Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 68040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
“It’s a big book.” I look over at Giles. “It looks like Katrina had just the one grimoire for her entire life, and it’s damn big.”
“Looks like you have some homework,” Giles replies with a grin.
“We all do.” Jonas taps the table. “My friend, Louisa, may be stuck on a time loop in 1692, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have knowledge about these things. I’ll ask her about water spells when I go back to Hallows End tomorrow morning.”
“I forget we can use your coven for information,” I admit. “If she has any advice, we’d love to hear it.”
“I’ll find out what I can without giving her any specifics.”
“I’m going to talk to my parents,” Giles adds. “They’ll know, or at least have knowledge about, where to find some things. We need to start utilizing our coven if we’re going to resolve all of this in less than a month.”
“You’re right. And I know everyone wants to help. I just hoped to keep them out of harm’s way.”
“We need them,” Giles counters. “And if they’re willing to help, I say we use them.”
“I’ll call a coven meeting.”
“I’d like to go get my girl.” Giles stands from the table. “Make sure she’s safe.”
“I think we should all do that,” Jonas replies, also standing. “It’ll calm our nerves.”
“Hell, yes.” I close the book and tuck it under my arm as I join the others. “I’ll do my homework later.”
“Wait.”
Lorelei turns and plants her hand on my chest, stopping me from climbing her front porch steps. My hands are loaded down with grocery bags.
“This stuff is gonna melt.”
Her lips twitch. “Before we go in, I want to set a rule for tonight.”
“You don’t usually set rules.”
“I am right now. No more talk of what happened today, it, or the curse for the rest of the evening. I just want a few hours of peace.”
“Done. Can I go set these down now?”
“Yes.” She turns and unlocks the door, then steps inside. I follow her. “You always loved junk food just a little too much.”
She pulls a bag of nacho cheese tortilla chips out of a grocery bag and stows it in the pantry.
“We all have our faults.”
“I’m going to make fish tacos for dinner. What do you think?”
“Sounds great to me. Good thing I got regular tortilla chips, too. And salsa.”
“I can make guac, as well. And it’s not even Taco Tuesday.”
“It can be Taco Friday.” I wink at her and finish putting the groceries away while she pulls out a cutting board and gets started on the guacamole. “So, what do you want to talk about since everything else is off the table?”
“I don’t know.” She slices into a tomato. “I guess there’s nothing else to talk about, is there?”
“Not true. How did it go with the girls today? You all seemed fine by the time we saw you.”
“It went well. Thank the goddess.” She drops the tomato chunks into a bowl and reaches for an onion. “My mom’s birthday is coming up. I wonder what I should get her. She already has just about everything.”
“I can’t help with that.” I laugh and kiss her cheek, then walk around the peninsula and sit on a stool while she continues to chop. “Speaking of moms, mine and Grandma are coming up next week.”
That makes her pause in surprise. “From Florida?”
“Yep. They want to be here through Samhain.”
“But, Xander, it’s so dangerous right now.”
“I know, and I tried to tell them that, but you know how stubborn they are. They want to be here. They think they can help.”
“Well, everyone will be thrilled to see them. They left a big hole in the coven when they left. I know the warmer climate is better for your grandmother, but they’ve been missed.”
“I know.” My gods, I want to touch her. Being with her to protect her is the right thing to do, but she’d tempt a saint, and I’ve never claimed that title. I want her with every ounce of my being.
And it saddens me to know that we may never get to a place where she’ll allow me to touch her like that again.
With the guacamole finished and in the fridge, Lorelei heats up a pan and pours in a little oil for the fish.
I’ve discovered that I love to watch her cook. Back in the day, she could burn salad. Now, she easily whips up meals so delicious it always surprises me.
“Why are you smiling at me like that?”
I don’t drop the smile. “Because you’re sexy in the kitchen.”
She rolls her eyes, but I see the flush of amusement and pleasure filling her cheeks. Lora never could take a compliment well, but I could always tell she enjoyed receiving them.
And I never had a problem giving them.
Because every single complimentary word was absolutely true—still is.