Shadows (Bayou Magic 1)

“Until today,” Millie says softly. “We need to find out what these girls want and send them on their way so you can get back to a somewhat normal life again. You know what happened the last time.”

“Wait, this has happened before?” Cash demands. My eyes are pinned on my sister’s.

“Not the apparitions. This is brand new,” I reply. “But the following has happened before. I’ll tell you about it later.” I turn back to my sister. “I need for them to go away,” I agree. “Because I’m afraid I can’t give them what they want. Whatever it is they need.”

“We don’t know if we don’t know,” Millie says. “I can open myself up and feel them for you if you want, since you can’t hear them.”

“No,” I say immediately, rushing to her and taking her shoulders in my hands. “Do not do that, Millicent. I’m not giving you permission to do that.”

“Okay, I won’t.”

“Promise me.”

“I promise.”

“I’m missing something.”

We both turn to Cash, who watches us intently.

“If she opens herself up and crawls into the mind of a spirit, there’s a good chance she won’t walk back out again,” I inform him. “Millie is a powerful psychic.”

“I’m a witch, too,” she says proudly.

“Does everyone in the family have these,”—he waves his hand in the air—“gifts?”

“Just the sisters,” I reply. “Daphne is the youngest, and she’s psychometric. She touches objects and sees the past through them.”

“Fascinating,” he says.

“Honestly, I’m shocked he hasn’t run away screaming yet,” Millie says to me. “Or called the cops.”

“He is the cops,” I say with a shrug. “FBI profiler.”

“A profiler?” She stands and walks to him. “So, you’re a psychiatrist?

“I am,” he confirms.

“May I?”

“Sure.”

She takes his hand, looks deeply into his eyes, and after about fifteen seconds, leans in to give him a gentle hug.

“I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay.” He hugs her in return and smiles when she pulls away. “I’m not running, Millie. I’m confused, intrigued, and completely entranced by your sister. I’m worried, as well. And, frankly, I want to hurt anyone that would even dare to try and hurt her.”

“Really like him,” Millie says to me with a grin. “If you don’t scoop him up, I will.”

“He’s not meant for you.”

“No.” She shakes her head. “No, he’s not.”

“So, what now?” Cash asks. “What do we do now?”

“There’s nothing to do yet,” I reply. “I freaked out a bit because this is all new, but we don’t have anything to act on.”

“Two women are dead,” he reminds us. “We have to call the authorities and get an investigation underway. I have contacts here, I can call—”

“But we don’t know the circumstances,” Millie says, interrupting him. “They might have been in an accident together. They might have died of natural causes. They could have died years ago and are just now reaching out—though that doesn’t make sense with you talking to the one girl the other night.”

“We wait,” I add, nodding. “And in the meantime, I’ll just have two creepy girls following me around. Oh, and one more thing. They didn’t die of natural causes, that much is clear.”

No, the torture marks on their skin weren’t anything normal.

They were killed; after they were put through inexplicable horrors.“Was that your first sage cleansing?” I ask after Millie leaves for the night. She stayed and helped me sweep my apartment for anything that made its way inside. It should also tone down the resident spirits for a while.

“It was,” Cash says. He leans on my kitchen counter, watching as I tidy up, trying to keep my hands busy for a little while longer.

He’s ridiculously handsome. Hot, even. Tall and broad with muscles and tanned skin. His lower front teeth are just a little crooked, which only makes his smile more interesting.

But I could get lost in those green eyes.

“What are you thinking?” he asks.

“That you should probably go. I’ve kept you here for far too long.”

His eyes narrow on my face. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“So, I know I joked around earlier about sex on the first date, but I’m not getting naked with you tonight. Sorry to disappoint.”

“Funny.” He chuckles and reaches out to drag his knuckles down my cheek. “I’ll sleep on the couch. I don’t want to leave you alone tonight. What if they haunt your dreams?”

“Sleep’s always been my safe place.” I can’t hold back from wrapping my arms around his middle and hugging him. “I appreciate you thinking of it, but I’ve never had sleeping issues, thank goodness.”

“Well, that’s something, then.” He kisses the top of my head. “But I’m still staying. We’ve already established that, although this is new, it’s strong. And if you think I won’t be here to protect you, you still have a lot to learn about me.”

“I don’t think you can protect me against this,” I whisper into his chest. “But having you here is soothing, so, thank you. You don’t have to sleep on the couch. I have a guest bedroom. I don’t get many visitors, but I have it anyway.”