“Hey,” Turner said. “Sorry I’m late. What’d I miss?”
As everyone filled him in, I went over to Kholt. “Everything okay?” I jerked my chin in Turner’s direction.
“Yeah, but I think the two of you should talk.”
“Oh, no. So, itwasabout me coming clean?”
“Sort of.” His lips twisted. “I don’t mean to be shady. It’s just something I think you should talk to him about. Just chat, okay? This is a discussion for the two of you. While I care about you both, it isn’t my place to be the go-between.”
“Yeah. Okay.” I looked over at Turner and wondered if we’d be all right. I missed my friend. Having him join the team had added yet another layer to the family that I’d forged here. I had instantly felt protective of him and wanted to see him succeed. The distance that we had now made my heart ache.
Chapter21
~Kholt ~
Iwatched raptly as Harper worked some kind of hypnosis on Turner. It didn’t seem very involved. I must have looked confused because Dakota came up and told me that it was because they had already hypnotized him and most of the rest of the team during the previous investigation, and he just needed to bereactivated.
Then, I watched Larken and Dev in action, and it was absolutely mesmerizing. They worked together like a well-oiled machine, and even though I didn’t consider myself gifted at all, I could almostfeelthe power in the air. When they finished, they called in a few members of their ghost crew to test it—Dev’s sister, Wren; her partner, Findley; Dev’s cousin and Hanlen’s best friend, Reagan; and the team’s late historian, Burke.
When I saw everybody in the room talking and laughing but only caught one side of the conversation, I couldn’t help but feel a little left out. I wished I could be in on this special part of being immersed in the wonder that wasHaunted New Orleans, but I understood why they hadn’t extended the invitation. Still, seeing Larken working her magic made me fall in love with her even more, and that was a bit of a balm to ease the sting.
Lark walked over to me and bumped my shoulder with hers. “You okay?” she asked.
“Honestly? I’m great.” I flashed her a big smile. “I was just feeling sorry for myself that I couldn’t join you all in conversing with the rest of your team. From the way it sounded, they’re really awesome.”
“So,soawesome,” she confirmed, and her eyes twinkled with genuine happiness. “I sort of wish that you could see and speak to them, too. I really think you’d enjoy it—and them.”
“You were . . .” I said, unable to stop myself yet not sure what to say. “Just, wow. You kind of blew me away.”
She ducked her head a little, and I saw the most enchanting flush grace her gorgeous face. “Thanks. I don’t even think about it anymore, honestly, and I forget that it can be weird for those not around magic all the time.”
I looked at her agape. “Not weird at all. It was incredible.”
She cocked her head. “Could you . . .sensethe magic?” An adorable little frown furrowed the area between her brows.
“I’m not sure I’d say I could sense it, but I did feel like . . .” I shrugged. “I’m not sure exactly how to explain it. It was almost like when you stand outside during a lightning storm.”
“Like the air is charged?” she asked.
“Yes, that. Exactly.”
“Interesting.” She nodded a little.
“That’s you. And exceptional.” I leaned in. “And hot.”
This time, she did blush, and I gave myself a mental pat on the back. She was usually the one making me turn red. It was nice to turn the tables for once.
She glanced around and then, with a sly smile, grabbed me by the front of the shirt and pushed me into a shadowed corner where the courtyard met the walls of the house. Before I could even open my mouth to ask what was going on, her mouth was on mine.
Her lips were soft and sweet, yet the kiss almost scalded me. I gave as good as I got and lost myself in the embrace, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her tight against me.
She moaned a little, and it stroked my ego. It was really too bad we couldn’t be doing other kinds of stroking right about now.
Just as I was about to cut us off because I wasn’t sure I could control myself around her, this being something I’d dreamt about for ages and something I didn’t think I’d ever get enough of, the sound of a throat clearing did it for me.
Larken pulled away suddenly but didn’t turn around immediately. Instead, she gazed into my eyes before slowly pivoting. Before she did, I took in her kiss-stung lips and the look of ardor in her expression and felt a flush of satisfaction once again—followed quickly by a cold-shower reality check.
I looked over her head to identify who I would have to kill later for interrupting us, only to see Turner standing with his hands on his hips, one brow raised, and a look of smug satisfaction on his face.