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)
Kage frowned at her. ‘No, you didn’t. You hoped it would.’
Paisley’s brow lazily lifted. ‘Is there much difference?’
‘Yes.’
Emberlyn’s heels clicked along the parquet flooring as they walked further inside. ‘I never thought I’d live here again. I thought Grams would stick with tradition and pass the place along to one of her children. It never occurred to me that she’d do anything different.’
‘She might have left it to either Gill or Dez if it weren’t for their plans to give it up,’ said Paisley, using her heel to smooth out a slight kink in the rug. ‘Speaking of those plans . . . Want me to come stay here with you for a few weeks?’
Surprised by the offer, Emberlyn tilted her head. ‘Stay here?’
‘You having this place has put a halt on many people’s plans,’ Paisley pointed out. ‘They’re likely gonna want you out of here. It might be better if you’re not alone.’
Touched, Emberlyn gently waved her offer away. ‘I’ll be fine.’ Plus, she didn’t want to drag her friend into this issue.
‘Uh, Em,’ Kage began, pointing at a sheet of paper that had been tacked to the grandfather clock. ‘You might want to take a look at this.’
Frowning, Emberlyn strode over to what turned out to be a letter. She recognized the handwriting as Millicent’s. It read,
Emberlyn, if you thought I wouldn’t know that the manor would choose you then you’re a fool. It’s meant to be yours. A disappointment or not, you’re currently the strongest of the Vautier line. And the manor should only ever belong to someone who will love, treasure and protect it.
I’m well aware you’ll now have some fires to put out, but you can handle it. Still, take what aid the wolf offers – it’ll make things run smoother.
P.S. They’ll answer to you now.
P. P. S. Do reconsider trading pieces of your soul for power – I promise you won’t miss them.
Emberlyn did a slow blink. ‘She knew. She wrote this note because she knew how things would play out. No, she maneuvered things into playing out this way.’
‘What did she mean “they’ll answer to you now”?’ asked Kage. ‘Who’s “they”?’
‘You don’t want to know,’ Emberlyn mumbled. ‘As for the wolf she mentioned . . . she’s talking about Ripper. She didn’t only leave the land to him so that Reena couldn’t have houses built on it, she did it so that I’d have an entire clan of werewolves for neighbors.’
Paisley nodded. ‘It makes you less vulnerable. It also means that anyone desperately wanting the land needs to go to him, not you.’
Kage bit his lip. ‘I can’t go as far as to say she loved you, Em. Sociopaths don’t experience love – and Millicent was a sociopath for sure. But she valued you in her way. And I think leaving you to Ripper was an attempt to protect you.’
Emberlyn frowned. ‘He’s not going to take that seriously.’ She wasn’t taking it seriously.
‘Of course he won’t,’ Kage agreed. ‘But your family might. That would be good because people are reluctant to do anything that might poke at Ripper.’
‘She’s dragged him into one hell of a messy situation,’ Emberlyn muttered. ‘I’m sure he’s thrilled about that part.’ Ripper wasn’t stupid; he’d surely see that Millicent had used him.
‘Going by how intent he seems on keeping the land, I don’t think he’ll hold it against her, so he shouldn’t give you problems,’ said Paisley.
‘Others will, though,’ Kage tacked on. ‘It doesn’t matter that all you have is the manor. Reena will still want it.’
Emberlyn nodded. It had once been Lilith’s home, and she’d weaved much of her magick into these walls. That made it a huge prize.
Kage rubbed at his nape. ‘If Millicent wanted you to have it, why didn’t she just leave it to you in her will?’
Emberlyn sighed. ‘Millicent never did things the easy way. Plus, she was all about making people “prove” themselves to themselves.’
‘The earrings were a lure, then,’ he said. ‘A way to ensure you tried to gain entrance to the manor. Leaving you the cat was extra insurance.’
‘Yup. I don’t think she wanted me to have the manor merely because I’m the strongest of our line. I think it was because she knew I wouldn’t sell it. She was resolute that Reena’s plans wouldn’t come to fruition. And she was mad enough with the rest of the family for being willing to sell it that she kidded each of them into thinking they’d be her sole heir and that I’d end up with nothing.’ Emberlyn sighed again. ‘She really put the “wicked” in “wicked witch”.’
Paisley snickered. ‘I always liked that about her.’
Funnily enough, so had Emberlyn. Millicent had been unashamedly herself, and there was something admirable about it.
Paisley clasped her hands together as if in prayer. ‘On a less serious note, can I take a look around? I’ve always been curious about this place.’