Ghost Silk (Ghost Perfume, Book 2) | ✔

3 - Promise me - Part 4

Rose - Material Realm

"Are you ready to go?"

Michael came to the door of my bedroom in Alexander's house. I met his dark, dark-lashed eyes, expectant in his aristocratic face.

Anticipation spun and tightened a thread between us.

I swallowed and broke eye contact, nodding as I returned to struggle with the zipper of the duffel bag.

He knelt next to me. His hands brushed mine away from the bag and zipped it closed with a harsh tug.

He picked up the bag with one hand and offered me his other arm, like an old-world gentleman. I took his elbow as I got to my feet. He led me down the stairs.

Puck and Robin came out from wherever they'd been hiding to fly towards the car. I knew they'd fly with us as we drove.

A part of me was amused to think they volunteered to watch over me, because I had some doubts about what they'd do in a moment of danger. But I wasn't about to start telling them what to do.

I didn't think I was in danger, no. Not with the power I now knew lived in my golden thread. The people around me had a tendency to underestimate me and react in irrational ways to ghosts.

"Have you had any more contact with your brother?" Michael asked as we got to the first floor.

I shook my head.

"I'll speak with him as soon as I can. It was never my intention to drive a wedge between you and your family," he said. His focus was in surveying the house and the small pile of the remaining boxes and suitcase in the foyer. "Nothing else upstairs?"

"That's it."

He steered me away from picking up a box, telling me instead to check the kitchen and living room for anything I'd missed. By the time I came back to the foyer, the front door was open and everything loaded into the backseat and trunk of Michael's car.

I laughed, locking the door to the house and running outside. "I was going to help!"

"Oh, no, should I unload the trunk again?"

He shut the trunk as he spoke. I shivered in the icy air, despite the bright wash of sunlight over us.

I looked down the suburban street and the familiar sight of my own house, where Tommy was. It always had a solitary look to me. But he'd be okay, Tommy ...

I shook myself out of the worried thoughts.

"No, you can give me the car keys," I said, reaching for them in Michael's hands.

He allowed me to take them. I hurried around to open the passenger side door for him, like he always did for me.

He laughed as he got in. His laughter, deep and rumbling from his chest, shook something in mine.

I looked away, starting the car, and we backed out into the street.

His phone rang again, the same ringtone as before. The smile left his lips.

"I'm sorry, Rose," he said, answering it.

"No problem."

"What is it? Gabriel, we're -" he broke off as Gabriel must have spoken.

"That's not acceptable," Michael said coolly. "He told me he didn't care if I went. So I did. They cannot convene without me."

"I don't care. They can do it tomorrow."