Siren Awakened - C.R. Jane Page 0,59

while we were having sex in the yard.”

He stiffened. “She watched us?” He rubbed his chin, almost grinning, and of course that would pique his interest.

“She wasn’t there to admire us, but give me tips apparently on having better sex.” I huffed. “How would a dusty old British ghost from the 1800s be an expert at sex? You know she called me a prostitute?”

“What sort of tips?” His lips quirked.

I sighed. “Fine, we’re not having this conversation now. I have the trinket to help me, so let’s stay focused.”

His lips pinched. “Of course. You can tell me later. So, she first came to you when you were tired in the bathroom. And each time afterward was the same?”

I nodded. “I think it’s when my mind is too weak to fight her that she takes advantage of that moment. So sleep and exhaustion.”

“Well, then we need to conduct a ritual that will draw her out, and then we send her back to wherever the hell she came from.”

I leaned forward. “And you can do that?”

“Fuck no, but Seth should be able to. He’s got magic in his bloodline.”

“Okay. I think he’ll help us. Oh, reminds me. Was everything all right with that guard in Seth’s cell yesterday?” Heat flared up my neck at the memory that Keon knew Seth and I were having sex, yet he covered for us from getting caught.

He nodded quickly. “Yeah, all taken care of. Like I said, nothing you need to worry about anymore.”

“What are you both conspiring to?” Alaric barked as he strolled inside, and I almost jumped out of my skin at how focused I was on Keon.

“God, please stop scaring me like that,” I said, my heart racing.

He looked at me puzzled. Keon was on his feet and gave Alaric a long-winded rendition of what I’d told him.

“The ghost watched you both have sex?” Alaric grinned, nodding his head as if that was the most important element of what he’d just learned.

I rolled my eyes. “Seriously. We have a solution. Stop thinking with your cocks.”

I could physically see their postures straighten as they glanced my way. “Okay, then we do this tonight,” Keon said.

“Why not now?” I asked, ready to get this done.

“Because just before lock down of all doors, I can collect Seth without raising the alarms.”

“Okay, so we have a plan,” Alaric said. “You get Seth, and I’ll stay with Selena.”

“Then we meet in the small courtyard,” I added.

“Deal,” Keon said and headed out of my room.

Alaric turned to me, one of his eyebrows arching. “What courtyard?”

The full moon hung heavily pregnant in the night sky. It was almost as if the universe had planned for us to have a ritual tonight, putting on a show with no clouds. Grass crunched under my bare feet as I stepped deeper into the yard. I’d read enough to know magic came from the elements, and tonight, we were conducting some kind of ghost exorcism from me, so bare feet it was. It should be pitch dark out here, but with the moon so large, it cast everything in its silvery glow.

Alaric studied the open yard Laz had shared with me. “Why didn’t I know about this space?”

I shrugged. “Nightmare Penitentiary holds lots of secrets.”

“You sound just like the warden.”

“I do not.” I shivered at the thought, while my stomach churned with how tonight would go.

I glanced up at the moon, whispering under my breath, “Please let this work.”

Alaric suddenly stood behind me, the warmth from his body wrapping over me like a blanket. His arms were belts around my middle, and I leaned back against his hard chest.

“You’ll be all right,” he reassured me, then kissed the top of my head. “You’re not alone in this. Never again alone. I’m never going to let you go from my side ever again.”

My mouth curled upward of its own accord, as the promise of his words was something I’d wanted for so long. Just to have family, someone who loved me back. As mismatched as we were, the small group of family I made in prison meant the world to me.

I kissed his forearm. “You don’t know how much that means to me.”

Just then, a knock came from the door leading back into the building. Alaric marched over and opened it for Keon and Seth to stroll outside, and my heart beamed. But then a fifth person walked out behind them, and I blinked.

“Laz?” I gasped. Was I missing something?

He wore a grin, meeting mine