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)
Emberlyn raked her teeth over her lower lip as she considered it. ‘No, but I think she’ll be careful how she goes about pushing this.’ She inhaled deeply. ‘Anyway, how was your morning?’
Paisley’s eyes dulled. ‘Not great. I had another fight with my mom. She doesn’t like that I won’t drop the idea of taking the Change. Says she can’t “lose both her children”. Like I’d be as good as dead.’
‘Ah.’ While a bite from a werewolf could put non-wolves through the Change, most witches would never do it due to the price tag for their kind.
‘She went on and on about how I’d lose my connection with my magick. I know that already. But where’s the big deal when my magick is weak anyway? Other witches in my position have taken the Change. Yes, it’ll mean leaving the coven and joining the clan of whichever wolf turns me. But I can’t say I’d miss being part of it.’
Knowing Ethel as well as she did, Emberlyn could easily guess . . . ‘She threatened to disown you, didn’t she?’
Paisley grimaced. ‘Yes. Don’t tell Kage, he’ll flip, and that’ll make things worse. I’m not close to my mom, but I wouldn’t like to lose her. What do you think I should do?’
‘I think you should do what you feel is best for you. Living to keep others happy . . . it’s not living, it’s people-pleasing. There shouldn’t be conditions attached to a person’s love for you.’
Paisley gave a hard nod. ‘I’d like to join Ripper’s clan. It has the best reputation. Shane’s clan has its shit together now that he’s Alpha, but it’s not all the way there yet. And Carver’s clan is . . . problematic.’
Yes, his wolves were fond of vandalizing, thieving, starting fights and flirting with the mates of other werewolves like it was their right. ‘Plus, Kage is part of Ripper’s clan.’
‘So?’
‘So he’s your twin.’
‘And?’
‘And it’d surely be nicer for you both to be in the same clan.’
Paisley’s nose wrinkled. ‘I couldn’t give a monkey’s left tit what clan he belongs to. But, as you’re allied with Ripper now, I’d feel safer being part of his. Do you think he’d agree to it?’
‘First of all, it will make a difference to you to be in the same clan as your brother – no, don’t deny it. Secondly, I don’t know if my alliance with Ripper is going to be permanent, so only choose his clan if it would be your preferred option no matter the situation. Thirdly, I don’t know what his vetting process is, so I can’t say whether he’d agree to welcome you into his clan. But you could ask. You don’t ask, you don’t get.’
Hearing the door open, Emberlyn looked to see her other two laundry aides entering. ‘Morning, girls.’ The sisters Chrissie and Clementine were werewolves whose mom was a witch. A mating between a witch and a wolf never produced hybrids – only one or the other.
Chrissie blew out a breath. ‘Sorry we’re almost late. Clem’s car wouldn’t start again, so we had to walk.’
‘That contraption hates me, I’m telling you,’ Clem muttered. ‘It operates just fine whenever I have a mechanic look at it. Other times, it acts like an ass.’
Chrissie sighed. ‘It’s a car, Clem, it can’t hate you.’
‘Wrong. So very, very wrong.’ Clem marched to the back of the hub, her sister close behind her.
Paisley looked at Emberlyn, her eyes dancing. ‘So, anyways, when are you heading upstairs to pack the rest of your stuff?’
‘When we get a lull,’ Emberlyn replied. ‘It won’t take me long, since I’m leaving the majority of the furniture behind for you. And I already got started on it yesterday, I just didn’t take everything back to the manor with me.’
‘Awesome. Because I’m packed and ready to move in once you’re gone. My mom isn’t pleased that I’ll be living on neutral territory. But she does feel better knowing that you have wards all over it to keep intruders out.’
Just then, the front door once more opened. Emberlyn felt her lips curve at the middle-aged werewolf who strode in. ‘Good morning, Mr Weaver.’
His default grin kicked up a notch. ‘Morning, pretty witches.’ He plonked his basket on the counter and blew a breath upward, making his unkempt salt-and-pepper hair flutter. ‘You know what yesterday was?’
‘What?’ she asked.
‘My fiftieth birthday, which means . . .’
‘You now qualify for free delivery,’ she finished. ‘Happy belated birthday. Did you do anything fun?’
‘At my age, you don’t much celebrate it.’ He took a complimentary mint from the bowl near the devil’s ivy plant.
‘We can also have your things collected, you know,’ Emberlyn said, plucking a shirt out of his basket.
‘But then I wouldn’t have an excuse to come in and flirt with you, would I?’
She snorted. ‘I suppose that’s true.’