Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
“They’re traditionalists. They like hunters pairing off with hunters.”
“I am a hunter.”
“You know what I mean. You’re a witch.”
“But I’m still a hunter.”
“I know, babe.” Ryder kisses me and all my worries go away. I love him so much and have never let myself fall this hard for anyone—ever. He hasn’t let me down yet… I have no reason to doubt him when he promises it’ll be okay.
“Your dad won’t be happy, but trust me, once he gets to know me, he’ll like me.” I smile. “I’m rather likable.”
“That you are.” He kisses me again and warmth flows through me. I want him so much right now.
“Hey, love birds!” Leo yells from several yards away. “Hand check!”
Ryder and I both laugh and begrudgingly tear apart as Leo and Antonio come over. Larissa and two other hunters stand on the grass behind them.
“We just got our hotel assignments,” Antonio says. “I’m guessing you two are going to want some alone time?”
“At least ten minutes,” I joke.
“He can last ten minutes?” Antonio teases.
“Hey, we maybe need three,” Ryder goes on and we all laugh. After kissing me one more time, Ryder gets up and helps me to my feet. He takes his time brushing sand off my butt, wiggling his eyebrows at me as he spins me around to brush sand off my front.
I get into the passenger seat of Ryder’s truck. Luckily, his backseat is full of weapons, so it’s just the two of us. I scroll through his playlist until I find a song I like. He reaches across the center console and takes my hand.
“How do you want to be proposed to?” he asks, and I can’t help but smile. “Do you want something big and flashy?”
“No, please, no. I just want it to be the two of us.” I squeeze his hand. “And I want a lab-grown diamond.”
“Really?”
“Really. The diamond industry is a scam, you know. Diamonds aren’t rare or scarce. Total scam.”
“Well, I like that.” He kisses the back of my hand again. “What kind of ring do you want?”
“Now, that can be big and flashy,” I say, wrinkling my nose as I flash a toothy smile.
“Really?” he asks again.
“Yeah. I want people to know I’m engaged before they have to get too close.”
Ryder laughs. “I’ll see what I can do then.”
“You really need to tell your parents you have a girlfriend before I show up with a ring on my finger.”
“I know,” he says with a nod. “When we get back to Asheville, I will.”
“Will you really?” I raise my eyebrows. It’s not the first time he’s told me he was going to tell them. Usually it’s followed by some sort of excuse that’s hard to buy: they just got back from a trip, someone isn’t feeling well, he sat down and played a card game with his two brothers and the ‘right time’ just didn’t come up.
“I will.”
“Good.” I smile and circle my thumb over the back of his hand. “Because we can’t go forward with stuff until they know.”
“You’re right. Don’t worry, babe.” We drive for a few minutes in silence and I can’t stop thinking about how perfect things are right now. He wants to propose! He asked me about rings! “Maybe we can take a year off.”
“From hunting?”
“Yeah. Or just do our own thing. It would be nice to stay in one place for a while.”
“Seriously. And decorate a house,” I say.
“And a kid’s room someday.”
We’ve had the vague I want a family talk, but nothing ever too serious. “We would have a cute kid,” I tell him.
“I hope it will look like you. Or at least have your eyes.”
“Green eyes are superior,” I joke. “If it’s a boy, I hope he looks just like you.”
“But with your eyes.”
I part my lips, almost afraid to say it but then I tighten my grip on Ryder’s hand. “What if we do have a kid and, uh, it has powers? Powers like I do.”
“Honestly,” he starts and I hold my breath. “I hope our kids do. Using magic is badass. I would be lying if I said every single Order member who sees you in action isn’t jealous. Just look at Liss.”
“You’re right,” I say with a snort of laughter. “Things would have been a lot easier tonight if I could have hit the demons with a blast of energy.”
“It’s so hot watching you take out demons with magic.”
I look at Ryder as he talks and for half a second, his expression doesn’t match what he’s saying. Then he squeezes my hand and smiles at me, putting my unease to rest.
“What about your parents?”
“What about them?”
I raise my eyebrows. “Would they be okay with a grandchild who has powers? And even saying it like that…” I bite my lip.. “It lessens the blow of saying witch.”