Page 190 of Echoes of the Banshee

She laughs, full and unguarded. Her body shaking against mine.

“What?”

“When I first realized I had soul magic, I was wondering how people would react. And I thought Lazlo? He’d totally find it sexy!” She laughs again, her eyes sparkling.

“Ya know me well,” I say, smirking. “But really, what’ve I told ya?”

Her grin widens, turning wicked. “Oh, everything.”

I narrow my eyes, suddenly suspicious. “Everything?”

She nods, barely containing her amusement. “You told me you used to name your stuffed animals after desserts. A bear called Pudding and a rabbit named Crème Brûlée.”

I groan, already regretting this. “No…”

“Yep. And then there was the time you tried to ride a goat and ended up face-first in a pile of manure.” Her grin grows, and my face flushes with embarrassment. “Oh, and that tea party you had with Strawbaby and she made you wear a dress!”

I flop onto the bed, dragging my hands over my face in horror. “I’m going to kill Lazlo,” I grumble, before rolling on top of her and pinning her down. “Those are my deepest secrets!”

She laughs, wiggling under me. “Those are just the tip of the iceberg, banshee boy.”

I groan dramatically, but I think I’ve fallen off the deep end. Banshee boy. My heart soars. She doesn’t care. She honestly likes banshees.

“Wait, Strawbaby? You mean Mo?” I ask her.

“Can’t hide your family and then tell me their names, so you used nicknames. Mo is your little sister?” she asks, and I nod. “And Toadstool?” she asks, and I lose it — head and shoulders shaking, tears leaking from the corners of my eyes.

“I’m an asshole,” I tell her. “That’s Este.”

“Why didn’t you, Zair, tell me you have sisters!” she accuses “That was one of my make or break questions for ‘Are you Lazarus?’”

“Ya had a list? Jaysus — why’m I even askin’? ‘Course ya did.”

“Do you have sisters fits into conversation a lot easier than ‘Have you ever visited The Quiet Shore?’”

“That’s how you know so much about banshees for our project!” I suddenly realize. “Do ya know how hard it was to pretend I didn’t know shite? Weirdest day of me life.”

Her laughter rings out, bright and unrestrained, and I can’t help but grin.

“God,” I murmur, resting my head on her shoulder. “How long were we talkin’?”

“Months,” she says, her voice gentle. “We spent months talking. I only ever heard your voice, though. It made finding you really hard when you wear a charm to hide it!”

“Well, I feel like I should tell ya that I’ve known ya were me mate for a couple o’ days. Since you shared your magic with me.”

Her mouth drops open in disbelief.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

I shrug, playful.

“Ya were hung up on some lad. Seemed like a right wanker.”

She laughs, the sound lifting my spirits, and before I know it, she pulls me into a deep kiss. I lose myself in her warmth, the rest of the world fading away.

“Stupid wanker,” she murmurs against my lips. “I’m never letting you go.”

“Swear it?”