Page 132 of Dead Vengeance

Letting out a long sigh, I try to centre myself, calm down, and get back into the flow of energy. It takes a few seconds longer this time, but soon the heat builds inside, that same thrill starts seeping through me, the light begins to—

“Kraa! Kraa!” accompanied by several loud taps on the window right next to us.

I, naturally, just about jump out of my skin. Liam’s hands snap away from mine, but he’s still smiling, and even wider now. “Edgar!”

“Go away, Edgar!” I snarl at him.

“Kraa!” he protests.

“We’re very busy, actually,” I call across.

“Kraa!” He drops his big glossy head to the windowsill, then comes back with a flash of silver in his beak, which he tinks against the glass.

“He’s got something!” Liam’s up like a shot while I roll my eyes so violently it hurts. I wish I could impress him by bringing in bits of rubbish off the road.

He snaps the window open, letting in a blast of frigid air. Edgar doesn’t waste a second dropping his treasure into Liam’s palm, then nuzzling his head into his bare arm.

To be fair, I would do the same.

“A bottle cap!” Liam exclaims. “I love it so much!”

Who knew birds could preen like that? It sets a new record for shamelessness, but Liam doesn’t seem to notice. He lets Edgar hop onto his arm, then closes the window, bringing him back to the table perfectly uninvited.

“Edgar—” I try.

But, “Kraa!” he shouts at me.

“Edgar—”

“Kraa!”

“Can he stay?” Liam asks sweetly. Then adds, “Please, Mr Gravely?”

My kryptonite.

And he bloody knows it.

“Not a word,” I hiss at the smug bird.

Liam strokes Edgar’s head happily, as if they’d planned the whole thing together. Then he stretches his hands out for mine, while Edgar hops up onto his shoulder, looming over us and the séance like an animated gargoyle.

It’s going to be next to impossible to concentrate now, but did I mention the whole, I’d do just about anything for this guy?

Pressing my eyes shut, trying to ignore the chuckle and “Stop that,” from Liam, while Edgar’s vying desperately for his attention, I do my best to go back to calm.

All right. Energy. Calling up the dead. Serious supernatural shit right here. Energy from deep within. Up through my chest. Build it. Build it. Down my arms and—

Bang, bang, bang, bang! A series of loud knocks on the front door.

“You have got to be kidding me!”

Liam frowns at the door, as if it’s some bible seller, and I swear to god, if it is, they’re about to get a mouthful.

I stagger to my feet, fly across the room, snap the door open, and… “Fabian?”

“Hi…” He shoves his way in, turns on his heel, then thrusts out a bunch of flowers.

“What the fuck?” breathes Liam.