Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 140940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 705(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 705(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
“Mine are ancient.”
“Mine too, and both are woven into the very fabric of the earth, air, and water. Both are steeped in the history of the world itself.” Baba sighed. “And both still bow down to something greater than themselves.”
“I asked you to stay out of my way.”
“What occurs here will also affect my bloodline too.”
Delphine blinked.
“Besides, I have done my best to stay out of the way—”
“You damn near led the Lion to the original—”
“I did not tell him to drink the milk—”
“But you knew he would drink it?”
Baba grinned. “The fact that you told him not to do it. . .well that was probably why he did it.”
I frowned.
“He was not meant to find the original.” Delphine gestured to Emily on the bed. “She is supposed to find it with the Eye of the Gator.”
“Yes. Yes.” Baba crossed her arms over her chest. “You knew the eye could help her go in her mind and see the things the other alters could not see.”
Intrigued, I moved closer to them.
“However,” Baba’s voice held an edge. “You had possession of that eye several months ago, but gave it to the Alligator Don telling him all about how this eye was from his family and would give him power.”
Delphine sucked her teeth.
“You gave him the Eye, so the Lion could get it from him, knowing that the Lion would kill him.”
I glared at Delphine. “Is that true?”
Delphine kept her view on Baba. “If you knew that, then why didn’t you tell them.”
Baba smiled at the both of us, then began to hum a low song as she headed away.
I called after her, “Baba, come back.”
“My grandson will be here soon, and that will be a lot. I must prepare.” Baba waved us away. “Besides my other little babies will be getting up in a few hours.”
Delphine scoffed but held her tongue.
What the fuck is really going on?
Delphine turned my way. “I have to give you something so you never go back in her mind again—”
“This Absinthe of the Ages.” I glared. “Did you have possession of that bottle too?”
“I did.”
“And then you gave it to this Quarter Master guy?”
“I did.”
“So, I can go kill him? Why?”
Delphine directed her view to Emily. “She’ll be waking up soon, and then I can tell the both of you.”
Fucking sneaky witch. I knew she was hiding something.
However, once she mentioned my mouse, all my focus returned to her.
I looked that way.
Emily’s features were peaceful in sleep, devoid of any worry about the craziness that had happened inside of her mind and around her.
Seeing her like this made me feel fiercely protective. “Will she be fine?”
“She will.”
“Does she know that I was in her mind?”
“We will see.”
I turned back to the witch.
Delphine’s expression softened. “You must understand. . .I did what I thought was best.”
“Maxwell is in a hospital fighting for his life. Is that what was best?”
Delphine stepped back like I slapped her. “I did not foresee every outcome, but I maintain that my choices were the right ones, all things considered.”
“Baba is right. If you have some mission, tell my mouse. She may help because in the end. . .” I gestured to her men behind her. “Because in the end, I do not care about humanity. I only care about my mouse and my cubs. Play around with me again and I will fucking kill all of you.”
Rage crossed their faces, but they were smart enough to remain there.
“And as you and all of your families burn in the flames that my bombs have set all over this fucking city. . .” I curved my mouth into a joyous smile. “I will sleep like a baby.”
I left her, walking around the circle and heading to our bed.
Fucking witch!
There, I stood, watching Emily’s peaceful slumber.
New Orleans, a city already rich in history and mystery, was about to become the stage for an unprecedented conflict, one that would draw killers from every corner of life.
Misha, David, Blue, Giorgio, and others were coming to this old city, each with their own agendas, their own battles to fight.
The air ran thick with the excitement of war.
What would this battle look like?
Would it be an inevitable clash of titans?
A fight among gods and monsters?
It does not matter. My mouse is giving me that wedding. That’s all I care about.
I didn’t give a fuck how many people we had to kill, I would finally have that lavish wedding.
Still, the irony was not lost on me.
Love and war.
Life and death, all dancing together in a murderous ballet choreographed by fate and deadly choices.
Lurking in the shadows, the sicarios would wait.
Patiently.
Hoping for the opportune moment to strike.
It better not be during my goddamn wedding.
Stress gathered around my shoulders.
But amidst this swirling vortex of potential doom, one truth stood resolute, unyielding, and crystal clear.