Grim ignores her, so I say, “We need a suite, something with at least two beds.”
The woman winces slightly. “Unfortunately, we only have a handful of suites and none of them are available. I have a superior queen vacant, or we have a few kings left, but none with a balcony.”
I turn to face Grim. “Can you imagine all of us sleeping on a queen-sized bed?” I snort at the thought. “Kitten would be downright furious.”
“We’ll take the king,” I tell her, then add, “Looks like I’ll be sleeping on top of someone.” I chuckle a bit. It’s not like it’s a hardship.
“Uhm…” The woman stammers, and when I look back in her direction, her cheeks are flushed red. “How many will be in the room? We have guidelines for occupancy.”
“Just four,” I reply. “Three men are enough, even for me.”
“Four? Oh, I’m sorry, there is a two-guest maximum for the kings. I can get you two rooms.” Her voice goes a little higher.
“We’ll take the one king,” Grim tells her, his voice soft but firm.
The woman nods her head quickly. “Of course, sir. I’ll just need identification and a credit card to put on file.” She doesn’t meet our eyes anymore.
Grim looks down at me. “I will need to procure documents.”
Letting out an exaggerated sigh, I pull my phone from my back pocket and slide open the spot that holds my essentials. “Don’t worry about it. I like being your sugar momma, Loverboy.” I let my eyes rake over Grim. “We can work off your debt,” I purr, sounding purposely suggestive.
Not surprisingly, Grim’s face remains placid, but his eyes warm enough to let me know he’s not completely unaffected by my flirting. The clacking of the keyboard grows louder though, and the woman lowers her head as if she’s trying to hide. This is kind of fun. I wonder what she will think when Calix and Gunnar show up.
With key in hand, we head over to a small sitting area off to the side of the lobby. I like that the place seems original, or it could just be a good reproduction, but the wide staircase and wooden accents feel genuine.
“How much longer do you think it will take? Should we just go up to the room?” I glance at my phone, noting that I don’t have any messages or missed calls from the guys or Aeson.
“It won’t be long. The Berserker was eager to be rid of the vehicle.” Grim’s fingers twitch at his side. It draws my attention, because he’s usually so very still and in control of his movements.
“You good?” Taking a step closer, I invade his space.
Grim’s fingers stop moving instantly and he dips his chin infinitesimally. “This building has seen more death than most.”
I look around at the shiny checkered floor and all the gleaming surfaces. There isn’t a Magical stain left on the building, so I can’t feel the deaths in the same way I can when a ritual is performed to kill the Charmed. I would never guess that this place has a deadly history. “Did you want to go somewhere else?” I rest my palm on Grim’s chest. “I can call Gunnar and tell him to meet us at another hotel.”
Grim places his hand over my fingers, trapping them against his chest. “No need. The divide here is just thinner. I can feel the spirits that linger.”
“Ghost?” I raise my brows. “This place really is haunted?” Squinting my eyes, I look around again, this time hoping to see a specter like Redmon or Bloody Mary.
“These are shades. They gather in places where the boundaries are delicate, and the living draw them in, much in the same way flames draw moths.”
“Are they stuck on the other side?” The sharp sting of pity burns in the back of my throat. All I can imagine is a creature like Theius, constantly searching for something and never obtaining it, as though it’s just out of reach.
Grim places his free hand on my chin, tipping it up so I can meet his gray eyes. “They’re merely shadows of the creatures they once were, Omnia. The in-between isn’t a place where anything can survive for long. It’s meant to be a stop, not a destination.”
“Then why are they there?” I stare at the wall as if I might see the creatures of whom he’s speaking.
“Most are too afraid to cross. Some are convinced they can find a way back. No one can force them to move on, not even me.” Grim releases my chin, but I tuck myself even closer to him.
“What happens to their souls?” My voice is just above a whisper.
Grim rests his chin on the top of my head. I feel a small sigh leave his chest before he answers. “They dissolve slowly over time, until nothing remains but the shades.”
I shiver. “Why would they choose that?” I breathe.
“They are trapped by the fear of where they would go if they crossed. We’re not talking about people who lived good lives, Damiana. Most of those shades are dark witches or humans who behaved more like monsters than any of the creatures you call your friends.”
“So they choose this instead of Hell?” I lean back so I can see his face.
