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)
“Yeah,” I say, unable to help the small smile that comes to my face. “Though I’m almost more excited about the arena. It’s been so muddy it’s hard to work the horses without proper footing.”
“There are more than four stalls in the new barn,” he starts and raises his eyebrows.
“Trust me, I’m already thinking about filling them. There’s a place that does livestock auctions like twice a month only a few hours south of us, and they get a lot of Amish horses. I want to get a few before a kill buyer snatches them up.”
Nik shudders. “I still don’t understand how horses can be sold for meat.”
“Neither do I. Or any animal for that matter.” I look back at the police station, heart aching. “Ethan still has no idea I used Beyond Meat the last time I made him tacos.”
Nik chuckles. “I almost didn’t eat them, thinking it was ground beef.” He’s only half faery but abides by the fae rule of not eating any other living creature.
“Yeah, if you didn’t know you’d—” I cut off when the doors open. Carl exits first, followed by Ethan. Gasping, I throw open the car door and get out, running through the parking lot.
“Ethan!” I call, but he’s already rushing over to me. I fling myself into his arms and he holds me tight against his chest.
“It’s okay,” he tells me, strong arms wrapped around me. “Everything is good.”
“Is it?” I pull back just enough to look into his pretty eyes.
“Yes,” he presses and flicks his eyes to Carl. “The charges were dropped. We should get out of here before we talk.”
“Right, of course. We could get something to eat,” I say and then remember Ethan called off sick. The gym he works at is in Paradise Valley, but there’s a chance he could run into someone here in Thorne Hill. “Going home is a better idea.” We start walking toward my car. “Things are really okay?” I can’t help but ask.
“They are,” Carl answers this time. He comes to a stop, flicking his eyes to the police station. We’re alone in the parking lot at the moment. “Ethan has a solid alibi with proof he was at home at the time of the murder. And as soon as I pointed out that the evidence seemed rather convenient, it was as if the officers suddenly thought so too.”
I look from him to Ethan, not following. “Well, duh, it was planted, right?”
“Yes, and anyone with half a brain would have been able to realize that,” Carl goes on. “Once questioned, it was as if a spell had been broken and things were seen as they really were, which was that they didn’t have enough plausible cause for an arrest. No one even knows who found the lighter.” Carl tips his head, staring at me.
I inhale, eyes narrowing. “You really think that I’d try to get my own boyfriend arrested for murder?”
“All I know is, something altered those cops’ minds.”
Ethan holds his hand up. “Anora didn’t do this. Don’t you even fucking think about accusing her.”
Carl’s thin lips curve into a smile. “You know what they say about the company you keep.” He shifts his gaze from me to Ethan. “I’d be careful if I were you. You know who your family is,” he tells him. “And you know we have your back. When you’re ready to return, the Order will welcome you home.” He gives Ethan a curt nod and then turns and walks away, leaving me gaping at him.
“The fuck?” I mutter and look at Ethan. “I didn’t—”
“Babe,” Ethan interrupts. “Don’t defend yourself. I never for a second thought you were behind this. You’re not.” He puts his large hands on my shoulders and a rush goes through me just from feeling the heat of his skin against me. “The charges were dropped, I’m free to go, and Carl was able to pull some strings and the lighter with my prints on it will be misplaced by the end of the week. Everything is okay.”
“It’s not, though.” I shake my head and bite my bottom lip. “Someone tried to frame you for murder, and I think Nik is right.”
“Right about what?”
“Another demon is after me.”
Chapter
Five
“All right,” I say and smooth out the paper in front of me before sitting at the island counter in the kitchen. “It could be any one of these.”
“Or something else entirely,” Ethan chides, coming up behind me.
“Right.” I pull the cap off my pen and look down at the handwritten letter. Aunt Estelle wrote it years ago, and I don’t know who it was intended for. The letter has a list of all the demons she bound to human bodies, rendering them powerless. The spell she used to bind the demons was similar to the one she used to bind my powers. If the spell on me broke after her death…it makes sense that the demons won’t be bound for much longer either.