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)
Mabel elbows me and turns. “See, I told you he doesn’t hate you.”
I just smile and shake my head. “I’m going to go outside and call Xavier.”
“I’ll come with you,” Delphi says.
“So will I.” Theo smooths out his shirt and gets to his feet, motioning for me to go ahead of him. I pull my phone from my purse as I walk outside, noticing for the first time that Delphi is barefoot. We’re in town, and it’s a beautiful summer night. There are a lot of people walking about. I cross the street as I call Xavier, finding a quiet spot under a tree in the grassy area that divides the street.
“Wren,” he answers on the second ring. “Is everything all right?”
“TBD on that. How far are you from Huntersville?”
“Half an hour, what’s going on?”
“Are you somewhere safe to talk?” I ask, knowing any vampire around him would be able to hear our conversation.
“Yes. What is going on, Wren?”
“The wolves are mad. Delphi showed up at the bar and said two kids in their pack overdosed and died and supposedly a vampire sold them the drugs. They’re all mad and suspect you. Larkin needs me to tell them what I told her last night to try and keep them from attacking. I have a really strong feeling that I should go.”
“Where are you going?”
“Delphi’s house. She said she’s nearby.”
“She is,” Xavier replies. “I’ll be there in twenty minutes. Do not go anywhere, Wren.”
“You said you’re half an hour away.”
“I’ll drive fast.”
“Don’t get in an accident.”
“I’ll survive,” he says.
“A human you hit won’t. What if we don’t have twenty minutes? I can do things on my own. I’m capable.”
“I know you are. This isn’t just about your safety. It’s about politics. We need to be united. It’s the whole reason I—” He cuts off, but I know what he was going to say, and the words make my heart skip a beat. It’s the whole reason I married you. It’s not a surprise. It’s a fact. Neither one of us knew each other at all when we signed those marriage papers. As Theo pointed out, we haven’t known each other long, and the thought that maybe I’m falling for Xavier but he’s not falling for me terrifies me.
Having my heart broken again is scarier than any demon or any werewolf-vampire war. Logically, it doesn’t make sense. Yet it doesn’t cause the sting of rejection any less.
“Yeah, I get it,” I snap and let out a huff. “We need to keep up appearances because that’s all that matters.”
“Wren,” he says, deep voice rattling through the phone. “You know you matter to me. Right now, I need you to listen. I’m already on my way and will meet you at the entrance to the neighborhood.”
“Okay,” I say, not wanting to argue. “I’ll see you soon.” I end the call and close my eyes for a few seconds, wishing I had one of my brothers here to discuss this with. I hate being told what to do almost as much as I hate being underestimated. While I understand the politics, it doesn’t make me like it.
Yes, this could end very badly for me. I can hold my own, but taking out a pack of wolves would be rather difficult, to say the least. But more than anything, I don’t want to waste time we might not have just so it doesn’t look like Xavier sent his wife to do his bidding. If we make it out unscathed tonight, I will argue that dividing and conquering is just as powerful of a move as walking in together.
“What did my brother say?” Theo asks when I go back to the sidewalk where he, Zeke, Mabel and Delphi are standing.
“He wants me to wait so we can go together,” I answer.
“That’s a terrible idea,” Delphi says. “The pack already blames him. If he shows up, it’ll anger everyone even more. And they’re much less likely to believe anything you do with him next to you. He could have told you exactly what to say.”
“Witches can’t be held spellbound,” I tell her. “Which is probably something else I’d have to convince them of because judging by the look on your face that wasn’t common knowledge among other supes.”
“No, I had no idea. Cool. And unfair. Also, why?”
“I don’t know,” I answer with a shrug. “But I agree with you.”
“The pack will not meet with vampires,” Delphi says, looking at Theo. “Wren is the best chance we have to keep things from escalating.” She brings her hands together, pleading. “It wouldn’t stop at our pack. If we make a move against you, everyone in the coalition will know why. Xavier will be blamed for breaking a rule he put into place.”
“Zeke,” I say before Theo has a chance to respond. “Remember how you said you owe me?”