Bella’s POV
“Operation Cheer-Up is officially underway,” she announced brightly. “No monsters allowed.”
I managed to laugh a little, and Harper smiled tiredly. Even Liam cracked half a grin.
June plopped down beside me, bumping my shoulder. “You know what we need? A puppy. A big, slobbery, totally useless puppy that barks at everything and scares the boogeymen away.”
I laughed again, a little stronger this time.
“We’d probably end up adopting a hellhound by accident.”
June gasped. “And name it Snuggles.”
Harper snorted into her hot chocolate, and even Liam shook his head, chuckling. For a few minutes, the fear faded. The house was still marked, still haunted by whatever had clawed the walls.
Later, when the others drifted off, June was asleep on the floor with a cookie half-eaten in her hand, Harper was snoring softly against the armchair. I on the other hand was awake, staring at the flickering candlelight.
Liam was still awake too, sitting by the door, legs stretched out, eyes aler
