Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 71312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
“We can go through the demon dictionary too. There’s not much to go on, but better safe than sorry, right?” I open a notebook, looking at my messy handwriting. I cross referenced as many demons as I could from the list with what I could find in the demon dictionary and my Book of Shadows. I look carefully over my notes about the demons.
“We have nothing to go off of,” Ethan says gently and sits next to me. “I’m not downplaying anything, but framing someone for murder isn’t typically how demons go about things.”
“I know,” I agree. “But someone did frame you.”
“The odds point to a human.”
“But who?”
His hand lands on my thigh. “My dad is going to send over all the info the Chicago PD has as soon as Julia can hack into their system. And Carl is still working on getting what he can from the Thorne Hill police.” His brow furrows and he slowly inhales. “The officer who made the arrest, Maxwell was his name, he…he seemed to know something is going on in this town.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, we now know there’s a Ley line running through the center of town.”
“Right,” I say, thinking back to not that long ago when Ruby explained it all to me in detail. It was a strange concept to grasp, though not even scientists can deny there are certain points and locations where natural energy is stronger than others. “And all sorts of things flock to it.”
“Exactly. Statistically, Thorne Hill has one of the lowest crime rates in all of Indiana. But it has an unusually high death rate…though a lot of deaths caused by demons are written off as animal attacks.”
“Which the police have to know is bullshit.”
“Right. When Officer Maxwell questioned me, it was like he was trying to get info out of me, and not info about Patrick.” His eyes meet mine and I know what he’s implying. If one cop is already suspect to the supernatural, we need to be careful.
“You’re sure demon bones don’t share any sort of human DNA?” I ask, turning and looking at my backyard. The burn pile and surrounding disturbed earth would be a crime scene investigator’s dream. If finding charred skin and bone fragments is their kind of thing.
“Yes. If anything, it would bounce back as some sort of inbred, cross-species animal. And I am speaking from experience. The charges were dropped, but we are on the cops’ radar now.”
“Great,” I say with a wince. “We haven’t even been in town for a year and I’m already running out of room for our unmarked graveyard.”
“I still think we should get some pigs.”
“So we can feed them demons?” I raise my eyebrows.
Ethan shrugs. “They eat anything, right?”
I laugh and turn so my body is facing him. “I can’t believe you got arrested today.”
Ethan takes my hands in his and looks right into my eyes. “It was really lonely in prison.” He stands and picks me up, setting me on the counter, and moves between my thighs, hands landing on my hips. I hook my arms around his neck, heart fluttering in my chest. “I am a man with needs.”
I cock an eyebrow. “You spent maybe two hours in a holding room. They even gave you coffee.”
“Like I said, thinking of you got me through my time away.” He pushes my hair over my shoulder, deft fingers sweeping across my collarbone. Just one little touch is enough to turn me on.
“It’s almost a shame you weren’t convicted. You make a rather sexy felon.”
“In that case, let me remind you that I have been arrested before. I’ve spent a few nights in jail too.”
“I am a sucker for bad boys.”
“Want me to show you my unofficial record then?” He wiggles his eyebrows and grins.
“I’m thinking I’d rather see something else right now,” I say with a laugh. “And after that long prison sentence, I’m sure there’s only one thing on your mind right now.” I run my hands down his chest, feeling his muscles beneath his t-shirt. I let out a shaky breath as I lean forward, resting my forehead against Ethan’s. “I was scared I wouldn’t get you back.”
“I’m not leaving you, Anora. You know I would do anything to come back to you.”
I nod, not wanting to move my face away from his. I dreamed of finding a love like ours and had relented to the fact that it was something I’d only read about in romance novels. My whole heart longed for someone like Ethan, and I still have moments where I can’t believe how lucky we are to have found each other.
Ethan sees me—all of me—and accepts the good and the bad. He’s patient and kind but can be ruthless and violent when he needs to be. He’s my demon-hunting hero, but I know he’d burn the world for me and me alone. That should scare me, and some might even call it a red flag, but knowing he would do anything for me makes my heart swell in my chest and stirs desire deep within me, making me want him like my life depends on it.