Page 78 of Where the Roses Bloom

“She say somethin’ in the dream?” I asked, looking back up at him.

Silas nodded, slow. “Hazel was sittin’ in the garden. Younger than I ever knew her. She had that pink ribbon in her hair like in that photo on the mantle. And she said…” He trailed off, throat bobbing. “She said, ‘Not everything buried stays gone.’”

My stomach twisted.

“She say it toyou?”

Silas hesitated. “She was lookin’ at someone behind me. But I think she meant for me to hear it.”

I swallowed hard. “You think it’s about the curse?”

“I thought I did.” He paused. “Now I’m not so sure it’s just that.”

I met his eyes. “There’s somethin’ in this house, Silas. And it’snotHazel.”

He shifted, uncomfortable. “What exactly are you saying?”

“I’m sayin’…there’s a presence here. A bad one. And I think it’s got its teeth in Willow.”

That got his attention.

“You think it’s the curse targetin’ her?” he asked, stepping closer.

“I think she broke the curse,” I said with a bitter laugh. “Then…somethin’ followed her here.”

Silas dragged a hand over his mouth. “This have anything to do with that guy who came sniffin’ around a couple weeks back? The one Delilah told off at the library.”

I stiffened. “Carter Thompson…Willow’s ex. He was a real piece of work when he was alive, came by here tryin’ to win her back. Apparently he wrapped his car around a tree on his way out of town…and I don’t think he ever left. Think he’s tryin’ to stake a claim from beyond the grave.”

Silas shook his head, the corners of his mouth tight. “I told you it wasn’t safe, Rhett.”

I frowned, not sure I heard him right, and looked into his eyes.

“Excuse me?”

“I told you from the beginning,” he went on. “You get involved with someone sweet and kind like that…this house’ll eat her alive. It’s not just the curse, it’s theWards. We destroy everything we touch?—”

“Stop.”

Silas’s jaw clenched, but he shut his mouth—thank fuck.

“I don’t care,” I said. “I’m in too deep, Silas. I’ll protect her until the day I die…even if that day comes sooner than we’d like.”

His expression faltered.

Then, after a long moment, Silas blew out a slow breath and looked away—like maybe he didn’t want me to see the emotion working behind his eyes.

“Alright,” he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. “Then what do you wanna do?”

I blinked.

“You’re not gonna argue?”

He snorted. “Why bother? You made up your mind the second she set foot on the porch. Hell, probably before that. I can’t stop a Ward man once he decides something’s his.”

“She’s not mine,” I said quietly. “She’shers.But I love her. And I’ll keep this house from swallowin’ her if it’s the last goddamn thing I do.”

Silas nodded once, sharp. “Okay. Then let’s do it.”