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)
“Help Bailey?” I inquire. “Are you seriously telling me you’re happy to be in cahoots on this, Erica? You do realize part of this shit was down to your meddling the night of your birthday, right? One of the reasons Bailey’s pissy is because of my reaction to the text you sent. The text you sent and apologized for.”
“Pissy,” Bailey scoffs, giving me a look of disgust.
I’m doing myself no favors here.
“I do remember all that, Jase,” Erica says. “And I also know Bailey’s pain goes way beyond the night of my birthday.”
Bailey speaks up. “Thank you, Young cousins. I support it being a lot longer than three days. How about forever?”
“You’d condemn me like that?” I ask, hoping my heart is on my sleeve right now. Because as pissed as I am and as much as my urges are dictating my actions right now, her reaction is pretty fucking harsh.
She continues. “Five minutes ago, I was just some pest to you, someone you could barely take the time to take a phone call from, even when I told you it was really important. And now because I suddenly smell different to you, you’re all fired up to connect us until the day we die? No!”
I pull in a breath and let it out slowly. “If nobody’s gonna budge on the three days, not much I can do. Though I will say I won’t fucking forget it.” My eyes pan across each of the Young sisters before they land on my mate. “Three days while we work it out, then, baby… you’re mine.”
Her face goes red. Grey shifts uncomfortably, and Danica sits up straighter and says, “I propose a meeting with the coven and Bailey before the seventy-two hours is up. Then we go from there.”
“Agreed,” Erica states.
“Agreed,” Ronnie echoes.
“Same,” Vivi says.
Danica turns to Grey. “That’s four votes. Grey, and we already decided you wouldn’t vote on day-to-day coven matters, what with your life and responsibilities here. We’d ask you to recuse yourself from the vote since this is a clear conflict of interest, but it doesn’t matter. We have a majority without your vote or Jessie’s, and I already have Jessie’s proxy. She votes with the rest of us.”
Grey’s jaw tightens and he shoots me a look of apology.
“So,” Danica goes on, pulling my focus her way. “We’ll reconvene before the deadline. We’ll stay in town?”
“Sounds good to me,” Vivica replies. “We’ll stay local as we work to help with the Cicely and Jared situation along with Graydon and Carrie’s problem, so we’ll be in the apartment in Drowsy Hollow while we work on everything. That said, let’s move onto the next order of business, shall we? Unless there’s anything further from Jase or Bailey?”
I’m pissed. Beyond pissed.
I look at Grey. “You’ve got my proxy on the Jared thing. On everything. I’m not…” I wave a hand beside my head, unable to verbalize. Because I want to smash something.
Grey nods and looks at his sister. “You’re going to Jase’s then?”
“Not on his life,” Bailey states.
Grey blows out a breath, looking at me with empathy.
“I’ll stay here, sleep on her bedroom floor,” I mutter. “I’m not leaving.”
“Can we break for five?” Grey asks.
“Sure,” Erica agrees.
“Bailey. A word?” Grey requests.
“I don’t feel like talking,” she says snottily. “I’d like to help Cicely, if I can. I messaged with her and told her I’d dig into the archives tomorrow to see what I can find out about Jared’s pack. And I’d really appreciate it if Mom and Dad can be prioritized after Cicely and Jared. Since, obviously, there’s danger with Cicely.”
Grey’s hand clamps down on the back of his sister’s neck and he says, “Walk. We’re talking.”
I flinch, wanting to step in, not liking his aggression even if I know to my bones that a good talking to is what she needs. I hold myself in check as he practically frog-marches her outside.
Her face is red, but she doesn’t fight it.
My eyes pan the room. “What are we doing about what they did?”
Erica speaks up. “We all think it’s best to file a report through the SCC and make sure it’s documented on their end.”
“Who’s we?”
“The council and the coven,” Riley replies.
“That Starling coven is fucking with us again. We should make a strong point that leaves no room for interpretation,” I say.
“We’ll talk it over amongst the council,” Tyson declares. “Not here.”
“It’s best we work together on issues like these,” Erica says.
“We’ll discuss it later, Rik,” Riley states.
The room goes quiet.
17
BAILEY
“What’re you doin’, squirt?”
I rear back, insulted.
“You’re okay droppin’ him in a woodchipper?” Grey demands.
“Wow,” I say.
“He’s the one you wanted, Bails,” my brother points out, very unnecessarily.
“I’m shocked, Grey. You’re normally very smart, but right now?” I let that hang.
His expression hardens a little. If I weren’t so pissed off, this might sting.