Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 131708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
That black gaze roamed over Viper’s face, blank. “I like the shape of your skull.”
Whipping up an arm, Teague crossed to the demon. “Uh, no, just no.”
It gave him innocent eyes. “I did not say I would take his head—”
“You were considering it,” Teague accused.
“But behold his bone structure, it is—”
“I said no.”
Tucker smiled at her demon. “Let’s not forget that Viper’s unlikely to let you behead him.”
The entity slid him a haughty look. “Quiet, small man.”
At that, Saxon bust a gut laughing.
Flushing, Tucker burst out, “I’m not short.”
Snuggling against Viper’s naked front as they lay on their sides on the bed, Ella listened as he relayed the entire battle to her. He’d given her a bullet point version while they were at the trailer park when she destroyed the magickal vines, and he’d expanded a little while they showered afterward. But she wanted more deets. Her demon listened eagerly, hungry for every detail.
Relief had left her weak in the knees when he earlier teleported back to the clubhouse, alive and well. She’d had every confidence in his ability to protect and defend, but still she’d feared that something would go wrong; that he wouldn’t return; that more Uppers might arrive or that the six archangels might turn on him.
Both she and her demon had hated not having his back during battle. But they had understood why he’d wished for Ella to remain at the clubhouse. And, honestly, it was for the best that she had. Neither her pride nor her craving for vengeance were anywhere near as important as ensuring the safety of her child. Even her demon conceded that.
Joe hadn’t woken until after Mia took him home. Remembering all he’d done, finally understanding how he’d been manipulated by Ophaniel, the guy was devastated and had apologized profusely. Which hopefully meant he was done being a jerk.
As Viper right then fell silent, Ella blew out a breath. “I have to admit, it delights both me and my demon to hear that the queen suffered like that. It’s just a shame that the deaths of Ophaniel, Maxine, and Freddie were so quick. They deserved worse.”
He wove his fingers through her hair. “Agreed.”
“Knox is going to be pissed when he learns about Maxine’s family business. Every relative she has who’s part of it will meet a real sticky end. As for the rest of them, they’ll never be fully trusted by their lair regardless.”
“Your aunt will probably feel guilty for allowing Maxine to befriend her. Be prepared for that.” He paused, drawing his teeth over his bottom lip. “A part of me feels responsible for what the rest of the Seven did to you in your past life; feels that I shouldn’t have trusted them to not come for you.”
Ella felt her brow furrow. “It wasn’t your fault.”
“I know that. I’m just saying that emotions aren’t always rational.”
No, they weren’t. And neither were her family, which was why … “I don’t look forward to telling my mom, Jocelyn, and Luka about the battle. But I can’t really hide it, since Joe knows.”
Thankfully, having been unconscious, Joe hadn’t actually heard any of what Ophaniel revealed. Viper would have otherwise stolen the memories from Joe’s head.
“They’ll be upset, but they’ll be mostly relieved that you’re safe and well,” Viper assured her, dragging his fingers down her spine. “Their anger will be mainly directed at the Uppers, not so much me and my brothers. To wish that you hadn’t gotten involved with me would be to wish away Peanut’s existence—they’ll never do that.”
“Speaking of Peanut … I was not expecting the shield.”
A slight shrug. “Archangels can create shields and containment forcefields.”
“Even in the womb?”
“Oh, yeah. My mother once told me a story of how I didn’t like people touching her swollen belly all the time, so I put a containment field around us that lasted quite a few hours.”
Whoa. “Peanut’s power display won’t have caused it any harm, will it?”
“No,” he instantly swore. “Peanut will sleep awhile but be fine.”
She let out a relieved breath. “We’ll soon have to tell everyone about the pregnancy. More celestials could come.” Her demon’s eyes narrowed at the thought.
“Or they’ll listen to the point I made to the archangels earlier and leave Peanut alone to avoid a war.”
“One can but hope.” She idly doodled patterns along his collarbone. “I know the archangels helped you, but do you think their words were genuine?”
“Yes. I think they came to realize that, since I’d fallen anyway, their actions toward you were pointless. All they’d done was delay my fall, and in the process they’d betrayed me. They don’t feel good about it.”
“So you don’t think they’d come for the baby? Even if the Uppers requested it of them?”
“If the Uppers had trusted that any of the six would harm me or mine, they would have sent them after us. They didn’t.”