Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 71312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
I have to look away to keep from laughing, and Donna’s face is priceless. She wanted to go through the same song and dance about how weird it is to have a roommate—though it’s not—because I think she’s convinced we’re a throuple and wants me to admit it.
“Oh, well, it’s, uh…nice to meet you.” Her small eyes narrow and she looks at me, waiting to see if I’m going to laugh and say this is a joke.
“That wolf,” I begin again. “You said it just frightened your animals, but it didn’t attack?”
“Right.” Donna shudders. “It was like it was stalking us, waiting for a bigger target?”
“Like you?” Nik asks seriously and if I had water in my mouth, I would have spit it out.
“Me or my children. That thing has a taste for blood, I’m telling you.” She shakes her hair back. “Which is why I just had to tell you. You have those little rescue horses, and I would just be heartbroken to know something happened when I could have warned you and prevented it.”
And I’m back to grinding my molars in an attempt to bite my tongue. It has to be exhausting to be her, dropping insults, and trying to constantly stir up shit.
“Well, we appreciate it, deeply,” Nik says in an exaggerated Russian accent. “I will keep my gun at my side at all times.
“Good idea,” Donna replies, still not sure what’s going on but not wanting to appear confused. “Let’s hope Animal Control can get it together and catch this thing. We all have to be on guard now.”
“Better safe than sorry,” I offer and force a smile. Donna looks Nik over once more and then takes a step back.
“You take care now,” she says and gets in her car. I keep my fake smile on my face until her truck bumps along the street.
“What a fucking bitch,” I huff, shaking my head. “And I say that fully knowing she’s never done something outrightly bitchy.”
“That’s what makes her such a fucking bitch,” Nik agrees. “So that wolf isn’t a wolf.”
“It’s someone’s familiar.”
“You saw that, too?”
“Yep. The eyes were a giveaway. And it didn’t attack.” I shift my weight and push my hair over my shoulder. “Why would someone have their familiar lurk around like that?”
“I have no idea,” Nik tells me. “I’m not familiar with familiars.” He laughs at his own words. “But I do recall Estelle mentioning that it’s typically frowned upon to have your familiar take the form of a wolf.”
“Why?” I ask right as it dawns on me. “Oh, werewolves.”
“Yeah. Though, there’s no bad blood between you guys, right?”
I shake my head. “No. Ruby told me that weres tend to say within the pack which sounds like it could be an inbreeding issue to me, but hey, who am I to judge?” I hold up my hands. “She said that witches and weres are free to be friends or marry but their children tend to only inherit half of one set of genes, so they’re either a witch with weak powers or a wolf who’s unable to shift. It sounds like a genetic risk.”
“I’ve heard,” Nik says, nodding his head toward me. “Maybe Donna really is a demon.”
“Is it horrible that part of me really wishes she was? I’d love to stab her with my fire-sword.”
Nik lets out a snort of laughter. “I’m betting half the town feels the same way about her. We didn’t call them Karens back in the day, but people like her have existed throughout history.”
“I think I’d definitely lose it if I came across a version of Donna every fifty or so years.” The wind picks up and I look out at the street. “If someone nearby was a member of the coven, you’d think they would have reached out, right?”
“Right. I also recall Estelle mentioning how few members of the coven settled in Paradise Valley. You’re right on the cusp of Paradise Valley and Thorne Hill, I know, but given the fact that your aunt was rather well known within your own coven someone would have most definitely reached out.”
Glancing at Hunter, he’s already thinking he should go out tonight and try to find this other familiar. It’s kept its distance, and he thinks it was for a reason. If it had come any closer, he’d be able to sense it.
“I’m going to text Ruby,” I tell Nik, reaching down to pull my phone from my breeches pocket. “And ask if she knows of anyone in our coven who has a familiar that takes the form of a wolf.” I walk up the porch steps as I type out a message.
Me: Hey! Random question, but do you happen to know if anyone in the coven has a familiar that takes the form of a large gray wolf with blue eyes?