Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
“You could seek vengeance.”
“It wouldn’t bring them back,” I reply with a shrug.
“No, it wouldn’t.”
I twist, hand landing on Xavier’s thigh. “I do want to know something, though.”
“What is it?”
“Vivian and Marco were following orders. I want to know who gave that order. Who sought out my family and decided I was the witch they wanted to use for their science experiments.”
“And then get revenge?” he asks, obviously hopeful he can help me tear Order members limb from limb.
“Yes, but I want to do it my way. They messed with a witch, they should suffer by witchcraft. I want to curse them.”
“I’m so glad you’re home,” Mabel says, running a brush through my hair. “And everything is back to normal.”
“Yeah,” I say, not wanting to burst her bubble. Xavier and I got back only an hour ago, and Mabel is filming a get ready with me video for her TikTok account. She got invited to a new bar in Huntersville that serves bottled blood. She and Zeke are going, and she wants me to tag along since the owner of the bar offered free drinks and food for a human companion. For someone who technically died a century ago, she was born to be an influencer.
“Tonight is going to be so fun!” She moves her phone to record another angle and styles my hair before shooting another angle for the transition. “Perfect. I’ll edit this one tomorrow.”
“Hey, I look good,” I compliment her work as I look myself over in the mirror. “Good job.”
“It’s easy to make you look good. You’re pretty and you have really nice skin.”
“Does acne go away if you’re turned?” I ask, reaching up and touching my face.
“I actually don’t know. I hope so.”
“Right?” I laugh. “I haven’t seen too many teenage vampires. Though a lot of the older vamps probably were younger than they looked when they were turned.”
“Right. The life expectancy has increased by years even since I was turned.” She fixes her hair and then turns, big smile on her face. “I’m going to go find my Zekey, and then I’ll meet you downstairs.”
“Perfect!” I smile back and get up from the vanity chair. Mabel and Zeke share this room and sleep together every night, but the decor is one-hundred percent Mabel. It’s a mix of 1920s style and over-the-top girlish charm.
I go into the kitchen to get a drink before we leave and see Theo sitting at the counter. He’s dressed in belted dark slacks with a light blue polo shirt tucked in, making him look like someone’s sexy grandpa from the 1960s.
“We’re not staying out long,” he tells me and I stop, looking at him curiously.
“Okay, good for you.”
“And you.”
I shake my head. “Why do you care how long I’m out?”
“Because I’m babysitting you.”
“No.”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
I go to the counter and get a glass down. “I don’t need a babysitter.”
“Trust me, I told my brother the same thing.” He speeds over, eyes narrowing as he glares at me. “I don’t like what you do to him.”
“Are you talking about that thing I do with my tongue or something else?”
“Classy.”
“I know.” I smile and open the fridge, which is well stocked for just one person now that Devon won’t be eating food with me. The realization brings an odd wave of sadness that I quickly push aside. “Why are you coming with me?”
“Like I said, I don't know what you’re doing to my brother.”
“That doesn’t answer my question in the slightest.” I pull a bottle of cranberry juice out and turn.
Theo lets out a dramatic sigh. Knowing he had to purposely inhale air just to let it out like that amuses me. “Xavier wastes too much time and energy worrying about you. And since he has business to attend to tonight and cannot join in on your frivolous outing, he’s tasked me with joining you.”
“So you’re mad he found someone to care about. Or is it because I’m a witch?”
“The fact that you’re a witch has no bearing on my dislike for you.”
“Glad to know the feeling is mutual.” I pour myself juice and take a drink. “I’m fine. I’ve proven time and time again that I can hold my own.”
“I believe you. And part of me is curious to put that to the test.”
Now it’s my turn to roll my eyes. “I’m sure you would. Seriously, I really don’t want you to come. You’ll kill the vibe, grandpa.”
“Maybe you should learn to keep your mouth shut then and not tell Xavier that the Order is trying to run you out of town.”
“Okay, that’s way dramatic. And he’s my husband. I don’t want to keep things from him.”
“Oh please, you’ve been married for like half a second and neither of you wanted to get married in the first place.”
“He’s grown on me.”
“Has he? Or is that Stockholm syndrome talking?”