Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 76943 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76943 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
For a split second, I thought we’d have trouble from the rest of her party, but their eyes went wide and I wasn’t sure they were breathing as panic seemed to set in.
So it didn’t look like we had anything to worry about from them…they were smarter than she was at the very least.
“That was a very good decision on your part.” Merritt’s quiet words were definitely a threat and the way she slowly sat back in her chair proved she understood that. “I would like to submit a motion to have Mrs. Phillip removed from discussions going forward and be advised to return home. I will not have my mate harmed because she doesn’t like to be told no.”
“How harmed?” Deputy Winslow had stayed at the back of the room like a silent and slightly bored reminder to behave, but he came to life quickly when someone said the words to activate his police instincts.
“Pierce would’ve ended up with flu-like symptoms over the next couple of days.” Merritt’s cold, firm tone made me glad I was sitting down for the meeting. It was sexy as fuck. “For most people it’s not fatal, just frustrating and inconvenient, but it can be if the spell isn’t properly done. It could just keep getting worse until the body couldn’t fight it any longer.”
He was amazing and frighteningly competent when it came to magic.
“I don’t know how good she is but I’m not willing to take any chances.” Turning back to look at the woman, who was a slightly gray color, Merritt kept his icy gaze on hers. “I want her away from my mate.”
Dangerous was a good look on him.
“Done.” The deputy spoke with a confidence that said he knew his will would be followed. “She has one hour to leave town and six hours to leave the country. I’m being generous since international flights are a bitch sometimes.”
Quiet murmuring went around the table but no one questioned the deputy’s power.
“The locals here are crazy, brilliant, and beyond powerful. I will not put up with behavior that is designed to deliberately injure another.” Still sounding remarkably dragon-like, the deputy continued. “This wasn’t a prank. This wasn’t just a bad decision. You were going to hurt someone in my town because you were pissed you didn’t get your way. Grow up and get out.”
I liked him.
“Agreed.” One of the local elders who seemed to actually have been bestowed with power when it came to local politics and common sense spoke up. “We are The Wight. We are not human. Our magic gives us great power and great responsibility. You will be disciplined by your council or they will no longer be welcome in this country.”
The room was utterly silent and we didn’t even get any good reactions to the Spider-Man reference until a suddenly startled-looking man on her right sucked in a breath. “But I have a vacation at Disney World scheduled for Christmas.”
As I sat there wondering what kind of evolutionary nonsense had led us to this level of brilliance, the elder somehow managed to take it seriously and sighed. “Then this needs to be handled quickly, doesn’t it?”
Mrs. Phillip was not impressed with the traitorous man’s quick nod or the even faster way they escorted her out of the conference room. It might’ve been the Disney threat or it could’ve been the way everyone around her started questioning how often they’d been sick.
When the still too crowded room was quiet again, I reached under the table and squeezed Merritt’s hand as I focused on the rest of the nuts. “Are we ready to proceed?”
With more reasonable options?
With less violence?
With more common sense?
I probably shouldn’t hold my breath on that last one, but I had a badass mate and had found at least two locals that didn’t make me want to whack them upside the head with a safeword.
A very firm safeword.
It was going to be a long day.
****
“I still can’t believe that mage from Florida wanted to sell tickets.” Merritt was shaking his head like it was the most ridiculous thing he’d ever heard, but I’d never moved past the woman who’d wanted to blow it up so we didn’t have to worry about it any longer.
The conversation had jumped from one extreme to the other all day long and I wasn’t sure we’d made much progress.
“At least he didn’t say he wanted to wrestle whatever he found on the other side.” Turning it into a theme park had not been on my top ten list when it came to figuring out what to do with the portal.
Nearly giggling, Merritt leaned into my side as we made our way to the car I’d rented. “I had a hard time staying grown-up and boring when he started talking so excitedly about all the dinosaurs he hoped were on the other side.”