Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 87185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
“Just the last couple days.”
“And you didn’t think to tell me?” His brows go up and I hate that I might have accidentally hurt him by trying to protect him. I can’t stand here and say he had so much else going on that I didn’t want to add to it, and I don’t know how to make him understand I’m just not used to having someone to share the burden of my life with.
Not yet.
“I didn’t even know what to think about it,” I confess. “Or if I was really hearing the voice of just thinking I heard the voice. I’ve been a little stressed lately. We all have.” I close my eyes and exhale. “I can’t believe you spied on me!”
“I can’t believe you lied to me.”
“I lied because I knew you’d react like this.”
“React like this?” Xavier echoes. “Do you mean to react appropriately?”
I squeeze my eyes closed, feeling energy hum around me. I need to get it together, control my emotions before they control me. It’s the first step in keeping the demon out.
“I am sorry I lied. I shouldn’t have said I was going to get lunch with Delphi. That was wrong. I didn’t want to risk you stopping me from meeting with Marie. I really needed to talk to her and I’m glad I did because now I know what needs to be done to keep the demon from getting into my head as well as busting him out of supernatural prison so I can save my soul.”
“Supernatural prison? What are you talking about?” Xavier takes my hand, pulling me to him. We’re in the middle of the kitchen, with Theo leaning against the island counter, amused at this bickerment. I can see Antonio and Devon in the formal dining room, listening to everything that’s being said.
My stomach twists and I feel like throwing up my lunch.
“We wondered if it was all part of the plan. It was.” My voice is thin and a maelstrom of guilt and fear and anger threatens to pull me below the surface.
“What are you talking about, Wren?” Xavier asks, exasperation clear on his face. His fingers tighten around mine.
“Me,” I say, feeling like this might just be the straw that breaks the camel's back. “I’m talking about me and why the Order kidnapped me when I was a baby. We wondered if it was all part of the plan,” I repeat, knowing I’m not really making sense but my brain is having such a hard time comprehending what I just learned. I don’t know how else to say it.
I cast my eyes down, staring at the floor as I talk. “The plan all along was to crack open the door to the cell, not free the demon. That way, it was contained but accessible so they could use his power. But in order to do that, you needed a witch from the family who trapped him.”
I look up, blinking back tears, and just shake my head. “My family, the Blackwoods, were demon hunters. Some demons were too powerful to kill so they created pocket dimensions and locked demons inside.”
“A supernatural prison,” Antonio says as he comes into the kitchen, repeating my words from earlier.”
“Yes. Marie told me that each prison cell is sealed and only a witch from the bloodline of those who sealed it can open it.”
“Marcus Henry never intended on freeing Vaelrik,” Xavier says slowly. “He just wanted to use him.”
“Seems dangerous,” Antonio goes on. “Demons don’t like to be told what to do, let alone used.”
“He didn’t think he would ever be in danger,” I go on. “Because he held the key and even if he tried, he couldn’t unlock the door because he’s not a Blackwood.”
Xavier’s eyes meet mine and the anger is gone from his face. “He knew as long as he had it, the demon couldn’t escape.”
“Right,” I say. “That was the plan. It seemed like the ritual was incomplete, but it went perfectly according to his plan.”
“But then the demon offered you a deal,” Xavier finishes and I nod.
“I’m the only one who would set him free because I’m the only Blackwood who had no idea about any of this.” I turn as one tear rolls down my cheek. “In order to save myself, I have to free the demon my family locked up.” Slowly shaking my head back and forth, I look at Antonio. “Maybe you were right. Not that I shouldn’t have brought you back, but I will never regret that. Maybe you’re right to say it’s not worth freeing the demon.”
“Wren, don’t say that,” Xavier rushes out.
“That’s not what I meant at all,” Antonio tells us. “You shouldn’t have saved me, Wren, but you certainly need to save yourself. We’re gonna make sure of that.”
“I was going to find my family after this,” I start, tightly holding onto Xavier’s hand. “How am I supposed to find them and face them after I release a really dangerous demon into the world? I will have undone something my ancestors died doing.” I let go of Xavier’s hand and pull my arms around myself. “Someone had to stay behind to seal the pocket dimension from the inside. Their sacrifice will be in vain if I just open the door and let the demon free. They couldn’t kill him. An entire coven couldn’t kill him.”