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)
‘Like with a serial killer who keeps trying to beat the high of their first murder.’
‘Yes. I think she believed that once she beat it, she’d never crave it again; that the empty spots inside her would be filled. Those cold voids . . . they allowed her to cross lines others wouldn’t, but they denied her any real sense of fulfilment.’
‘She cared for you, though.’
‘In the only way someone like that can care for another,’ Emberlyn conceded with a nod. ‘I think she also cared for all three of her children. She just couldn’t give anything of herself to them. She didn’t know how, and she didn’t try to learn.’
Ripper cocked his head. ‘How are you . . . you? You had no real role model.’ Her mother hadn’t been in her life long enough to have a true influence on her.
She twisted her mouth. ‘I looked up to Lilith.’
‘Lilith?’
‘I know it’s rumored that she had an “in” with Satan – I can’t comment on that, as I’m not sure if it’s true or not – but she was always real nice to me. Very dignified and stylish.’
His brows drawing together, he leaned further forward. ‘You’ve met Lilith?’
‘The spirits of many Vautiers roam the manor. Not my mother, though. I never saw her. Not all spirits are strong enough to cross realms. Avery wasn’t strong.’
So he’d heard. ‘Your mother really died of heartbreak?’
‘In a sense. She loved with her entire being, and she thought that the sperm donor was her forever. When he left, it wrecked her. She checked out. Stopped using magick. A witch who can’t or who doesn’t use their magick can fade away and die.’
‘Like Rosemary did.’ He was about to speak again, but then the distant purring of a car engine reached his ears. ‘I have a visitor.’ Annoyed at the interruption, he pushed to his feet with an aggrieved sigh. ‘Don’t do that thing again.’
‘What thing?’
‘Clean up all on your own when I disappear from the room.’
‘You cooked. It only seems fair that I clean.’
‘You do it even when you cook.’
‘Those were accidents; I forgot you wanted to help.’
He inwardly snorted. ‘Well, don’t “forget” this time.’
She raised her hands. ‘I’ll wait for you before I get started.’
He gave her a look that said she’d better – to which she only regarded him flatly – and then stalked out of the room. He reached the front door before his visitor knocked. When he opened it, he had to bite back a curse. CeCe.
Taking tentative steps up the path, she offered him a bright smile that was edged with caution. She wouldn’t be smiling if she knew he had company. But as he’d earlier picked Emberlyn up from the manor, her vehicle wasn’t parked here.
Stepping onto the porch, he pulled the door closed behind him. Not to hide that Emberlyn was here, but to keep her shielded from any shit CeCe might toss.
Her face fell. ‘I’m not welcome inside, I take it.’ She sighed, pausing at the base of the stone steps. ‘I really am sorry for everything, Rip. I’m trying to make it right.’
So she’d said before, but he’d yet to see her actively attempt it.
She gingerly climbed onto his porch. ‘I know I’m not your favorite person right now, but we’ve been friends how long? Definitely too long to throw that friendship away. It’s worth saving. I came here to fix things so we could get back on track.’
Maybe she did come here for that reason, and maybe they could in fact do that. This wasn’t the time or place to explore this matter further, though. ‘We can talk tomorrow. Not here and now.’
Her brow furrowing, she moved closer. ‘Why not? It’s a Wednesday evening, there’s no clan fires to put out, you don’t have visitors. I don’t see how this could be a bad time.’
The breeze fluttered around them, carrying woodsy scents and stirring up their own. When her face went rock hard, he knew she’d picked up the smell of Emberlyn intertwined with sex.
She staggered back a step as if he’d gone to slap her. ‘So, it actually is true. You’re fucking the witch.’ She put a hand to her mouth, her eyes widening in horror. ‘Oh, my God.’
He tipped his chin at her vehicle. ‘You need to leave.’
She flicked the front door a glance, her face contorting into a sour look tinged with jealousy. ‘Is she in there?’
‘CeCe, go.’
Her face sullen, she balled up her hands. ‘It makes no sense! You don’t trust witches. You keep your dealings with them short and sweet. You don’t fuck them.’
He shot her a severe look. ‘Who I have in my bed is my business, not yours. Never yours.’
Her cheeks reddening, CeCe notched up her chin. ‘Is she why you won’t agree to the triad? Has this been going on for longer than people think?’