Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 123065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 615(@200wpm)___ 492(@250wpm)___ 410(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 615(@200wpm)___ 492(@250wpm)___ 410(@300wpm)
“You know their names, I’m sure. It’s about the history between the Greek and Roman gods and how it links to fallen angels.” I look away, then I turn back and glance at her expression.
It’s full of awe and wonder. “I never knew a book like this even existed. Does it talk about their heritage?”
It talks about everything I don’t want to talk about. “It’s forbidden.” I smile sadly. “Some say to touch the ancient book is to kiss death on the mouth. You’ll die swiftly in a lust-filled view of destruction and never want to come back. Then again, that’s a fairytale. I mean, it’s just an old work of fiction.” Or knowledge, but it’s not for humans to know. I sealed it myself with the power of the Sun. And it will stay that way for an eternity.
She frowns, her hand raises again, shaking. She drops it. “Right, right, sorry I’ve just never heard of it.”
“Ah, seems like someone likes stories as much as her twin.”
She smiles up at me. “No, you’re probably annoyed I keep asking so many questions. I’m sorry, I know you’re really busy, or at least have been. Owning two bars and having a massive amount of employees can’t be easy to deal with, plus you said something about your private collection of artifacts. That’s a lot. I promise I won’t annoy you too much. It’s already been a long two days.”
Or eternity if you ask me, but sure, two days.
I take a deep breath and check my watch. “Well, since we can’t crack open that case without getting arrested, and the bar doesn’t open for another two hours. Do you want to see where your brother worked?”
I set the bait perfectly. I’m safe. She already trusts me. Touches me without realizing it.
Is fucking drawn to me like a moth to the flame.
She nods enthusiastically, and I almost start to feel guilty. See, this is why you have to control your emotions, it’s why you hone them, it’s why you don’t get distracted by tight sweaters and innocent smiles.
“Wait!” She grabs my arm, then drops her hand. “The police, I almost forgot, can you just show me where the station is so I can stop by later and get updates on Jake?”
“You already know the chief.” I say lightly. “It’s Daggon.”
Her mouth drops open. “You could have told me sooner.”
“You never asked, and I thought they’d been in contact.” I ignore her pissed off expression. “I’ll take you by before I show you his obsessive workspace.”
“Wait,” She frowns. “I mean I know he was studying over here but he had an actual workspace and everything?”
“The artifacts from the latest dig can’t be brought here until they’ve been studied,” I say strategically. “So we have the warehouse on property. My property. It’s just next door to Styx.”
I leave it at that.
And sadly, just like everyone else, she just nods as if it’s normal.
And here I thought she would be different.
CHAPTER 10
CLEO
“That which has a bad beginning is likely to have a bad ending.” - Hen-Thorir’s Saga, ch.. 4
The precinct isn’t that big. I see maybe five officers present and Daggon sitting in his blue uniform, hair pulled back. He’s texting on his phone, typing furiously with a super smug grin on his handsome face.
He’s arrogant, then again they all seemed that way at dinner.
Has he been the one I’ve been talking to without even knowing it? There’s a front desk area, and behind that at least eight other metal desks with laptops. The hallway in front of me is long, and at the end of it is a single jail cell. They must not have a lot of crime because every single cop seems extremely bored and all of them are on their phones.
“Feet off,” Cyrus says, kicking Daggon’s feet off the desk. They slam into the floor with a thud. “Have respect for the furniture and your guests.”
Daggon lazily looks up, then grins and drops his phone onto his desk. Standing, he looms over me, arms crossed. “Well, look what my brother dragged in.”
Ah, he’s one of those, like his brother grabbed me by the hair and pulled me in here. It could be my imagination, but he doesn’t look at me; he looks through me as if I don’t even really exist or won’t in the near future. He’s predatory and arrogant in a way that’s the opposite of attractive. His auburn hair is pulled away from his face in a short ponytail, his muscles bulge beneath his shirtsleeves.
I bite my tongue to keep from saying something mean to someone I hardly know. Besides, I need him to help with Jake.
I move closer to Cyrus for protection and to fortify myself with a deep breath. He puts a hand on my lower back as if to encourage me to step closer and say what I need to say. I shudder at his touch, I like it because it’s warm, that’s the only reason.