Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 134501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 538(@250wpm)___ 448(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 538(@250wpm)___ 448(@300wpm)
‘Sounds complex,’ Paisley said to her. ‘I prefer the simple things.’
Kage slid his sister a look. ‘It’s why you like yourself so much.’
At that, the twins began squabbling and bumping each other’s shoulder.
Ripper leaned into Emberlyn. ‘So they’re not close?’
His witch seemed surprised by the question. ‘Oh, they’re super close. You can’t tell?’
‘No. No, I can’t.’ Feeling eyes on him, he looked to his right . . . just as CeCe fast swerved her head to face the field. He inwardly sighed. He’d caught her staring several times, and it was getting annoying fast.
At least she was staying out of his – and, more importantly for him, Emberlyn’s – way. She’d also ceased spreading her stupid little ‘Ripper’s under a spell’ claims. Emberlyn had bewitched him for sure, but not in the literal sense – there was no magick involved.
Just then, he caught sight of Reena walking up the concrete steps. Her gaze clashed with that of Emberlyn, and the two women – what the fuck? – exchanged the most subtle chin tip.
He frowned. ‘Did you just greet Reena?’
Her shoulders stiffening, Emberlyn very slowly turned her head toward him. ‘You watch me far too closely.’ She didn’t sound too happy about it.
‘Why wouldn’t I? You’re mine. My scent on your skin says so. Now, what don’t I know?’ He leaned in, planting his palm on her thigh. ‘Talk to me.’
Sighing, she flicked a hand. Suddenly, all the sounds around them became muffled. He realized she’d formed a sort of magickal invisible bubble around them.
‘I had an interesting visit from Reena today. Relax,’ Emberlyn added when he tensed. ‘She didn’t harass me to give up the manor again. It wasn’t about that.’
‘Then what?’ he asked, leery.
‘She has a theory.’ Emberlyn licked at her ice cream just before it dripped onto her finger. ‘She believes that whoever buried curse jars on what’s now your land did it to foil her plans, not impact Millicent. Reena feels that she’s the main target. Lincoln may have been sent after me, but what happened to him has turned the clans against the coven, which weakens her standing.’
Ripper twisted his mouth, considering that. ‘She could be right. I automatically assumed that this was about you, since you have enemies. But maybe that’s what someone is counting on.’ Reena’s theory actually made a lot more sense, because targeting Emberlyn was nothing short of self-destructive.
Emberlyn took another lick of her ice cream. ‘Reena wanted a list of the coven members who came to me for the kind of spells and potions she’d deem amoral. She’s trying to identify who’s part of the faction. It is likely one of them – maybe even all of them – who’s behind this. To take so many risks, they must have a substantial goal in mind.’
‘Like becoming High Priestess.’
Emberlyn nodded. ‘That would be my guess.’ She paused as half the crowd erupted into cheers that barely overrode the whines and groans of the rivalling team’s fans. ‘Our cunning little culprit is pitting others against Reena. Now the coven feels unsafe. It wouldn’t be hard for one voice or a few to convince others to put pressure on her to step down. If that doesn’t work, they’ll try something else.’
‘Like what?’
‘When aiming to take over the coven, Reena thought of either challenging Millicent or trying to drive her out of Chilgrave to make a statement. She warned me that whoever wants her position could think of doing the same to me.’
Just the thought made anger scratch at his insides. Once, he’d looked at Emberlyn and wanted. Now? Oh, there was still plenty of ‘want’. But it was different. More.
He wanted to possess, protect, cosset, keep, hog her. And he did not fucking want other witches coming at her. She’d dealt with enough of that shit.
It pained him to say it, but . . . ‘Again, she could be right. Our culprit is cunning, like you said. But they’re not wise, or they wouldn’t have dragged you into this. They also wouldn’t have underestimated Reena’s willingness to do what’s necessary to keep her position, even if it meant consulting you.’ He paused. ‘So you two are allies now?’
‘Hell, no.’ Leaning down, Emberlyn plopped her ice-cream stick into the empty soda can on the floor between her feet. ‘I don’t trust Reena as far as I can throw her, nor do I have a modicum of respect for her. And I will never forgive her degree of inaction over the years. But I can still be objective here and concede that she made valid points. Plus, it’ll be good to let it seem as though she and I are on good terms. It’ll make any faction members nervous to see me and Reena seeming civil. If they’d aimed to come between us, they’ll realize they failed. I do like to highlight when the assholes from the coven fail at anything.’