Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 144404 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144404 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
“Accidentally?” Evan’s eyes rolled.
“I liked the show as a kid,” Gray admitted, a flush coming across his skin. “I sometimes have dreams about just sitting around and watching cartoons. It was a nice part of my childhood. I’m afraid when I first came here, I wasn’t used to controlling the space the way I do now. There’s a demonic version of Scooby-Doo running around in the woods. I should have told Trent he could eat that fucker.”
“He is surprisingly hard to catch,” Tix agreed. “Come along. I have everything in readiness and stand perfectly prepared to execute the witch if you need me to.”
“No one is executing the witch.” I had to make that plain. Executions were a serious thing, and I worried Tix might treat it as a light recreational activity.
“And we’ll see if things are truly ready for my charges,” Eddie huffed.
We started to head for the house, walking along the white-stoned path, Gray’s hand slipping into mine. Lee and Evan followed behind Tix while he began pointing out various spots of interest. Gray let them get ahead and then stopped, pulling me close.
“Are you okay?” Gray asked.
I was surprisingly okay. I’d expected to feel awkward here, but I felt oddly settled. As if some piece of me had fallen into place. “Why didn’t you tell me how beautiful your home is?”
“It’s only beautiful because you’re here.”
He was charming, but he still had questions to answer. “I was expecting a hellhole.”
“You’ll find Hell is like all places. There’s a wide diversity to it, as seen in our various kingdoms. There are desert kingdoms where the sand is on fire and breathing hurts your lungs if you’re not used to it. Ocean kingdoms where you really have to watch out for krakens. A twilight kingdom where you’re always on the cusp of darkness or dawn. I expected to hate it here. I never came as a child. When I did as an adult, it was to find the decay of my father’s rule. It did not always look like this or feel like this. There’s a softness to it that didn’t exist before. When my father ruled, there was a malice to the moonlight, I’ve been told. You should understand that not everyone who lives here thinks it’s a good change.”
The previous Lord Sloane had ruled for thousands of years. Change was hard anywhere. “They like malice in Hell. I guess it’s not so surprising. Do you worry about a coup?”
“Not from inside my house.”
He was leaving something out. “You said I didn’t have to worry about anyone harming me here. Why?”
“Because every member of the household is blood oathed to me. It’s the only way I can trust them. When my father was punished and lost his kingdom, I inherited the crown and everyone on this particular plane of Hell. They were required to either make the vow to me or leave this place. With the exception of my father’s butler. I dismissed him entirely.”
“So Tix is new.” I was glad to know my instincts were right with him. “What did he mean when he said he was bound to this plane and the land?”
“When I took on the responsibilities of the House of Sloane, I performed a ritual that bound him to the house and myself in a way that’s stronger than a mere blood oath. Though I screwed something up because he is far too willing to ignore my wishes when he thinks I’m in danger. I’m working with some scholars to see if I can fix him. What happened in the Under was completely unacceptable.”
“Do you really think he can hear the baby?”
Gray’s lips curled up slightly, and his hand went to my belly. “I think he’s teasing you. Tix, like the rest of this place, has adapted over the years. He wasn’t as comfortable in the beginning. He’s become infinitely more human, and I think that includes joking around. I know I certainly can’t hear the little guy.” He turned me around so he could cradle my slight bump that probably was from all the hot wings rather than my pebble-sized baby boy. “I know I swore I would never bring you here, but it feels right, Kelsey mine.”
“You brought Trent.” I was still trying to figure out how close my guys had gotten over the years.
“Yes,” he replied, his breath warm against my ear. “Once when he needed to hide out. I warn you, he gets horny here. I wasn’t joking about the whole animal-instincts thing.”
“That must have been sad since he had no one to help him with that,” I replied, just begging for him to tell me I was wrong.
He kissed my ear. “That’s a story to tell when he’s here.” He was quiet for a moment. “It wouldn’t bother you, would it? If Trent and I had sex.”