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Mariah certainly didn’t wish to be close to a vampire, sleeping or not. But she didn’t believe Benedict was a threat to her. And if he said Vemis was secure, for some strange reason, she believed him. Benedict had guarded evil for hundreds of years. It wouldn’t make sense for him to release it upon her. Despite his feeling that he posed a danger to her, Mariah couldn’t quite see it. He’d had plenty of chances to hurt her but hadn’t.
She sensed Benedict’s loneliness when he spoke of his siblings and his worry about what had happened to them. Knowing he’d been unable to connect fully with the outside world, Mariah decided to try to find them. Searching google instead, she came across what the old ladies and Rose-Marie had told her. There was nothing about the Nortons anywhere. Shoving her laptop away and staring into the darkness of the night, Mariah wondered why.
Surely, even if their deaths had been mysteries, some remnant of their life should have remained. Something other than rumours around a village? The villagers knew their stories, so why wasn’t there any documented information? Something bigger seemed at play, and Mariah couldn’t understand what. She laid down in bed and allowed the day to sweep over her. So much had happened. She needed time to assimilate it all.
???
Mariah put the phone down to Maggie and frowned. Maggie had requested a meeting with them at her hotel, and Mariah hadn’t wanted to refuse. Today, she was on edge because Benedict was avoiding her. The construction workers came and went, keeping a sharp eye out. But nothing happened, and the day passed normally for once!
Mariah left the inn and drove to meet Maggie at the hotel she’d been staying at. Maggie looked pale but composed. One by one, their friends arrived, and Mariah was intrigued to note they all suffered varying levels of agitation.
“So, for those who don’t know, we all bought a haunted inn,” Maggie said, and jaws dropped around the table as everyone glanced at each other. “Oh, hush! Do not bother denying it. And even funnier, they are all haunted by siblings. Mine has the eldest Lord Lucian Norton, and Callie has Elias, the second brother and Lucian’s heir. I’m sorry, Tilly, you have his twin, Isaac, and Mariah has Benedict. Cole, I have no idea what you’re playing at, but you have Cecilia, the only girl. Stephanie has Kit, Cecilia’s twin, and somebody Stephanie seems protective of!” Maggie announced.
Everyone turned and stared at Stephanie, who blushed.
“Stop that!” Stephanie replied, and Mariah and Maggie raised their eyebrows.
“I’m in a full-scale war with mine!” Tilly scowled.
“Oh, mine locked me out of the inn today, twat!” Callie glowered.
“The twat is called Elias,” Mariah said, stifling a giggle. “I froze Benedict in cement!”
Wide eyes turned to her as Mariah elaborated on the battle between her and Benedict. She didn’t tell them his history or past. She owed Benedict his secrets.
“Are you telling me we all bought a damn haunted inn, and they happen to be inhabited by siblings?” Cole said in absolute disbelief when Mariah finished her explanation.
“That seems fated,” Stephanie murmured.
Cole turned an incredulous look on her.
“Everyone here has been fighting their ghost, but not you. What’s going on between you two?” Cole demanded.
Good question, Mariah thought. Stephanie wriggled but wouldn’t elaborate. To her amazement, Stephanie blushed but held Cole’s gaze.
“That’s none of your business!” Stephanie retorted, and Cole’s eyes grew wide.
Mariah’s mouth dropped open at Stephanie’s reply.
“Woah! Did Stephanie just snap at Cole?” Tilly whispered.
“She’s damn protective of her ghost. I want to kill mine!” Mariah growled. But she knew the feeling was subsiding. Benedict was owed something for his centuries of loneliness, and she could offer him a little loyal.
“Good for you. Lucians decided he’s going to marry me!” Maggie said and began laughing. “Can you believe the situation we’re all in?”
“Hold on, go back to marrying you,” Callie demanded, swapping shocked gazes with everyone. “Ghosts can’t wed those alive!”
“Oh, let me tell you about the Rakehell Six. Because ladies and gent, keep your naughty bits locked up because a ghost can impregnate a living woman!” Maggie chortled as five wide stares gaped at her.
Once again, Mariah kept quiet about Emile, Nicholas, and Harcourt meeting Benedict. She let Maggie lead the way while her brain started to make connections. What was the likelihood of six friends buying six inns haunted by six siblings? The odds had to be astronomical. Something was guiding them, even if the others didn’t realise it.
An hour later, everybody sat around wondering what their next step was. All of them said their spirit protected the inn and surrounding villages from great evil. Still, only Maggie knew what her evilness was. Although Maggie had sent her a sharp look, Mariah hadn’t admitted to knowing anything. Mariah tried to hold her gaze, but her eyes flicked to one side.
“Do we tell them we know where their siblings are?” Cole finally asked. “It might make Cecilia sweeter.”
“No, somehow, I think that’s a bad thing. Suppose they realise their family is trapped, especially Cecilia. In that case, they will be distracted and focus their attention on escaping their prisons,” Maggie said.
“I don’t like that word,” Callie replied.
