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)
I knew that had ripped him up, and I couldn’t let another moment go past because I knew the actual truth. Lucifer, you see, liked to lie.
“They mourned you.” I put the plate aside entirely now because my silly attempt at revenge had blown up in my face. Now there was a hole opening up inside me, one I didn’t realize I had. Or I thought I didn’t care about anymore. “I think it was hard on them right after you died. You never looked them up?”
Casey’s head shook. “It’s not something we’re encouraged to do. I’m supposed to stay away from my hometown for at least seventy years. I thought it would hurt too much, and then we were in the middle of a war, and I definitely didn’t want to point out to anyone that they’re alive. But you knew. Are they still together?”
I had looked them up a long time ago. The fact that I’d kept tabs on them even during the war… Well, if I thought too long and hard, that headache would start up again. “Yes. Your dad retired recently, and they’re RVing around the States. I have a fake profile I follow their socials with.”
He stared at me for a moment, getting that stillness I associated with deep emotion from him. Casey seemed like a guy who wore his heart on his sleeve, but that’s mostly a function of his goofball half. There’s another part of Casey, the deep part that shoved everything down so he didn’t have to confront it. “I’m glad to hear that.” He took a deep breath and turned back to Gray. “So, we should bring Tix in and see what he knows?”
“Or we should take Kelsey Jean right back up topside.” Gray looked to his wife, and whatever he saw there had him putting his hands up in defeat. “I have to put it out there.”
“He never learns, baby,” Trent said with a wolfish grin. “It’s why I’m always the favorite.”
Gray snorted slightly. “Sure, you are.”
I was going to ask Casey a question, but the doors to the salon opened and Tix entered, his hands fluttering and followed by three bouncing hellhounds.
“Lord Sloane, the strangest thing has occurred,” Tix announced. “These are my mother’s sweet pets. Hestia, sit, please. You, too Hercules and Perseus. Everyone sit.”
The dogs continued to wriggle and bounce around. Kelsey saved her tray of fire, which was really intriguing to those canines.
Puff was squirming in Evan’s arms. “Calm down. We don’t know if they’ll eat you.”
“Perseus,” Tix exclaimed. “That is not proper. Those curtains are expensive. Don’t pee on them. I swear, Lord Sloane, I ensured they had time to relieve themselves. Hestia, that is not a chew toy. That is a very rare artifact.”
“I think that one is a little… Well, he’s found a lover,” Lee pointed out, laughing behind his hand.
It was complete chaos.
“Sit.”
Every canine in the room stopped at the sound of Fenrir’s growled command. I looked over, and he was as relaxed as he’d been before. But there was gravity to his tone.
“Find your place,” he ordered.
Puff sat on Evan’s lap, his head up like he was at attention.
Hestia, Hercules, and Perseus formed a line from tallest to smallest, all three looking to Fen for their next order.
I knew they called Fenrir a wolf king. I’d seen him when he was young, and I’ve seen how magnificently he fights. This was a power I hadn’t heard talk of. Myrddin didn’t believe Fenrir was a true wolf king. In his mind, that was simply something Sasha Federov put out to build a lore around the royal kids. The only one Myrddin took seriously was Rhys, and that was only because he thought he could be a useful bargaining tool when it came to the Fae.
He was wrong about Fenrir. I’d forgotten how I’d watched him call natural wolves to protect him, gathering a massive pack who followed his every command.
He’d called werewolves as a child.
He would command them all if he wanted to. This was what the wolves were afraid of. Not that he wouldn’t be a proper king with a she-wolf at his side.
They feared he would be a tyrant king who could take over their bodies and minds at will.
Like Myrddin Emrys.
A flare of pain went through my head.
“I’m so sorry.” Tix scurried through the room, trying to pick up after the hounds.
Fenrir nodded slightly, and the hounds all laid down, relaxed now.
Relax, Olivia. Everything’s going to be fine, and you’ll remember every moment. Myrddin had smiled down at me right before I was encased in darkness.
And then we’d gone to greet the royals because they were here. They had found their way back, and he’d needed to talk to them.
He’d talked to them as…me.
I remembered that. He’d been so reasonable, and the kids had shown up and we couldn’t convince the royals to talk to us.