Blood Ward

Chapter 33

Lúthiel kept her own silentcompany, not speaking to anyone, not even Wen, as we traveled. Shebarely acknowledged it when someone spoke to her, resorting to shortnods or shakes of her head. Eventually, we all gave up trying. Shewas taking Stefan's death hard and unlike me, she had no supportsystem to fall back on. She also wasn't seeing Stefan's ghostevery time she was alone.

The presence of the specter nolonger startled me. He was mostly just annoying. His runningcommentary of my life was grating on my nerves after three weeks. Isnuck away from bed in the inn at Dravin. For some reason, I washaving difficulty sleeping. I hadn't heard from Reif in a few daysand I was getting nervous. I slid into a stool at the bar and got apint. Beast sat calmly at my feet. "You know he's probably toobusy with his new family to care about you anymore."

I sighed. "Why are you here?"I asked, drawing the attention of a few other patrons who looked awayquickly when I glared at them.

"I'm just telling you whatthe most likely reason... Wait, you think they've turned on him!"Stefan laughed spiritedly, lifting his own mug of ale that he'dmanifested out of nowhere.

"He's not as strong withoutme," I said, admitting my fears.

"Oh, my lady, you should knowbetter. Reif is no pushover," he scoffed.

"I will worry if I want to,"I snapped.

"Um, Ana, who is it exactlyyou're angry with? Because I didn't do it." Anders sat downslowly in the stool Stefan had just been in and studied me closely.

"Oh, sorry," I said cringingat getting caught.

"What's bothering you, luv?"he asked, putting a hand over mine.

I sighed. I knew it was time tolet Anders in on my strange visits. "I have something I need totell you."

"I don't like the sound ofthat," he said.

"Let's go back upstairs," Isaid standing and pulling him after me.

"Now you've got me nervous,"he said as I closed the door behind us and Beast hopped up on the bedand settled his chin on his paws.

"Ever since Stefan's death,"I paused as the wound reopened. "I've been... seeing him."

"Him who?" Anders frowned."Stefan?"

I nodded. "He comes around whenI'm alone mostly, talks to me."

"What does he say? Does he doanything to hurt you?" Anders asked.

"No." I shook my head. "He'sharmless, mostly just annoying."

"Stefan? Annoying? Rubbish,"he said sarcastically.

"I'm serious Anders," Isaid. "I just haven't figured out if he's actually here or ifmy mind has manifested him to ease my grief."

"There's an easy way to findout," he said.

"Magic?" I asked, wary ofbeing Anders' guinea pig after the pain I'd endured last time.

He laughed. "No, don't worry.All I need from you is an account of each time you've spoken."

"Word for word?" I asked.

He nodded. "Word for word."

We settled onto the bed, gettingcomfortable. He took up his favorite spot, head and hand on mystomach and listened intently as I described my encounters withspirit Stefan, while I stroked his hair.

"Well, I can say with extremecertainty that your ghost is a figment of your pretty imagination,"he said when I'd finished.

"Well, I feel somuch better now," I said. "Why do you say that?"

"First off, he's yourStefan. The one you loved. Second, have you listened to him? He hasyour snarky attitude and he mostly helps you work out questions andworries you have nestled in your busy little head." He touched hisfingertips gently to my forehead.

"So why does my busy littlehead find it necessary to have a playmate after all these years?" Iasked.

"Because you miss him and ithelps you feel better," he said comfortingly. "He'll fade overtime. For now, let him help."

"Well, he's making me lookcrazy," I pouted.

"You are crazy, luv," heteased. "It's what I love about you."

"Could we switch up?" Iasked, needing to take comfort in the sound of his heart beat.

He frowned. "You've neverasked me that before."

I shrugged. "Indulge me."

He lifted his head and shifted uptoward the pillows where my head rested and flopped carelessly on hisback. I sunk down so my head rested comfortably on his chest justabove his heart. His arm under me hugged me close. "That fitsnicely," he sighed, settling into the unfamiliar position.

I sighed, enjoying thecomfortable little nest I made. For me, this was my favorite placewhen I'd been with Stefan. To be here with Anders, it was peaceful."You're cozy," I said.

"So the spirit thing," hesaid, his voice rumbling through me. "That's what you've beenso worried about lately?"

"I haven't heard from Reif,"I said, letting the fact fall on dead air.

Anders was quiet as he tried tothink of a suitable excuse for Reif's absence. "Give him time,"was all he said. I tried not to think about it as I lay trying to fallasleep. Finally, the steady thump of Anders' heart lulled me tosleep.