“How about this?” Wade says, placing a crooked index finger under my chin and making me look up. “No more secrets from now on. And no more lies through omission, either. Even if it’s under the guise of protecting the other. Deal?” he says, his eyebrows tipping up in the middle.
“Deal,” I whisper.
“We have an accord.” Bending forward, he places his lips against mine, sending shockwaves right down to my toes.
“I’ve missed you,” I blurt out, dreamily.
“I’ve missed you, too,” he whispers, grabbing my right hand and rubbing the back of it with his thumb.
“No, I mean, I really have. You have no idea how strange it is to realize you can see and hear ghosts,” I say, my voice trailing off. “Especially when you didn’t believe ghosts even existed.”
“I can imagine,” Wade says, nodding.
“There’s something new that’s come up and I’m trying to decide if there’s any truth to it. Maybe you can—”
“Hey, Autumn,” a voice calls out.
I glance over, blinking hard as Dominic leans forward and tips his head in my direction. He’s seated at a booth a couple of rows over, grinning in his cocky, irritating way.
“Uh, hey, Dominic,” I say, nodding back in acknowledgment.
Wade’s face falters and his smile fades.
“Wade, this is Dominic. He’s…ah, I go to school with him,” I say.
Wade tips his chin up and manages a half-hearted smile.
I grimace, returning my gaze to Wade.
Dominic clears his throat, sliding out of his booth, and walking over to us. “And, are you going to introduce me to…” Dominic raises his eyebrows and sweeps a hand out to suggest Wade.
Shaking my head, I mumble, “Yeah, of course. Sorry. This is my boyfriend, Wade.”
Wade’s expression lifts and he sits up a bit straighter.
“Oh, I see,” Dominic says, leaning toward us and outstretching his hand. “Well, nice to meet you, Wade.”
“Likewise,” Wade nods, eyeing Dominic over.
“Annnywaaaay,” I say, drawing the word out longer than normal. “Where were we?”
“I believe we were saying how much you missed me?” Wade says, his voice a bit louder than it was a few moments before.
“Oh, that’s right,” I say, nodding. I was actually about to tell him about the crazy notion that I could be more like Abigail and it could mean bad news if she wants me to break some sort of curse, but with Dominic hanging around, that’s a conversation that will have to wait. I don’t need Dominic interjecting and making things worse by spouting off any of his necromancer nonsense.
“Hey, Autumn,” Dominic interrupts. “Since we’re all here having supper, why don’t we join forces and share a table?”
I shake my head, “No, I don’t think that’s a good—”
Dominic pulls out one of the extra chairs from a table behind us and takes a seat.
My insides recoil at the discomfort sprouting around us. “Dominic, we’re on a date.”
Our server walks up with a platter in her hand and surveys the scene. “Everything okay here?” she asks, passing our burgers to us.
“Uh…” I begin.
“No, actually. This gentleman is bothering us. Is it possible to get another table?” Wade asks.
The server nods, “Of course. Sit wherever you’d like.”
Standing up, Wade grabs his plate and drink and tips his head to a table across the room, “Let’s go sit over there. That okay?”
Swallowing hard, I nod and grab my things. The waitress steps back, typing something into her tablet—probably our new table arrangement.
As we turn away, Dominic’s chair screeches across the wooden floor. He drops the façade of being a ‘nice guy’ and his face contorts into something else—anger, disdain? He sidesteps around, standing directly in Wade’s way.
“You shouldn’t be here,” Dominic sputters, standing toe to toe with Wade. While their heights match up almost equally, it’s like a battle between light and dark as Dominic’s white hair practically glows in the lighting of the restaurant, while Wade’s black hair and leather jacket vibrate with a level of mystery and darkness I’ve never really noticed.
“And why is that, exactly?” Wade asks, setting down his plate and drink at the nearest table. The people sitting there scoot over, with surprise and apprehension painted on their faces. Wade’s hands drop to his side as they ball into fists.
Dominic juts out his chin. “You know exactly why. You’ve sensed it from the moment you met her, you just didn’t want to admit it. It’s written clear as day in your aura.”
“And how the hell would you know jack about what I sense?” Wade says through clenched teeth.
“I know what you are and she shouldn’t be anywhere near your kind.” Dominic’s gaze flits for the briefest of moments from Wade to me—and hidden in their depths is something I’ve never seen before… Panic? Desperation? Both?
My jaw slacks open. “What in the hell is going on here?”
Chapter 25
When the Dead Rise
Wade backs up, his mouth agape. No words escape his lips. Instead, he shifts his gaze between Dominic and me.
Rounding on Dominic, it’s my turn to step into his space. “What in the hell are you talking about?”
“Ask him,” Dom says, tipping his chin toward Wade.
Wade shakes his head, confusion and alarm clear across his features. “I have no idea where he’s going with any—”
“Cut the shit, Wade. I can hear your damn thoughts. I get impressions all the time. You need to be honest with her about what you are,” Dom spits, shooting me a sideways glance.
“Guys, you’re gonna have to take this outside,” the waitress says, coming over to us and pointing at the door.
Turning on my heel, I bound straight out the door and into the parking lot. When I twist back around, both Dominic and Wade are right behind me.
“I have no idea what this asshat is talking about,” Wade says.
“Dude, she’s a necromancer, man,” Dominic says, his face hardening.
I roll my eyes.
Wade takes a step back, clearly shaken. “No, she’s a…”
For whatever reason, being a necromancer means something to Wade, but I don’t know why. He swallows hard, trying to recover from
