refueling835

"An enormous snow-white buck standing a few feet away, his huge, spreading antlers like tree limbs sprouting from his skull" It looks just like the typical form a spirit might take. And a very powerful one at that. I love @Josh Aterovis's stories.

So they are all volunteers (and young). All of them could be tempted by extra income. Like @Summerabbacat I suspect that Alexander James also recognized Killian and, from the description of his behavior, probably has something to hide. Not insignificantly, Killian is already “getting in tune” with the spirits of the natives. I expect some “strong interaction” as with Amalie.

OMG I must have clicked Back before writing the comment. 🫣

Um... an almost entirely transitional chapter, apart from Fletcher's warnings and Seth's appearance, which implies that Killian needs him. Great for building suspense, right?

Um... I tend to rule out Tad. Too young and too unpredictable. Even a little unstable, at least at the moment. Maybe a girl? I wonder if that could be ... 🤔 No, it's unlikely. Her father would have a heart attack. (Or maybe not?)

I'm thinking more of someone on the Council or, even more likely, one of the guys working on the excavation. I don't know if they get paid or how much, but the temptation to "supplement" their income by selling artifacts could be strong for some. In theory, the excavation is currently being kept secret. Only a small circle of people know about it.

And finally we have an initial definition of Killian's gifts: "a spirit-talker and a rather strong empath...and maybe a few other things". It looks like it's going to be a great book, like @Josh Aterovis's others. By the way, I like Micah less and less. By pretending to give space and not exert pressure, he puts Killian under enormous pressure.

So Fletcher survived (thanks to Jace's gifts). Killian will take on the case (obviously, otherwise the book would end with the next chapter 😬). The planets are aligning for a great plot intertwined with the supernatural, and perhaps Killian will get the "key" to managing his gifts from Fletcher. I can't wait to see how the plot develops. Excellent job @Josh Aterovis You're forgetting Jace @weinerdog . Yes, I know he's a little bit too young for Killian's target, but ... Who knows? By the way, how old is Jace now? How many years have passed since "Never Alone"

Yes, but I suspect that if it's Fletcher and he survives, we won't see much of Seth in this book. With the natives' spirits, there would already be enough "crowding." 🫣

Let's recap: There was an "interlude" in which we met Jace, a young gay man, and his grandfather Fletcher "Two Spirits," who could teach Killian a lot. There is yesterday "Prologue" that seems like the perfect scenario for Killian (also Two Spirits) and his special relationship with the spirits of the dead. After all, there are already reasons for Killian to intervene: The looting of the archaeological site and the attempted murder. If the protagonist of the Prologue is Fletcher and (as I hope) he survives the attack, I believe that the fate of his relationship with Micah is sealed and a new great "chapter" lies ahead, in terms of Killian's self-discovery, too. I already love It. Keep up the wonderful job, @Josh Aterovis

I wonder if Killian is about to meet (finally) his mentor. And who knows, maybe a new love?

You missed It? 😉 Chapter 23, at the ball: "“I want you to meet someone.” He guided me toward a tall man surrounded by a small circle of elegant admirers. I thought I recognized him, though I couldn’t immediately place him. He was striking: tall enough to tower over nearly everyone else in the room, broad in a way that made me think of a redwood rather than a stick figure. His short iron-gray hair was perfectly in place, his square face softened by kind eyes. For all his size, he carried himself with easy, quiet grace. “Dr. Mason,” Micah said. The man turned, a smile lighting his features. “Micah.” His voice was soft, cultured, with a warmth that immediately set him apart from the peacocking crowd. He excused himself from his circle and stepped toward us. “So good to see you.” His gaze shifted to me, eyes twinkling as though he were in on some private joke. “And who is this?” Micah smirked, which put me instantly on guard. “This is my boyfriend, Killian Kendall. Killian, this is Dr. Hiram Mason.” Recognition hit. I shook his hand. “You’re the president of Pemberton University.” “That would be correct,” he said smoothly. “A pleasure to meet you, Killian. Are you a student?” “Yes, sir. First year.” “None of this ‘sir’ business.” His eyes sparkled again, as though daring me to laugh. “Quite a party, isn’t it? Though I’ve seen better. The music’s a bit lifeless.” He tipped his head toward the jazz band. “You’d rather they played dance music?” Micah asked, sounding more familiar with him than I expected. “Disco was my era,” Dr. Mason chuckled. “But my dancing days are behind me.” Micah grinned. “Oh, I don’t know. I bet you could still outdance anyone here.” Something in that exchange unlocked a memory. It hit me like an electric jolt, my jaw dropping as I stared. Micah leaned in and gently tilted my chin shut with one finger, smirking. Dr. Mason, visibly amused, laid a hand on my shoulder. “Our little secret, Killian.” "

Well well. Razi, uh?

WOW! Just WOW!! Now let's think about it. With the issue of the gun without a silencer, I think we can rule out Jake, who was clearly heavily drugged. Probably overdosing. Breaking into that fortress, killing the bodyguards and Black like that is definitely the work of a professional. Did Jake survive precisely because he was unconscious? This raises another question. Is it the same killer who murdered Paul? In that case, the scene was chaotic, “messy,” and doesn't seem like the work of a professional. Unless, of course, it was a professional who wanted to make the murder look like it was done in the “heat of the moment.” I would insist on Razi. Of course, @Josh Aterovis hasn't told us anything about his background, so speculating that he might be a professional killer is pure conjecture, but having learned to appreciate Aterovis' ‘omissions’... 😂

Killian would have recognized him immediately if it had been Black. In any case, whoever the corpse is, Jack, if he is in that house, is (at least) in the position of a witness. Therefore, he is at high risk of being killed as well.