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 blinked, seemingly taken off-guard by the abrupt change of subject. “Some of my things are here.”
“Only the bits and pieces you’ll need for staying overnight on a regular basis. I want you to officially move in with me. You said you would. We held off for a while to give you and your coven enough time to properly settle here. Well, they’re settled. So are you.”
“I know. And I’ll move into the Keep soon, I swear.”
“So you’ve repeatedly said. But you’re procrastinating.”
Wynter opened her mouth to object but it would have been a lie. Generally, she wasn’t one to procrastinate. Once she made a decision, she forged on ahead and made shit happen. But in this instance, she felt so torn. She wanted to move in with Cain, but . . . “My coven is still so new. The thought of moving out and leaving them alone like that still makes me feel like I’ll be neglecting them.”
“Most covens don’t live together in one house,” he patiently pointed out. Well, of course he was patient; he probably had no doubts that he wouldn’t get his way eventually.
“I dread what they’ll get up to without my supervision.” The four of them were mentally unstable in one way or another. Correction, in several ways. Sometimes, she was honestly wowed that they’d lived this long.
“You moving in here wouldn’t mean they’d be without your direct supervision. You’d see them as much as you do now, since you’ll still need to go to the cottage every day to work. Things won’t really be any different for you or for them than they are at the moment, except that you’ll hopefully agree to have dinner here more often rather than always eating with your coven at the cottage. I’d offer for them to move into the Keep so you’d have them close, but I doubt they’d accept.”
“They’d appreciate the offer, but they wouldn’t accept. They love that cottage. But thank you for being prepared to make the offer.” She dabbed a soft kiss on Cain’s decadently carnal—and it had to be said, highly skilled—mouth. “I’ll move my possessions here a little at a time, okay? The slow transition will make it easier.”
Releasing her hair, he dropped his hands to her hips and gave them a little squeeze. “For you or for them?” he teased, his mouth hitching up. “Is separation anxiety kicking in?”
She narrowed her eyes and poked his shoulder. “Hey, you try being responsible for four highly unhinged people and then tell me how simple it is to leave them unsupervised for long periods. I’m genuinely surprised that they haven’t gotten themselves executed yet.”
His smile widened. “I must admit, I share in that surprise.” He slipped his hands beneath the long tee she wore to cup her ass, his fingertips tracing the lacy edge of her black panties.
“Oh, and when I do fully move in here, you can’t complain about all the witchy stuff like crystals and plants that will be set around this ever so masculine room.” It wouldn’t look so masculine, then.
“Why would I complain about being surrounded by things that represent who and what you are?” He sobered. “Be honest. Are you reluctant to take this step? To live with me?”
She felt her brows snap together. “No, of course not. I’m sorry if I’ve made you feel that way. I’m not leery of taking any step with you. Surely the seal on my wrist proves that.”
He only twisted his mouth.
She fisted his shirt, giving him a severe stare. “I’m one hundred percent committed to you. To what we have.”
“I know that.”
She tilted her head. “You don’t look all that pleased about it.”
“I’m far more than pleased, I assure you.”
“Then why did you frown?”
He sighed. “Because my monster is jealous.”
She double-blinked, confused. “I’m sorry?”
“It wants you to be just as committed to it as you are to me. That sounds petulant, I suppose, but my creature is very attached to you.”
Wynter figured she should probably find that disconcerting, given how very nightmarish his creature was. Instead, she was kind of touched. Well, she was weird like that.
She bit her lip. “Okay. Well. I don’t want it to feel left out. Or jealous. But I don’t see what I can do to make it feel better.”
He let out a low hum. “There is something you could do.”
Something about his tone made her skin prickle. “What?”
“My creature wants to bind itself to you.”
Wynter felt her nose wrinkle. “That sounds very . . . permanent.” A memory tickled her. “You mentioned something about this before. You said it would be a way to stop me from aging but that it would be too dangerous for me.”
“A mortal wouldn’t have survived my creature’s bite. That doesn’t apply to you anymore.” His gaze sharpened. “And the binding would be permanent. Everything about us is permanent.”