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)
“Well, she definitely appreciated the save,” Casey said quietly. “I wish you would tell me what really happened.”
At least this man couldn’t read my mind. I would be in trouble if he could. “I did tell you. I’m sorry I lost the book. It’s confusing up there, and then I knew I had to get to Kelsey. I don’t remember what stack it was in.”
After I’d explained how I knew it was Lilith, Gray had asked me to show them where the book was. I’d had to come up with the confused-girl story really fast.
We’d searched for an hour, all of us in the upper library seeking something that never existed. The other thing I couldn’t find again was that door. I’d broken away and tried to locate the book I needed to pull, but I swear it was gone.
Lucky for me, Gray had another way to ID the brand and the hellhounds.
“I know you trust Tix,” Kelsey was saying, “but this is his mom we’re talking about. From what I’ve overheard, he adores her and she him. Why would he take our side?”
“Because he doesn’t have a choice.” Trent was back in pants. Which he didn’t have to do on my account. Despite the fact that I hadn’t been around Fenrir in years, I totally turned away because…he’s still a kid in my head. The way Lee and Evan are. When I look at them, I see their little faces as they asked for candy or if I would play a game with them.
I always had candy, and there was no game this teacher couldn’t play.
I kept it in my purse. Packs of chocolates or gummy bears and worms.
But Trent was fair game. He was totally an adult the first time I saw him, and he was hot. Like smoking hot. The wolf kept things tight, if you know what I mean.
Trent settled himself beside Kelsey on one of the luxurious sofas. Eddie brought a tray of something and placed it on the table in front of Kelsey. The tray was a beautiful, ornate crystal that looked like it cost a fortune.
“Is that spray cheese and crackers?” It looked like a joke. Like someone was pranking the beautiful crystal tray.
“Yeah, and jalapeno poppers,” Casey whispered back. “She’s got some weird cravings, and Eddie’s running his cloven hooves off to keep up with her.”
Diva. Except I knew it wasn’t Kelsey. Kelsey likely mentioned she was slightly hungry, and Eddie freaked out. He was a high-strung little guy, and taking care of his people was his reason to live.
Kelsey put a hand on Eddie’s shoulder, obviously thanking him.
I used to be able to do that. I would casually mention to Eddie or Albert that I was hungry and suddenly there was food in front of me, and not nutritious crap that’s supposed to enhance our powers. It was good food with carbs and everything.
Now I would get the cold shoulder and be told to rummage through the pantries for myself, and all because of some dumb misunderstanding.
“I’ll figure it out,” Casey whispered in my ear. “Come and sit with me. You deserve to be here. You brought us the most important clue to date. Besides, I’m not letting you out of my sight again now that I know the house has a problem with me.”
“I can stand.”
“Liv, you haven’t eaten. You’re not steady on your feet.”
I wasn’t, and he was right about the food, but I was protesting.
“Do you want me to force feed you, Olivia? Because I will.” He was so arrogant and gorgeous and irritating. “You choose.”
Sometimes malicious compliance is called for. I gave him my sweetest smile. In this case, his status as my husband was going to help me out instead of punishing me. No. I wouldn’t be the one punished.
It was also time for some confidence. “Tix cannot commit any act that could harm his master or his house.”
I walked around to the sofa across from Kelsey and Trent. The kids were sitting together closer to the fire, Evan on Fenrir’s lap and Puff on hers. Lee lounged in his chair looking like the brat prince he pretended to be.
Gray paced, moving to the door and back to the fireplace, over and over again. “The problem is the definition of the word harm, but in this case, I do believe he will tell me the truth.”
“And then turn around and call his mom.” Kelsey had a small plate in her hand.
“Not if I order him not to,” Gray said with a sigh. “But it’s possible that there will be gossip, and she could find out that way. Our planes aren’t that far off. We share some specialized workers. They’re bound to talk. Of course those shared workers could be the way the hounds got on the plane. I seriously doubt Lilith brought them here herself.”