The Mirror (The Lost Bride Trilogy #2)

“You know what you’re doing,” he repeated, and this time got one of Cleo’s smiles.

Two men, two women, three dogs, and a cat started up to the third floor.

From the Gold Room came a slow, steady thud, a heartbeat, dull and thick.

When they reached the landing, a red glow outlined the door.

“I guess she doesn’t like everyone coming up at once. Well.” Sonya got a good grip on Trey’s hand. “We’ve come this far.”

The sound increased in speed and volume as they walked down the long hall where the sunlight through Cleo’s studio windows pierced the shadows.

The animals reacted, Mookie with a low growl, Yoda with a snarl, Jones with a trio of throaty barks.

When the cat hissed, Cleo picked her up.

“Getting colder.” Trey glanced at Cleo. “Does that happen when you come up to work?”

“Not so far. If she tries it, well, I’ve got plenty of sweaters.”

At Cleo’s studio, Trey stopped, and with Sonya’s hand still in his, stepped in to study the painting.

“That’s a major wow. A major magic wow. Owen, I’d say you’re going to need a better boat, but I’ve seen the design. Fair trade.

“Why don’t we check the closet?”

Sonya crossed over to it, opened it. And saw only Cleo’s currently well-organized supplies.

“It should be Agatha next. But not tonight.” Sonya closed the door again.

“It’s warmer in here than it is in the hall,” Trey observed. “And not just because you’ve got sun coming in.”

“I have a few little things in here to block her, or muffle her anyway.”

“What, like crystals and incense?”

Cleo gave Owen a cool stare. “If you believe in ghosts, like the one making all that racket, why not the rest?”

“Okay, your point.”

From the Gold Room, the noise increased with the sound of windows slamming open, crashing closed.

“I’d say her cage is rattled,” Trey remarked, and stepped back into the hallway.

The glow around the door burned fiery red now as the door itself bowed out, bowed in, as if breathing.

Beside him Owen hooked his thumbs in his pockets. “I hate to give her credit, but that’s pretty cool.”

In obvious disagreement, Jones bulleted down the hall to bark wildly at the heaving door.

“Come on, man.”

As Owen started down to his dog, Sonya called out, “Don’t touch the door. She’s at peak.”

“We won’t. Stay.” Trey pointed at Mookie before he jogged down after Owen.

“Okay, you’re the big dog. Let’s just—” But when Owen leaned down to haul Jones up, the door slammed open.

And the dog rushed in.