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I stare at him, considering his theory.

He rushes to say, “I must admit it didn’t sound quite as farfetched when I was thinking about it. Why would it be there? Ignore me. I’m⁠—”

“Levi.” I interrupt his descent into denying his own cleverness. It happens every so often. “You might be right.”

“Really?” His eyes are wide.

I nod firmly. “If he used the book as a place to store his power, then maybe the book’s presence is helping to seal the grounds from Branok. And if the garden is salt sealed as well, then the ghosts in Dowran Hall couldn’t get in either.” Excitement stirs. “If we find that book and destroy it, do we break the hold Boynton has on Branok and Xander?”

“Probably. I mean it’s a long shot, but what isn’t nowadays?”

“Very philosophical of you, Levi.”

“Shut up. I mean, it’s likely that the book holds the key to understanding Boynton’s power.”

“So, we find it, we destroy it without pausing to read it—” His eyes twinkle for some reason, but I carry on. “And then Xander and Branok can be together again, and we can get on with our honeymoon.” I pump my fist. “Boom. Get in.”

“You’re forgetting two things.” I sag. “One. Boynton isn’t going to let go of it easily. He was ready for us in the graveyard.”

I wave a dismissive hand. “I’m sure we can think of something. He is dead, after all.”

“And secondly, where was Lord St Claire standing when he spoke about the dead zone?”

I think hard and then grimace. “Shit. The creepy fucking sculpture garden.”

“Yep. And since Lord St Claire would not believe a single word of this tale if we told him, we’ll have to do it at night. Without him noticing.”

“Levi, why do you always rain on my parade?”

CHAPTER 19

BLUE

Levi stops the car a few yards away from the entrance gates to Dowran Hall. “I don’t think I’d better get any closer,” he says.

“Good plan.”

“Please stop saying that. I want plausible deniability when this whole thing inevitably goes dreadfully wrong.”

We climb out of the car and stand in front of the gates. I nudge him. “But this is your idea. Embrace it with the whole of yourself, Levi.”

“Stop saying that, too. It sounds weird.” He glances up at the hall. “Do you think I’m right that the book could be here? Or was that just a wild, hopeful guess?”

I consider the gates and the burly stone gargoyles standing guard.

“I think it’s here,” a voice says.

Levi and I both jump a foot in the air.

“Fucking hell,” Levi breathes, his hand to his chest like he’s clutching the world’s largest pearl necklace.

Branok smirks at him. He’s leaning against the brick wall next to the car, his face washed in moonlight. “My apologies.”

“That would only mean something if you were being sincere,” I point out.

“Bah. I’m a ghost. If I can’t scare people, there’s really no point to anything.” His words are humorous, but his expression is dark and he has an almost visible energy running through him.

“So, what makes you think it’s here?” Levi asks, popping the car’s boot. We’re both dressed in dark clothing—all the better to dig holes on someone’s property at midnight.