Chapter 13 Sky
Sky
What the fuck indeed? What did Rosie mean about him being a Reign after all?
Holy shit. Did she mean what I thought she meant?
She had to, right? Like, it wouldn’t make any sense for me to have some magical-type abilities and him not to.
So he had dormant magic that needed to be awoken like I did? That was awesome.
Okay, one thing at a time. Ghosts first, magic later. “I’m so sorry.”
“Sky, be honest with me. Am I losing my mind?”
So dramatic. Sighing dramatically—because we were both a couple of drama llamas—I said, “No, but we all could’ve handled this better.
Lee owes you an apology. Not that this is really his fault if he followed Buck’s and Stevie’s advice.
We’ll need to make them pay. I don’t know how or when, but they shall pay. ”
“Buck? Stevie? And Lee is real? I’m not imagining him?”
Shaking my head, I smoothed his mussed hair off his forehead. “No. I’m so so—”
He jumped up so quickly that my hand flipped off his face. Beaming, he threw his arms up in the air with a shout of victory. “Yes! I knew it. I knew it! I’ve been right this whole time.”
Apparently, it was my turn to be confused. “You knew what?”
“That ghosts existed. I freakin’ knew it.” He gave his elbow a hard shove back, his excitement palpable.
“You’re not mad? Freaked out?”
“No way. This is awesome. I feel vindicated!” he yelled.
Gran came back into the room with King trailing her, begging her softly to give us a little more time together. “Vindicated, sweet boy? Tell Gran all about it.” She paused. “But in an inside voice, if you please. Both Reign boys are so excitable,” she informed King. Like he didn’t know.
King shook his head slightly, putting his back to her as she settled into her rocking recliner and mouthed to us, I’m so sorry.
Gah! Wasn’t he the best? As much as I wanted to stare at him and list every quality I loved about him…hold the phone. Loved? That I loved about King? Okay, I’d have to dissect that later. For now, Ego had piqued my curiosity. “Vindicated?” I prompted.
He kinda fell to the floor, sitting crisscrossed in the middle of the living room. “Yeah,” he said in a quieter voice to mollify Gran. He opened his mouth as if to continue, then whipped his head around. “Where’s Lee?”
Pops appeared right in front of him, mirroring his posture, and saluted Ego. “I’m here.”
A smile crept across Ego’s face. “Yeah, you are,” he said slowly. Maybe even a little creepily. He sounded like one of those stalkery-type fans he mimicked so I’d know how much they spooked him.
Lee chuckled. “Buck thought you’d get a kick out of a true hauntin’.” He rubbed his hands together. “Can’t wait to tell him you passed out.”
Shaking my head, I frowned. “Surprised they didn’t come over to watch the show.”
That made Pops double over with laughter. Even Rosie’s lips twitched. “They wanted to, but Harry gave them a stern talking to. He wasn’t too happy with their behavior. Told Buck his punishment was missing out on the moment of truth.”
“Serves him right,” King said, but I knew better. They were thick as thieves now. He’d sneak them off and give Buck a full breakdown of every single thing that happened tonight.
“Where’s Stevie, though? I’d have thought he’d come without Buck. I know he doesn’t like to leave his brother too often, but we’re talking about Ego.” Blocking the rest of the room with my hand, I whispered loudly to my cousin, “Stevie’s a huge fan.”
Pops scrunched his nose. “Ahh…well.”
Now I was laughing. “Scotty got pissed off that he even wanted to come, didn’t he?”
“Why?” Ego asked curiously.
The rest of us exchanged glances like we were trying to decide who was going to break the news. Gran held her hand out in a go-ahead gesture to her husband. “You started this, now you can finish it.”
Pops rubbed the back of his head. I got such a kick out of all the mannerisms the spirits used, as if they were still alive. What was the saying? Old habits die hard? Didn’t look like even death changed them. “Yeah, so Scotty isn’t a fan.”
“Of my music? Really?” Ego seemed genuinely affronted, and I had to resist the temptation to roll my eyes. Freaking diva popstar. Heaven forbid someone didn’t love his singing. Musicians, am I right?
“Welll…” Pops’ face screwed up like he was constipated.
As far as I knew, they didn’t have to…yeah know…use the bathroom anymore since they didn’t eat, but maybe…No, no. That didn’t matter. “Scotty thinks you’re a tool,” I admitted.
Ego gasped, throwing a hand over his chest. “What?”
King snickered. “Good grief. Cousins? You’re more like twins.”
“So dramatic,” Gran said, blowing the steam off the top of her mug—the one that appeared in her hands as she spoke.
Ego’s hand shook as he raised it and pointed at her. “Wha…” His face went paler than it had with Lee’s flickering in and out. “I thought you were alive.”
“I am, dear.” She smiled kindly—sweetly. I’d buy it if she hadn’t just conjured a fresh cup of tea out of thin air. Lifting her mug toward him, she said, “I’m a high priestess.”
Ego’s head spun my direction, and he mouthed, Witch?
I nodded.
He passed back out.
“So what do I do?” Ego asked as we walked up the steps to the manor.
“Act natural. Buck and Stevie have been here the whole time, so—”
He waved me off, shutting me up. “No. Not them. How do I get Scotty to like me?”
“Oh.” I stopped and stared at him. “I’m not sure that’s possible.”
Ego paused with his hands on the door handle. “Why not?”
“Uh…” I glanced back at King’s vehicle where he waited for us to make it safely inside.
I wished he was here instead of there right now.
I didn’t want to deal with this. Ego’s feelings would be hurt, and honestly, he hadn’t done anything wrong exactly.
Most people considered him even more charming than me, and that was saying something. I was pretty awesome.
“Skylar Reign. Tell me.”
“Wouldn’t you rather talk about the ghosts?”
King rolled down the window and shouted, “You two okay? You need me?”
“We’re fine.” I blew him a kiss.
“Go in then. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Okay.” I waved, then, not being able to resist, I blew him another kiss.” He caught it, and grinning like a dork, I turned back to Ego. “You heard the man. Let’s go in.”
With a pout on his face, he opened the door and ran straight into Scotty. Scrambling to say something before he did, I vaguely heard the sounds of King pulling away.
“Hey, Scotty.” I waved. Ugh. I really was the goofiest goof who ever goofed.
“Hello, Scotty. How are you this evening?” Ego asked. “You’re looking lovely.”
Scotty’s gaze moved up and down Ego slowly—with utter disdain—before he dismissed him entirely and smiled at me. “Hey, Sky. We didn’t expect you tonight.”
Apparently, my cousin wanted to beat me for the title of goof because he rushed toward Scotty, almost knocking him down with golden retriever energy. “We came to see the ghosts,” he hissed quietly. “Isn’t that amazing?”
Unable to ignore him this time, Scotty took a step back and glared at him.
“Considering the fact that one of those spirits you’re acting like is a carnival attraction here for your personal amusement is my brother, let me tell you no.
It isn’t amazing. What would be amazing is if my older brother hadn’t died saving me.
It would be epic if he was still here, for real.
Not dead. So no, Ego. It’s not amazing. It’s sad and depressing, and I hate it.
” Then he turned around and ran up the stairs.
Buck, Harry, and Stevie all blinked into existence. “Uh,” Stevie said. His gaze went from Ego to the stairs where his brother ran and back to Ego again. “Maybe we can talk later. I have to…” He hitched his thumb to where his brother had disappeared.
“No. Of course,” Ego said, pale again. Poor guy was really going through it tonight.
We’d need to do some breathing exercises or something before he went to bed and get his body regulated.
Tonight had been a lot. Maybe too much. “Take care of him. I’m sorry I upset him. All of you.” He looked miserable.
Stevie grimaced, then blinked out of sight.
Harry clucked his tongue. “You did nothing wrong, master Ego. Death is a part of life.”
Buck huffed at his man and dropped an arm over his shoulders. “What he means is, don’t worry about it. Scotty is usually happy enough that Stevie is even still here. He must just be having a rough night.”
“Stevie will calm him down,” I said, patting my cousin’s back.
Harry’s gaze tracked up the steps. “Maybe I’ll take Scotty a snack.” He gave Ego a half-bow. “I look forward to speaking with you now that you know we’re here, master Ego. I’ll find you shortly.” Then he took off walking back toward the kitchen, disappearing as he went.
“Wow,” Ego said, turning eyes bright with excitement toward me. I saw the lingering pain at the interaction with Scotty there, as well, but like me, he’d learned to compartmentalize a long, long time ago. “Did you see that?”
“I did. They do it all the time. It can get annoying when they just pop up out of nowhere, though.”
Buck’s laughter boomed through the vestibule. “You mean it’s fabulous! Speaking of…” He scooted me out of the way and wrapped an arm around Ego’s shoulders and directed him toward the parlor. “Tell me how amazing it was being haunted by us.”
Laughing to myself, I trailed after them.
“Wow. Tonight was…” Ego shook his head. “What a freaking epic night!” He started dance-hopping around in a circle in the middle of his room.
It had been a wild night for him. From the revelations at Gran’s house to chatting for hours with Buck, Harry, and eventually Stevie, to having a nightcap with Chance and Jetty where my bestie told my cousin all about his gift and what had happened since buying the manor.