Incarnate (Spiritus Series Book #3)
Incarnate (Spiritus Series Book #3)
Becca has always known that it was always going to come down to this. The only way that she can truly be happy is if she and Alastor are together. If she doesn’t find a way, can she live without him? But is she willing to make the ultimate sacrifice…even if it is the only way that they can be together?
Everything for two lifetimes has been leading up to this moment. A future with Alastor is within her grasp—if she’s willing to fight for it.
For a look into the real world of Spiritus, check out the Incarnate (Spiritus Series Book#3) Pinterest Board.
Interested to learn more about the characters and their world? Visit the Spiritus Extras Page.
Interested to learn more about the characters and their world? Visit the Spiritus Extras Page.
Reviews for Incarnate (Spiritus Series Book #3)
The way this ended I believe fit the characters. The author did a wonderful job with this book. I found Incarnate to be emotional, dramatic and intense. The author writes about a romance that is far from traditional. It shows that love doesn't die with you, it carries on to the next life. -- Amy's Book World
Excerpt
I sat alone at the Louisville International Airport. It wasn’t yet lunchtime, but a steady flow of people walked past, even a few with half eaten fast food orders in their hands looking neither right nor left, all of them on their way to somewhere and they were in a hurry to get there.
Were they so important that they couldn’t take the time to sit down and actually eat? Where were they all going?
I noticed others walking by in a gentle stroll, as if they had all the time in the world to get to their destination. These travelers looked happier and more relaxed than the frowning people rushing past them.
It was odd how very normal they all looked as they moved about the terminal. What would any of them think if they knew what I was trying to do? How terrified would they be to realize just how thin the line really was between life and death? Would they all look so normal then?
“He can come back...”
Those were the exact words of the voodoo Madame. It was those words that I had to focus all of my attention on. Those were the words that changed the possibility of my life. I couldn’t let doubt sway me.
Doubt took the form of Alastor, hovering invisibly near me. As I sat watching people come and go, he kept up a steady stream of complaints and useless threats.
“My love,” he purred of his secret, only for me, voice. “Let us forget this nonsense and go home.”
You know I can't do that...
He came closer, floating somewhere just near my shoulder. Despite his arguments, I loved the secret closeness of his presence.
“Why not?” He asked, moving to my other side. “Why can we not just go home where it is only you and I?”
Because it will never be enough…
“But it could be.”
No…It can’t…
“Please,” he whispered. “I beg of you, no good will come of this.”
Alastor, you worry too much...
The air between us crackled with electricity like the air before a storm. He became still and quiet, but near enough that I could still feel the discontent radiating off him.
I couldn’t blame him. This trip seemed to be making everyone in my life nervous and uncomfortable. Even as I made the plans, Dad voiced his concerns that I wasn’t “well” enough to go so far away from home alone.
“Are you sure that you don't want me to go with you?” Dad asked – the final of so many times I’d lost count – just before I got in the car to drive to the airport.
His obvious concern sent a stab of guilt through me. Did I really need to do this right now? Hadn’t I worried him enough for a while?
I looked up at him and perhaps for the first time saw how very grey his hair had become and the new lines around his eyes. It seemed having me for a daughter had taken its toll and aged him before his time. It didn’t seem fair to keep torturing him with my craziness.
A part of me wanted to just stop and go back inside the house and make him a late breakfast. I wanted to be the sort of daughter that made him smile, instead of one that made his forehead pucker with worry.
I would’ve given in had it not been for Alastor moving closer to my side, unintentionally reminding me of why I was putting my father through this.
“I'll be fine,” I told him as coolly as possible. “I just want to take a little break and have some fun so that I can get back to feeling like a normal person again. I just need some time to myself to figure out what I want to do with my life now.”
“I could help you with that,” Dad offered eagerly.
I shook my head, “No, this is something I need to figure out for myself.”
“I just want to make sure that you’re –" He paused and shuffled his feet in the gravel of the drive. “– Up to it.”
I tried not to react to his words. I had the feeling that would just make things worse. My breakdown and subsequent stay in the state mental hospital was something that we tried to never talk about. If we absolutely had to, we alluded to it in only the vaguest of terms. I had no intension of bringing it up now.
“I feel fine,” I said as I opened the car door and got in. “Actually, I feel better than I have for a while now.”
He looked at me doubtfully, “Are you sure?”
“Of course,” I gripped the steering wheel tighter and gave him my “sanest” smile.
He still didn’t look convinced.
“I’ll be back in a week,” I assured him and backed out of the driveway before he could suggest driving me to the airport. I didn’t think I could suffer through his concern much longer.
Now I sat alone waiting for the plane to board. I enjoyed the silence. It was easier to pretend that I was normal when I was alone because then I didn't have to work as hard at separating Alastor's voice from the voices of real people.
I felt so conspicuous sitting there by myself. Everywhere I looked people were traveling with companions, those that were alone were the important business looking types, and then there was just ordinary me traveling all alone.
The empty seats on either side of me were like a billboard advertising how pathetic I was. I could sense people looking at me with pity and nosey curiosity.
I wished I would have thought to bring a book or a magazine along. At least then I would have something to do with my hands which suddenly seemed twice as large, making me forget what to do with them.
I thought about calling the house. It couldn't hurt to talk to Dad to reassure him one more time that I was okay and that this would be a short trip and then I would be back home. I wanted to hear his voice so bad, but I was afraid that if I did, and he sounded sadder or too worried, I would lose my nerve.
The call came for boarding. I stood and gathered my things, trying not to look as scared and as unsure as I felt. Alastor pressed himself up against me, unseen and strong.
“You cannot honestly believe that I would let you do this,” he hissed menacingly in my ear.
You are a ghost Alastor... You can't really do anything to stop me...
“I could bring the plane down from the sky.”
A chill ran up my spine, but I kept moving toward the gate. I refused to let on how badly he was frightening me.
You wouldn't do that...
“Why wouldn't I?”
Because, out of the two of us, only one is a murderer, and it isn't you...
Alastor was silent then, still close, but quiet as I took my seat at the window. I took his silence as a small victory and let myself relax a little. I pulled the shade down on the muggy day outside and curled up against the side of the plane.
The other passengers didn't really notice me as they put their bags overhead with a bang here and there before they took their seats. I caught bits and pieces of the conversation now and then, but nothing that really held my interest.
I settled into my seat and closed my eyes. It would be a short flight to Memphis with a brief stopover and then on to New Orleans. If everything stayed on schedule, the entire trip would only take about four hours.
Four hours... I was taking back control of my life in four hours.
I closed my eyes and was asleep before the plane even took off.
Deep inside, I knew that even though Alastor was angry with me, he would never do anything but watch over me and keep me safe.
Were they so important that they couldn’t take the time to sit down and actually eat? Where were they all going?
I noticed others walking by in a gentle stroll, as if they had all the time in the world to get to their destination. These travelers looked happier and more relaxed than the frowning people rushing past them.
It was odd how very normal they all looked as they moved about the terminal. What would any of them think if they knew what I was trying to do? How terrified would they be to realize just how thin the line really was between life and death? Would they all look so normal then?
“He can come back...”
Those were the exact words of the voodoo Madame. It was those words that I had to focus all of my attention on. Those were the words that changed the possibility of my life. I couldn’t let doubt sway me.
Doubt took the form of Alastor, hovering invisibly near me. As I sat watching people come and go, he kept up a steady stream of complaints and useless threats.
“My love,” he purred of his secret, only for me, voice. “Let us forget this nonsense and go home.”
You know I can't do that...
He came closer, floating somewhere just near my shoulder. Despite his arguments, I loved the secret closeness of his presence.
“Why not?” He asked, moving to my other side. “Why can we not just go home where it is only you and I?”
Because it will never be enough…
“But it could be.”
No…It can’t…
“Please,” he whispered. “I beg of you, no good will come of this.”
Alastor, you worry too much...
The air between us crackled with electricity like the air before a storm. He became still and quiet, but near enough that I could still feel the discontent radiating off him.
I couldn’t blame him. This trip seemed to be making everyone in my life nervous and uncomfortable. Even as I made the plans, Dad voiced his concerns that I wasn’t “well” enough to go so far away from home alone.
“Are you sure that you don't want me to go with you?” Dad asked – the final of so many times I’d lost count – just before I got in the car to drive to the airport.
His obvious concern sent a stab of guilt through me. Did I really need to do this right now? Hadn’t I worried him enough for a while?
I looked up at him and perhaps for the first time saw how very grey his hair had become and the new lines around his eyes. It seemed having me for a daughter had taken its toll and aged him before his time. It didn’t seem fair to keep torturing him with my craziness.
A part of me wanted to just stop and go back inside the house and make him a late breakfast. I wanted to be the sort of daughter that made him smile, instead of one that made his forehead pucker with worry.
I would’ve given in had it not been for Alastor moving closer to my side, unintentionally reminding me of why I was putting my father through this.
“I'll be fine,” I told him as coolly as possible. “I just want to take a little break and have some fun so that I can get back to feeling like a normal person again. I just need some time to myself to figure out what I want to do with my life now.”
“I could help you with that,” Dad offered eagerly.
I shook my head, “No, this is something I need to figure out for myself.”
“I just want to make sure that you’re –" He paused and shuffled his feet in the gravel of the drive. “– Up to it.”
I tried not to react to his words. I had the feeling that would just make things worse. My breakdown and subsequent stay in the state mental hospital was something that we tried to never talk about. If we absolutely had to, we alluded to it in only the vaguest of terms. I had no intension of bringing it up now.
“I feel fine,” I said as I opened the car door and got in. “Actually, I feel better than I have for a while now.”
He looked at me doubtfully, “Are you sure?”
“Of course,” I gripped the steering wheel tighter and gave him my “sanest” smile.
He still didn’t look convinced.
“I’ll be back in a week,” I assured him and backed out of the driveway before he could suggest driving me to the airport. I didn’t think I could suffer through his concern much longer.
Now I sat alone waiting for the plane to board. I enjoyed the silence. It was easier to pretend that I was normal when I was alone because then I didn't have to work as hard at separating Alastor's voice from the voices of real people.
I felt so conspicuous sitting there by myself. Everywhere I looked people were traveling with companions, those that were alone were the important business looking types, and then there was just ordinary me traveling all alone.
The empty seats on either side of me were like a billboard advertising how pathetic I was. I could sense people looking at me with pity and nosey curiosity.
I wished I would have thought to bring a book or a magazine along. At least then I would have something to do with my hands which suddenly seemed twice as large, making me forget what to do with them.
I thought about calling the house. It couldn't hurt to talk to Dad to reassure him one more time that I was okay and that this would be a short trip and then I would be back home. I wanted to hear his voice so bad, but I was afraid that if I did, and he sounded sadder or too worried, I would lose my nerve.
The call came for boarding. I stood and gathered my things, trying not to look as scared and as unsure as I felt. Alastor pressed himself up against me, unseen and strong.
“You cannot honestly believe that I would let you do this,” he hissed menacingly in my ear.
You are a ghost Alastor... You can't really do anything to stop me...
“I could bring the plane down from the sky.”
A chill ran up my spine, but I kept moving toward the gate. I refused to let on how badly he was frightening me.
You wouldn't do that...
“Why wouldn't I?”
Because, out of the two of us, only one is a murderer, and it isn't you...
Alastor was silent then, still close, but quiet as I took my seat at the window. I took his silence as a small victory and let myself relax a little. I pulled the shade down on the muggy day outside and curled up against the side of the plane.
The other passengers didn't really notice me as they put their bags overhead with a bang here and there before they took their seats. I caught bits and pieces of the conversation now and then, but nothing that really held my interest.
I settled into my seat and closed my eyes. It would be a short flight to Memphis with a brief stopover and then on to New Orleans. If everything stayed on schedule, the entire trip would only take about four hours.
Four hours... I was taking back control of my life in four hours.
I closed my eyes and was asleep before the plane even took off.
Deep inside, I knew that even though Alastor was angry with me, he would never do anything but watch over me and keep me safe.
