Free Dead and Beyond by Jayde Scott

don’t tell me, I’ll just call Kieran.” I fished out my cell phone and waved it in front of his face.
    “You’re right. It’s not a secret I was there.” His eyes sparkled as he recalled the event. I wished I could read his mind to find out what he knew.
    “Do you remember Deidre saying something about the spell’s effect being only temporary?” I tried to make my question sound as nonchalant as possible, but I knew he’d understand the implication.
    “You mean Kieran having to fear the sun ever again?” I nodded. Devon scowled and shook his head slowly. “Not possible. Our Queen would never break her word. Is that what’s bothering you? Why you called me?”
    “It was a hypothetical question. The spell’s still working. I was asking just in case, that’s all. But what makes you so sure your Queen would never betray a vampire?”
    “Unlike vampires, we live by a strict code of honor. We don’t lie because our word means everything to us.”
    “You also don’t tell the whole truth.”
    “Look, whatever’s going on, it has nothing to do with us. I swear.”
    I nodded again, almost believing him. “Yeah, like I said. Nothing’s going on.”
    “It’s not about Kieran, is it?” Devon said. “It’s about you. You’re worried.”
    “What makes you say that?”
    My gaze searched his. His face remained expressionless as he shrugged. “You’re horrible at hiding your emotions. I can read you like an open book.”
    “You’re crazy.” I snorted.
    “It’s so obvious this isn’t about Kieran. I’ve known him for centuries. If he had a problem, he would come banging on our door rather than send his brother’s girlfriend to do the talking for him.”
    I dropped down to the ground and tucked my legs beneath me, waiting for him to do the same. He sat on the grass, our legs mere inches away, with only the metal bars between us.
    “Want to tell me about it?” Devon whispered.
    I smiled and shook my head. “I want to but—”
    “Something’s holding you back. Is it your boyfriend?”
    I opened my mouth to tell him he was wrong. Aidan couldn’t hold me back even if he wanted to. It was the fact that I actually cared about what Devon thought of me when I shouldn’t. I didn’t want him to think I had become everything he despised. “You were right about before,” I said. “I was a bit lonely and needed to see another human being, even if you’re not really one. And neither am I, as a matter of fact.”
    A smile lit up Devon’s face, and for a moment I couldn’t look away from his dark, mysterious gaze and the tiny dimple I had never noticed before.
    “Smiling suits you. You should do it more often,” I said.
    “I was about to say the same thing about you,” Devon whispered. “You and me sharing the same thoughts. Isn’t that funny?”
    “Not really.” The heat rushing to my cheeks scorched my skin. I moistened my lips, wondering what I was doing here. It wasn’t like me at all to flirt with the next best guy when my boyfriend wasn’t around. Then again, you couldn’t exactly call it flirting, more like friendly chitchat with a friend. Albeit a handsome one.
    Something washed over me, like a dark shadow, enveloping my vision, my mind.
    Amber.
    It was the same ghostly voice as before, only this time I knew it was in my head because Devon didn’t seem to hear it. I took a deep breath and curled my lips into a forced smile as my eyes scanned the area as calmly as possible.
    Nothing there.
    Kiss him.
    The demand almost made me choke on my breath. This was one cheeky and probably very horny ghost. I mean, seriously, did it somehow miss the fact that I was dating a very hot vampire? Why would I want to kiss someone else?
    A strong breeze ruffled my clothes, pushing me against the bars until the cold metal was pressed against my skin, making me shiver. I tried to pull away but I couldn’t move from the spot.
    “Why are you hugging the bars?” Devon asked.
    “They’re so pretty. I