“Got it in one. It had slipped my mind, but when faced with my mortality? Yeah, I thought of it and kind of wondered if the spirit was important to me. If it had a message or something.”
“Well, I can ask her if you want because she’s sitting right beside Jacee.”
Jacee jumped and whipped her head to look at the spot Ryon indicated, but there was nothing present but air. “Um, one of us is crazy and it’s not me.”
“Her?” Micah asked, curious.
“Yep. Your ghost is a woman. Older Hispanic lady, close to sixty years old. Attractive. She’s wearing a pretty pink dress with little white flowers, says it was her favorite though she hardly ever had a place to wear it since she cleaned houses for a living. Where the hell was she supposed to go and dress up? But she loved it, and was buried in it, along with the cameo brooch she has on that belonged to her grandmother.”
Micah’s face paled even more, if that was possible. Staring at the spot, he croaked, “Mama?”
“She says yes,” Ryon confirmed, “and that you’re still the most special boy in the world, and she loves you with all her heart.”
“She always said that. I love you, too, Mama.” Micah cleared his throat.
“But she’s got a message. She came because she sensed you’re in trouble, in more ways than one. She knows you’re sick and said that you’re to fight and not give up. You will beat this thing. Got that?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Jacee wiped away a tear.
“She also feels an evil presence near you. She says, listen to Nick, and more important, to your own inner voice. There’s a man who would do you and your mate harm, and to best him you must be at full strength again. You must fight.”
“I will, I promise. Who is he?”
“He’s someone from your not-so-distant past. He’s a monster, but he’s good at concealing himself. He’ll attack when your guard is down, when you least expect it.”
“His name?”
“She doesn’t know it. But if you and your Pack dig deep enough, his name is there, as well as his motivation.”
“Thank you, Mama. I love you.”
“She says you’re welcome, but she’d do anything for her children. One day you’ll understand. She loves you, and she says to be happy with your mate. She’ll see you again one day,” Ryon said quietly. He paused. “She’s gone, buddy.”
“That was incredible,” Jacee breathed. “I’m seriously creeped out. You’re sure that was really your mother?”
“I’m sure. There’s no way Ryon could’ve known what we buried her in or about my grandmother’s brooch.”
“Unless Rowan had mentioned it?”
“I swear she never did,” Ryon said. “I’m the real thing. It’s hard even for paranormal creatures to believe in my gift because it’s something most of them can’t see or touch. I don’t mind most of the time.”
“I believe you. It’s just the strangest gift I think I’ve ever witnessed.”
Ryon snorted. “No, watch Kalen use his necromancing skills to raise a corpse from the dead and have a conversation with it. Now that’s weird.”
Jacee shuddered. “I’ll pass. Thanks.”
Ryon stood to take his leave and clapped Micah gently on the shoulder. “I’ll be back soon. You take care and kick this thing so we can go have a beer to celebrate.” He smiled at Jacee. “And to celebrate your new mate, too.”
“You know it,” Micah said.
Ryon took his leave, and Jacee was alone with her mate again. Micah slumped back into the pillows, totally exhausted. “Jacee?”
“Hmm?”
“I’m glad you’re here, even though I was a dumbass about it at first.”