lucy, and I spent the summers together as kids. Riding bikes, swimming in the lake, playing Club Penguin together. They were my best friends.”

Eggward makes a noise in the back of his throat. “And how well do you know him now?”

I shrug, not sure about my feelings, or what Eggward wants to hear. “They are different than when we were kids.” I admit. “I suppose everything is different than it was.”

“People change, places change.”

“You can’t go back home again,” I sigh. “I’m starting to think coming back here was a complete mistake.”

“It wasn’t.” Eggward’s words slice into me.

I look up into his hood. I wish I could see his expression when he says things like that, but all I have to go on is his words.

“It wasn’t?” I wait several long silent beats for him to keep talking.

“I’m glad you’re here, Mina.” He finally breaks the quiet.

“Well, you have a funny way of showing it.” I cough in a laugh, and then regret it. “You are so hot and cold. I’ve been starting to wonder if you didn’t like me at all. Is it just my dad’s land that you wanted? Because if that’s all it is then you don’t have to pretend that?—”

“No,” he cuts me off. “Mina, you’ve been so much help. The rescue, and I are both better off for your being here. I relish your help.” The frogs have grown quiet now, the morning birds are starting to chirp.

I struggle to swallow the lump in my throat. “Was that so hard to say?”

“I don’t mean to be distant—I just—I want to keep you safe.”

I scoff. “Everyone seems to think the way to protect me is by keeping secrets.”

“Someone tried to break into the hen house again. After you left today.” He admits.

“What?” I demand. “Why didn’t you say anything? Is everyone alright?”

“All the chickens are fine,” he says and relief washes through me. “That’s part of why I came to see you tonight, I wanted to make sure you were alright too.”

“Thanks.” I want to reach for him and settle for turning away and wrapping my arms around myself instead. “You shouldn’t have spent the whole night with me.”

“I wanted to.” His soft voice moves toward me. “I want to tell you everything, Mina. I think you know, it can be hard to trust people.” He’s standing right behind me, so close that I can feel his breath on my neck, and the heat of his body through my shirt.

“I just can’t handle being alone anymore. I was just starting to feel at home here. With you.” I start to turn. But he catches me. His strong arms possessively wrap around my waist to keep me from facing him.

“As long as I am alive, you will always have someone with you. You will never be alone, or unguarded.” His words settle a deep chill in my stomach.

I lean back into his chest, looking up to the sky. The stars are starting to disappear in the grey morning light. We’ve stayed out so late that it’s almost early, the sun will be up soon.

“I should probably be getting home.” I admit.

“What time is it?” Eggward’s voice suddenly panicked.

“I don’t know. Almost sunrise from the looks of it.”

“Sunrise!” Eggward mutters. “I have to leave.”

I start to protest, but then he kisses me, or presses his face into my neck.

Regardless, it feels wonderful, sexy, erotic.

For a moment I don’t know what to expect.

There’s a sharp press at my neck, his teeth dent into my skin.

I gasp, and my knees nearly go weak at the feeling, but his strong arms hold me up.

It takes a few moments for me to regain my strength, then he releases me almost as quickly as he grabbed me.

“Now they’ll know you are under protection. ”

And then he’s gone, and despite his words he leaves me alone, shivering in the early dawn without him.

I walk back to my house alone, exhausted to my very bones.

Lucy is weird about mirrors in the house, something superstitious I think, but I stumble to my bedroom and angle my make-up mirror to see myself better.

But there, clear as day, is a bright red mark on my neck, a single poke, like his other fang didn’t make contact.

I rub slightly at the spot. It’s tender, but he didn’t break the skin.

Maybe he was being extra careful not to?—

Eggward bit me. Which confirms everything I suspected. Lucy was wrong, and his dumb vampire ass bit me on the neck.

Maybe he didn’t need blood, but he still bit me.

The freak.

I smile at my reflection. I’m absolutely going to gloat when I see Lucy in the morning.