Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 121324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 607(@200wpm)___ 485(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 607(@200wpm)___ 485(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
It might not come to that, right? Cain had told her that, despite its wish to mark her, his monster would refrain unless out of control. She couldn’t quite tell if it was in control now. Those eyes gave away nothing. Nothing at all.
Finally, it came to a stop in front of her.
She wasn’t gonna lie, it wasn’t easy to hold its inhuman gaze. It just seemed so . . . wrong to see serpent eyes in the head of an actual person. She didn’t like that “something else” was using Cain’s body this way—her Cain. It was only now that she understood why he hadn’t liked that Kali had once possessed her.
But, she reminded herself, his monster had as much right to that body as Cain did really, didn’t it? The creature might be a separate entity, but it was still a part of him. And to reject it on any level would be to also reject Cain. She could never do that.
So Wynter didn’t flinch or recoil when it lifted its hand to her face. She didn’t tense when it drew its fingertips down her temple, cheek, and jaw. She didn’t even complain when it nuzzled her neck and flicked its tongue out to lick her pulse . . . though she felt as though she was being tested.
She must have passed said test, because it raised its head and slid its nose against hers in what felt like a gesture of affection. Which was just about when grass crunched beneath a shoe, and she realized that Seth had taken a step toward them.
The monster went unnaturally still and then ever so slowly turned its head. It pinned Seth with the mother of all glares and hissed between its teeth.
Like that, the tension ramped up.
Azazel grabbed Seth’s shoulder, staying him. “It’s not going to let us near her. Let’s give them both space.”
Seth grimaced. “Cain will never forgive the creature if it hurts her.”
“It won’t,” said Azazel. “She’s safe with it.”
Ishtar snorted. “No one’s safe with Cain’s monster.” She didn’t sound whatsoever concerned about the possible danger to Wynter, though. In fact, she seemed rather delighted by the prospect that the creature might kill her.
“Go,” Wynter told the Ancients. “I’ll be fine.” She figured there was more chance of the creature losing control if they got too close than if they left, since it was currently eyeing them all with suspicion. It didn’t seem bothered by the presence of her coven, probably because it didn’t view them as a high level of threat, or maybe it simply trusted that they wouldn’t hurt Wynter.
Dantalion tossed a limp Saul over his shoulder. “I highly doubt it will kill you,” he told her.
Comforting.
Seth didn’t seem too happy about it, but he left with the other Ancients.
Cain’s creature returned its gaze to her. Those eyes dropped to her mouth, and then it used its thumb to tug her lip free of her teeth—it was only then she realized she’d been nibbling on it. The monster dipped its head and, holding her gaze, scraped that same lip with its teeth.
Annoyed, she flicked up a brow. “You done testing me?”
One corner of its mouth quirked, and then it must have chosen to withdraw or something because Cain’s dark eyes were staring out at her.
He palmed the back of her head, slipped an arm around her waist, and then drew her close. Pressing his mouth to her temple, he let out a heavy breath of what could have been relief when she hugged him back. If he’d expected anything else from her, she was truly insulted.
Pulling back, he caught her face in his hands and simply looked at her for a long moment. “You have more guts than most people I know.” He gave her a soft kiss before she had the chance to respond. “I have to take care of something. Will you wait for me at the Keep?”
She could see he wasn’t so sure that she would; that he wondered if she’d claim to need a little space. Dumbass. “I’ll be there.”
Warmth and satisfaction bloomed in his eyes. “Good girl.” Another kiss, and then he was gone in a blur of movement.
Turning to her coven, she swept a hand down her face and then whistled low. Jesus Christ, that was intense.
Xavier blew out a heavy breath, his eyes wide, and put a hand to his chest. “Shit, my heart is pounding right now.”
“My nape has a cold sweat going on,” said Anabel with a shudder.
Delilah, now back in her human form, rubbed at her throat. “So Cain has a monster of his own, huh? Did you know, Wyn?”
“I’d sensed it,” replied Wynter. “But I didn’t know what it was. Still don’t.”
“I think we can safely say it’s serpentine in nature,” said Xavier. “And highly venomous, given that its bite put down Saul. Do you think he’s dead?”