"Of course he left you,” the woman spat. “Look at you. You're useless. You had to drain your lover's power just to find me."
"Sucks, doesn't it?” Sara took a step forward, letting the power gather around her. “Seeing other people feel such joy. Take such pleasure in each other."
"Rutting like animals,” she hissed. “It's beneath us."
"Jealous?"
"Never.” The denial came too quickly, and the woman's hand tightened around the handle of the knife. “Go away. Leave me."
"No.” Power surged in her and she lifted her hands, watched in fascination as they began to glow. “It's time for you to go."
The ghost screamed and ran through the table, her knife held high, heading straight for Sara. The move startled her, made it impossible to gather power quickly enough to repel her as she'd done upstairs. Sara wrenched her body out of the way at the last moment, but not soon enough. The knife dragged across her shoulder, sliced through her shirt and pressed against her skin.
Sara stumbled back with a curse and lifted her hands again.
She'd read dozens—hundreds—of pages of dry, technical descriptions of magical powers. She'd taught fledgling mediums to channel their gifts using her vast theoretical knowledge. None of it had prepared her for the sheer, giddy joy of having power rush through her. She laughed as she focused her energy—Reed's energy, their energy—on the ghost who spun around and raised her knife again. “You made a mistake. Your hurt someone I love. And that really, really pissed me off."
"Die,” the woman screamed. “If you won't leave, you'll die."
Maybe an experienced medium could have done something deft. Muttered in Latin, focused their attack more carefully. Sara had no experience, but she had a lot of power, so much she was overflowing with it. There was no need to worry about conserving it or channeling it.
She shifted her hand until it faced the ghost, and released that pent-up power in one dizzying burst
Considering how much energy it took, she expected something exciting or theatrical. Instead the magic coalesced when it hit the ghost, creating a blinding flash of light that brought tears to her eyes. When they cleared, she was alone.
She swayed, barely catching herself on the counter as the backlash hit her, the dizzy light-headedness from channeling so much power. The faint glow around her faded, leaving her in the dark kitchen. Even as she sank to the floor it was impossible to panic; her body still tingled and the house felt different. Safe. Peaceful.
Sara leaned back against the solid wooden counter and closed her eyes. She wallowed in the feeling of accomplishment as she listened to Reed's feet pounding down the stairs. His voice called her name, worried, and she finally gathered the energy to respond.
"In the kitchen!"
He ran in only moments later, Celestina right behind him. He dropped to the floor beside her and framed her face with his hands. “Are you all right?"
"She's gone.” Sara smiled and pressed her cheek to his hand. “She's gone. I got rid of her."
"Shit. You're bleeding.” He tore at her shirt and pressed his palm to the scratch. “Fuck."
"It's okay. I can't feel it.” She laughed and pitched forward into his arms. “Why didn't anyone tell me it feels this good? No wonder Erin keeps lighting my classroom on fire."
Celestina moved forward. “She was acting this way upstairs."
Reed snorted. “She's high. She's not used to that much power all at once."
"It feels good.” Reed's chest was beautifully bare, and Sara slid her fingers over the warm skin and marveled at the way the firm muscles felt just beneath it. “You feel good."
"Okay, sweetie. Priorities.” He caught her hands. “Where's your cell phone, Sara?"
Why did he want to talk about cell phones when there was so much beautiful skin to be touched? Touched and tasted. She parted her lips and trailed her tongue around his nipple. “Beautiful."
He shuddered, but his hands searched her pockets. “Phone, phone...” He dragged it out and checked the display, then cursed. “Dead. Everything's probably dead."
Sara faintly heard Celestina's soft sigh. “Oh, heavens. I suppose I owe you a favor. You did banish my murderer."
It made her laugh. “You have a cell phone, Celestina?"
The ghost huffed. “No. But I can recharge yours. I just won't have enough energy left to stay manifested."
Reed prodded at the wound on her shoulder. “We can't stay here the rest of the night. She might need stitches."
"No, I'm—Ow!” She flinched back, the warm, fuzzy feeling starting to fade. “That hurts, Reed!"
"Hey, look who's coming down,” he murmured, peering down into her eyes. “Yeah. Welcome back from Never Never Land."
I liked it better in Never Never Land. Her shoulder throbbed, and her light-headedness had started to shift into bone-deep exhaustion. “I don't feel so good."
"Hold up the phone,” Celestina cut in. “Let us dispense with the pleasantries. It was interesting to meet you, I enjoyed your enjoyment of each other immensely, and thank you for rescuing me from eternal torment. Et cetera, et cetera ... Tell them to send me a young, handsome single medium next time, if you would be so kind."
Reed snorted as he held up the phone. “Dirty bitch."
"Very much so.” Celestina shifted her gaze to Sara's, and she smiled as she held her hand over the phone. “You're a lucky young woman, Miss Sara Patel."
"I know.” She watched as Celestina's form wavered slightly, then began to fade. “Thank you, Celestina. I ... I wish you some peace."
"Better to wish me naughty dreams.” With one last saucy wink, the ghost disappeared.
Reed gathered her in his arms and rose. “Do you have Kendrick's home number in your cell?"
"Yeah...” She fumbled a little as she opened it and squinted at the display. “God. Please tell me you don't always feel like this after you do magic. I feel like I haven't slept in a week."
"Hardly.” He rubbed his cheek against the top of her head. “You build up a tolerance. And I don't usually spend my time banishing evil, just so you know."
She found the Dean's number and jabbed the button with her thumb before holding it to her ear. The soft glow of the view screen cast eerie shadows as Reed moved slowly toward the kitchen door.
Dr. Kendrick answered on the third ring. “Hello? Sara?"
"Hi. Uh.... we need a car. We need—” Concentrating was impossible. She tilted her head back against Reed's shoulder and closed her eyes. “What did we need?"
He snatched the phone from her. “We need to get out of here right now. Yeah, well, there's more haunting this place than Celestina Montera. Or was, anyway. And Sara's been hurt.” He paused. “Yes. Yes, sir. I understand, sir.” He closed the phone with a snap. “He said to call 911 if we needed, or to wait for him."
"I don't need 911. I just need to sleep.” She tucked her face against his neck. “And you need a shirt before Dr. Kendrick shows up."
"Screw it. I've got lots of T-shirts at home."
"Can I—” She hesitated, but she was too tired to be shy. Too tired to be scared. “Can I come home with you?"
His face softened, and he pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Yeah. After we make sure you don't need the hospital. You can stay the night."
She smiled around a yawn. “Man, it's hard work being the knight in shining armor. Do I have to stay awake?"
He chuckled as he checked the front door and then sat down, settling his back against it. “No, baby. You can sleep."
She barely heard the words. Curled in his arms, she pressed her ear to his chest and listened to the soft, steady beat of his heart. Her emotions roiled, but she was too tired to calm them. Joy and fear and rage and pain, desire and need, even a tiny bit of petty triumph. Too much for one girl to handle, especially one who'd just banished an evil ghost with the power of hot, hot sex.
Still, even as she drifted off to sleep, one thought chased her down into the darkness. I told the ghost I loved Reed.
Oh, well. She won't get a chance to tell anyone, considering where she's going....
Chapter Six
"Like I said already,” Reed whispered, “I have no comment."
He hung up the phone and stared at the wall jack for a moment before bending to yank the cord free. Sara was still trying to sleep, but the phone hadn't stopped ringing since five in the morning.
Harrison looked up from her spot on the couch. “You might want to turn her phone off, too."
"Good idea.” He snatched it off the coffee table. “Freakin’ vultures. Can't even wait twenty-four hours."
"Reed?” Sara stood in the doorway, sleepy and disheveled and looking really, really good dressed only in one of his shirts. “Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, everything's fine."
His sister snorted. “You're a damn liar. Why don't you tell her you two are famous?"
He shot her an annoyed look. “Thanks, Harri. Now I don't have to."
Sara frowned and looked from Reed to the place where Harri sat, but her gaze passed over his sister. “I—who are you talking to?"
"My—” A mixture of relief and loss washed over him. “You can't see or hear her."
Sara's frown deepened, then shifted. She didn't look upset so much as perplexed, and she had that look in her eyes that he recognized all too easily. Sara on the trail of an academic puzzle. “Whatever happened last night when I tried to read your aura must have faded."
"Maybe the media will leave you alone, then.” He handed her the cell phone. “I turned it off because of all the calls."