Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 137871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 689(@200wpm)___ 551(@250wpm)___ 460(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 689(@200wpm)___ 551(@250wpm)___ 460(@300wpm)
“The Hartzlers didn’t have anything to do with me leaving. They gave me a home when I had none. You would be hurting his family, and they don’t deserve that.”
Juniper’s eyes narrowed. “This is about that vampire chick, Grace, isn’t it?”
Adriel pinched the bridge of her nose. “For the last time, Juniper, we’re immortals, not vampires.”
“That bitch is a vampire!”
“Hey!” Dane snapped. “Leave Gracie out of this!”
“Oh, now it’s Gracie? How many immortals were you sleeping with on that farm.”
His scowl darkened, and Adriel stepped between them. “That’s enough, Juniper. Apologize.”
“For what? Jonas killed my Aunt Mabel. His bloodsucking daughter killed my Aunt Venus.” Her scowl turned on Dane. “When you wanted revenge on Isaiah, I helped you. You owe me.”
“That may be true, but there’s no way I’m letting you hurt Gracie.”
“I regret ever bringing you here.”
“All right!” Adriel blocked her view of Dane and cupped her face, looking directly into her eyes. “Take a breath.”
“I don’t need to breathe!”
“Juniper.”
“What?”
“Look at me.”
Her chin trembled as her eyes flooded with unshed tears. She breathed in and slowly exhaled.
“Good. Now tell me—calmly—why you would consider going back there to do this.” She held up a finger before Dane could interrupt. “And we’ll hear you out.”
“As long as Jonas is sick, they’ll hold me accountable.”
“The only reason they would come after you now,” Dane snapped, “is if you provoke them. Do not hurt Jonas.”
“It could be painless.”
“Not for you.”
“Enough!” Adriel snapped. “I will not tolerate this bickering. You’ve been arguing since we got back. I don’t understand this animosity between you. There is no need for the two of you to go to war when real danger is afoot.”
“Give me your word that you won’t hurt Jonas,” Dane demanded.
Juniper held his stare, her grief palpable.
“That’s it for now.” Adriel pulled her into a protective hug. The poor girl shook like a leaf. “Dane, clean up those papers. I need to speak to Juniper alone.”
He scoffed. “Clean them up yourself.”
The back door slammed as he stormed out of the kitchen. That was fine. They needed a minute of privacy.
Adriel poured two cups of tea and straightened up the papers as it steeped. Once she had the room tidied, she waved her to the table so they could both sit.
“You know, Juniper, Dane’s been through a lot, too.”
A tear rolled down her cheek. “They accepted him. They gave him a home and freedom. That’s nothing like how they treated me.”
“Is that it then?”
“No.” She blew out a breath. “I’m not trying to diminish his suffering, but how could he not understand what happened to me? If not for Jonas, my aunts would still be alive and I wouldn’t be here.”
Adriel squeezed her hand. “But this is where we are. And no amount of revenge can undo what’s been done. Tragedy does not excuse us to treat others cruelly. The moment you give in to your anger, a bottomless sorrow opens inside you. Some days, that sorrow is enough to swallow you whole. We cannot lose ourselves in such a way. If we do, they win.”
An aura formed around the kitchen table. Adriel looked at Juniper in confusion.
“For protection,” Juniper explained. “You’re thinking about him.”
“Thank you. That’s wise.”
She sighed. “I wish I could get over this anger. It eats away at me. I just want to get it out and get my life back.”
“Justice is a natural desire. But the moment we forgo decency, we become no better than the monsters. Ending a life does not necessarily end the pain.”
“But there has to be some level of satisfaction, some sense of restored order.”
“Retaliation can go on forever when you’re dealing with immortals.”
“Nothing is completely immortal.”
Adriel sighed. “I suppose that’s true enough.”
“All I want is peace.”
Adriel offered a sad grin. “Violence does not achieve that.”
“Then why are we planning to kill your ex?”
“Cerberus cannot be killed. He’s different. I know this, which is why…” Juniper deserved her honesty. “Sometimes when fated mates pass, their counterparts also die.”
“Are you saying if we kill Cerberus, we might unintentionally kill you?”
“I’m saying it would not be unintentional. Cerberus is unlike any immortal I’ve ever come across. I will not give him the chance to hurt me again, or anyone else for that matter.”
Juniper tugged her hand free. “What the fuck are you talking about, Adriel? Killing yourself?”
“I would rather die than suffer his revenge. I’m not a violent person. I’ve never killed a living thing. This is the only way I know to evade him.”
“By taking your own life? That’s not a fucking solution.” She sprung to her feet and paced the kitchen. “What is with you underestimating your power?”
“You don’t know him, Juniper. He’s incredibly strong and beyond cruel. He’s not coming to reconcile. He’s coming to punish me. Ending my life removes that option. It also bears the possibility of him dying with me. Mates are said to suffer shared mortality. There’s a physical link as much as there is a mental and emotional one.”