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)
I look at Xavier and then Antonio and Theo, making sure they understand the gravity of the situation. Vaelrik is dangerous and the most powerful demon we’ve ever gone up against. If an entire coven couldn’t take him out, then there is no way we can.
“This demon is going to want revenge,” I continue. “Who do you think it’ll go after first? I’m not going to let it wipe out my entire family line.”
“It won’t,” Xavier tells me.
“Yes, it will,” I protest.
“Let it try.” Something dark and certain takes over his handsome face as he reaches for me. “It’ll have to get through me first.”
Chapter
Twenty-Five
“Ijust thought of something,” Antonio says. “This demon made the deal with you, knowing you were clueless about who you actually were. It’s banking on you not knowing the truth to be able to trick you. If it finds out that you now know it needs you to free it…I actually don’t know. But it won’t be good.”
“That’s a good point,” Devon agrees.
“Demons lie more than they don’t,” Antonio goes on. “They cheat and change the rules as they go. Blackwood blood is needed to use the key, but the demon doesn’t know you know the truth. It could easily trick you into thinking you weren’t the one who actually opened the door and the lesser-demons could get their hands on the key right after you unlock it,” he says rather quickly. “Does that ramble make sense?”
“It does,” I tell him. “And I know I need to play dumb. I have to be careful not to risk him knowing what I know.”
“This is a lot to keep track of,” Mabel says as she sets up for another tea party. We are in the parlor with her, trying to wrap our heads around everything I just told them. Xavier and Theo are back in his office, dealing with someone from the VC. The public is still freaked out from what happened, and the rumor mill is in full swing, perpetuating fear.
The two men who tried to carjack us last night turned out to be former gang members with outstanding warrants. Victoria from the VC was thrilled when she found out about it, being able to spin everything to make Xavier look like the hero I know he actually is.
The man with the broken wrist is on trial for some pretty gross crimes against women. I’m not sure what angle of Victoria is running with, but Xavier definitely looks like the hero this city deserves. I knew there was a lot of image control when it came to politics, I just never realized how involved it all was.
Or, if I’m being honest, how fake a lot of this is. It skeeves me out to think about other politicians being made to look like wonderful people when I know they’re not. That’s something I can worry about later, if ever at all. It is what it is, and I plan to stay as far away from politics as I possibly can, given the fact that I’m married to Xavier Malus.
Devon‘s phone rings. “It’s the Charlotte PD,” he says and leaves the room to answer it. Mabel gives Antonio and I another cupcake and then serves tea to all of her dolls. By the time she’s done, Devon comes back.
“They found your truck, Antonio.” By the look on his face, I know the truck isn’t in working condition.
“Where’d they find it?” Antonio asks. “I am kind of scared to hear the answer.”
“You should be,” Devon goes on. “Because they found it at the bottom of the lake. Someone reported suspicious tire tracks on the bank. “Your wallet and phone were recovered as well, but the SIM card was removed from your phone, which is why it was not traceable.”
Antonio sits up and runs his hand through his hair. It’s getting long, and I probably should remind him to get a haircut. Self-care isn’t high on a hunter’s priority list.
“They really went all-out like something bad happened to you,” I say, shaking my head. “I mean, something bad did happen, just not the narrative they want.”
“If they wanted to try to sell you becoming a vampire they should’ve tried harder,” Devon says. “Why would we get rid of your truck at a lake? That doesn’t make sense.”
“You’re right,” Antonio agrees. “It definitely wasn’t thought out. Which makes me wonder…” He picks up his empty cup of tea taking a fake sip to appease Mabel.
“I wonder, too,” I say, voicing what he doesn’t want to say out loud.
“Wonder what?” Mabel adds real sugar cubes to our empty cups.
“He wasn’t supposed to die,” I say bluntly. “They needed human blood to draw the sigil on the ground, but they didn’t need enough to drain someone. There is no reason to slash his wrist like a suicide victim.”