Chapter 27

The place that Nic vanishes us away to is…gorgeous. By far the most stunning place that I’ve seen since I’ve been here. High stone walls are built on two sides of us, covered in dark ivy and the strangest purple climbing flowers that seem to glow in the moonlight.

And then, spreading out in the other direction, a quiet woodland with a bubbling stream. My mouth pops open because it’s the first natural water I’ve seen since I’ve been here. Anton likewise looks around with interest, I think as surprised as me. Where the hell are we, with this incredible garden in such a wasteland…

“I’m glad you came,” Orion says, appearing out of nowhere about ten feet away. I jump and turn to him, utterly surprised.

“Yes, well,” I say, spreading my hands down over my skirt as I attempt to regain my equanimity. “He wasn’t going to take ‘no’ for an answer.” I tilt my head towards Nic.

Orion smirks as he walks closer, his hands neatly tucked behind his back. “Thank you, Herald. You may go. I’ll see her back to her room tonight.”

Nic bows low, his hands out to either side, and then vanishes away.

Orion takes a deep breath and turns back to me, looking me in the eye. “So I take it Nic doesn’t know?”

“About what?” I ask, frowning up at him.

“About this guy,” he says, nodding down to Anton. “What’s up, man? You can shift. I already know you’re a guy.”

My mouth falls open again as Anton growls and moves close to my side, looking warily up at Orion like this might be a trick.

Orion slowly smiles as he looks between us, knowing he has us trapped.

I scowl and cross my arms, shaking my hair back over my shoulders. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Yes, you do, June,” Orion says, laughing a little and raising a finger to flick, lightly, under my chin – like I’m cute. “Come on, you think I don’t know a ghost when I see one? That one’s as much a wolf as I am – which means, he shifts.”

“No he’s not, he’s just a pet,” I say, lying desperately, raising my chin and doubling down.

“Juniper,” Orion says, dry but enjoying himself. “I don’t come to your world with a rabbit and tell you it’s a duck.” Sharp, he turns his eyes to Anton. “Now shift.”

The Alpha command is heavy in his voice and, to my shock, Anton does as he’s ordered. He scowls as he forms before us and crosses his arms, glaring hard at Orion.

“You didn’t have to force me,” Anton bites out. “I’d have done it.”

“Yeah, but it’s good to let you know that I can force you.” Orion murmurs as he shrugs, holding out his hand. “I’m Orion. It’s nice to meet you.”

To my shock, Anton reaches out a hand too and – and they touch –

Anton gasps as Orion’s hand closes around his, as they actually shake.

“Holy shit,” Anton murmurs, looking between his hand and the Prince. “How can you do that?”

“Prince of the Underworld gets ghost perks,” Orion says with a shrug. “So, what are you doing here, following Juniper around?”

“Oh, you know,” Anton says, pulling his hand away and slipping it cooly into his pocket. “Helping pick out her clothes. Advising her on precisely which wines to pour onto your shoes for maximum effect.”

“The red was a good choice,” Orion says, friendly. “I mean, they’re ruined, I can never –“

“But you can just call up new ones,” Anton offers, clearly softening towards Orion, perhaps despite himself.

“Excuse me!” I bite out, taking a step forward and glaring up at each of them. “I exist! And I believe this was my date!?”

Orion laughs, grinning down at me. “Is that all it takes to get you a little jealous?”

I seethe, narrowing my eyes, not liking this one bit. “I was promised a date, but if you two would rather just bro out in the Underworld,” I say, pointing my thumb over one shoulder and taking a step back. “I can go.”

Orion bursts out laughing and Anton grins at me, pleased.

“Yeah, you’re right, apologies Princess.” Orion says with a sigh, turning towards Anton. “But last thing - are you the fiancé? Is that why you’re around?”

Anton blinks twice in surprise. “The…the what?”

“Her fiancé,” Orion says, reaching out and slipping an arm around my shoulders. I go completely bloodless in the face, staring at Anton, pissed as hell that Orion spilled my secret but horrified beyond that because I know that the consequences of this are going to be…very bad later tonight.

Anton whips his face to me and just stares for a long moment before he breaks out into a low chuckle. “Her fiancé. No, Orion. No, I’m afraid I’m not her fiancé.” The words come out between his teeth.

I purse my lips, already prideful, already willing to defend myself to the end for keeping this from him even though I’m well aware that I’m in the wrong.

“Whoa,” Orion says, looking between us in surprise. “I’m – um, sorry about that? I…was unaware that that was a secret. I mean,” he smirks a bit here. “You told me within the first five seconds of meeting me. And how long have you guys known each other?”

“Not long enough, apparently,” Anton says slowly, crossing his arms.

“Cool, well,” Orion says on a too-casual sigh, starting to turn me away from my friend. I continue looking at Anton, my expression softening, my eyes going wide when I see the clear hurt on his face alongside the anger. “You don’t have to stay a wolf around me in the future, Anton. It’s cool.”

“Thanks,” Anton snaps, his glare still fixed on me, his expression clearly reading that we’re going to have a long, long chat about this later.

“Plus,” Orion calls over his shoulder as we begin to walk away. “I’ve seen a couple of ghosts come through in Academy Cadet uniforms, but none with their minds intact like yours! I’d love to hear about your experiences there – it sounds fascinating, a big Castle filled with Alpha wolves. You have to have some crazy stories!”

It’s my turn to gasp now as I stare up at Orion for a bare moment before breaking out from beneath his arm and spinning toward Anton.

My eyes flash over him, taking in the details of his clothing that I’ve never bothered to notice before, as vague and indistinct as they are. But yes – now that I really look – his ghostly body is dressed in the same sort of uniform that my cousin and brother wore during Midwinter break the day they came home from Alpha Academy. I mean, it’s blue and transparent now but…distinctly the same.

I snarl, glaring hard at Anton, because how dare he get mad at me for keeping secrets when he’s doing it too!?

Anton stares at Orion in shock for a moment before he slowly closes his mouth and shifts his eyes back to me, still glaring.

Because even if he’s in the wrong too, he’s clearly not letting this go without a fight.

I narrow my eyes just like his, letting him know that my sentiments are precisely the same.

“Come on, Juniper,” Orion says, cool, reaching out for my hand. “Let’s go eat something and have a little chat. Your drama with your pet ghost can wait.”

“Yes,” I say, fierce, slipping my hand willingly into Orion’s and turning sharply away from Anton. “Yes, it can.”

And hand in hand I walk into the garden with the Prince, well aware that Anton is obliged to follow about fifteen feet behind, dogging my every step.

I’m already scowling when Orion leads us to the little iron table in a grove created by four fruit trees. Their branches arch over us, laden with fruit. As I sit down on the cushioned iron chair, I can’t help but marvel at the overlook in front of us – just cliffs as far as I can see, lit a thousand shades of purple by the small moon that hangs high above them. Just one moon out tonight – the second largest one, if I’m remembering correctly.

“Where are we?” I ask quietly, awed despite myself and beyond my anger.

“My mother’s garden,” Orion murmurs, snapping his fingers and making a variety of food and drinks appear on the table.

“Your mother?” I ask, turning my head to him with a frown. “I didn’t know you had a mother.”

He smirks at me. “How’d you think I got here?”

My eyes narrow. “You know what I mean. Why haven’t we seen her, heard about her?”

“Because she died,” Orion says, reaching for a crystal decanter and pouring us each a draft of honey-colored liquid over cups filled to the brim with shaved ice. “Wait to drink that, you’ll want it to melt first.”

My mouth falls open at the casual way with which he speaks of his mother’s death. “I’m so sorry,” I whisper, pressing an earnest hand to my chest. I mean, if I lost either of my parents…

“It’s fine,” Orion says, lifting his warm brown eyes to mine. “Being dead is sort of…the normal state here. Much more common than being alive. She’s just over in the Deadlands, waiting to be reincarnated. I visit her often.”

“Oh,” I say, dropping my hand, honestly a little shocked by this.

“Yes, she was a prophetess in life,” Orion says, taking his cup in his hand and leaning back in his chair, smirking at me a little. “Very dedicated to my aunt, the Goddess of Life. She told me to expect you.”

I stare at the Prince in shocked surprise because – a prophecy? And about me?