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He glanced at his watch. It was nearly nine now. The sooner he got this over with, the better. But he wanted to check on Maddie first and make sure she was okay. She’d been pretty upset when she’d left the table.
“I’m good any time. You’re the one with the meeting, so why don’t you decide?”
“This is going to be the shortest business meeting in history. I can’t believe my lawyer chose such an ungodly hour.” She ran a nail down his cheek. Though her touch was feather-light, it would take only the slightest bit of pressure to slice his skin. Her nails were as sharp as a cat’s. “How does ten sound?”
“Suits me.” He caught her hand, raising it to his lips.
Amusement spun through her eyes. “Such a gentleman.”
He smiled. “Only when the room is full of people.”
“Good,” she purred, and rose. “Because I like a man with a bit of fight in him.”
Most cats did. It seemed to be part of their makeup. He picked up his wine and watched her walk away. He’d better be damn careful tonight, he thought, or he’d find himself as dessert in more ways than one.
MADDIE BOLTED THE SUITE DOOR BUT STILL DIDN’T FEEL safer. Hank’s warning seemed to echo through the silence and set her teeth on edge. After turning on every light, she checked the bedroom and bathroom for intruders. There was nothing unusual to be found, yet her stomach turned uneasily. Something felt wrong, and it wasn’t just her nerves—or her imagination.
She bit her lip and rubbed her arms. The room was cold, despite the fire. She threw more logs on and stirred the coals. Flames leaped, fierce and bright.
Despite the light, the shadows in the far corners of the room seemed to loom threateningly. She shivered and held her hands out to the flames, trying to warm them. The encounter with Hank
must have unnerved her more than she’d realized. She was getting jumpy over shadows, for Christ’s sake!
A floorboard creaked behind her. She whirled, her heart leaping into her throat. Something whisked through the light, a gossamer veil that held no shape.
She swallowed heavily. Fog. It had to be fog. The idiot repairman must have left the bathroom window open this morning, even though she hadn’t noticed it when she checked earlier.
Another sheer form spun across the room. She closed her eyes. It was her imagination, nothing more. Ghosts did not exist.
She took a deep breath and opened her eyes. A phantom floated two feet away from her, staring at her with eyes that held no life.
Maddie tried to scream, but no sound came out. The creature laughed softly. It was a sound that chilled her soul.
“Flee,” it whispered hoarsely. “Flee, or die.”
She tried to back away from the wraith, but her feet felt locked in place. Something lashed across her shoulders. She yelped in pain and spun around. The mocking sound of laughter ran across the room. She touched her shoulder, and her fingers came away sticky. Real or not, these creatures could harm her.
More wraiths skimmed through the room. Her back hit a wall and sweat broke across her brow. She licked her lips and closed her eyes again, praying for strength. The pressure was beginning to build deep within her, pressure she feared and could not control.
Oh God, it’s happening again.
She clenched her hands, digging her nails into her palms. The pain only intensified the burning deep within.
“Please, just leave me alone,” she whispered. “I don’t want to kill anyone else.”
The wraiths danced and mocked her, paying her words no heed. Something flicked across her face, stinging. She jerked her head away and felt warmth seep down her cheek.
The heat in the room spiked. A log exploded in the hearth and sparks flew through the room.
The wraiths laughed.
Maddie screamed as the burning broke loose.
JON HAD ALREADY RISEN FROM THE TABLE WHEN A SCREAM split the silence. Maddie. In trouble and afraid, if the sudden leap of fear across his senses was anything to go by.
He broke into a run, but the other guests had risen at her scream, getting in his way, slowing him down. He pushed past them roughly, ignoring their indignant mutterings as he took the stairs two at a time.
The suite was locked, and his key wouldn’t open the door. Jon swore softly. She must have bolted it.
