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"Indeed, I believe so, though I must confess that I'm not feeling quite as vigorous as I was when I first returned to my body."

That worried me. Because while his heart was beating and his skin was warm, I knew the curse hadn't been permanently broken yet. Lucinda had been very clear about that. The kiss had called Garrik's spirit back, but the only way to make certain it remained in his body was to complete the Heart-bond, and we hadn't done that yet.

"Well, then, we'd better get you upstairs," I said firmly. "You need to rest."

Garrik raised an eyebrow.

"Are you giving me orders, sweetheart?"

"Yes, I am," I informed him. "And for once, you're going to listen to me!"

He gave a deep, rumbling chuckle.

"Very well, my little witch. I suppose I've earned a little rest."

Bartleby sniffed.

"A little? You’ve just saved the entire town from an invasion of murderous Wraiths. I think you're entitled to sleep for a week."

I glanced towards Natalie, who was still lying unconscious on the other side of the chamber.

"What about her?" I asked.

Bartleby's expression darkened.

"Oh, I'll keep an eye on her," he replied. "And when she wakes up, I intend to have a very long conversation with her about the dangers of meddling with cursed objects."

I couldn't help smiling.

"Are you going to bite her again?"

"Only if she deserves it," he said primly.

Which, knowing Bartleby, probably meant yes.

44

CELESTE

Getting Garrik upstairs turned out to be more difficult than I'd anticipated. For one thing, he was enormous. Even in his human form, he was a very large man, with broad shoulders, muscular arms, and a solid, powerful body which probably weighed at least twice as much as mine. And although he insisted that he was perfectly capable of walking on his own, I could see that he was still feeling weak from everything he'd endured.

So I put my arm around his waist and insisted that he lean on me as we made our way towards the staircase.

"Sweetheart, I assure you that I don't require assistance," he protested.

"Well, you're getting it anyway," I told him. "Now stop arguing and let me help you."

He gave me a look which suggested that he wasn't accustomed to being ordered around by anyone, much less a woman who barely reached his shoulder. But then he smiled.

"Very well, if it pleases you to fuss over me, I suppose I shall have to allow it."

"How very generous of you," I said dryly.

He chuckled, and we began climbing the narrow staircase together. It was slow going, partly because Garrik was still weak and partly because I kept stopping to make certain he was all right. But eventually, we reached the second- floor of Blackthorn Manor, where the familiar surroundings seemed almost impossibly peaceful after the horrors we'd just witnessed beneath the house.

By the time we reached Garrik's bedroom—which looked almost the same as mine except the bed had blue velvet curtains—he was looking tired again, and I was beginning to worry that we were running out of time to complete the Heart-bond. Fortunately, he seemed to understand my concern.

"Don't look so frightened, sweetheart," he murmured as we entered the beautiful old-fashioned room. "I'm not about to disappear on you again."