Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 98961 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 495(@200wpm)___ 396(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98961 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 495(@200wpm)___ 396(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
“I guess it would depend on how often they take inventory. Supposedly, the place is blessed by a priest weekly, but I doubt that entails counting everything. It would take for-fucking-ever.
“Yeah. There has to be hundreds of objects in there.”
Easton nods and we’re back to feeling awkward around each other again. “The house on North Orchard, right?”
“Yeah. Eliza is there with Juliet.” I turn my head to him, wondering if I should ask if he wants to meet her. He doesn’t seem too eager, and I can’t fault someone for not wanting to see a baby. I’m a mother now and I still don’t want to see other people’s babies. “Are you hungry? I can order food or something.”
“No thanks. I’m gonna find some buddies at a bar. See if word has gotten out about a shadow monster escaping the Order’s warehouse.”
“Hah. Well, if you hear anything, let me know.”
“I will.” He turns and we ride in silence again until we get to the house.
“Thanks, Easton. Really. It means a lot that you’re still willing to help.”
“You’re a good person, Callie. I’m…I’m lucky I get to call you a friend.”
I give him a half smile. “Yeah, you are. And you know I’m there if you need anything.”
“I might just look for an excuse to fuck with the Order now.”
My half smile turns into a full smile. “Oh, I’m definitely down for that. I’m going to go ahead and hold them all accountable for Roger’s death wish against me.”
“Sounds fair.” His eyes linger on mine. “Be careful, Callie.”
“I will be. As much as I can.” I gather my stuff and get out of the truck. He idles in the street, not leaving until I’m inside.
“Well?” Eliza says, speeding into the large foyer. Juliet is in her arms, and she’s in another ridiculous outfit that looks so damn cute. She’s awake, big blue eyes trying to focus on my face.
“Hey, sweetheart,” I coo and take her from Eliza. “Were you a good girl for your sister?”
“Of course, she was. Even though she went through a record number of diapers in the short time you were gone. Did you get it?”
“I did.”
Eliza’s face lights up. “What are you waiting for? Let’s use it.”
I had some time to think on the way here since Easton and I didn’t talk much. He had a point to question if I should be holding the oracle so casually when enough people had bouts of terrible luck brought on them after handling it.
“This thing is powerful and used the wrong way, can be destructive.”
“Okay?”
“I don’t want to blow the one shot I have.” I close my eyes, hating what I’m about to say. “I think it would be best to drive back to Thorne Hill tonight before I accidentally enact a triage of bad luck, and then go to the Covenstead and have Evander help me with it.”
Eliza presses her lips together and looks at me, unblinking, for a minute. “That’s the logical thing to do. Not the Callie-thing, but if you only have one chance, then we need to be sure we do it right.”
“I agree.” My heart aches in my chest, missing Lucas so much I don’t know how much I can physically withstand it anymore. “I heard his voice in my head telling me to really think this through.” My lips curve into a smile and I look down at Juliet, seeing so much of her father in her.
The thick hair she was born with is thinning out a little, and what I suspected was cradle cap on the back of her head is getting worse. I know it’s normal and nothing to worry about, yet it’s another thing I didn’t think I’d have to do alone. Lucas should be here, going through and enjoying every single little thing. Juliet is almost three weeks old now, and every day that goes by is a day we’ll never get back.
Lucas will never have another biological child.
“I have a few things to pack up and take back with me,” she says.
“Okay,” I say and go into the living room. Keeping Juliet tight against me, I put the scarab on the coffee table and stare at it. I’m still not picking up any bad vibes from the thing, yet the thought of getting cursed with bad luck and then loading my baby into the car makes me anxious.
“Are you hungry?” I ask Juliet, spotting the bottle on the coffee table. It doesn’t look like she drank much. Pumping breast milk isn’t a pleasant experience, but given my lifestyle, I should probably have more milk on hand. Though in the back of my mind, I just have the feeling my angel-side will take over and I won’t be able to do something as human and nurse my child for much longer.