The Curse of Redwood (Ivy Grove #2) - Jaclyn Osborn Page 0,74

visions; I was seeing through my eyes, but I had no control over myself. Someone else did.

“Carter?” Zeke asked, reaching for me.

“You would never forgive yourself?” I growled and swatted his hand away. “Why is he so important to you? He is nothing! Yet, you speak such sweet words to him. You spoke them to me too once.” I flung forward and grabbed Zeke by the hair, yanking his head to the side. “Then, you stood by and let them kill me.”

Zeke gaped at me as terror filled his eyes. “Philip?”

The world spun, then, and I collapsed to the bed. My skin felt hot, but my blood coursed through me like ice. It made no sense. And it scared the daylights out of me. The presence had fled, giving me back control over my body, but all I could do was curl into a ball and do my best to hold myself together.

“Zeke,” I said, as frightened tears streamed down my face. “That… that wasn’t me. I…” I choked on a cry. “I don’t know what’s going on.”

Zeke didn’t react at first. He could only stare at me in shock. And then his arms came around me. “You were right before,” he whispered in a lifeless tone. “Redwood really is a part of you now.”

“I’m connected to Philip, aren’t I?” I asked, staring at him through watery eyes.

“It appears so. Though, I fear it’s more than just a connection. He has a hold on you.”

Frustrated, scared, and confused, I sat up and wiped at my eyes. “Are you saying I’m possessed or something? How is that even possible? I thought only demons could possess people.”

“I don’t have an answer for you,” Zeke said, sounding so unlike himself. “I know very little on the subject.” He got off the bed and retrieved the necklace from the floor, clutching it in his hand. “The man who gave this to you… perhaps he can help.”

“You can help too.”

“How?”

“You can tell me about Philip,” I said. “If he is controlling me in some way, why is he so angry at you?”

Zeke’s body glimmered as he fought to stay in control of his emotions. “Because I’m the reason he was killed.”

The buzzing of my phone on the nightstand caused both of us to jolt. Zeke peered at it curiously as I snatched it up and looked at the screen.

“Taylor’s calling me,” I said, before answering it. “Hello?”

“Hey, where are you?” Taylor asked. “I just came to your house and you aren’t here. Rich says you’re not at work either.”

“I’m…” Shit, I didn’t know what to tell him. So, I went with the truth. “I’m at Redwood.”

There was a pause.

“Like… the haunted mansion? Dude, why the hell are you there?”

Ben knew the truth. I told him everything. Taylor had become a trusted friend over the months. Maybe it was time to tell him as well.

“We need to talk,” I said, and my rumbling stomach made up my mind of where we should do it. “Meet me at the café in an hour.”

After disconnecting the call, I stood from the bed and had to brace myself on the wall when a dizzy spell hit. A light, cool pressure touched my back, and I smiled as I leaned against Zeke. My life had been thrown into chaos, but knowing he was beside me helped me feel less afraid.

“Will you return to me after speaking with Taylor?” he asked in a whisper, turning his face into my hair. “And before a sarcastic quip leaves your lips, I’m fully aware of my change of heart. I want you here with me. I will no longer push you away.”

“Good. Because you’re stuck with me.” My smile fell when I remembered what he had confessed earlier. “Will you tell me more about Philip later?”

“Yes,” he answered, pulling away and stepping toward the closed door. He opened it and turned back to me. “There will be no more secrets. Now hurry along. I fear your stomach will devour everything in this house if you do not eat soon.”

He walked me to the back door before grabbing my hand and spinning me to his chest. I released a surprised yelp before being silenced by a kiss. I was really glad ghosts had no sense of smell, because I knew my morning breath was killer.

“Be safe,” he said, caressing my jaw.

“I will.” I pulled from his embrace and opened the back door.

“Farewell, sir!” a small voice exclaimed. I turned to see William standing beside Zeke.