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 snorted. “I doubt you have to worry about people thinking to take over the place or anything.” On the way to Devil’s Cradle, she’d questioned many of the people she’d come across about the Ancients. All had demonstrated a healthy dose of fear when they spoke of them.
“Probably not,” said Cain. “But it’s still best to take precautions.”
That she could agree with. “I’m sorry you didn’t manage to wake Abaddon.”
He shrugged. “I wasn’t expecting it to be so easy. I just hope it doesn’t prove to be impossible. The other Ancients and I have had two things on our mind for an eternally long time—vengeance and freedom. We’re so close to finally gaining both. If everything fell apart now, I don’t think they would all mentally cope.
“I think it would be too much for some, particularly Ishtar. They’d snap, and another Ancient would have to kill them. It would be sad if, after we’ve managed to stick together for so long, we suddenly turned on each other as the Aeons had always meant for us to do.”
It would be a sad ending for sure. And it would not only mean that the Aeons had won after all, it would mean that the Ancients had held out this long for nothing. Worse, it could even mean that Cain and Seth turned on each other. The thought made her stomach twist.
Cain had already killed one of his brothers—there was no love lost between him and Abel, no, but finding yourself in a position where you had to kill your own sibling or die was still nothing other than plain shitty. He cared for Seth, though. To lose their closeness would destroy something in Cain for certain. And as she took in his expression, she could sense that he was imagining just how hard it would be. “I’d come hug you but I’m all gross right now.”
A hint of warmth slid into his eyes. He held out his hand. “Shower. Then I need to fuck you; remind myself that you’re safe and well here with me.”
She smiled and slipped her hand into his. “Best plan ever.”
Chapter Eight
As they headed toward the plaza, Anabel sighed at Xavier. “Are you going to wear that stupid grin all evening?”
The aforementioned grin didn’t shrink in the slightest as he said, “Why wouldn’t I? It’s been a relaxing, beautiful day from start to, well, now.”
“And you’re enjoying that Stewart just snubbed you again,” guessed Wynter. It had been a few days since she’d had to sic her monster on the Oasis Coven, but the Beta lycan still appeared to be in a funk over how he’d found himself holding Missy’s head, which delighted Xavier to no end.
He slipped his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “What can I say? I’m all about payback. The bitchier it is, the better. Who would’ve thought a lycan would freak out so much over such a small thing? It’s not as if they ain’t used to blood and violence. God, it was so cool when he retched.”
“Small thing?” Snorting, Anabel cast Xavier a sideways glance. “I think most people would be weirded out if they realized they’d just caught the head of a corpse—especially the head of someone they know. It was pretty mean of you to toss it at him, if you ask me.”
“He was mean first,” Xavier pointed out. “I was merely acting as a conduit for karma. Del does it all the time. There’s something very satisfying about it.”
Smiling, Delilah nodded. “Right?”
“Right. It made me feel all warm inside.”
Delilah gently nudged him. “You should do it more often. Make it a new habit. Let it replace the whole chronic lying thing. Reinvent yourself.”
His brow creased. “But I like the ‘me’ I am now.”
“Dear God, why?”
“Hey.” Xavier slapped a hand over his chest. “That hurt, you know.”
“And now you’re lying again.”
“It brings me joy and comfort. Don’t you want me to be happy?”
“Fuck, no. You make me crazy.”
Feeling her lips twitch, Wynter shook her head. As the two went on to squabble, she once more scanned her surroundings. A week had gone by since Adam called for her and Cain to surrender themselves to him. There had been no other attempts to snatch her, but she wasn’t relaxing her guard. Nor were her coven, which was why they had all insisted on coming along for the shopping trip to grab essentials and work supplies.
There was no countdown-to-Halloween celebration tonight—that would come tomorrow. But there were still plenty of people out and about on the surface of Devil’s Cradle. Honestly, it seemed to never sleep.
Residents still often glanced her way, just as they were doing now. But the looks they cast her tended to be quite different from before the street party incident. Some were assessing. Some were respectful. Some were fearful.