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)
“Where are you, girl?” he whispered, searching her view for clues.
Locked into the vision, he stayed silently with her, a passenger and undetected traveler.
The traitorous bitch pressed a damp cloth to the sleeping woman’s forehead. Was she injured? The act of kindness angered him.
She’d sent him to a dark purgatory where he lost his sanity and life too many times to count, yet she dared to show kindness to others?
“Disloyal cunt.”
He waited, focused on her vision as she tended to the young woman. He only needed one detail, one single lead that told him where she—
His spine stiffened.
There, on the table beside the bed, sat a bag with writing printed on the front. BRITTEN BOOKS. Just below the large font were the words Ithaca, New York.
A reptilian smile curled about his lips as long fingers seemed to tickle his insides. “It won’t be long now, girl.” Laughter crawled out of him like hissing snakes. “And when I find you, I’ll enjoy forcing you to watch as I eat the heart of your little friend.”
CHAPTER 19
Adriel placed a flat hand on her stomach as nerves twisted at her insides. Her heart hadn’t stopped racing since Juniper collapsed. She couldn’t stop replaying the incident in her mind, and the longer she remained unconscious, the more she feared her friend had pushed herself too far.
“June, please wake up.” She dabbed the damp cloth over her pale face.
As an immortal, she rarely saw others taken down by illness. She knew nothing of medicine and felt inept at curing whatever ailed her.
Everything inside of her insisted she fix her friend, so it made no sense why she was suddenly standing at the window, daydreaming and taking in the view. She looked back at Juniper, taking a step then pausing. Once again lured to the view.
She had the strangest urge to walk outside and stare at the house.
“Adriel, what are you doing?”
Startled by Dane’s return, she frowned. “I…I don’t know.” Her gaze dropped to the bottle of pills in his hand. “Did you find something?”
“Not really. All Ruth had were some baby aspirins and some medicine for her glaucoma and blood pressure.”
“Is this normal?”
He laughed without humor. “None of this is normal, but I think it’s clear, neither is Juniper. I think we need to just give her time. Her pulse is steady, and her breathing’s even. She probably just over-exerted herself.”
“We shouldn’t have encouraged her.”
He caught her arm. “Hey, she’s strong. And she volunteered for this. We both did.”
They both studied Juniper’s still body for a long moment. “You too are risking too much.”
Dane waved away her words. “You know what would probably help her?”
Adriel met his stare. “Not without her consent.”
He shrugged. “I’m just saying…blood heals.”
“I understand. But I still think we should wait a little longer. She will wake up on her own, and then she can choose.”
“I’ll go check on Ruth. Call me if you need anything.”
Adriel paced between the bed and the window, equally drawn to both. She stared into the distance where the Finger Lakes divided the land, taking note of exactly which side of the water the house sat.
She frowned and glanced back to Juniper. What was she doing?
Returning to Juniper’s side, she traced a cool finger down her face. A small divot formed between her brows, and she moaned, her lashes softly fluttering as she met Adriel’s concerned stare.
She smiled, frowned, then asked groggily, “Did you eat the spaghetti without me?”
Relief flooded Adriel, and she let out a sigh of relief. “You’re awake.”
“What happened?”
“You fainted.”
Juniper groaned and shut her eyes. “I suck at this.”
“No, you don’t. You channeled so much power, it just…was too much at once for you.”
She frowned. “Where’s Dane?”
“He’s with Ruth.”
She glanced at the nightstand. “How did I get up here?”
“I carried you. You’ve been out for some time.”
“Oh.”
“I can sense your weakness, Juniper, and I think it’s time we had that talk we’ve been avoiding.”
“I know what you’re going to say.”
“The spells are draining you.”
She grimaced. “I know. You’re right. I’ve been thinking about it too. Blood might be the only way I’ll be able to keep going at this pace. But does it have to be Danny’s blood?”
Adriel stilled. The repugnant thought of Juniper’s first feeding coming from that greasy male mortal’s vein was unacceptable. It should be with someone she trusted. She supposed Dane could do it, but that also wasn’t ideal. His blood was relatively mild compared to… “I will do it. My blood is strongest.”
Juniper dropped her gaze, and uncertainty nipped at Adriel.
“If you would prefer a male—”
“No, it’s not that. I’d rather it be you. I’m just, nervous, I guess. What if my body rejects it?”
“It won’t. Even basic mortals can digest our blood with little issue.”
“But what if I don’t like it?”
“You have immortality in your veins, June. Chances are you’ll like it.”