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)
“And, is that true?” Ella carefully asked.
“Yes. I totally get why he’d stop wasting time on a fling and instead go after the woman he wanted. I’m not upset about that. But I don’t like the way he handled this whole thing. He could have been honest with me right from the start, or at least not acted all distant. I’m his anchor, for Christ’s sake. You’d think he’d be too protective of me to mess me around like that.”
“Yeah, you’d think so.”
“I’ve said this before, I know, but you lucked out with Luka. I know he’s no one’s idea of a teddy bear, but you can rely on him. That’s worth its weight in gold.”
“It is, and I don’t take it for granted.” Ella leaned back in her chair. “How come you waited so long to call me? Was it a long conversation, or did you need time to calm down?”
“I was a little pissed with Joe for being a dingus, so I hit a club on the way home and hooked up with a guy who swore he’d fuck my anger out of me.”
Well. “That’s quite a job you set him,” said Ella, feeling her mouth kick up. Mia’s nerves weren’t easy to settle, even with great sex. “Tell me more about this dude.”
“I will when you tell me who you hooked up with at the Red Rooms a few nights ago.”
Not happening. “A lady never tells.”
“Lady. Ha. That’s funny.”
Ella frowned. “Hey, I’m all grace and manners and serenity.”
“Sure you are,” Mia mocked.
“Now, seriously, are you sure you’re okay about this Joe thing?”
“I wouldn’t say I’m okay. Especially because he seemed to think I’d be heartbroken. Yet, had he turned up at my apartment—my safe space, where I’m most comfortable—to reveal something that he thought would hit me right in the heart? No. He’d requested that I go to him. Like he couldn’t be bothered making the journey even to make it easier on me. And it’s just an extra kick to the gut.”
Ella shook her head hard, as furious as she was stunned. “I don’t get why he’s being such a jackass.” In the past, he’d been intensely protective toward Mia. Loyal and reliable. A good friend and confidant. “Apparently, he’s forgotten that you’re anchors or something.”
“I could honestly think I’ve done something to upset him. But we haven’t argued or anything. We didn’t end the fling on a bad note. He’d been the one to cut it short, not me. And with good reason, since he had his sights set on someone else. Where’s my crime, please?”
Nowhere to be seen.
“I had to leave fast or my demon would have surfaced and … well, it wouldn’t have been pretty. It’s a little calmer now.”
“Thanks to the guy you’re not going to tell me about?”
“Yes. Thanks to him.”
“You’re seriously not going to tell me who it was?”
“Not until you give me more deets on who fucked you in the Red Rooms.”
Yeah, that wouldn’t be happening. “Fine. I didn’t really want to know anyway.”
A cackle. “Liar.”
The one word echoed Viper’s earlier accusation, bringing the memory of his voice—oh, she was pretty sure she could come just listening to him talk—to the forefront of her mind.
I’ll give you a few more days to come to me. If that doesn’t happen, I will come to you.
Going by the way that simple promise riled up her hormones, Ella couldn’t honestly say she’d resist him if he did.
CHAPTER TWELVE
“She’s going to steal my soul.”
Ella stared at the human male opposite her, words failing her. Neve had texted his address earlier, adding, This one is weird even for me. I leave it in your capable hands.
Ella had to admit she’d been curious. And so here she was, sitting at his kitchen island while he stood on the other side of it. Brock was his name. Only twenty years old, he still lived with his parents and was home for his college break.
He was also presently a nervous wreck—biting at his lips, rubbing his nape, tugging at his tousled brown hair, restlessly rocking back and forth on his heels.
“She comes every night,” he said, a tremor to his voice. “It doesn’t matter what I do, it doesn’t matter that I removed all the mirrors and that I’ve covered all reflective surfaces.” Desperation glinted in his slanted, green eyes. “She always finds a way in.”
“Who?”
He hesitated before blurting out, “Bloody Mary.”
Oh, Lord. Her demon shot him a look of contempt. It urged Ella to leave; felt they had better shit to do and bigger things to deal with. Like tracking their annoying pen pal, or even heading off to see Viper, who she hadn’t heard from since he’d called two days ago.
“You don’t believe me,” the human mumbled, a self-depreciating smile curving his mouth.
“I don’t think you’re lying.” She believed something was going on. But the real Bloody Mary had merely been a witch who died a long, long time ago. The legend that had built around her wasn’t something to be taken seriously. “All sorts of things happen in this world that we don’t understand,” she added vaguely.