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)
Who wouldn’t?
Emberlyn chanted, communicating directly with the goblins; redirecting their attention solely to the Rabid so that Ripper could have his fun.
Ward struggled to his feet, looking as though he’d make a run for it, but Ripper had recovered fast from his shocked state and was stripping at lightning-fast speed. He ran right at Ward, shifting shape as he lunged. Then a huge mass of dark-furred muscle landed on the male witch.
Ward fell to the ground, smacking his head hard. His limbs flailing, he screamed. And screamed and screamed and screamed – the sounds joined the growls, snarls and roars of the wolf savaging his body with teeth and claws.
Emberlyn felt her lips tip up. Maybe she should have felt disturbed rather than satisfied, but Ward had it coming. Not just for what he’d done to her, but for all he was guilty of as part of the faction.
She looked at Reena, finding the woman’s face a hard mask. There was grief there, but also a sense of . . . not quite satisfaction, but a cold justice.
Ripper kept on brutalizing Ward. He tore off strips of his skin. Bit out chunks of flesh. Raked his claws deep into Ward’s stomach. Hauled out his intestines. Closed his jaws around Ward’s nose and ripped it clean off his face.
Well, fuck.
Ward’s cries grew weaker and weaker, until they turned into whimpers and gurgles. Then finally his body slumped, the sounds cutting off altogether.
Emberlyn glanced up to see the other werewolves hanging back, hesitant to get close. Not fearful of their Alpha, just conscious that coming near her could be misinterpreted as a threat while he was in that enraged state.
Ripper raced to her, still in his wolf form.
Squatting, she stroked his fur, carefully avoiding his bloodied muzzle. As his body started reshaping itself, she rose to her feet. Moments later, she had a naked Ripper wrapped tight around her, drinking in her scent.
‘Fuck, baby,’ he said, his voice guttural with worry, relief and anger. ‘What the hell happened here?’
She licked her lips. ‘I’ll give you the rundown in a moment. First, I need to do something real quick so the Rabid can be subdued.’ She chanted, letting out a rope of magick that turned into hundreds of moths. The moths zoomed around and zigzagged between the goblins, distracting them.
Trying to grab at the flying insects, the creatures followed them up the path.
She released another wave of magick, putting the Rabid to sleep. Once they’d slumped to the ground, the crows flew up to the sky and scattered. The other werewolves wasted no time subduing the Rabid with zip ties.
Frowning at the goblins, Ripper jerked his head back. ‘What the fuck are they?’
‘My friends,’ she prevaricated.
His brows flew up. ‘Your what?’
Ignoring that, Emberlyn led the way as she directed the moths through the manor. Giggling, goblins either skipped or skittered or flew as they followed. She walked into the kitchen, where she opened the door to the basement. ‘Your aid was appreciated.’ Once they’d pursued the moths down the steps, descending into the shadows, she closed the door and turned to Ripper. ‘Are you all right? Ward didn’t hurt you?’
He did a long blink. ‘You have demons in the basement?’
She almost laughed at the shocking absurdity of his statement. ‘They’re not demons.’
‘No?’
‘No,’ she assured him with a flap of her hand. ‘They’re just red goblins. More particularly, they’re attendants of the Blood God.’
His brows snapped together. ‘Attendants of the what?’
‘They’re creatures from another realm. They feed off malice, revenge, cruelty, pain. They worship and serve the Blood God, a pure evil deity who – in terms of appearance – is a much bigger version of them.’ She paused as she took in his expression. ‘This isn’t making you feel better, is it?’
‘No. Not at all.’ He planted his fists on his hips. ‘How did they even end up in your basement?’
‘Millicent opened a portal for them after making a pact with their deity.’
‘What kind of pact?’
Emberlyn shrugged. ‘She didn’t tell me the terms, which means she thought I wouldn’t approve and she didn’t want to hear me lecture her. I just know that his attendants will come to the aid of her or her descendants if bidden. They – probably because she practiced so much blood magick down there – like to hang in the basement sometimes.’
He shook his head, incredulous. ‘And this doesn’t bother you? You never worried that they’d harm you? You never thought to mention it to me?’
‘No need to get hysterical.’
His brows flew up again. ‘Hysterical? This isn’t me being hysterical, baby. This is me being freaked the fuck out.’
‘So, for future reference, when you’re freaked the hell out, you turn hysterical?’ Because right now, he was both.
He scraped a hand down his face. ‘That’s it. I’m done with this conversation.’