Anna folds her arms. “It’s my payment for making sure the house doesn’t throw out all your stuff.” The house groans, as if announcing that it’d love to do just that.

“Roy,” Nora interjects. “This isn’t—”

Roy’s voice cuts across hers. “You must be Colin,” he says to me.

I hold out my hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

He takes it in a firm grip, though his palms are soft and cushiony. “Roy Ballinkay, but you can call me Uncle Roy. Come sit down, Colin!”

He tugs my hand, and the rest of my body comes flying after it, forcing me to take a few quick steps to keep my feet under me. Anna darts after us as we turn into the room opposite the kitchen.

Shelves of books line three of the walls, the fourth a patchwork of different-sized windows overlooking the Hollowthorn Woods beyond. Worn leather sofas sit beside a simmering peat fire, and all I want is to grab a stack of books and sink into one. I’m so distracted by the books I almost don’t notice the different style hats hanging on the face of the mantel, from an Irish baseball cap to a dusty bowler hat straight out of an old movie.

A tray with five cups sits on a high table behind one couch, the orange scent of Earl Grey filling the air as a gleaming silver pot pours tea.

Nora surges in after us. “Roy! I wasn’t finished with them.”

I sink into the couch as Anna counts the teacups and then the four of us.

“Oh, right.” Roy folds his arms across his barrel chest, doing his best to look disapproving.

Anna grins sheepishly at Nora. “Maybe we didn’t think it through.”

“Or at all.” Elaine strides into the room and straight for a cup of tea. “Did Gran send anything home?”

“Don’t change the subject!” Nora swats at her. I lower the box of muffins I’d been about to offer Elaine. “Kaden’s boss will be coming for you now, too, Anna. For all of us. Do you realize the danger you’ve put this family in?”

I knew it. Gran tried to reassure me, but I’ve put Anna’s whole family in danger. I’m as much a burden to them as I was my own family.

“I’m sorry,” I say, standing. “It’s my fault we went after the wraith, and it’s my fault you’re all in danger now. I should go.”

Roy’s hand falls on my shoulder and I drop back down. “You’re not going anywhere, lad.” He hands me a cup of tea. “Your father’s ghost would haunt me to the end of days if I let you walk out that door.”

“Besides, Colin’s in danger!” Anna says.