Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 125179 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125179 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
“She’ll be all right, Wyn,” said Delilah before gulping some water from a bottle. “She’s tough as old boots.”
Wynter rolled her shoulders. “It doesn’t stop me from worrying.”
While they waited for the spies to return, they joined many other people in stretching or walking up and down. Despite that they’d taken breaks during their journey, Wynter’s ass hurt, and her legs felt cramped.
Finally, a few avians returned. Then a few more. And a few more. And eventually came a cluster that included Hattie.
A relieved breath slid out of Wynter. She didn’t get the chance to speak with Hattie. The eight Ancients rounded up all the spies and questioned them.
Close enough to overhear the conversation, Wynter learned that the Aeons hadn’t upped their level of security—no doubt feeling confident that their only worthy adversaries would forever be trapped in a cage. Keepers still went out in groups of two. Altogether, twenty patrolled the outskirts, and each duo was situated at a different distance away from Aeon.
Although they were all armed, it wouldn’t be hard to take them out. Not if everyone stuck to the pre-agreed plan. Wynter would certainly enjoy the part she played in it.
Walking toward her with Dantalion, Cain narrowed his eyes at her, his lips twitching. “There’s that hunter stare.”
She felt her mouth curve. “It’s not directed at you this time.”
Dantalion studied her expression. “The next move is yours. Are you sure you want to go ahead with this?”
“Positive.” She didn’t fail to notice the look of disappointment that crossed Cain’s face. He’d tried talking her out of it several times already but, unable to deny that her little plan was their best move, he’d eventually relented. Begrudgingly. And sulked for a full hour.
“Then I’ll get the others into position,” said Dantalion, who then began barking out orders.
Wynter gave a nod to both Anabel and Xavier. The two quickly got to work putting a protective spell on the jeep. The keepers had a tendency to shoot first and ask questions later, so it seemed only sensible to make the vehicle bulletproof. Other magick-users would likely do the same to their own modes of transport before approaching Aeon.
Cain sighed. “For the record, I still don’t like this plan you came up with.”
“I know, but I’ve walked into far more dangerous situations,” Wynter told him.
His brow pinched. “I’m sensing you think that’s supposed to in some way comfort me, but it doesn’t.”
She cast him a sheepish smile, trying to hide her amusement. “Sorry.” To be fair, he was right to be concerned. The plan could potentially blow up in their faces. But she had faith in herself and her coven.
Once Xavier cemented the protective spell on the vehicle with a little blood magick, he let out a satisfied sigh. “Done.”
Wynter climbed into the trunk of the jeep and curled up on its carpeted bottom. Her monster probably would have grumbled its disapproval if it wasn’t asleep.
Delilah puffed out a breath. “Fucking confined spaces.” She reluctantly shifted into a housecat and leaped into the trunk, where she then curled up beside Wynter.
“Ready?” asked Xavier, his thumb hovering over a button on the key fob.
“Ready,” Wynter confirmed.
He pressed the button, and then the trunk lid slowly began to close.
“See you soon,” she mouthed to Cain, keeping her eyes locked with his until the lid finally closed.
The vehicle jiggled slightly as the rest of her coven settled into it. Wynter knew that, as planned, Xavier would be driving while Anabel rode shotgun and Hattie hid beneath the front passenger seat in her crow form.
Soon, they were on the move. They couldn’t have been driving for longer than fifteen minutes when Anabel said, “We can see two keepers up-ahead. They’re coming our way, and they’re armed to the teeth.”
A spike of adrenaline pumped into Wynter’s bloodstream. “Keepers usually are.” Thankfully, none would be Aeons—those arrogant shits wouldn’t take on such lowly positions.
“We’re being flagged down,” Xavier announced.
Wynter felt as the jeep began to slow. She kept her breathing steady and remained still, her senses seeming hypersensitive courtesy of the adrenaline.
Unfurling from her ball, Delilah stood in front of Wynter, facing the trunk’s lid.
The vehicle came to a halt, and the engine switched off.
“State your business,” someone called out.
Wynter narrowed her eyes. She recognized that voice. It belonged to a werewolf who’d once regularly shared the bed of Wynter’s old Priestess. Truthfully, Tito was a bit of a prick. Hence why he and Esther had made such a good match.
“We’re here to cash in on the bounty,” Xavier declared. “We brought Wynter Dellavale.”
There was a distinct pause.
“Where is she?” asked Tito.
“In the trunk,” Xavier replied.
“You’re managing to keep a witch contained in a trunk?”
“She’s bound and gagged with magick. She’s not going anywhere or she’d have escaped by now.”
Another short silence. “Out of the vehicle. Both of you.”