Page 61 of Petrify

I gravitate toward her, coming to stand behind her.

“Why are you doing this?” she asks.

“You’ll have to be more specific.”

She turns toward me again, the music forgotten. The blonde ends of her hair catches the light. “Why do you care if I get what I want? Why should you care about helping me?”

“It’s not abouthelpingyou. It’s about feeding my muse.”

Her throat bobs. “Your muse?”

I lean closer. “I am not your old mentor.”

When the words register, a little line appears between her brows in a scowl. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I knowexactlywhat I’m talking about. Jason Howard? If I could, I guess I should thank him for his hand in your abilities.”

“He didnothing—” Her voice catches. “Myabilitiesare all my doing. He didn’t deprive himself of sleep every night just so he could catch up with his peers. He didn’t stare at sheet music until he went blind. All he did was—was—pick my songs and patronize me every second of our lessons.”

Though he is from her past, and long gone, I still loathe that he got to her first.

There’s a spark of panic in her eyes and I hate that it is notmewho put it there.

Her obsession, her lust, her rage—I want it all to bemine.

I stare down at her. “And have I patronized you?”

She takes a few breaths. “No. Not—no.”

“I keep my promises, Mallary. Remember that.”

Chapter 30

The Ghost

The injured maintenanceworker sleeps soundly in his room in the staff wing, dead to the world.

When the sun begins to rise, his eyes open. He spots me almost immediately. I can see the whites of his eyes, the dilating pupil, the heady taste of his fear on the air as he scrambles backwards, mouth falling open.

“Don’t be a coward.” I stand against the wall. It’s a small room.

His jaw snaps shut. His chest rises and falls quickly with each breath.

What could she even potentially see in him?

“Didn’t think you’d ever see me, did you.”

He’s trembling. Cute. “You’rereal.”

“I’ve always been ‘real’.” I step closer. “Cars don’t start themselves, Reece.”

“What thefuck.”

“Come on. You warned her about me. Don’t act surprised now.”

He tries to push himself further back, but with only one good arm, it proves difficult. “What do you want?”

“Just to give you some advice.” I don’t make any other moves, but his eyes dart around in the dark, like he’s scared I’ll sneak up on him. “Ghosts don’t react well when the living try to take what doesn’t belong to them.”