Page 97 of With All My Haunted Heart

The door closes behind me, and I trace an amplification sigil across my forehead and behind my right ear. Five ghosts come into view, and my heart warms to see them. “It’s good to see you.” I zero in on Laney, who wears the brightest smile of all. “Elle said I owe you a Taylor Swift watch party?”

At the sound of her name, Elle appears at the top of the stairs. “Pippa! You’re early!” She glides down the stairs and launches herself into my arms. “Your room is all ready,” she whispers, her breath warm against my neck.

She pulls away and bends to peer inside the cat carrier that Xander’s holding. “And how are my favorite step–fur babies?”

“Irritated but alive.” I flick my attention to Xander. “Could you lock them in my room while we unload the car? I don’t want them escaping before I can set up the barrier spell.”

Xander rolls his eyes and heads for the stairs. “You don’t need to concoct an errand so you two can make out.”

“We love you, Xan!” I call after him, and despite the ghosts watching us, I draw Elle close and capture her lips with mine. “Hi.”

“Hi,” she echoes, pressing a second, quicker kiss to the corner of my lips. “Welcome, home.”

“Home,” I echo. “I could get used to that.”

Epilogue

For the second Halloween in a row, I’m moving out of Midnight Manor.

This time is different, though. Elle and I are renting a house together in town. Starting tomorrow, I get to wake up to her face each morning. And at night, we can make as much noise as we want. No concealment sigils required.

I spent the morning moving my things out of my old room. We already tested out the new bed this afternoon, after we moved in Cocoa and Waffles, along with the last box of my books.

Now, though, the Halloween party is in full swing at the B&B. Xander and Elle are downstairs with the guests, mingling and accepting well-deserved congratulations on their first successful year of business.

Tonight is special for another reason, too, and my preparations are nearly complete.

My old room is empty except for the furniture, the summoning circle taking up the center of the room, and a lovely couple that I’ve gotten to know well this past year.

“Ready?” I ask, and the pair nods. “This may take a moment. Remember not to cross the barrier.”

Magic flows in through my crown in a heady rush, the power different tonight while the veil between this world and the spiritual one is at its thinnest. I cast in silence, bringing forth a ghost from beyond the veil. Working magic that’s only possible this one night of the year.

The glow starts at the center of the circle, a floating ball of light that lengthens into a familiar shape. When the ghost is as solid as she’s going to get, I give her a wave.

“I’ll be right back,” I tell the couple. “Mind the barrier.”

The woman grips my arm when I try to pass, her hold fierce. “Thank you.”

With a nod, I slip out of the room and close the door behind me. It takes a few minutes to find Elle, but when I do, everything warm and good inside me goes off like fireworks. She smiles when she sees me, and if she’s surprised by the fierceness of my kiss when we meet, she doesn’t say anything.

“Come with me,” I whisper, threading my fingers through hers.

She follows without resistance, though when we reach the stairs, her voice raises above the music. “Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.” I lead her to the bedroom that was first hers and then mine, and she laughs.

“Pip, we have our own place now. We don’t need to sneak away to fool around.”

I silence her with another kiss. “I love you, Eloise Thompson. You are my heart, my magic, my love. My Ellie. You deserve the world. And though I can’t give you that, I can do this.”

The door swings open on well-oiled hinges, and when Elle sees who’s inside, she clings to my arm with a grip so tight it hurts. It’s an honor to hold her up.

“Willa.” The name falls from her lips with such reverence that tears spring to my eyes. “I didn’t think this was possible.”

“Hi, Aunt Ellie!” Willa smiles wide, her transparent cheeks crinkling with dimples. Viv and Ted turn to look at Elle’s stunned face, theirs covered in happy tears.

Elle stumbles farther into the room toward her sister and brother-in-law, and I keep pace beside her. “Once a year, on Halloween, the veil is thin enough for Willa to visit. I know it’s not what you originally wanted, but I hope it helps.”