Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 134501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 538(@250wpm)___ 448(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 538(@250wpm)___ 448(@300wpm)
Ward’s brother Marvin, however, joined Reena in her moment of grief – as devastated by the situation as she was.
Meanwhile, Emberlyn went inside to call both Paisley and Kage to deliver the grim news about their parents. She returned a short time later, her expression sad and somber. ‘They were crushed,’ she told Ripper. ‘Also furious, but mostly just crushed.’
He draped an arm around her shoulders and nuzzled her temple.
A Watcher from his clan approached. ‘We’re heading off now,’ he told Ripper.
Marvin stirred. ‘I’ll give Reena a ride home and then join you all at the unit.’
Once the Watchers and High Priestess were gone, Emberlyn used a little magick to ‘clean up’ the scene – removing bloodstains and repairing damage to the fence and gate.
Ripper looked from Kerr to Logan. ‘I want wolves patrolling the perimeter of the manor overnight. Once the coven finds out that some of their loved ones are dead, they might get the stupid idea to march over here and confront Emberlyn. It’s unlikely, but I’m not willing to take chances.’
Kerr gave a curt nod. ‘We’ll make it happen.’
‘You just focus on your witch,’ Logan told Ripper. ‘We got this.’
Ripper tipped his chin their way and, seeing that Emberlyn was done magickly cleansing the area, ushered her into the manor. Closing the door behind them, he planted a palm on it. ‘Now, tell me exactly what happened out there. You only told the Watchers a bullet-point version. I want a full rundown.’
‘Okay, but let’s do this while we shower. I need one in a major way.’
So they headed to her en suite bathroom. As they soaped each other down under the hot spray, she relayed everything. He remained silent, just listening, his anger kicking up the more he heard. Fuck those son of a bitches. And fuck him for not considering—
She flicked him on the forehead. ‘You’re not allowed to be mad at yourself for responding to the emergency call.’
He glowered. ‘I left you.’
‘You wouldn’t have if you’d known what was really going on.’ She rinsed off the soap. ‘Regrettably, I don’t think that the entire faction is gone. No way did it have only eight members.’
He let out a grunt of agreement. ‘Maybe they decided to act alone because the others didn’t back their play. Or maybe they were sent here like sacrificial pawns to “test” you.’
She hummed, thoughtful. ‘Well, I’m quite sure the coven will claim that the faction has now been eradicated – believing that will bring them the most comfort. But it will also enable the rest of the faction to operate from the shadows in peace, and I don’t know if we can trust that they’ll abandon their plans to knock Reena off her metaphorical throne.’
Personally, Ripper considered that Reena’s problem . . . providing it didn’t touch his witch. ‘Why didn’t you call me when you knew the faction was outside? Why call on those damn goblins instead?’
Her face softening, she turned off the shower now that they were done. ‘Powerful though you are, it wasn’t a battle of muscle and fangs and claws. It was a battle of magick. You wouldn’t want me involved in a werewolf skirmish.’
Unable to deny that, he moodily frowned as he followed her out of the stall. ‘I might not be able to wield magick, but I could still have helped you.’
‘Yes, you and your wolves could have done plenty of damage,’ she allowed, passing him a towel before wrapping one around herself. ‘But I had two very good reasons for not contacting you.’
‘Oh, do tell,’ he said as he curled a towel around his waist, his voice dry. ‘I’d love to know what you could possibly consider good reasons.’ In his view, there weren’t any.
Rolling her eyes at his tone, she padded out of the bathroom. ‘You have to understand, Ripper. I had a huge score to settle. I’ve been blamed for those bastards’ deeds for years. They’ve used me as their fall person for as long as I can remember. You would have ensured it was over with fast. That was not in my plans. I wanted them to suffer.’
His cock went ahead and twitched at the bloodthirst in her voice. ‘And your second reason?’
At the dresser, she swiped a tee from a drawer. ‘I didn’t want my first night as your clan’s Alpha female to be one in which I dragged them into a fight – a fight during which some of them would definitely have been injured and possibly even forced to kill some of the Rabid because, let’s face it, the faction would have made them attack you.’
‘You don’t know that they would have – wait, back the fuck up. Alpha female?’
‘Yeah.’
The implications of her words settling in, Ripper slowly crossed to her, his heart starting to beat like crazy. ‘You’re saying yes? You’re going to let me claim you?’