Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 98961 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 495(@200wpm)___ 396(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98961 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 495(@200wpm)___ 396(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
“I can hold her while you shower,” Eliza offers, coming into the family room. She’s sipping blood out of one of the delicate little teacups I bought at Thorne Hill’s only antique store. It’s been closed for a few weeks now since the owner, Mrs. Bishop, was killed by demons when Paimon attacked.
“I showered last night,” I reply.
“Yeah. Last night.” Eliza makes a face.
“It’s not like I stink,” I counter and then can’t remember if I put on deodorant or not once I was out of the shower. “But after my coffee I’d like to get a little more put together so we can head out.”
“Where are you going?”
“The Covenstead. Classes don’t start until eight, so Evander might have some time to help me with the oracle. Since I don’t know how long it will take, I’ll bring Juliet.”
“You sure it’s safe?”
“Yeah. Tabatha can take her, and if anything does go wrong, I’ll have my coven to help right it.” I internally wince as the words come out of my mouth. No one else needs to be in danger or put at risk because of me.
“I’m a little surprised I haven’t seen more of your friends the last few days.”
Juliet painfully pulls away and I switch her to the other side. “I thought the same when I saw Kristy for the first time in a while yesterday.” Looking down, I try to help Juliet with the latch, but she’s more interested in the handful of my hair she just grabbed. “You know why, don’t you?”
“They’ve finally realized how inadequate they are in your presence?”
I give her a look and shake my head. “No. Because they think I should use this time to figure out how to go after Paimon instead of getting Lucas back.”
Eliza’s jaw tenses and she slowly inhales, not because she needs to breathe. “They don’t know him like we do.”
“They don’t,” I agree. “But they know I’m better when I’m with him. Paimon is going to strike again and who the fuck knows what kind of plan he’s scheming this time.” I bite my lip and look at Juliet. She doesn’t have as much divinity in her as I do, but she could potentially be his next target. “I would be dead or possessed or maybe both if Lucas wasn’t with me the first time Paimon attacked. And she wouldn’t be here.”
“I don’t envy you,” Eliza says softly and brings her long braid over her shoulder. “It’s not fair this has to land on your shoulders.”
“I know.” I look down at Juliet again, bracing myself for the slight discomfort I always feel when she first latches on. “If anyone, I blame my parents. I shouldn’t have been born and Michael of all people knew the risks of a half-witch, half-archangel being born.”
“So what? Your mom should have terminated the pregnancy?” Eliza lets her braid fall behind her back and crosses her arms.
“I honestly don’t know what was the right thing to do,” I admit. “I didn’t ask to be the key to taking over Heaven or Hell, yet here I am. First of my kind.” I raise my eyebrows. “This isn’t a pity party. Overall, I love my life and I’ve made a positive impact for a lot of people who, ya know, would otherwise be dead because of demons” My eyes fall shut and the smell of coffee fills the air. “It’s too early to get philosophical. And I haven’t had any coffee yet.”
Eliza takes Juliet once she’s done nursing and I get coffee, drinking as I get ready to head out to the Covenstead. It’s a nice morning, and there’s something peaceful about the woods at the beginning of summer like this. Scarlet and Pandora stay in the woods, competing to see who can catch a deer first, and Binx and Freya come inside with me.
Students are finishing breakfast and are milling through the halls, grumbling about being tired or an unfinished homework assignment from last night. I keep my head down, trying not to draw any extra attention to myself, though walking through the academy with a baby is enough to draw a few stares.
Thankfully, I make it to Tabatha’s office without being stopped, and she answers the door only seconds after I knock.
“My darling! And my granddaughter!” Tabatha smiles and then immediately looks worried. “Is everything all right? Kristy told me about the djinn.”
“I’m fine, the djinn is dead, and when I left the hospital last night, Easton was doing well.” I pause, wondering if Kristy mentioned the fact that the whole djinn mess happened because I’m trying to rescue Lucas. “I don’t know where the ring the djinn used as a vessel is, but if she’s dead it shouldn’t be an issue, right?”
“My knowledge of djinns is limited,” Tabatha starts, stepping to the side so I can come in. “Though with no djinn to bind to it, the ring should be harmless. Are you all right, my darling? Djinn don’t just attack your body, but first make you suffer through psychological warfare.”