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)
The coven sat at the table, all now clean and chatting amongst themselves. Wynter only distantly noted them, though. Her attention was snagged by the tall, lean figure standing off to the side. Cain.
Azazel was also present, and he was focused on Anabel, who was currently demonstrating that it wasn’t possible for a person to lick their own elbow. The Ancient didn’t appear to know what to make of her. But then, most didn’t.
Wynter walked straight into Cain’s arms, humming in satisfaction when he curled them tight around her. “You’re here.”
“Just this moment arrived. I expected to find you in our chamber.” And he seemed so very confused that things hadn’t gone his way.
She felt her lips twitch. “What can I say? I like keeping you on your toes. I also badly needed one of Delilah’s nifty teas. My throat was raw from the storm. How’s yours?”
He gave her neck a soothing rub. “Fine. I wasn’t caught in the storm long, and I dealt with it quickly.”
Wynter licked her lips and then asked the question that had been gnawing at her. “Those people who were lying on the ground . . . were they dead?”
Cain’s expression turned dark. “Three were. The others were out cold.”
She closed her eyes. “Fuck. I really, really, really, really hate the Aeons. I’m guessing none were caught.”
“They fled too quickly,” he confirmed. “Adam would have ordered them to retreat once any Ancients intervened—he won’t want us eating into more of his numbers.”
Tough, because they’d be “eating” all of his people very soon. She refused to believe that the Ancients’ attempts to pierce the prison wouldn’t be successful.
Twisting in her chair, Hattie eyed Azazel from head to toe. “You strike me as a worldly man. Have you ever eaten hair pie? Apparently it’s an exotic delicacy of some kind.”
Oh, for the love of all that’s holy.
Azazel fought a smile and looked over at Cain, who was doing the same.
Wynter gave both Ancients a narrow-eyed “It’s not funny” look.
Delilah seemed to agree, since she’d ducked her head with a groan. Similarly, Anabel had shoved her face in her hands while cursing softly.
Xavier, on the other hand, chuckled like an idiot and then turned to Wynter. “See, this is what happens when we neglect to share important details with her.”
Sighing, Wynter tipped her chin toward the old woman and then told Xavier, “Take her aside and quietly explain before she presses Azazel for more info.”
Grinning, Xavier nodded, urged Hattie out of her seat, and then pulled her to the corner of the room.
Cain squeezed Wynter’s nape. “She’s an . . . interesting woman.”
Delilah snorted. “She’s a menace.”
“And completely shameless,” added Anabel. “Which I think is why she and Xavier are so in tune with each other—he’s no better.”
“I heard that,” he said as he and Hattie broke apart.
The old woman shuffled over to the table. “I can’t believe none of you told me the truth. I need to know about such slang. You know I don’t want to embarrass myself in front of George by looking clueless.”
Anabel’s nose wrinkled. “I hardly think he’s going to use that term, like, ever.”
“Perhaps not, but you still should’ve explained,” said Hattie. “It’s not like I would have fainted like some unworldly maiden. Though, yes, it’s disgusting that some people put pubic hairs in their pies.”
Anabel jerked. “That’s not what—Xavier!” She crossed to where he was bent over laughing and then tapped his forehead hard three times, ignoring his “ouch”. “Nothing up here but empty space I’ll swear it.”
He rubbed at the spot she’d poked. “That hurt.”
Azazel looked at Wynter. “No one can ever say that your coven isn’t entertaining.”
If one found “crazy” entertaining then, no, it could not be said.
Chapter Sixteen
Anabel clung to Wynter as they strode through the underground city’s forests. “I hate whatever that music is. It’s like the kind you hear in a horror movie when there’s a jump-scare coming up.”
Wynter had to admit, if only to herself, it was seriously creepy. As were the Halloween sound effects that could occasionally be heard. She patted Anabel’s hand. “We’re almost at the arena.”
“Whoever decorated this part of the woods went all out,” said a smiling Xavier.
Indeed they had. Lanterns and carved pumpkins lit the way to the arena, where the evening’s upcoming Halloween celebration was being held. Rubber bats hung from tree branches. Tombstones were positioned here and there. Stray bones were scattered around. Fake blood had been smeared on logs. Ghosts hung from bushes, fluttering with the breeze. Spiders were stuck to the large webs that stretched between tree branches. More, a haze fogged the air, courtesy of smoke machines.
Anabel jumped at the fake sound of an owl hooting. “My heart is not handling this well.”
Delilah cast her a look of annoyance. “Nothing is happening.”
Anabel’s brow furrowed. “But the music, the atmosphere, the—”