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 was glad that the vehicles were kept inside the warehouse, or she had the feeling that they would be flipping over and skidding along the pavement.
No one moved. No one spoke. They could only stand and watch the storm reign, a little shaken by the show of power that—
A shimmering blast clashed hard into the wind. Rolled around it. Engulfed it somehow. And, soon enough, the gust calmed as the hailstones became locusts.
Cain.
The swarm of insects gathered in a tornado-like swirl that grew and grew and grew . . . only to then zoom away and disappear over the mountains.
Wynter blew out a relieved breath. The howling wind and hailstones were gone. It was over. Thank God. If the storm had gone on much longer, it might have damaged the utility structures and possibly knocked out the town’s power.
“Come on,” Wynter said to her coven before pulling open the door. She stepped outside, snow crunching beneath her shoes, and looked around. God, it was like a blanket of white covered the town, weighing down trees, layering rooftops, and carpeting the roads and sidewalks. People would need to dig out some salt and shovels for sure.
She had the fleeting thought that this same damage would have been done during the battles if the Ancients weren’t so tip-fucking-top at countering the Aeons’ strikes.
Now that the temperature was no longer so bitterly low, the snow and pellets would likely thaw fast. But a slight chill still lingered in the air courtesy of the white coating that fell over the town.
The clouds had cleared, and the moonlight danced over the snow. She might have found it pretty if she wasn’t so pissed right now. She was no longer freezing, but she was wet and cold and wanted to peel off Adam’s flesh like an orange. While he was alive. And howling in agony.
Wynter turned toward the manor, and there stood Cain on the roof with Seth and Dantalion. The other Ancients began to gather behind them, seemingly too late to be of any assistance.
Xavier scratched his temple. “That was a lot of elemental power. But Adam could have done way worse than that, right?”
Wynter nodded. “He must have sent other Aeons to issue this ‘punishment’ on his behalf.”
“What kind of damage should we expect him to do if he does ever come here personally?”
“We should expect him to destroy every last inch of Devil’s Cradle. My opinion? He’d stand for nothing less.”
*
Ishtar strolled along the roof, sweeping her gaze over the sight below. “A blizzard. Pfft. Far from creative.”
“The Aeons aren’t going for ‘creative’,” said Cain. “They’re going for ‘destructive’.”
She flicked her hair over her shoulder. “There was no follow-up after you retaliated. The Aeons responsible must have let loose a little power and then fled.”
“One of our scouts caught sight of them before they struck.” If any of the creatures here were able to take on Aeons, Cain would have ordered for them to take the bastards out or at least attempt to capture them. Instead, all he could ask of the scouts was that they report the Aeons’ arrival immediately.
“I will have some of my aides assess the level of damage,” said Dantalion.
“I don’t see any sign of fatalities,” said Lilith.
“No, nor I,” added Inanna.
Ishtar fired a tight smile at Cain. “It appears that your witch and her coven are fine.”
Yes, Cain had noticed. He was relieved even as he was furious that she’d been subjected to the wrath of the blizzard in the first place.
Azazel grinned at Ishtar. “I’m sure that fills you with so much delight you almost can’t take it.”
She shot him a droll look.
“I doubt the Aeons are still close, but we should probably have the scouts confirm it before we step down from here,” hedged Seth.
So that was what they did.
By the time they’d received their confirmation that the Aeons were gone, Wynter and her coven had disappeared into the manor and, Cain assumed, to the underground city. When he returned to his Keep, he was informed by one of his aides that she was “home”, and the simple word made a smile build inside him.
The moment he stepped inside his chamber, Cain heard the shower running. He padded into the attached bathroom, noting the damp clothes that were piled beside the stall. His consort stood inside it, but he couldn’t see much of her due to the steam.
He stripped off his own clothes—they weren’t quite as wet as hers, but they were still uncomfortably damp—and joined her in the shower.
She squealed when he cupped her hips from behind. “Christ, your hands are freezing.”
Chuckling, he pulled her back against him, which elicited another squeal from her.
“Let me go, asshole!”
He licked a line up her throat. “But this is far more fun.”
She bitched at him right up until his hands were warm, at which point she allowed him to soap her down . . . which quickly turned sexual, so it wasn’t long before he was fucking her against the tiled wall.