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)
Those shadows trickled out of the house, at which point Reena could make out several short, skeletal, grotesque creatures. The security lights poured down on them, illuminating their deep-red skin, black twisting horns, yellow eyes, bulbous noses, oversized ears, stinger-topped tails and bat-like wings.
Reena gaped, weakly scrambling backwards. What in the fresh hell?
‘Just so you know,’ Emberlyn added, again casual, ‘you didn’t hammer the shield down. I lowered it. This seemed a good a time as any to finally get rid of you all. I have to say, I’m going to enjoy it.’
Penelope spat a curse. ‘Now!’
The Rabid were released.
The crows swooped down.
The creatures shot through the air like bullets.
The faction released streams of borrowed magick.
Emberlyn threw up her palms, slamming up an invisible shield that swallowed the power, causing every faction member to gasp in alarm. Smiling, she thrust her palms forward, emitting glittering rivulets of magick that turned into hundreds of black and silver and teal-blue locusts. ‘Now let’s have some fun, shall we?’
Stood inside his aunt’s diner, Ripper swept a glare over the ten bloody and bruised werewolves lined up in front of him. The last thing he’d expected to find was that the disturbance was caused by members of his own clan; people who would normally respect and protect Yvette and her property. Yet, they’d been practically piled on top of each other as fists swung and feet kicked.
More, they hadn’t paid any attention to Crew or Logan when ordered to break up the fight. No amount of shouting at them or trying to pull them away from the pile-on had been successful. As if the wolves had been caught up in some kind of bloodthirsty frenzy.
Ripper’s command for them to stop had sliced through it, causing the wolves to back off. But they hadn’t said a single word since, too busy panting and blinking, seeming confused and disoriented.
‘What in the fuck possessed you to do this?’ he demanded.
The wolves exchanged sheepish looks, shuffling their feet or holding themselves unnaturally still.
Ripper felt his jaw tighten. ‘Somebody needs to answer my question,’ he bit off.
Neal snapped up his head and pointed at Caspian. ‘He started it,’ he proclaimed in a whiny tattle-tale voice. ‘He shoved me.’
Ripper cut his gaze to Caspian, surprised. This particular werewolf could fight, but he wasn’t the type to cause trouble, only to end it. ‘Why?’
Rubbing at his nape, Caspian raised his shoulders. ‘Someone told me that I should shove him. And I thought . . . “Yeah, yeah, I really should.”’ He frowned, blinking hard. ‘Which makes no sense now, but it did then.’
‘Who told you that?’ Ripper asked him, narrowing his eyes.
Caspian’s frown deepened. ‘I don’t know. I can’t remember. I don’t remember what their voice sounded like, either. I just remember what they said.’
Kerr looked from Neal to Caspian. ‘When you two started brawling, someone told me that I should join in. At that moment, it honestly felt like a natural thing to do. So I did. I can’t recall if the voice was male or female.’
The other wolves also claimed to have heard a voice.
Logan sidled up to Ripper. ‘I’m thinking a witch – or more than one – sparked this off somehow.’
Ripper’s thoughts exactly. ‘There aren’t any witches here, though.’
‘They could have left fast,’ said Logan. ‘Why would they want to cause a scene, though?’
‘And why do it at Yvette’s diner, of all places?’ asked Crew, stood on Ripper’s other side. ‘It’s a surefire way to piss you off and ensure that you find out who is responsible.’
‘I suppose it could be revenge for how you went knocking on the doors of the witches who confronted Emberlyn,’ Kerr mused.
Ripper stiffened. ‘Emberlyn,’ he said under his breath, his scalp prickling with suspicion. He stalked straight to the counter and slapped his palms on it. ‘I need to use your phone,’ he told Yvette, his stomach hardening as a sense of urgency began to ride him.
His aunt hurried off and quickly returned with the cordless phone.
He punched in Emberlyn’s number and held the phone to his ear. It rang. And rang. And rang. And rang. Nothing. He hung up. Tried again. Still nothing.
Ripper swore. ‘She’s not answering.’ He set the phone down on the counter as he realized. ‘Bait. This scene here was bait to draw me away from her. Fuck.’
He rushed out of the diner, aware of Kerr and Logan hot on his heels, and practically jumped into his truck.
Yvette appeared at Ripper’s open window just as he switched on the engine. ‘Don’t panic, your witch is strong. I’ve heard about a lot of the things she’s been able to do. Only one other witch had that ease with magick.’
‘Millicent.’
Yvette shook her head. ‘Lilith.’
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
With a roar worthy of a highlander, Ward batted at the locusts surrounding him and pinned Emberlyn with a glare. He thrust out his palm and a gleaming wave of magick came sailing toward her at super speed. It slapped her face like a hot hand, making her flesh sting and throb.