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)
“No. We saw him at the Order HQ and that was it.”
“What about a motive?”
“Patrick didn’t like me. He said a few mean things and kind of threatened me, but it wasn’t anything major.”
“But it could be enough.”
“Yeah.” We’ve been through this already, and I’m thankful Nik is going over things again to appease me. “Really, Patrick has more motive to murder us, but, uh, he’s a little too dead to do that.”
“That tends to make things difficult.” Nik lets his hands slide off the steering wheel. I was too shaken up to drive and I need to get it together. Ethan is innocent and he will get out of here. If we can’t do things legally, then I will figure out how to magically erase his record.
“Maybe I can cast some sort of spell that will help us fake his death or something?” I muse out loud when I open the Book and flip past the glamour spell again. “I can make him look dead and then we can break into the morgue and get him out.”
“If it comes down to it,” Nik says, making a face. “But, uh, I’m sure we can come up with something else.”
I put my head in my hands, letting out a breath. “I can fight demons but I cannot figure this out.”
“You’re rattled right now.” Nik pats my shoulder. “Your boyfriend is in jail for murder and the Order of the Mystic Realm has it out for you. It’s a lot to process.”
“Yeah.” My breath leaves my lungs and I turn, looking out the window. “And that’s what scares me. We get Ethan out and then what will the Order do? They won’t let this go. Will they go after Ethan’s family?”
“They’re members. They probably won’t go after them,” Nik tries. “They follow the rules and everything. Ethan didn’t. So, they’re safe.”
“I hope so, but if David finds out they’re responsible for this…” I shake my head. “Sam is already on the fence about leaving. This would definitely push her to do it.”
“Silver lining?” Nik shrugs and I just bite the inside of my cheek. “A secret organization with enough power to clear or create criminal records is, uh, terrifying.”
“A secret organization with enough power to clear or create criminal records and has a warehouse full of dark objects at their disposal,” I correct and we both shudder. “I wish there was a way to take them down.”
“The coven. Could they help?”
“I don’t know,” I say, realizing I didn’t even think about it. “I’m sure if it were me, but Ethan isn’t a member of the coven. But if the Order is blackmailing people, the High Priestess probably will want to know.”
Silence falls over us and I let my eyes close for a moment. Something is really off about this whole thing, not just the obvious Ethan got arrested issue. Whatever it is nags at me like negative energy. My eyes fly open when I realize that’s exactly what I’m sensing: negative energy. But right when I open my mouth to tell Nik, I see someone get out of a black SUV.
“The fuck is he doing here?” I ask, reaching for the door.
“Who?” Nik sits up straighter.
“That guy.” My eyes widen. “Carl. He works for the Order.”
“Oh, shit. Anora, don’t—”
I don’t hear the rest of what Nik says. I get out of the car, rage building inside of me, and rush across the parking lot.
“What the hell?” I demand and Carl spins around, half smile on his face.
“Oh, hello, Miss Benson.”
“I knew it! I fucking knew you were behind this.” I ball my fingers into fists, too angry to realize little flames are flickering around my hands.
“Easy, Scarlet Witch,” Carl quips, looking at my hands. “Or else they’re going to think they arrested the wrong person.”
“This isn’t funny,” I say through gritted teeth, and the light in the lamppost behind us starts to hum with energy. The doors to the police station open and close and two officers come out. One of them eyes us, no doubt able to read the tension in my body language. I blow out a breath, releasing the energy.
Nik comes over right as they walk past, stopping at my side, eyes narrowed as he stares down Carl, who stiffens at the sight of him. Right. Order members don’t like supernatural creatures, which means Stephanie must have told him the Order that not only is Ethan living with a witch, but a faery as well.
“It isn’t funny at all. Murder charges are serious.” Carl pushes his shoulders back and adjusts his briefcase hanging on his shoulder. “Which is why you need to get out of my way and let me go to my client. We both want the same thing here.”
“What?” I blink once. Twice. Carl isn’t laughing or even grinning. Is he being serious? “You are the reason Ethan got arrested.”