Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 80563 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80563 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Tabatha takes in another slow breath, emotions hidden behind her pretty brown eyes. She got out of bed and rushed here, but is still more put together than I’ll ever be on a good day. My admiration for Tabatha grows every day, and I’ll forever be in awe of how she raised both Evander and me as a single mom, working not just any old job, but as the fucking headmistress of Grim Gate Academy.
“And tonight…after you came back, things were okay until…” She trails off, looking from me to Lucas. Dammit. She knows I’m withholding something.
“Uriel appeared,” I start, feeling my stomach twist as it flashes back before my eyes. “He knew I was here, but he, uh, thought I was Lucifer’s daughter.”
“It would be fitting,” Tabatha says without missing a beat.
I press my lips together and cock an eyebrow before relenting. There was a time when I questioned if he was really my father as well. “It really would be. But uh, that happened and then someone cast the spell to banish angels and—” I cut off right as it hits me.
“What is it?”
“The spell that banished angels. It would have banished Uriel too.” I look at Lucas, brows furrowing. “If it had been cast just a few minutes earlier…”
“Uriel wouldn’t be a threat,” he finishes for me.
“What happened to Uriel?” Tabatha asks, but I only shake my head, my mind going in circles. I was looking at the situation as an attack, but what if someone meant for it to help us? The spell is brutally painful for myself as well as Juliet, but it doesn’t drive us away.
But who would know a spell like that and have the power to cast it? Ruth was the only witch I knew to tap into that sort of dark power, and it didn’t end well for her.
“He’s in the Underworld,” Lucas tells her after a few seconds tick by and it’s clear I’m too lost in my own thoughts to answer. “Osiris took him as…as an experiment to see if he’s able to use him as a rider for Famine.”
Tabatha opens her mouth only to close it. Her eyes flutter as she blinks a few times, trying to wrap her head around everything we just told her. “Why would he do that?”
“That is a good question,” Lucas agrees calmly. Too calmly. Fuck. I really don’t want to tell him the truth, but I know I have to eventually. “Though right now, figuring out who cast the spell is a better question.”
“Yes,” Tabatha agrees, able to sense that there is something I’m not saying—for good reason. “Whether it was to help or hinder you, someone is out there possessing great power.”
“There was a demon,” I suggest. “One able to possess and leave a body at will, which suggests at least moderate intelligence and power.” I let out a breath. “I kinda miss the days when low-level demons were the only thing on my to-kill list.”
“I will not comment on the fact that you have a to-kill list,” Tabatha starts, “since we have bigger fish to fry, so to speak. What would be the demon’s motivation to get rid of the archangels?”
“It makes sense to get rid of them and then attack,” Lucas suggests. “While the spell is active, Callie was unable to fight.”
“But nothing attacked us,” I go on. “I mean, we got out of there right away. And maybe…maybe whoever cast the spell wasn’t expecting to have an extra vampire and witch here. Kristy did a return to sender spell and it was enough to lift the spell. That’s when Binx sensed the demon in the woods.”
“Okay,” Tabatha says with another steadying inhale. “You and Juliet are safe for now, but I think you should come back to the Covenstead tonight.”
“No,” I reply right away. “I’m tired of running.”
“Callie,” both Lucas and Tabatha say at the same time.
“This is my home. And I should probably vacuum a few more times to make sure all the broken glass is cleaned up. I don’t need Scarlet slicing open her paw or something like that.”
“She doesn’t get hurt that easily,” Lucas mutters under his breath, looking down at Juliet who’s finally starting to drift off.
“Fine. Penny comes over,” I add pointedly. I don’t want to start a bickerment with Lucas, but I can feel where this is headed. “Maybe we can get a read on the energy outside?”
“It’s worth a try.” Tabatha nods and gets up. “We’ll need another witch for this. Do you think Kristy is up for it?”
“She’ll do it,” I say, knowing the spell Tabatha has in mind since it requires three witches. “But to say she’s up for it.” I shake my head. “I feel really bad she got mixed up in this. I feel really bad that any of you got mixed up in this.”