Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 134501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 538(@250wpm)___ 448(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 538(@250wpm)___ 448(@300wpm)
Ripper glared at him. ‘We don’t know shit. You don’t know shit.’
‘She does,’ said Benny, pointing at Emberlyn. ‘She’ll tell ya I’m right. Carver’s part of it, ain’t he?’
Emberlyn lifted her shoulders. ‘I can’t say for sure, so I’m not going to. I don’t lay accusations at people’s feet unless I have proof of guilt. Do you have proof? I’d love to see it.’
Benny’s jaw hardened. ‘I don’t need evidence—’
‘Sure you do,’ she contradicted. ‘Otherwise, it’s just speculation.’
TJ nodded curtly in agreement while Benny flushed.
Ripper advanced on the latter male. ‘I don’t care what you choose to believe – that’s between you and you. And if you want to voice it to Carver or one of his wolves, that’s your prerogative.’ He lowered his face toward Benny’s, his eyes boring into his. ‘But you don’t air that out here, in my aunt’s diner.’
‘I-I am sorry about that p-part,’ stammered Benny. ‘But I’m not sorry about what I said.’
‘Which is why I ain’t sorry I punched you,’ TJ told him. He refocused on Ripper. ‘It wasn’t cool of us to throw down here, though – I’m sorry for that. I’ll clean up and pay for the damage.’
‘You both will,’ said Ripper. ‘I don’t care that he threw the first punch, Benny. You tossed the first verbal hit, and you had to know it would result in a fight.’
The restroom door creaked open, and Shane breezed inside. ‘One of my wolves called.’ He took in the entire scene. ‘Give me a rundown, would you, Rip?’
Ripper relayed everything to the other Alpha, who was quite clearly peeved at his wolf for starting shit here of all places.
Shane scowled at Benny. ‘Once you’ve cleaned up, you’ll be leaving with me – and you won’t like what’s coming next.’
Carver turned up soon after. There was a lot of blustering and cursing from him when he heard what Benny had said to his son. Emberlyn suspected the only reason the Alpha didn’t fly at the offending wolf was that Ripper would have flipped.
Once the restroom was set to rights and the brawlers left with their Alphas in tow, Yvette sought out Ripper and gave him an affectionate smile. ‘Thanks for stepping in, darlin’. They weren’t going to stop any time soon.’ She looked at Emberlyn, her smile widening. ‘I keep telling my nephew to bring you here for dinner. You might as well stay and eat.’
Ah . . . but that would be something close to a date, and he might not want to—
‘I was gonna say the same thing,’ said Ripper, turning to Emberlyn. ‘You up for it?’
She felt her lips curve. ‘I’m up for it.’
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Raising her hands above the altar Friday morning, Emberlyn stared down at the pocket-sized chunk of bloodstone as—
Scuffling sounds coming from below.
Pressing her lips together, she stomped twice on the floor. ‘I’m trying to concentrate.’
Another noise came from the basement. A light crash this time.
‘You’re not luring me down there, no matter what you do. My answer is still no.’ Emberlyn drew in a centering breath and began to chant. Teal, black and silver magick motes slowly drifted down from her palms. Motes that swirled, thickened, pulsed and sparkled.
Then they shot downward into the bloodstone, engraving the protective spell into it. The gem tremored, pulsing with light.
Done reciting the spell, she closed her fists. The bloodstone stilled, the glow fading. She scooped it up – it felt warm in her hand, purring with power. Satisfied, she placed it in the pocket of her black ribbed pants.
She’d agreed to do a healing session this afternoon. Reworking a person’s energy involved unblocking clogged pathways and ridding them of negative vibes. It was easy to accidentally take the latter inside you. The bloodstone would deflect any negative energy.
She usually did such sessions after the hub closed for the day, but it wasn’t going to be possible this time. Not if she was to attend the football game later. Her client had no issue with an afternoon appointment because they didn’t want to miss the game either. Paisley, Chrissie and Clem had already agreed to hold the fort – they could easily manage without Emberlyn for a few hours.
She walked about the study, blowing out the incense burner and putting things away. The door hinges creaked as Lucie swanned inside, meowing loudly in a way that said, Give me your attention.
Emberlyn cocked her head. ‘What is it, kitty?’
Another meow, this one less whiny.
‘I don’t know what that means.’
Lucie chirped and glanced outside the room . . . and it was a mere moment later that a knock came at the front door.
‘Oh, I have a visitor? Well, I appreciate the heads-up. Thank you.’ Emberlyn exited the study with Lucie and made her way to the front door. Opening it, she almost froze. Because what the fuck was Reena doing on her porch?