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)
Goddess, she sounded like the old Liv. I would have sworn that her hair looked lighter, too, but that was probably a trick of my eyes and a longing for my best friend.
I had to be careful around Liv no matter how much I wanted to throw my arms around her and ask her how to handle this whole awful situation we found ourselves in. “Are you okay, Evan?”
The French doors that led to the servant’s hall opened and both Eddie and Tix entered, each carrying trays. They were large and laden with food.
“I’m good.” Evan watched as they entered but replied my way.
“Mistress Evangeline.” Tix placed his tray down on the table and turned the princess’s way. “Are you feeling better now that the witch has spelled you?”
Eddie gasped and barely managed to save his large tray of what looked like cookies and cakes. “You were not supposed to speak of it.”
I’d gone still because it appeared they’d wanted to keep this from me. I could deduce what had happened. Evan turned to the only witch she knew, likely with some kind of bargain, but I wasn’t sure we could trust Liv.
“I keep nothing from my master and mistress,” Tix replied primly. “Unless the master wants me to hide something from the mistress, and then I would cut my own tongue out so I would obey. I would be required to cut it out because I love the mistress so much, but I must keep my master’s secrets.”
“And if Kelsey wanted you to hide something from Gray?” Olivia draped herself over one of the big, comfy chairs, her knee bouncing as she dangled it off the arm.
“I would tell him immediately.” Tix put a hand to his heart. “Though it would harm my heart greatly since I love the mistress. I would betray her and then likely spend a good long time in self-flagellation.”
“Kelsey, I…” Evan had paled.
I turned to Eddie because I could figure out what had happened. “So Evan is terrified of the change coming and no one else has been able to help her. She goes to Liv and makes a bargain, but only if you supervise the actual spell because you would know if Liv is breaking her word.”
It was what satans did.
Evan was a smart girl.
“Yes, my mistress, but…” Eddie began.
I didn’t have time to soothe him, but I would let him know I understood. “Evan came to you and asked you to not tell me. You worried she would try something even more dangerous. Eddie, I trust you. You are not bound by the same rules as Tix. I trust you to make your own decisions when it comes to things like this. You did the right thing. I take it Liv did what she said she would.”
“She walked the princess through the spell since she couldn’t work it herself,” Eddie explained.
“I feel so much better, Kelsey,” Evan said. “My back doesn’t hurt.”
“Well, it wouldn’t if you would let those wings out, child.” Tix did not appear amused that I was cool with what was happening. “Mistress, this is a demonic household. What Eddie has done…”
“Is fine by me.” I meant what I’d said. Eddie can pretty much do no wrong in my eyes. If he kept it from me, it was because he had the situation in hand and me knowing could upset the balance. “As long as Eddie doesn’t think the princess is in danger, Liv can continue to teach her.”
A shudder of relief went through Evan. “Thank you, Kelsey. I just need to buy some time.”
“That’s all it will do,” Liv said from her comfy chair. “Nothing can stop the eventual change.”
“I’m hoping my father’s blood will overwhelm the primal blood.” Evan poured herself a tall glass of some purplish drink.
“It will not,” Tix said with a twist of his lips. “It will only cost you time when you could be flying.”
“And getting fangs,” she shot back.
“Fangs you can use on your enemies.” Tix sighed. “I don’t see what the problem is. You were vulnerable. Practically human, and now you have a chance at survival. You should thank the primal and learn how to use your new talents.”
But I knew why Evan was afraid, and if Eddie didn’t think it would hurt anything, then I wouldn’t fight her. She needed time to process. I would give it to her. She was practically my daughter. She would be someday. Probably in three months or so if my son didn’t screw things up. I rather thought he should be here with her.
“It’s fine, Evan.” I put a hand on her shoulder. “You take all the time you need to make sure you can’t reverse it.”
“Thank you, Kelsey,” she replied, her eyes shining with tears. “I know I should have talked to you and Mom about it, but it’s hard. Dad is the one who wanted to try giving his blood a shot. I’m on a double dose, and if I run out I’m supposed to tap Lee’s non-fighting arm. I think he fights with both of them, though, so Dad was likely joking. Papa doesn’t know anything at all because he freaks out so easily. I would have found myself being carted across Faery looking for a wise woman to fix me.”