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)
“We won’t have to stay long, will we?” Anabel held her arms close to her sides. “It’s bad enough that the place is packed with people. All the bunnies are making it hard to take a step without crushing something. And why are they wearing top hats? It’s just weird.”
Wynter turned to her with a sigh. “See, this is why we ask you not to experiment on yourself. There are no bunnies. Or top hats. You’re hallucinating again.”
A line dented Anabel’s brow. “But they look so real. Are you sure?”
“As sure as I am that Bruce Willis was not hanging out in our cottage earlier talking to you about herbs, despite what you insisted.” That had been a weird half hour.
“He seemed so real.” Anabel looked at her bare arms. “Just like this hideous rash.”
“Oh no, that’s real.”
She stomped her foot. “Dammit.”
Delilah gently elbowed the blonde. “Hey, on the upside, I don’t think Diego will wanna touch you tonight.”
Anabel brightened. “That’s a good point. He’ll give me space for sure.” Her eyes narrowed in thought. “In fact … ” She let out an experimental cough loud enough to make a few people turn. Spotting the rash covering her face, neck, and arms, they understandably took a step back. Many preternaturals were immune to viruses, but not all.
She kept coughing and sniffling, clearly delighted that the crowd parted like the red sea. “I should really do this more often. I can’t believe I didn’t think of it before.”
Delilah frowned. “You’d willingly look hideous just so people would give you a wide berth?”
Anabel sniffed. “Unlike you, I do not care what others think of my appearance. I reject vanity in all its forms.”
Wynter sighed. “If you convince people you have a rash, they’re going to worry that it’s contagious, and then they won’t come to our shop anymore.”
Anabel looked at her for a long moment. “Xavier’s right, you really do choose to focus too much on logic.”
He smiled at the blonde. “Thank you.”
Anabel looked off to the side, her mouth curving. “Ah, that’s cute.”
“What?” he asked.
“The pony.”
He cleared his throat. “Not real.”
“Shit.”
“Ooh, I see George.” Hattie pulled a little spray bottle out of her purse, squirted some of the contents into her mouth, and then dropped the small cannister back into the bag. “I’ll catch up with you lot later.” And off she went.
Xavier rubbed his hands. “All right, let’s go waste our money.”
Wandering from table to table and stall to stall, they pretty much did exactly that. Eventually, they made their way to the battle square, where they managed to win back a lot of the cash they’d lost, since they were pretty good at predicting which fighter would come out on top.
At one point, hands clamped on Wynter’s hips, and a mouth grazed her temple. “Thought I might find you over here, little witch.”
She smiled, her body perking up in all the best places. Although her earlier conversation with Ishtar had filled her with doubts, Wynter had chosen to shake them off. He’d given her no reason to believe he was using her, and she wasn’t going to let Ishtar poison what they had unless, or until, proof of such a claim appeared. “I figured you’d be playing poker with the other Ancients or something.”
“One game was enough.” Cain hummed. “What a view.”
Realizing he was looking at her cleavage, she rolled her eyes. Typical boy.
He nipped her earlobe. “Now I’m remembering the time I thrust my cock between your breasts until I came all over them,” he whispered.
She swallowed at the memory, her hormones getting all stirred up. “You’re mean to do this to me here.”
He let out a wicked chuckle and, curling his arm around her waist, moved to her side. “Who did you place your money on?”
“The lamia. And I’m glad. She’s totally wiping the floor with the vampire.” The lamia continued to do exactly that, and victory was very soon hers. The crowd’s winnings were handed out. Wynter happily accepted hers and pocketed the cash.
Just then, another Ancient sidled up to them and nodded. “Cain, Wynter.”
“Hey, Azazel,” she greeted simply.
His gaze cut to Anabel, and his brow creased. “What’s with the rash?”
“I’m allergic to crowds.” The blonde tilted her head. “Why are you wearing a tin foil hat?”
Xavier leaned into her. “Not real,” he muttered.
She closed her eyes. “Dammit.”
Delilah nudged Wynter, chuckling. “Get a look at Hattie staring at George’s ass while he’s tossing hoops at the bottles. I don’t know how to feel about the fact that her sex life is currently better than mine.”
“And mine,” added Xavier.
“Only because you’re set on fighting Elias and his boyfriend,” Delilah pointed out. “A threesome would spice things up for sure.”
Xavier narrowed his eyes. “You know as well as I do that Elias is just messing with me.”
“That doesn’t mean he wouldn’t gladly fuck you.”