Total pages in book: 164
Estimated words: 152666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 763(@200wpm)___ 611(@250wpm)___ 509(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 152666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 763(@200wpm)___ 611(@250wpm)___ 509(@300wpm)
Frowning, I checked the contents of the pot, set to hang over an open flame. After stirring it, I crossed to the door and pulled it open.
A brawny man stood on my stoop, his weight leaned back onto his heels and his thick arms crossed over his chest. Alexander. His dirty blond beard reached down past his neck and his light brown hair was kept shaggy. Granny didn’t much care about appearances of those in her employ and no one in their right mind was going to say boo to this character. All you had to do was look into his slightly manic eyes to know you had other places you’d rather be.
A thrill of fear zipped through me. It was not good news when this guy made house calls. Raz had learned that just this morning.
In the past, Granny had never let Alexander off the leash when dealing with me. I was more fragile than everyone else and didn’t heal as quickly. Plus, I had work to do and didn’t have a replacement. She’d always been on hand to ensure my punishments didn’t get too extreme.
She hadn’t shown up today.
Xarion had clearly told him I’d been listening to the gossip, and Alexander had come to ensure my silence.
Chapter 6
Aurelia
Ipulled all of my terror deeply inside of myself so that I was mostly a shell of a person. No emotion would show on my expression or color my tone. It was imperative not to show fear with this guy. He fed on it.
“Making the rounds?” I asked placidly.
His gaze moved down my body slowly, a feeling like spiders crawling over my flesh. “Joss mentioned that Xarion was talking.”
I leaned against the door frame, the picture of disinterest. “Xarion is always talking. So is Joss.” My tone conveyed a rock-solid confidence I did not feel. “So are you, it seems. I can’t imagine that is a trait Granny is fond of in you.”
He studied me for a moment, no doubt hearing my subtle threat. Unlike the others, Granny gave me an audience. She listened to me. I’d made myself invaluable for just such a reason. If he tried to shove me around, I’d tattle without reservation. Even if what he’d said wasn’t true, and I suspected it wasn’t, he wouldn’t get let off the hook for saying anything at all.
He huffed, a little smile playing across his lips. He knew the score.
“Aren’t you going to invite me in?” he finally asked, his eyes sparkling with violence.
“Nope. I have too many memories of the times you forced your way in. It’s nice to have a choice this time.” Assuming I did have a choice, anyway. That was still up for debate.
“You deserved those other times.”
“Maybe, but that doesn’t make this situation any more palatable. What do you want? If it’s to tell me not to say anything, you don’t have to worry about that.”
“I know that I don’t. I know you’ll keep your mouth shut like a good little pet.”
“Fantastic. So why did you come?”
“I paid your buddy Xarion a visit. Joss and the others, too. They’ll know better than to talk about my business again. You’re the only loose end, and we’ve already established that you know to keep your mouth shut about anything I might’ve said.”
Hatred burned in my gut. “You’ve had a busy day,” I said. “Imagine if you didn’t speak when you should remain quiet, you’d have more time to relax.”
“What would be the fun in that?”
“What fun, indeed.”
He shifted his weight from one foot to the other and then back to center. “You don’t need to hear about the Outside from those idiots, you know. You can get what you need directly from the source.”
The sexual innuendo dripped from his tongue. He’d made it very clear over the years that he wanted me in his bed. Thankfully, he would never force the issue, not with Granny watching over me. None of my punishments—no one’s punishments—had ever been sexual in nature. That fact had been greatly relieving to many.
Even still, everything in me recoiled at his words. Somehow, I kept my tone light and disinterested. “Is that right?”
“I know that she shelters you, keeps you in the dark. I could shed a little light on things, tell you about the world.” He paused for a moment, his gaze at my chest. “I tend to be very chatty after I come.”
“Yikes, a little too much oversharing there.” I straightened up. “Lovely offer, but I think I’ll pass. I’m not overly fond of the outside world. If that’s all?”
I grabbed the edge of the door, ready to close it.
He put his hand on the wood to stop me. “I got business with you.”
My legs started to shake. Maybe she’d let him off the leash, after all. It took everything in me not to wet my lips in worry. Memories clambered for attention. Him pushing past me and into my little cottage. His fists connecting. His smile down at me as blood trickled into my eye.