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responsibilities, and that’s all I need to know.”
    I had to admit that it was hard to argue with that, but his attitude was infuriating. “Like it or not, you and I are stuck together until we figure out what we need to do.” I took a deep breath. “Now tell me what we need to do.”
    All expression left his face. “You really don’t know?”
    “No.”
    “ Any of it ?”
    “She knows a little,” Claire said, still eyeing Collin with a hungry look. “She’s not completely clueless.”
    I’d almost forgotten she was there.
    He cocked an eyebrow, turning his attention to her. “And you are . . . ?”
    “Claire.”
    He turned back to me. “You told someone?”
    “How do you know she’s not my sister?” From what I remembered, it wasn’t against the rules to tell siblings about the curse, since it was a familial duty. The only problem was that Claire and I didn’t look anything like sisters. But then Myra and I didn’t look anything alike, and technically, she was my family.
    He started to speak, then stopped, rubbing his forehead. “Okay, is she your sister?”
    I could have lied, but I figured we were already on shaky ground. “No.”
    “Then why—”
    “She’s the only one who knows. She’s practically my sister, so what’s the difference? You say you want to fix this thing, but it looks like you want to spend all your time belittling me.”
    “It doesn’t take much effort, trust me.”
    I gasped. “Get out.”
    His eyes widened. “What?”
    I shoved his chest and he stumbled toward the back door. “I said get the hell out!”
    “You can’t do that!”
    “Oh yeah? Watch me!”
    I pushed the bar on the back door and the door flung open. Collin stumbled backward and through the opening. I slammed the door shut and made sure it was locked.
    “What did you just do?” Claire asked in disbelief. “You need him.”
    My fury still burned in my chest. Quick to anger, slow to cool, Daddy always used to say about me. “No man’s going to talk to me like that and get away with it, Keeper or not.”
    “So you’re going to just leave the gate open and let the rest of the spirits spill out?”
    “No, of course not.” I shook my head. “Collin Dailey has been bred for this. He practically admitted as much last night. He’ll come crawling back, trust me on that. He needs me just as much as I need him. The ceremony requires the presence of both Keepers. He can’t do it without me. But if he wants my help, he’s going to have to eat a little humble pie, because I won’t tolerate him treating me like that again.”
    Still, I remembered Daddy’s insistence that all hell would break loose, literally, when the gate opened, and that devastating consequences would occur if the gate wasn’t closed. Not that I could remember a single one of the consequences specifically. But the fear and unease that oozed from Daddy stuck with me, even if the details didn’t. Something terrifying was out there, and I let my temper send away the one person who could help me make it all go away.
    Claire sucked in a deep breath and released it. “I sure hope you’re right, Ellie.”
    I stared at the back door. I hoped I was right too.

C HAPTER S IX
    It was late afternoon before Collin returned and I’d begun to think that I might have pushed him too far. I was just about ready to start scrambling for a backup plan, not that I could come up with one. I was by the kitchen returning a tray when I heard the tinkle of the bell, and I knew he was there.
    Marlena walked up next to me, eyeing Collin as he scanned the room. “Well, look who just showed up. Tall, dark, and handsome.”
    I had to admit that he did look sexy when he wasn’t wearing a scowl, and he was strangely without one now. While I’d hoped he’d return, I didn’t expect him to be so . . . happy about it. “He’s probably here for me.”
    Her eyebrows rose in surprise.
    What possessed me to admit that to her? Marlena was going to be majorly