“Lady Cordelia Nightvale.” I gestured to the empty space that wasn’t empty at all. “She says she’s been haunting your castle for over a century.”
Kieran ran a hand through his already messed-up hair. “Persistent in that, are you?”
His disbelief got my back up. “I see her. She’s here. Quandary sees her too.”
My companion fluttered his wings and shot flames toward the ceiling, which, thankfully, was made of stone.
“Try not to burn the place down, please,” I told him.
“You talk to your companion,” he drawled.
“Why wouldn’t I?”
Cordelia stomped her foot and crossed her arms on her ample chest. “Could you please pay some attention to me?”
“Just because you can’t see Cordelia doesn’t mean she isn’t real.”
“That’s right. Tell him, sweetheart,” Lady Cordelia said. “At least someone in this dreary castle appreciates my presence.”
Kieran looked completely bewildered, which might’ve been funny under other circumstances. “You honestly believe you’re seeing a ghost.”
“I don’tbelieveI’m seeing a ghost. Iamseeing a ghost.”
“It’s true, Your Majesty,” Lady Cordelia said, giving him an elaborate curtsy that made her skirts billow out. “Only witches and magical creatures can see me, unfortunately. Not a single vampire. It’s a terrible limitation, but one I’ve learned to live with. Or exist with, rather.”
I relayed this information to Kieran, whose expression suggested he was questioning the wisdom of this marriage even more than I was.
“So now I have a wife who sees ghosts that aren’t there, and her fire-breathing companion who’sdetermined to set me ablaze.” He sighed again. “Perfect.”
“The ghost is there whether you believe it or not. And Quandary’s accident was just a slight mishap. I explained that already. I don’t believe it’ll happen again.”
Kieran looked at my companion, who was trying to make himself as small as possible on his perch. “I’m not trying to separate you from him. I’m just suggesting a safer sleeping arrangement.”
“We’ll discuss this in the morning.” I lifted my chin, unwilling to back down.
“How delightfully tense.” Lady Cordelia floated around us with a fang-filled grin on her face. “This is the most entertainment I’ve had in decades.”
“The ghost is enjoying our argument,” I told Kieran, which only deepened his scowl.
“There is no ghost,” he growled.
“That, also, is not open for discussion.”
“Cyrene,” he snapped.
“Kieran,” I said quite placidly, crossing my arms on my chest, tapping my foot like Cordelia.
“Let’s…compromise. Your companion can stay in the room, but he must remain on his perch by the window, which is far enough from the bed I might actually be able to sleep.”
I hesitated, then nodded. It was a reasonable suggestion, and I was too exhausted to keep bickering about it. “Fine.”
“Good. Now, can we please get some sleep?” Kieran returned his sword to a stand beside the bed and climbed back under the covers.
I followed, keeping to my side of the vast mattress. Lady Cordelia drifted over to perch, or whatever ghosts did, on a chair near the window.
“I’ll just sit here and keep watch,” she said. “In case any real danger appears. Unlikesomepeople, I take my guardian duties seriously.”
“Could you keep watch from the sitting room?” How was I supposed to sleep with her staring at me all night long?
