Total pages in book: 203
Estimated words: 199654 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 998(@200wpm)___ 799(@250wpm)___ 666(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 199654 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 998(@200wpm)___ 799(@250wpm)___ 666(@300wpm)
My thoughts are heading into territory I don’t want to explore right now. I can’t or I don’t know how I’d handle the emotions. Instead, I think about Cicely, and hope she’s ecstatic. And I hope this means Jared Stone is joining the pack. It’s not cut and dried, by the way Grey hinted at problems, but lately it never is in our pack.
I don’t really know Jared, but I’ve heard he prefers to be a lone wolf. I can’t imagine how Cicely might feel about that. She can be a lone female at times but never for long. She’ll go off and do her own thing often, but she always comes back, craving pack.
I think about my parents, hoping things are better with Mom and Dad.
And I also ponder how much grief everyone will give me for coming over here and inserting myself into this situation.
I don’t linger on that for long because I hear noise that has me rushing to the front door. Jase’s bag and my bags are here by the door. Relief! My clothes, phone, my purse, and passport. And here’s Dani, climbing out of her rental car in the driveway.
I open the door as she climbs the stairs, assessing me visually. She grabs hold of both my hands and squeezes. “You okay?”
I shrug and laugh.
She frowns, obviously recognizing the bitterness of the laughter, and waits.
I finally say, “I have no clue. But I guess, physically. As for emotionally, that’s another story and let’s say I’m not ready to visit it.”
She gives me a warm look of compassion. I don’t know how witches’ minds work or a whole lot about Danica Young’s powers other than that she’s a healer, but I feel an energy from her right now that’s new. Maybe she’s tapping into her gifts to read me.
“Can you get him out of that shield, or will we need Aphra for that?”
“Aphra’s with Erica right now. Aphra’s a spell-writer, too, so they’ve got their heads together working out what can be done remotely. She’s unwilling to get anywhere near Alta and has to be cautious about the magic she uses as well as where it’s used or it could compromise the shield that keeps her hidden from her old coven.”
“Did you set me up?” I blatantly ask. “Take the artifacts and leave me with Jase on purpose?”
She looks contrite.
“Yeah, you did,” I say.
“There are things we influenced and things that happened without our influence, Bailey. I can’t get into details, but the Starling abduction was a surprise.”
“Erica said Jase might be in danger,” I state.
She gives me a soft expression, “You were eavesdropping and she wanted you to take action. We knew it was time but didn’t know about any danger component. We would never intentionally do anything to put either of you or anyone else in harm’s way.”
My face burns.
“Unless they deserve it,” she tacks on with a wink.
I sigh. “Well, Jase might deserve some consequences, though I don’t like that he’s been stuck in there all this time without the ability to eat, drink, go to the bathroom.”
“He’s all right,” she waves her hand dismissively. “He won’t feel bathroom urges while behind that protective shield, but he can’t stay in there indefinitely without ill effects.”
I want to be annoyed with the Young sisters, and if I’m honest, I guess I am. But I also know Erica wouldn’t do what she did without believing it’d all work out for the best. I can’t grasp how I feel about much right now. If I try, I’m liable to fall to pieces.
“There’s one of those green flowers in there with him, too, so that’s probably making him feel shitty.”
“It’d definitely contribute to making him feel shitty. I can’t get him out on my own, but step one will be to get that flower out. And if I can manage, it’ll mean we can get some food and water through the barrier for starters. I brought some supplies with me.” She lifts her shoulder, where she’s got a tote bag.
“Maybe I oughta take one of the remaining breath strips to put me in a bubble before you let him out,” I grumble.
She tilts her head. “You have more?”
“Two more,” I say.
She brightens. “Good news, then. If I can get the flower out it’ll mean I can get one of those in there for him to take. It’s a toggle switch. If he takes it, it’ll shut the barrier off.”
I feel relief, but then my shoulders slump and she notices.
“But first, talk to me about what you’re feeling right now.”
I thrust my hands into my hair. “My family and friends are going to shit all over me for what they’re probably calling a major fuckup in coming here and doing this. And even more than that… you probably know by now that Jase says I’m…” I let that hang because I find myself unable to say the words.