had been months since I’d felt so good. No headache, no knotting of nerves in my gut.
I had intended to get to Redwood earlier, but after I woke, Taylor and I had gone over to Ben’s and I’d told them everything that had happened the night before.
The mansion stood waiting for me as I walked through the backyard, past the gazebo and to the patio. Was Zeke waiting for me too?
I walked faster before breaking out into a jog.
The door didn’t even open. Zeke dashed through it and materialized in front of me before tugging me to his chest. I felt his desperation, his concern, as he held me in his arms.
“I’m okay,” I said, nuzzling his neck. I dropped my backpack to the grass and gripped his sides.
“I drove myself mad with worry,” he murmured into my hair. “You were not yourself when you left, and I feared the worst when you didn’t return.”
“I visited Callum,” I said, pulling back to look into his face. “He’s a witch, I guess? He said I’m possessed and he gave me a defense mark to keep the ghost at bay until he can perform a banishing ritual.”
“Banishment?” Zeke asked, and his arms fell away from me before he turned toward the garden. “I suppose it’s the only way.”
“Are you mad at me?”
“No,” he said, placing a hand at my lower back. He kept his eyes on the stone bench. “You’ve done nothing wrong.”
My chest ached as another thought struck me. “Callum said if the final stage of possession is complete, then the ghost will have total control. He’ll technically be alive again.” I took a steadying breath before asking, “Would you prefer it if Philip took over my body? You two would be able to be together again and—”
Zeke grabbed my face and shoved me against one of the porch columns. Anger filled his eyes as he pressed his weight against me, caging me in. “What are you asking me, Carter?”
“I think you know what I’m asking. You could have Philip back.”
An uncomfortable silence passed as he stared at me.
Was he considering it? Possibly remembering the love he had for Philip and wanting it again? He had only known me a year. And we’d only just begun to truly feel for each other over the past few months. What he and Philip had was stronger.
“Zeke? Please say something.”
His hand slid to the side of my neck as he peered into my eyes. “I loved Philip. He was kind and gentle and just so good. He was the first person in my life to see the real me and love me anyway.”
The center of my chest tightened. I knew what was coming and tried to brace myself for impact. But you couldn’t fully prepare for heartbreak. Not really.
“Do I still love him? Yes.” Zeke pressed his thumb against my pulse. “But damn it all, I love you too. If having him back means I’ll lose you, then I decline with every ounce of my being. For it would still be your eyes I stared into. Still be your voice I heard. You’ve brought light into my dark life, Carter, and I will hold onto that light with everything I have in me.” He dropped his face to my neck, sending goosebumps along my skin. “I will hold onto you.”
There I went with the damn tears again. But I couldn’t help it.
“You love me?” I asked. “Really?”
“Yes,” he said, before kissing me lightly on the cheek. “If I’m being honest, I have loved you from the very first time I saw you. You wore a ghastly green hat on your head, and you were stuffing your face with every snack on the table. I never show myself during events at the mansion, but I had no choice. I had to meet you. To speak with you. I materialized and joined the celebration, and when your gaze lifted to mine, the earth quaked beneath my feet. The room of dancing people faded and all I saw was you.”
I sucked in a breath as his face came closer. Our mouths touched, soft and teasing. I got a bit dizzy, but for once it wasn’t caused by something sinister. I was reeling from the force of falling hard for Zeke.
“We never got to dance that night,” I said, once I could find my voice again. “It was over way too fast.”
He smiled against my lips. “I didn’t know you wanted to dance.”
“It’s something I’ve never done with