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)
“I think there are some here who do believe that the Ancients are demons of some kind,” said Delilah.
Wynter frowned. “Well, they’re not.”
“We know that,” said Xavier. “We saw a glimpse of Cain’s monster, remember? Well, we saw its eyes—they were serpentine. Demon eyes are pure black.”
Rubbing at her arm, Wynter blew out a breath. “I just hope the residents here don’t respond negatively to hearing that there’s another Ancient in Devil’s Cradle.”
“It will come as a surprise to them for sure,” said Anabel. “And given how many dark rumors are attached to Abaddon’s name, there’s a good chance that people will be wary of him. But I don’t think they’ll find this a bad thing. Especially when having an additional Ancient fighting on their side in the upcoming battle will make all the difference.”
Xavier nodded. “I doubt people will line up to shake his hand, but I think they’ll accept his presence.”
Maybe, but . . . “They haven’t accepted Eve or the twins.”
“That’s different, they’re Aeons,” said Hattie.
Well, true.
“Where do you think Abaddon will live?” asked Delilah.
“No idea. He’ll probably build his own Keep after the battle is over.” Wynter suspected he’d stay with Cain in the interim, given that they were blood relatives, but it could be that he was close to another of the Ancients and would prefer to stay with them—she wasn’t yet sure. “Thank you all for not being upset that I didn’t tell you about Abaddon before today.”
Anabel waved that away. “Hey, I get it. The Ancients are a secretive bunch, so I’m sure there’s lots of things they don’t share. It was a no-brainer that Cain would trust you with some of that stuff but ask you to keep it to yourself.”
“I might like to know everything, being incredibly nosy and all, but I don’t expect you to tell us everything,” said Delilah.
Xavier leaned back in his seat, nodding. “Everyone has their secrets.”
“Especially couples,” added Hattie. “It’s a natural thing.”
A relieved breath slipped out of Wynter. Although she hadn’t expected her coven to bitchily vilify her for keeping secrets, she’d worried that they’d be hurt by it. She adored them for being so understanding.
Hiding things from people was something she’d been doing for so long that it was a little too easy for her these days. But when it came to her coven, Wynter didn’t like holding back important things from them. She didn’t like that she couldn’t be fully open with them about everything.
Just the same, she didn’t like withholding things from Cain. She hadn’t told him exactly what happened in the run-up to Abaddon rising from the hot spring. She’d let him believe that it was all Kali. Wynter really didn’t know how to tell Cain about her part in it. Or even if she should tell him.
Back in that grotto, she hadn’t expected that her actions would cause the sleeping Ancient to wake. Yes, she knew more of Kali’s plans now, but the deity had left some gaps; promising to fill them in “eventually”. Kali certainly hadn’t revealed Abaddon’s Resting place. Wynter hadn’t even so much as suspected that he would be Resting in the water. She’d thought he’d be in some kind of tomb somewhere.
“What’s wrong?” asked Delilah, snapping her out of her thoughts. “Something’s bothering you.”
Wynter felt her nose wrinkle. “I need to work through it in my head.”
“You don’t need to do it alone at all,” Delilah protested. “We’re your coven. We’re here for you. And nosy as hell, so please share.”
“Yeah,” said Xavier. “Also, it’ll make you a total hypocrite if you do that thing you used to do where you pull inward. You chew a chunk out of our asses when we do it.”
That was more because their idea of secrets tended to be things that could lead to issues for the coven, like selling dodgy potions for instance.
Anabel reached toward Wynter, setting her hand down on the table near hers. “Let us help you sort through whatever’s firing through your brain. We might be able to help.”
Wynter sighed. “What I tell you can’t leave this cottage.”
“You know better than to think we’d betray your confidence,” said Delilah.
Xavier leaned forward, planting his folded arms on the table. “Tell us.”
“Okay.” Wynter straightened her shoulders. “So, about Abaddon . . . I think I woke him. Or my monster did. Or we both did.”
Xavier cocked his head. “What do you mean?”
“The Ancients have been working at it for weeks, but they couldn’t manage to wake him,” Wynter explained. “Last night, I went sleepwalking again. As you know, Cain usually pulls me out of it. This time, he didn’t. I just snapped awake.” She licked her lips. “I was in Abaddon’s Resting place. Though I didn’t know it was his Resting place. Not at first.”
“The voice that comes to you in your sleep led you there?” asked Delilah.