Ella carried on, pushing the buggy and studying her intermittently. Isabella spilled out her guts, as did Ella, chatting away as they made their way toward Josephine’s grave in the far corner. Each took it in turn to talk about their fears. Nate slept throughout. Isabella lifted the chocolate cake out from the baby’s bag and broke off pieces, sharing it between them, although she ate the most. Wiping away the chocolate from her mouth, she scrunched up the empty bag and tucked it away in her pocket.
“What are you going to do? You know—the kiss can be improved. You can work on it if you feel Jake’s technique isn’t quite right, but honestly, it isn’t just the action of the kiss. It’s how you feel about the person kissing you. When you have strong feelings for someone and they kiss you, everything else disappears. In that moment, when you’re exploring each other, tasting him, touching him, you’re so wrapped up, nothing else matters. There is nothing outside of the two of you. No one. Your heart is going wild, pumping so fast it’s going to explode, and your breathing is working overtime to cope with your speeding heart. And all you want is more.”
Isabella closed her eyes and she saw Roman stroking her cheek. Blinking away the annoying vampire, she opened her eyes. “You need to talk to Drayton, sweetie. Make it up with him and then you can get more. Jeez, I didn’t know you could be horny when you’re pregnant. Were you last time?”
As the words left her lips, Ella’s smile vanished and Isabella searched the perimeter of the seemingly empty cemetery. The mist seemed heavier and a light chill invaded the air around them. She would be happy when they left this dreary place. Looking back over her shoulder, she nodded at their security detail. Since Ella’s abduction, they shadowed her whenever she needed to leave the compound, and were assigned to watch over her in Marcus’s absence. Isabella touched the blade hidden under her jacket for reassurance. Holstered at her hip, she also carried a large sword.
“Come on. Let’s place the flowers on the grave and go. It’s getting colder.”
“I agree. It’s just a little farther down the path, in the corner by the tree.” Ella pointed up ahead.
But Isabella stood still. A prickling sensation crept over her. It could only mean one thing. A ghost. She grabbed Ella’s hand as shivers descended down her arms and clutched her insides. One of the lesser useful gifts as a witch was her ability to detect and help those departed souls waiting in transition. For some unknown reason, the undead were attracted to her. Observing the graves, a figure of a small girl dodged between two headstones, and her heart thudded.
“Ella, we have company. I think we should leave right now.”
“I sensed we weren’t alone.”
Isabella didn’t like dealing with the leftover spirits—you never knew what kind of mood they would be in—but a pull inside insisted she help. Ella met her gaze as she stared over her shoulder in the distance. The soul-shifter knew the skills she possessed and what she would need to do.
“You know I don’t want to leave you, but the guards can escort you back and keep you safe. I have to see what the spirit wants. Otherwise, it might follow us home. I have to go and help her. She’s lost.”
Ella nodded but didn’t move.
“The guards won’t leave your side, and I’ll be right back,” Isabella added.
“You go ahead. I want to say a few words at Josephine’s grave. I feel guilty for not having been here before now. I will be fine.”
After a quick word with Bullet and Coca-Cola, Isabella headed off in the direction she last saw the little girl. If she believed what Ella said about kissing, she was doomed. As much as she tried to make the relationship with Jake more, she couldn’t. On the other hand, her pulse leapt erratically the minute Roman appeared inside a room. Whenever the vamp came near, he wove a sensual spell, holding her captive. Despite the flirting with Jake—that never happened with him.
Shaking her head free of the image of the vampire, she focused on her surroundings. The mist grew thick, hiding Ella and the guards from view. Alone, the atmosphere shifted, and the hairs along her neck rose as she peered into the endless gloom, seeking the errant child-ghost. Out of the shadows crept a light voice, and she darted off in the direction she heard it. Wandering for several moments, still no sight of the spirit, she stopped, deep in thought. The mist became denser, which made visibility impossible. Impatient to be back with Ella, she called out, “Dispergere caliginem portan solis.”
A little magic to get rid of the blasted fog. Isabella repeated the spell over and over, requesting for the sun to shine and disperse the fog, but nothing happened. It didn’t make sense. It also didn’t make sense that a ghost would hide. She held still, not moving. Ghosts, once they attached themselves to her, didn’t play games—they wanted contact.
They wanted help.
Shit. Racing back the same way she came, she heard Ella yelling as a tall woman with flowing dark hair disappeared in the swirling mist. The two guards were nowhere in sight. Reaching Ella, she grabbed hold of her, giving her a quick once-over to check she and Nate were okay.
“She came out from nowhere. We have to leave right now,” Ella said, clutching Nate to her chest as he cried. As the mist thinned, Isabella caught sight of the guards sitting on the ground, rubbing their heads. “She knew Nate’s name. It’s the Morrigan.”
“Call for backup. I’m going after her,” Isabella shouted at Ella before racing into the mist.
“Don’t go, Isabella…”
“You
