Total pages in book: 194
Estimated words: 187021 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 935(@200wpm)___ 748(@250wpm)___ 623(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 187021 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 935(@200wpm)___ 748(@250wpm)___ 623(@300wpm)
Maura choked on that, as if it still hurt to think about.
“I know Graves isn’t forthright with information, and he might tell us to fuck off, but we’re down to our last resort…”
“I can ask him,” Kierse agreed easily.
But she had never heard of a cure for an incubus curse. It was like a vampire draining your blood or a wraith feeding off your soul. An incubus and succubus worked in a pair to drain energy through sex. Once they drained you, the only children you could have were theirs…if you survived. And most didn’t. They were monsters for a reason.
“Thanks,” Maura said with a sigh. “I hate to bring the mood down.”
“No, of course not, Maura. I’m happy to help, if I can.”
“Okay,” she said, wiping at her eyes. “I’m going to go pass out. Night shifts suck.”
She kissed Nate’s cheek and pulled Kierse in for another hug. “The invite goes for Gen and Ethan, too,” Maura said. “And a plus-one. In case you want to bring a certain hot, dangerous warlock.”
Kierse held her tighter. “I love you, Maura.”
“Love you, too, baby girl.”
Then Maura was gone, and when Kierse turned around, Nate’s face fell.
“Do you think he’ll help us? I know that’s not his MO.”
“I don’t know what he’ll do, but it won’t do any harm to ask.”
“Thanks. Yeah. We’ve gone through so many dead ends. What’s one more?”
“I hate this for you. I know that you’d make great parents.”
He shook his head, still clearly wrung out from the full moon. “At least she’s finally agreed to a wedding. If we can’t have kids, then we can’t have kids. I still love that amazing woman and want her in my life forever.”
“I know you do. I’ll be there.”
“There’s an engagement party, too. We’re figuring out the details. I’ll send more when I know.” Nate’s smile was full of affection. “It’s good to see you. You know that you’re family and always will be.”
“Yeah. Of course,” she said easily and meant it.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Kierse hightailed it back across town, making it back into Graves’s brownstone before she was even missed. She found Laz seated at the breakfast table with Gen. His plate was full of some sort of bread pudding delicacy—Kierse didn’t know the name, but it was one of Isolde’s specialties—and enough fruit to feed a small nation. He was speaking on his phone as Kierse popped a few raspberries in her mouth before taking a scoop of the bread pudding and a glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice.
“Yes. Sure. Got it. I’ll let him know.” Laz mouthed a silent good morning at Kierse as she took a seat. “When do you think that’ll be?” A cleared throat. “Sure. I’ll tell the boss. See you then.” He hung up and flung the phone down. His smile was all teeth. “Bastard is finally fucking here.”
Gen’s eyebrows rose. “Who?”
“Schwartz,” Laz said.
“Oh, good,” Kierse said.
Graves had said that they were waiting to make their move until Schwartz was in place. She didn’t know exactly what that meant yet, but she also knew that Graves divulged just enough information before he had all the facts. She’d know the whole picture once he also had it. Probably.
“You were up early,” Gen said.
“I got up to see Nate. Last night was the last full moon of this cycle.”
“Eesh,” she muttered. “How was he?”
“Rough. I saw Ronan, too,” she said with a wink. “Think he’d be interested in seeing you.”
Gen flushed. “Well, yeah, I mean…”
Kierse let her flounder for a second before giving her an out. “Nate gave me this, though.” She tossed the wedding invitation across the kitchen island.
“Oh my God!” Gen cried. “A wedding! And so soon!”
“So it seems.”
“Is Maura pregnant?”
“He said no,” Kierse said with a pang of worry for them. She wanted to tell Gen what they’d confided, but it wasn’t her secret to tell. “Also they’re having an engagement party and will get details out soon.”
Gen was beaming with delight. “I’m so happy for them.”
Graves stepped into the room at that moment. “Got your text. Schwartz messaged me as well. Meeting in the library in twenty.”
“Sir,” Laz said with a little salute.
Kierse nodded. His eyes slid over her, catching on her lips. She centered herself around the way that one look made her feel.
“I need to talk to you,” Kierse told him.
He arched an eyebrow. “Should I be concerned?”
“It’s a favor.”
That made his entire expression shift to intrigued. “Color me interested.”
Gen looked between them. “Um…am I invited to the meeting?”
Graves spared her a glance. “Sure.”
And that was that. Gen headed upstairs while Kierse and Graves waited to be alone.
“A favor now, Wren? Don’t you have to trust someone for that?”
She rolled her eyes. “It’s not for me.”
“I’m all ears.”
“Do you know a cure for the incubus curse?”
Graves’s eyes widened. “I’m glad that you started by clarifying it wasn’t a favor for you. Who is this favor for?”