Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 31462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 157(@200wpm)___ 126(@250wpm)___ 105(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 31462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 157(@200wpm)___ 126(@250wpm)___ 105(@300wpm)
“But…our reservations. We need to be there in five minutes.”
“It’ll be okay.”
With a sigh, Sky swiped his thumb across the phone and answered the call. “I’m on my date.”
“I know! I know! I’m sorry! But this is an emergency. I need you to come pick me up.” Red’s frantic voice filled his ear.
Sky fought to unclench his teeth just so he could reply. “No. Call Mad. Get him to pick you up.”
“I tried. Do you seriously think I called you first? I’ve been trying to call him for half an hour, and he won’t pick up. Moon’s in Boston for the next few days. You’re my only choice. Please, Sky, this is life and death. I’m seriously stuck, and I can’t let them find me.”
Okay, that sounded worse than he’d expected.
The frustration that had bubbled in his veins immediately ebbed and he straightened. He lifted his eyes to Nolan as he asked, “Who’s after you? What’s going on?”
Nolan’s eyebrows jumped toward his hairline. Without another word, he grabbed the arm Sky had hanging down at his side and turned them both to the lot where Sky parked. There was no look of disappointment or anger. Just a sense of urgency that they needed to get moving. A yummy Italian dinner just wasn’t in the cards for tonight, but maybe they could grab a quick bite somewhere and then hit the bar for live music.
“It’s kind of hard to walk and talk on the phone at the moment. You’re in Morrison for dinner, right?”
“Yes. Where are you?”
“I’m in Old Hawley on Banklick Road. Do you know it?”
“Yeah, but that’s at least fifteen to twenty minutes away from here. Wouldn’t it be faster to call a rideshare?”
“No. Please, Sky, I need your help,” Red pleaded when he really didn’t need to. They were already halfway to the car. He was picking up his friend if only so he could strangle the man.
“Yes, yes. Where do you want me to meet you?”
“Just call me when you get to Banklick Road, and we’ll figure out the closest meeting spot. And hurry, okay?” Red ended the call before Sky could answer.
Shoving his phone into his pocket, Sky glanced up at Nolan and forced a smile that was more of a grimace. “I’m sorry about our dinner reservations.”
Nolan grinned. “It’s not a big deal. I understand about friends who need help. Besides, I’m out on a date with a very popular man.”
“True, but you’re my priority right now, and I’m not making you feel like a priority.”
Nolan bumped him as they walked. “I’d say you’re proving that if I ever find myself in a bind, I can call you for help.”
“Yes! Anytime, day or night.” Sky narrowed his eyes on Nolan. “But I figured I proved that already with Owen and then that Christoph bastard.”
A scoffing noise came from Nolan’s throat. “I thought you were just doing that in hopes of getting in my pants.”
“No. Well, it wasn’t the only reason.”
When they reached the car, they both quickly hopped inside and Sky filled Nolan in on what little Red had told him on the call as they started toward Banklick Road in Old Hawley. The last bit of sunlight was painting the sky orange and red while deeper blues were chasing after them. Sky chewed on his bottom lip. Banklick Road was a somewhat rural stretch without a lot of streetlights. If they didn’t get to where Red was waiting soon, he was going to be difficult to see in the dark.
“I guess Maddox wasn’t picking up the phone when he called due to his fungus problem,” Nolan observed in a tone that managed to be just short of outright laughing.
“True. But he should be purple-free now. Why couldn’t he have picked up?”
“Maybe he’s still cleaning up his mess.”
Sky grunted. It made sense, though the timing of all their shenanigans was kind of insane.
Nolan leaned forward and glanced up at the sky. “Between Maddox, Redstone, and Jennifer, I’m beginning to wonder if it’s a full moon.”
That was a pretty good idea. “Huh. I hadn’t thought of that. I wonder if it is.”
Nolan sat up and shifted to gaze at Sky. “You don’t know? Isn’t that something witches pay attention to for their spells?”
“Earth witches, yes. They’ve got this whole thing with the phases of the moon and the seasons and the alignment of the stars and planets. It’s a big thing for them. Do not ever ask Red or Mad about it unless you want a three-hour lecture about synchronicity and astral alignments.”
His sexy date’s low laugh filled the car. “But I’m guessing none of that matters to necromancers.”
“Hell, no. The dead don’t care about the moon, seasons, or stars. They’re just dead,” Sky said, getting the snort from Nolan he’d been working so hard for. “However, the one weird exception that I cannot begin to explain are eclipses. Magic gets all weird for everyone—even necromancers and blood witches—when there’s an eclipse.”