Total pages in book: 202
Estimated words: 193561 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 968(@200wpm)___ 774(@250wpm)___ 645(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 193561 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 968(@200wpm)___ 774(@250wpm)___ 645(@300wpm)
“There are a lot of things about my upbringing, about my life in Silver Hills that are ugly, that aren’t things that you’ll want to know,” I say into his skin as he holds me.
“I want to know everything about you,” he replies gently. “I know all this has been a lot. And I’m sorry we haven’t had time to just get to know one another as we should, that the problems here are taking time from us, but we have forever, sweetheart. We’ll catch up, okay?”
“Okay,” I agree.
And now as I drift off in the emerging light of dawn, spooned by him on our sides, enjoying his scent, his body heat, I can’t help but wonder how he’ll feel and what he’ll do when he learns it all.
He curls tighter into me and presses a hand on my stomach and his lips to my bare shoulder.
And I know he’s caressing not just me but also the notion of a child that could very well be forming inside me at this very moment. And I’m terror-stricken at the idea of any of this promising future being taken away.
25
Grey
“This walk becomes too much for you, Aunt Mimi, you tell me, and I’ll carry you,” I say.
Mimi takes my arm, handing me something with what I immediately know is an intentional expression. There’s a tangle of necklaces in my fist. She’s being carefully blank. I know this because before I can react, I’m hearing her voice. I hear it but her lips aren’t moving. I don’t show a reaction while she’s speaking directly into my head, wanting just me to get the message she needs to relay.
“The sight is telling me we may need these tonight, Greyson. If so, you’ll know what to do with them when the time comes. Keep them hidden.”
Without looking at the necklaces she put in my hand, I casually shove my hand into my pocket. She gave me a bracelet earlier, a black leather one, advising I should wear it today, advising it’d help block mindreading and offer some other protective qualities. It’s a flat, stitched leather and I feel tiny stones or crystals tucked between seams.
“Where are we setting up?” Erica asks.
The SCC meeting this afternoon was frustrating for Riley and Erica. They found out a lot of unhappy information about the intervention from the witches in the SCC about their relationship. Even more concerning is their interest in Erica’s newly acquired magical abilities. Apparently when a Young coven witch mates with a wolf shifter, big things happen. This was alluded to for me as well.
Erica is talking to the SCC witches who are here, wanting to do a witch circle at the site Erica was taken from seven years ago. One of them answers, gesturing ahead.
Aunt Mimi explained these witch circles to me earlier, and I paid close attention to the facts she shared.
Mimi squeezes my bicep and again speaks into my mind.
“You’ll learn how to internally communicate with others like this, too. You’ll find you’ve got a whole lot of skills going forward, Greyson. Don’t feel stressful about starting your training late. It’ll all come to you as it should. I do hope I have an opportunity to watch you hone those skills. But regardless, your cousins are looking forward to sharing their knowledge with you and when the time comes, you’ll find you catch on quickly. A benefit of becoming the head of our coven.”
I flex my arm to provide a response, though I dislike her train of thought. I’d really like to put a stop to the bullshit happening here right now with these two witches. Riley hasn’t hidden that he doesn’t trust them. But none of us do. I especially don’t trust the one with the hippie vibe that just answered Erica. I feel less threatened by the power suit-wearing one with the resting bitch face. This hippie witch seems conniving to me. She’s fake. Phony. The sooner they’re gone, the better.
They’re trying to get my cousin into a field where an illusion of flowers was part of a trap all those years ago. I’ll be ready to unleash hell if all of this is another of their traps.
Vivica and I exchange glances and although neither of us show it, I know we’re in the same boat. Promises have been made with the carrot dangled for Erica to learn things that will help her with her newly realized magic as well as, and even more important – a fountain of youth dip equivalent for Mimi that’ll come from this circle.
I know Riley would rather turn our backs on them, ban them from our village and consider cutting ties with the SCC altogether. Unfortunately, in addition to wanting to help Mimi, who we learned today is about to decline in health, it’s also a political game.