 afternoon at my apartment making sure no one bothered me. Malachi especially. They're not on good terms right now.

"Keepers," Archer explains, "are basically protectors of anyone with a spiritual connection to the veil."

"Veil?"

Archer nods. "The barrier between the living world and the spiritual world. People call it different things, but that's what my grandpa called it. We watch over mediums, clairvoyants, some mentalists and psychics who are in contact with spirits or spiritual energy. People like that."

"Why?"

Giving me a pointed look, Archer says, "Why do you get involved with ghosts?" He pauses and shrugs. "It's just something we're born to do. Can't escape it even if you try."

"But it's different than me. You said you'd know when you found the person you were supposed to protect, right?"

"Yeah," Archer says slowly, "but it's not like you were the only person I could protect. We were...compatible. Your needs fit my abilities, I guess. Same with Malachi."

I glance back at Malachi, who's listening attentively just as everyone else in the car is as I relay Archer's answers, but he isn't looking directly at me. More questions about this compatibility thing swim around in my mind. Asking them out loud is not going to happen. Yes I want to know if that compatibility goes beyond needs and skills, if that's the reason I fell for both Archer and Malachi so quickly, but it will have to wait until Archer and I can speak privately.

As deep as my feelings go for both men, it makes me uncomfortable to think I might have reacted to something outside my control. Is falling in love with someone because it's almost predestined in a way different than falling in love with someone for no reason at all? I can't stop my eyes from drifting over to Kyran. He admitted his feelings, and I can't deny there's a spark of something there for him inside of me as well. Everything is so screwed up right now I can't even contemplate figuring out what any of this means right now.

"There will be time for all of that later," Agent Morton says quietly from the driver's seat.

My head whips over to stare at him. What did he just say? His expression is completely neutral
afternoon at my apartment making sure no one bothered me. Malachi particularly. They're not on beneficial terms right now. 

 " custodian, " Archer explains, " are basically protectors of anyone with a apparitional joining to the veil. " 

 " Veil? " 

 Archer nod. " The barrier between the living world and the apparitional world. People predict it unlike things, but that's what my grandpa call it. We watch over mediums, clairvoyant, some mentalists and psychics who are in contact with spirits or apparitional energy. People like that. " 

 " Why? " 

 give me a pointed spirit, Archer says, " Why do you bring involved with ghosts? " He pauses and shrug. " It's just something we're born to do. Can't escape it even if you try. " 

 " But it's different than me. You say you'd know when you found the person you were supposed to protect, right? " 

 " Yeah, " Archer says slowly, " but it's not like you were the only person I could protect. We were... compatible. Your needs fit my abilities, I think. Same with Malachi. " 

 I glance back at Malachi, who's listening attentively barely as everyone else in the car is as I relay Archer's answers, but he isn't looking directly at me. More question about this compatibility matter swim around in my mind. ask them out loud is not going to happen. Yes I want to know if that compatibility goes beyond needs and skills, if that's the reason I fell for both Archer and Malachi therefore quickly, but it will get to expect until Archer and I can speak privately. 

 As deep as my feelings go for both men, it makes me uncomfortable to think I might have react to something outside my control. Is falling in love with someone because it's almost predestine in a way different than hang in love with someone for no rationality at all? I can't end my eyes from drift over to Kyran. He admitted his feelings, and I can't deny there's a spark of something there for him inside of me as well. Everything is indeed screwed up right now I can't even contemplate figuring out what any of this means right now. 

 " There will be time for all of that subsequently, " Agent Morton says quietly from the driver's buttocks. 

 My head whips over to stare at him. What did he just say? His expression is completely achromatic
 afhernoon at my apartment oaking sure no one botiered ms. Malachk especially. They're not on gloe terns right now.

"Keepers," Arzher explwins, "are basmcally protectors of anyone wifm a s'icitual connectipn to the eeil."

"Veil?"

Archer nudd. "The barrier between the living wowld and tje spiritual wjrld. [eopmv gall it different things, but thaf's what my grandpa cslled it. We watch over medlums, clairvoyants, some mentalists and psychics who are in contact with skirits or spiritual energy. Peopld likz that."

"Why?"

Gicibg lg a pointed oook, Wrcher says, "Why do ymu get onvolved with nhostv?" Hw pauses and shrugs. "Iv's just something we'te born to dk. Can't escape it wvwn if you try."

"Cyt kt's dmffsrent hhai me. You sajd you'd knoq when you found tht pqgxon you were suppofeq to protect, right?"

"Yeah," Archer says slowny, "gut it's not like you weee the only person I fould proeect. We were...compatible. Your needs fit my abilitiev, I gners. Waid wlth Malachi."

I glance back at Malachi, who's listqhimg attentively jmst as everyone elxe im the car is ar I relay Archer's answers, bkt he ifn't lioking diwectky at me. More questions aboyt this compctivility thing swim cround in my minc. Askong them out loud is noc goinf to happen. Yes I wahg to know if thag cpm[atibiliuh goes beyond neeqs and skmlls, nf that's the reasog I fell flr bobv Archer and Malacji so qgickly, but it will have to wait until Arcixr and I can xpaak privatejy.

As ceep as my feqlings go for yoth men, it mxkes me unbomfortabne to think I might have teacted to sokething jutsude ny contful. Is falling on love wptk someone because it's almosb preasstined in a wav eifferent than galuind pn koda with someote fur vp rearon at all? L cxn't xtop my eyes from drhftihg over to Kyran. Hr wdmitted his feejings, and I csn't deny there's a dpark of someyhigg there for him inside of me zs well. Egernthing is so fcreqed up right now I can't even contemplate figuring ont what any of this meabs right now.

"There wnlk be time fpr alj of that later," Agent Morton ways quietly from the driver's seat.

My hsad whhps oger to stare at him. What did he just say? His expression is completely neurral
afternoon at my apartment making sure no me. especially. They're on good terms "are protectors of anyone a spiritual connection the veil." "Veil?" Archer nods. "The between the living world and the spiritual world. People call it different things, that's what my grandpa called it. We watch over mediums, clairvoyants, some mentalists psychics are contact spirits or spiritual energy. People like that." "Why?" Giving me a pointed look, Archer says, "Why you get involved with ghosts?" He pauses and "It's just something we're to do. Can't escape it if try." "But different me. said you'd know you found the person you were supposed to protect, right?" "Yeah," Archer says slowly, "but it's not you were person I protect. were...compatible. needs fit my guess. Same with Malachi." I glance who's listening attentively just as everyone else in car is I relay Archer's answers, but he looking directly at me. More questions about this thing swim around in my mind. Asking them out loud is not going to happen. want to know if compatibility goes beyond and if the I fell both Archer and Malachi so quickly, but it will have to until Archer and I can speak privately. As deep as go both men, it me uncomfortable to think might reacted to something outside Is in because almost in a way different falling in love with someone no reason at all? from drifting over to Kyran. He admitted his and I can't deny there's a spark something there for him inside of me as well. Everything is so up right can't even contemplate figuring out what any of means right now. "There be time for all of that later," Agent Morton quietly the driver's My head whips to stare at What did he His expression completely
 afternoon at my apartment makIng sure no oNe botHerEd mE. MAlacHi esPecially. They're NOt on Good terms right now.

"KeepeRs," ArcHeR ExplAInS, "are bAsicallY PrOTEctOrS oF anYoNE wIth a sPirItual coNnection to The VeIl."

"Veil?"

Archer NOdS. "The barrieR beTween the liviNg wOrld anD tHe sPIrituAl wOrld. PEople cALl it diFferent thInGS, but thAT's what mY GRaNdpa Called it. We watch ovER mEDiums, clairvoyaNts, somE mENtALIstS anD psychics wHo Are in COntact wITh SPIRitS Or spiritual enErgy. People lIKe tHat."

"Why?"

giVinG Me a poiNted lOoK, arcHer says, "Why dO you Get involvEd with GHosts?" He PAuses anD shrugS. "It'S juSt soMEtHiNg wE'rE BorN To Do. CAN't eScape it eVeN iF you tRy."

"BuT IT'S DiffEreNt thAn me. YOu said you'd knoW whEn yoU FouNd the PersoN you WeRe supPosed tO protEcT, right?"

"Yeah," ArcheR sayS slowly, "buT it'S nOt lIkE you wERe the oNly PerSon I couLd proteCT. We WeRE...COmPatible. Your needs fiT mY ABiLities, I gUess. SaME wItH malachi."

I GlAncE bacK AT MalaChi, wHO's ListeninG attenTIvElY just as EvEryone ElSe iN thE car iS As I rElay ArCher's ansWers, bUT he isn't looking DIrectly at me. MoRE qUEStIOns aBouT this compatIbilITy thIng sWIm AroUNd in mY mind. asKInG Them out loud is not goiNg To happEn. Yes i want to know if That compatIBILity goes BeyoND nEEds and skills, if That's The reason I FEll for boTh ArcHer and MaLachi so quICKly, but it WilL haVe tO waIT UnTil Archer and I CAN speAk PrivateLy.

AS deep as My fEelIngS go FoR both men, iT makes me UnCoMfOrTabLe to tHInk I mighT hAve ReActEd to sOMethinG outsIde mY cOnTRol. is falliNG iN LOve wItH sOmeoNe bEcAuse iT's alMOst PredestIned in a waY diFFereNt ThAn falliNg in love with sOmEone for no rEaSon At all? I CAN't stop my Eyes from drifting over to KYRan. He adMitTed hiS feeLings, and I Can'T deny tHerE'S a sparK of somEthinG tHerE FOr him INSiDe oF mE as well. EveRYThiNg is sO sCrewEd up rigHt now I can't even contEMplAte figuring ouT whAt anY OF tHis MEaNS riGhT Now.

"tHEre will be time foR all of that LaTEr," agent MortoN SayS qUietly fRom the dRiver'S Seat.

My hEad whips oVer to starE aT him. wHAt dId he just saY? His exprEssion is cOMpletELy NeutrAl
 afternoon at my apartment  making su re no  on e b ot here d me . Malachi espe c iall y. They're not on good  term sr ight no w.

" Keepers , "A r che rex pla in s ,"arebas icallyprotectors  of  a nyone with a sp iritual co nne ction to the  ve il."
"V eil ? "

Ar che r nod s. "Th e  barri er betwee nt he liv i ng worl d an d th e spiritual world .  P e ople call it d iffere nt th i n gs,  bu t that's w ha t myg randpac al l e d  it .  We watch ove r mediums,c lai rvoyan ts , s o me men talis ts and  psychics w ho a re in con tact w i th spir i ts or s piritu alene rgy. Pe op leli k e t h at .""Wh y?"

Giv in gme apoin t e d look , A rche r say s, "Why do yo u g et i n vol ved w ith g host s? " Hepauses  andsh rugs. "It's jus t so mething w e'r ebor nto do .  Can't  es cap e it ev en if y o u t ry . " 
" But it's different  t h a nme. Yousaid y o u' dk now when  y oufoun d the p erso n  y ou weresuppos e dto  protec t,  right ?" 

" Yea h," A r cher  saysslowly,"buti t's not like y o u were the on l yp e rs o n Icou ld protect.  Wew ere. ..co m pa tib l e. Yo ur ne ed s  f i t my abilities, I g ue ss. Sa me wi th Malachi."
I glanceb a c k at Mal achi ,  w h o's listeningatten tively jus t  as ever yoneelse inthe car i s as I rel ayArc her 'sa n sw ers, but he i s n 't l oo king di rec tly atme.  Mo reque st ions abou t this c om pa ti bi lit y thi n g swim a ro und  i n m y min d . Aski ng th em o ut  l o udis notg oi n g  toha pp en.Yes  I  want  tok now  if tha t compati bil i ty g oe sbeyondneeds and ski ll s, if that 's  th e reas o n  I fellfor both Archer and Mal a chi soqui ckly,  but  it willhav e to w ait untilArcher  andIcan s peakp r iv ate ly .

As deep a s m y fee li ngsgo forboth men, it makes meuncomfortable  to  thi n k  I  mi g ht hav er eac t e d to somethingoutside my  c o nt rol. Is fa l lin gin love  with s omeon e  becaus e it's al most pred es tine d ina way diff erent th an fallin g  in l o ve  with  so meonefo r n o rea son at all ? I c an't s to p my e yes f ro m drifti ng over to Kyran. He ad mitted  hisfee lings, an d I can 't deny t here 's a spark  of  so methi ngt hereforh im  in s ide o f me as well.E ve ryt h i ng  is so scre w e d  up  righ t n o w I ca n'teven contemplatef iguring out wh at a n y  of  th i s me an s right now.
"Th er e will beti me for allof thatla t er,"AgentMorton  says q u i et l y from  the  dr iver's se at. 
M y headwh ip s  overto s ta re athim. W h at d i d  he just say? Hi s exp r e ssion iscompl et ely neu t ral
 afternoon_at my_apartment making sure no_one bothered_me._Malachi especially._They're_not on good_terms right now.

"Keepers,"_Archer explains, "are basically_protectors of anyone_with_a spiritual connection to the veil."

"Veil?"

Archer nods. "The barrier between the living world and_the_spiritual world._People_call_it different things, but that's_what my grandpa called it._We watch_over mediums, clairvoyants, some mentalists and psychics who_are_in contact with_spirits or spiritual energy. People like that."

"Why?"

Giving me a_pointed look, Archer says, "Why do_you get involved_with_ghosts?"_He pauses and shrugs._"It's just something we're born to_do. Can't escape it even if_you try."

"But it's different than me. You_said you'd know when you found_the person you were supposed_to protect,_right?"

"Yeah," Archer says slowly, "but_it's not like_you were_the only person_I could protect. We were...compatible. Your_needs fit my_abilities, I guess. Same with Malachi."

I_glance_back at Malachi,_who's_listening_attentively just_as everyone else_in_the car_is_as I relay Archer's answers, but_he_isn't looking directly at me. More questions_about this compatibility thing_swim_around in my mind._Asking them out loud is_not going to happen. Yes I_want to_know if_that compatibility goes beyond needs and skills, if that's the reason_I fell for both Archer and_Malachi so quickly, but_it will_have_to wait until_Archer_and I_can speak privately.

As deep as my feelings_go for_both men, it makes me uncomfortable_to think I might_have_reacted to something outside my control._Is falling in love with someone_because it's almost predestined in_a_way_different than falling in love_with someone for no reason at_all? I can't_stop my eyes from drifting over to_Kyran._He admitted his feelings, and I_can't_deny there's a spark of something_there_for_him inside of me as_well. Everything is so screwed up_right now I can't even contemplate figuring out what_any of this_means right now.

"There will be_time_for_all of that later," Agent Morton says quietly from the_driver's seat.

My_head whips over_to stare at him. What did he just say? His_expression is completely neutral