Haunting Shadows (Book 2)

Chapter 13

Kalen was leaning against the inn-keeper’s counter chatting amicably with her. She was helpless to his charms, and Mallory couldn’t help but smile as she walked up to them. It had been a while since she had seen her aunt so cheerful, and suddenly she was very grateful for Kalen’s presence. He seemed to bring out the light in the room, a welcome change from the shroud of darkness that had been surrounding Mallory and her family for the past two years. She hoped he wouldn’t decide to leave.

“And what are we chatting so lively about?” Mallory asked when she reached them.

“Your lovely aunt here was just telling me the story of how she acquired this very inn,” Kalen answered, sharing a mischievous grin with her aunt.

Mallory narrowed her eyes, a smile still on her lips. “What are you two up to?”

“Nothing,” they replied in unison.

Mallory shook her head. “Anyway, I’ve decided to go see James Wilston with you. There’s a better chance he might help you if I’m there.”

“How so?” Kalen asked, his eyebrows raised.

She shrugged. “He owes me a favor.”

“And you didn’t think to mention this last night?”

A sly smile crept up Mallory’s face. “It must’ve slipped my mind. I’m terrible at keeping track of things, just ask my aunt,” she replied innocently.

Kristen playfully hit Mallory with a stack of paper lying about. “Don’t lie now, child. You have the best recollection of anyone I know.”

Kalen folded his arms across his chest, eyeing Mallory.

She sighed, “Fine, I hadn’t decided to help you yet last night.”

“And magically you’ve decided to help me now?”

“Well, you are being so kind to my aunt. Most people just walk right past her and treat her only as the inn-keeper.”

Kristen covered Mallory’s hand with her own, the two of them now sharing a secret look. Kalen eyed them suspiciously.

“Do I want to know what’s happening?” he asked.

Mallory smirked at him brightly. “Nope. But we should probably get going if we are going to arrange a meeting with James.”

“Right.”

Mallory leaned over the counter and kissed her aunt on the cheek. “See you later!”

“Have a good day, dear. You too Kalen.”

Kalen tipped his imaginary hat. “I always try.”

***

Mallory walked ahead, her strides confident and sure. Kalen admired her and followed not shortly behind. However, he couldn’t catch himself from letting his mind wonder to Lana. Of course everyone was right, he still need to give himself time to grieve, but not now. He would continue to postpone it, no matter how much being around Mallory reminded him of her. He was too close now, too close to stop and assess his feelings.

“So, are you going to tell me how you managed to get James to owe you a favor…?” Kalen asked.

She paused, causing him to almost fall over with the sudden stop. “Uhm… about that… I might have lied.”

Kalen’s eyes widened, and then he cocked his head to the side when her words started to take on meaning. “What do you mean you lied?”

“He doesn’t owe me a favor. Not exactly… or not at all really. I’ve never talked to him myself,” her voice trailed off, her cheeks taking on a red sheen.

Kalen shook his head. “Then why did you say that he did?”

Mallory let out a sigh. “I want to help. I wasn’t kidding when I said it’s not often that someone treats my aunt that well. Typically they just yell at her and expect her to be at their beck and call. Especially guys, who come through her the most often. And since you aren’t going to give up… the least I can do is help out.”

“You are the one who said he’d expect a price for the information I seek,” Kalen said, one eyebrow raised, a slight hint of amusement in his tone.

Her face lit up, those dull grey eyes shining with a sheen of violet. “I know I said that, and that’s exactly why you need me. I know how to communicate with him, and how to bargain. He and my dad were friends before my dad passed away, and I believe we can use that to our advantage.”

Kalen smiled. “You are quite manipulative, aren’t you?”

Mallory shrugged. “I’ve learned to be.”