Page 131 of She Haunts Me Still

Mallory swallows a note of fear. “How did you find us here?” She falters, realizing. “Did you know about this house from the start?”

“Our congregation tracked it down a while ago,” Ezra admits, every word echoing with remorse. “Back when we first learned the transfer spell had been done. When you weren’t at your dorm tonight, I had a feeling you’d be here. It was easier to get to than expected. My dad has a boat at the yacht club in Bristol.” Ezra’s eyes shift. “Hada boat.”

She shivers at the memory of his father’s lifeless body in the chapel basement. “Why did you come?”

Ezra takes a step toward her. She doesn’t back up. She stands her ground this time, inches from him.

“I’ll do it,” he says, and Mallory frowns in confusion. “I’ll take the curse from Saskia. Tell the witches they can send it to me. The self-offering compulsion. I’ll take it from you both.”

“What?” Mallory’s breath rushes out. “That doesn’t make sense.”

“It does,” Ezra counters. “The curse can only be transferred, right? As long as the recipient is willing?”

“Right, but—”

“I’m willing.” Ezra’s throat tightens as he swallows. Moonlight illuminates the sincerity in his eyes. “I’m willing.”

She falls quiet, and he tries again, his tone solemn.

“I was wrong before,” Ezra says. “What I suggested, about continuing my bloodline. Creating an heir. I never should’ve said that. That was—that was fucked-up of me. This is therealway out. Let me get this right.”

Mallory shakes her head. “Do you realize what you’re even agreeing to?”

“I do.” A muscle feathers in his jaw, a sight that’s achingly familiar to her at this point. “The other night, you asked if what we had was real. You have no idea how much it hurt to hear you say that. For me, the answer is more than you can ever imagine.”

Tears sting her eyes; the back of her throat burns.

“I would doanythingfor you,” Ezra confesses. “I’d torch that whole campus, this entire fucking world, burn it all tothe ground to build something new with you in its place.” He swallows again. “But it’s too late for any of that now.”

“Ezra, I—”

“All those nights we spent looking for your ghost?” His gaze sears into hers, stern and somber. “We wouldn’t have had to look far for mine. Because it’s always been you. You’re my ghost, Jules.”

Her lashes are heavy with tears; Ezra becomes a blur in front of her. Through a film of stars, she sees him in all his iterations—the mysterious stranger swindling secrets, the monster with fangs in her throat. But tonight, he’s none of those things. He’s just Ezra, emotions stripped raw, the parts of him he rarely let her see in full view.

“I’ll be haunted no matter what,” Ezra adds, and his eyes are wet, too. “Let me do this for you. Please.”

“You’ll die,” Penelope says from behind them.

Mallory and Ezra both whirl to find her in the doorway.

“I know,” Ezra responds, and the quiet that follows is heavy, resolute.

“The self-offering compulsion in Saskia is incredibly strong right now,” Penelope says softly. “But, Ezra, your physical body is exceptionally weak because of the demon that’s been inhabiting you. I can’t say for certain what will happen. You may succumb to the compulsion of the curse and attempt to remove your own heart, or the impact of the simultaneous supernatural energy might destroy your body before you can.” She swallows. “Either way, death will be swift. It will also be excruciating.”

Mallory studies his expression, his unwavering resolve. Ezra has made his decision, she realizes. He’s choosing this ending, facing down tragedy with clear eyes.

There will be no talking him out of it.

“I understand,” Ezra says. “If I continue down the path I’ve been headed, I’m only going to leave behind more pain. Generations of it.” He slides Mallory a pointed look before turning to Penelope. “I’ve done my research. Infecting myself with the Blood Angel’s curse will kill me, as you said. But the angel is tied tomybloodline. Turning this curse on myself—hisowncurse—will end him, too. Send him back to that dark place beneath the world, where he belongs.” Ezra reaches into his coat, procuring an old, weathered book with a raven stamped on the cover. “Which is why, after I’m gone, you’ll need to burn this.”

Mallory’s eyes widen at the book she’s seen in her visions.The Book of Angels.

“The book must be destroyed,” Ezra continues, “so no one is able to conjure the creature again. Within these pages, the incantation that woke the demon is marked with the blood of the original offering. Lily’s blood. Destroying the book—it will also destroy him.” He inhales, determined. “It’s time to take accountability for the horrible things my father and grandfather have done. For the things I’ve done. It’s going to end with me. Here. Tonight.”

Another long silence passes between them.

“I want to do it,” Ezra repeats. “I give my permission.”