CHAPTER1
Inever thought the dead would drive me out of my own home. After everyone piled into the vehicles, I turned out of the driveway in my blue pickup truck, reminded that home was a fluid concept that never remained permanent. My childhood home burned to the ground, and that defining moment paved the life that followed. Flames were always licking at my heels, reminding me that happiness wouldn’t last.
I slowed down when the black van in front of us reached the gates.
Viktor stuck his fingers inside the bench seat, feeling around.
“If you’re looking for the lap belt, it’s long gone,” I said. “Don’t worry; I’ll try not to kill us.”
Gem unbuckled her seat belt. “Trade places with me.”
“Nyet. I will entrust my life with Raven,” our fearless leader replied, folding his arms. Viktor gave me a charming smile, one that must have attracted many women over the years, silver fox that he was.
I turned right after passing the front gate. “No pressure.”
“Don’t you love my new boots?” Gem had been admiring her white ankle boots all morning. They were chunky, and the heel gave her about three or four inches of height. I glanced at her ensemble—a white fur jacket and a splash of color from the pale-pink leggings. Only Gem could pull off an outfit like that. She was the definition of pizzazz.
“These boots are my New Year’s gift to myself,” she boasted. “Some cultures believe you should always wear new clothes to start a fresh new year.” She sighed grimly and pressed her face to the window as we passed wolf statues placed all along the property wall. “Viktor, they’re beautiful. And there are so many.”
Viktor had ordered them weeks ago after the battle on our property. The workers had spent the previous day placing them on concrete mounts, each bearing a small plaque with a name.
“I ordered one for every Shifter lost,” he said, his words sobering. “That includes the two lions from Samba’s pride. I placed the lions on each corner.”
“I bet the packs respect what you did for them,” she said.
“I did not do it for them. They are not aware of my actions. These are for us—so Keystone will never forget their sacrifice. You will always remember that day, and should anyone new enter our group, they will know the story.”
Gem clutched his shoulder. “Oh, Viktor. It’s tragic they can’t live their lives. Those poor souls were so brave and selfless. It doesn’t seem fair. Wecouldn’tdie because of Sparrow’s curse, but they gave up everything.”
It had only been a few weeks since the battle against Sparrow and his Vampire minions. We’d meticulously collected and removed the Vampire remains from the property. After that, we stayed busy scrubbing away blood, repairing damaged walls and windows, and restoring the Keystone estate to its original glory.
“When do you think we can go back?” I asked, feeling uneasy about a stranger alone in our home.
“That will depend on how successful she is. I was told we should be home by this evening.” Viktor tilted the vent downward.
It was almost eleven in the morning, and we had roughly eight hours to kill.
I turned on the blinker. “I don’t understand why Wyatt can’t exorcise all the ghosts himself. He’s a Gravewalker. Isn’t that what they do? Deal with the dead?”
Gem giggled. “Wyatt’s always had an aversion to ghosts. He said that one of them walked in while he was taking a bubble bath and got in the tub with him. Then the ghost started talking about all the ways he was going to have him murdered.”
I hit a pothole before turning onto the main road. “Well, I hope this crackpot doesn’t rob us blind. We’re leaving her alone with no supervision. Maybe you should have one of us stay there, Viktor. Even if it’s just Kira.”
“I trust this Gravewalker. She comes with many… recommends.”
“I think you mean references,” Gem said. “Is it really necessary that we all leave?”
Viktor stretched out his legs. “She cannot banish the dead as long as we are there to hold their attention.”
Gem bounced forward and met eyes with me. “It creeps me out to think how many of them inhabited our home. Now that I know what it’s like to see ghosties, I haven’t had a peaceful shower in weeks. I keep thinking one of them is in there with me, watching.” She shuddered and sat back.
“Doesn’t bother me,” I admitted. “As long as I can’t see or hear them, they don’t exist.” I looked out my window at the snow and muttered, “The only ghosts I care about are the ones that are still alive.”
My thoughts drifted to events in my past, and I quickly shut them away. Sometimes that box opened just a crack, and if I didn’t put the lid back on, the nightmares slipped out.
After we parkedthe vehicles outside a Mexican restaurant, Blue trudged across the empty parking lot toward my truck. Snow clung to her black boots, which were tall and kept her pants dry. A gust of wind blew back the hood on her brown leather jacket, revealing her piercing blue eyes and a tangle of long hair. “Viktor, are you sure they’re open? There’s no one here, and they don’t have the neon lights turned on.”
Viktor secured his scarf and held it as we marched toward the door. When the frigid wind blustered through the parking lot, Gem squealed and ran ahead of us. After three knocks, a Hispanic man unlocked the door.
