Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 125083 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125083 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
It was after Wynter had busted open each cell to free them that Delilah shocked the hell out of her by declaring they should all go on the run together. The others had nodded, eager. That was when Wynter began to realize that none of them were entirely sane …
*
Knocking bits of bone and brain matter from her tee to the floor, Wynter took in each smiling face. “You can’t be serious.”
“My ancestor told me I’d live if I followed you,” Delilah told her. “I plan on living. Ergo …”
Hattie began plucking gory clumps from Wynter’s hair. “I think it’s a good idea for us to band together. We’ll be harder to track that way.”
“And there’s safety in numbers,” added Xavier.
Anabel nodded. “I like safety. I like that my chances of survival will significantly increase if I’m part of a group that not only includes you but a deity.”
“You guys all know what I am, right?” Wynter asked them. “You saw what just happened? You know I have people on my ass?”
Xavier waved that way. “We all have people on our asses. That’s why it makes sense for us to combine forces. You’re uber powerful, sure, but you still got caught. It’ ll be good for you to have us watching your back.”
*
They’d been doing that for her ever since.
Wynter did the same for them. Although, honestly, she hadn’t needed to save them from bounty hunters anywhere near as many times as she’d needed to save them from themselves. All things considered, though, she probably should have seen that coming.
Washed, dressed, and feeling refreshed after the best night’s sleep she’d had in a while, Wynter headed downstairs and into the kitchen the next morning. She was immediately hit by the scents of eggs, toast, and fresh coffee.
Both Xavier and Anabel sat at the barn-wood dining table, digging into their food.
Delilah was leaning out of the window that overlooked the backyard. “Hattie,” she yelled, all accusatory. “You said you’d given up smoking.”
“I have!” Hattie claimed from outside.
“Woman, I can smell the weed.”
“That’s for the pain.”
“The pain of what?”
“Fucking cliffhangers.”
Huffing, Delilah straightened and shut the window. “Oh, morning, Priestess.”
“Stop that.” Wynter had no sooner taken a seat at the table than a mug of coffee and a plate of food was put in front of her. “Hmm, thanks. Where’d you get the eggs and stuff?”
“I woke up early and went on a mini grocery grab,” said Delilah.
Xavier bit into his cream cheese bagel, and his eyelids drooped. “Damn I need more of these in my life.”
Spooning her oatmeal, Anabel wrinkled her nose at him. “I have no idea how you can eat cream cheese. It’s just ew.”
A line formed between his brows. “You’re constantly testing your own potions—some of which smell like armpits—but you can’t handle cream cheese?”
“It’s the devil’s work.”
He rolled his eyes. “You say that about everything you don’t like.”
Wynter frowned when Delilah joined them at the table with only a cup of tea. “You’re not eating?”
“Already ate,” replied Delilah. “I was hangry earlier, so I figured it’d be better for everyone if I filled my stomach there and then.”
Considering the woman would argue with you over absolutely anything when operating on an empty stomach, Wynter would have to agree with her.
As she dug into her breakfast, she looked around the kitchen and noticed that Delilah had also made time to unpack her cauldron, mortar, and pestle. Glass jars of herbs, ground roots, seeds, and powders were set near them. Her homemade medicinal tea mixtures were no doubt tucked in a cupboard somewhere, along with her bottles of this and that.
Wynter suspected that Delilah had hurried to set her own bits and bobs around the kitchen because she’d wanted to claim a small area before Anabel had the chance to do the same. The blonde’s cauldron, tools, and the typical ingredients she used for the potions were nowhere in sight, but they’d no doubt be neatly set at the other side of the kitchen before the day was over.
Delilah sipped her drink. “So, is anyone regretting that they’ve surrendered some rights to their soul? Please say no, because I really like this place. I don’t want to leave.”
Anabel shrugged one shoulder. “I haven’t had a freak-out yet, but it’ll eventually happen. Still, I won’t ask to leave.”
“Me neither,” said Xavier around a mouthful of bagel.
“I don’t like not being the only proud owner of my soul, but the situation isn’t bothering me half as much as I thought it would,” said Wynter. “Maybe it’s because I know it isn’t permanent and that I could reclaim those rights at any time.”
“Why do you think the Ancients insist on that particular price tag?” asked Xavier. “Do you think owning rights to souls increases their power, or do you think it’s a scare tactic meant to keep people in line?”