Chapter 2

"A white button-down. It had your family's iris crest embroidered in white thread along the collar. I had to scrub that thing for three hours to get the stench of mead out of it." He smiled, leaning in closer. "Why the sudden trip down memory lane?"

I lowered my gaze, dodging his intense, burning stare, and didn't answer.

Spot on. He remembered everything, right down to the microscopic detail of the embroidered iris. But when I caught the corner of the fireplace in my peripheral vision, that grayish-blue remnant spirit was still there. Still staring right at me.

I cleared my throat, shifting my focus back to Silas, and forced a slightly sheepish tone.

"Beatrice called today."

"Oh? What did Mom have to say?" He sat down across from me, reaching over to cut the rest of the steak on my plate.

"She said she suddenly had a craving for my rosemary roast grouse." I looked up, staring dead into his eyes.

He instantly burst out laughing, a deep sound that rumbled in his chest. "Alright. I'll roast one up after dinner, and we can run it over to her tomorrow."

"You'll make it?" I arched an eyebrow.

He placed a perfectly cut piece of steak onto my plate, his gaze meltingly tender. "Haven't I always been the one who makes it, you silly girl?"

"Years ago, you were so dead-set on impressing my mom that you insisted on cooking it yourself. And what happened? You practically blew up the kitchen. I had to learn the recipe on the fly, and I got blisters all over my hands from the oven. The first time you tried, you mistook powdered mandrake root for sea salt. I took one bite and my face literally turned green. And you still stood there stubbornly insisting it tasted fine."

He laughed, shaking his head at the memory. "I remember looking at you, your face completely covered in soot, and thinking... how did I manage to fall in love with such an adorable little witch?"

"And then you actually lied to my mom and told her you baked it yourself." He reached out and playfully pinched my nose. "Now she brags to everyone she meets about your amazing cooking skills, and the actual master chef here is too scared to expose you. Don't worry, leave it to me. I'll go prep tomorrow's batch right now."

He patted the back of my hand reassuringly.

I didn't say another word. Every single detail matched up flawlessly.

But the ghost was still there! Was my Spirit Vision actually glitching? Impossible. I carried the purest bloodline; my Sight had never failed me before!

After dinner, true to his word, he tied on his apron and marched straight into the kitchen. I followed him, leaning quietly against the doorframe.

The way he prepped the grouse, his exact technique for rubbing in the rosemary and secret spices, even the specific way he stuffed the apple chunks into the cavity... it was identical to the man I knew. Soon, the kitchen was filled with that incredibly familiar, mouth-watering aroma of roasted meat and magical spices.

He glanced back over his shoulder, flashing me a bright, teasing smile. "Go wait in the living room. It'll be done soon."

An hour later, a perfectly golden, crispy roast grouse was set down on the kitchen island. I walked over, peeling off a small shred of meat and popping it into my mouth. The aroma was rich, the cook on the meat was flawless. The taste was absolutely perfect.

"Well?" he asked, leaning in close. His deep eyes sparkled as he waited for my verdict.

I forced the meat down my throat and nodded. "Yeah. Tastes just like it always does."

Smiling in satisfaction, he carefully packed the roast into a container and placed it into the stasis-warded refrigerator. Then, he turned around and took my hand, the gesture completely natural.

His palm was dry and warm. It radiated that deep, grounding sense of security I was so hopelessly addicted to.

"Alright. You must be completely exhausted from setting up for our anniversary today. Let's go to bed, Evie." He leaned down slightly, his warm breath brushing against the shell of my ear.

I rested my head against his broad chest, listening to the steady, powerful thumping of his heartbeat.

"Okay," I answered softly.

I closed my eyes.

Whether you are a man, a monster, or some forbidden magical construct... I will find out the truth.