Total pages in book: 207
Estimated words: 196971 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 985(@200wpm)___ 788(@250wpm)___ 657(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 196971 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 985(@200wpm)___ 788(@250wpm)___ 657(@300wpm)
Hearing Alexandru's rather caustic voice suddenly pop up in her mind almost had her tripping. Shit. But at the same time, she couldn't help thinking how it was really like the good old days now—-
Good being a relative word, considering their "old" days had also mostly revolved around demon hunts, just with a different backdrop.
Fun times, indeed.
Alexandru's deadpanned tone had Zari quickly lowering her head to keep any prying eyes around her from seeing her smile. She could still sense a few trappers in the area, and while they didn't seem to be stalking her, it never hurt to play things safe.
Even so, she couldn't help reaching out to her Master through their blood bond. Don't you think it's funny, Master? Well, funny and weird, that is. When you were gone, there wasn't a second I didn't think about the fact that I could reach out to you, that you could hear me. So I never stopped trying. I talked to you all the time, begged, cajoled. I'm sure you remember how desperate I was. But now that you're back...and you've just been back for days...
It's called resilience, pet. Unlike her, Alexandru's bland tone told Zari that he found nothing out of the ordinary with how quickly both of them had slipped back to their old routine. It's what separates survivors from those who don't.
I really thought, once I had you back, I'd be clinging to you for days—-
As much as I wish that could be true, and I would have greatly enjoyed having you cling to me and begging to worship my cock-—
Overkill, she growled in her mind.
But even I knew, in my most hopeless days, that such a thing would not be possible. You must understand, pet: all those nights you kept crying for me to come back, that was you subsconsciously fighting for me and urging me to keep fighting for us. But now that I AM back...your mind knows the fight is over, and so it automatically switches to the next most imminent threat.
Zari didn't answer for a while. The more she mulled his words over, the more she realized...
You suck at being romantic, Master.
A sexy laugh drifted down their blood bond and all the way through until it had her shuddering as the sound skittered down her spine like a teasing caress.
Romantic is overrated.
Of course you'd say that.
Then are you saying you could do without me fucking my love into your pussy?
Zari's mouth opened and closed.
Thought so, Alexandru purred. Now go do your work, soul seer.
You sound so much like your older brother with that line.
But Alexandru, who she knew privately disliked being compared to his more "responsible" brother Mihail, simply ignored this. Tick tock, pet. Tick tock.
And then he was gone, her Master even making a point of slamming an invisible door shut on their blood bond. The sound reverberated all the way down, like someone pounding a hammer right next to her ears.
Stupid, evil Master.
But since he also did happen to be right, and the clock was ticking, Zari picked up her pace and was out of the woods (literally, not figuratively) in no time.
Her first stop: her apartment, where she had secretly stashed a sample of the devil's apples retrieved from the grave site at the park.
Her second stop: Station 4, and because it was now a crime scene that she technically didn't have any legal right to access, she decided to sit this one back. There was a cafe right across the pawn shop, and after ordering herself an Americano, she took one of the smaller tables next to the windows and asked Martin for a little favor.
The boy came back to her side fifteen minutes later, and Zari automatically closed her fingers over the piece of mandrake root he had dropped on her palm.
Devil's apples produce traceable magic that linger for a period of seven days to a fortnight, depending on the magnitude of the ritual or spell performed.
When she had first read those lines and expressed confusion over it, her Master had likened mandrake magic to 'holding a lively ball of fur in your arms'.
No matter how much care you exercise, you cannot keep your pet from shedding off animal hair, and that will of course get to your skin, your clothes, your possessions. Consequently, wherever you go, you will be shedding it as well.
AKA traceable magic, Zari thought. Alexandru had also told her that mandrake magic wasn't something a demon - or any living being for that matter - could simply rinse off. It would go away on its own sweet time, and since the Devil's Door had only been opened a few days ago...
"Did I do good, Zari?"
Martin's hopeful voice pulled Zari out of her thoughts, and since they weren't alone in the coffee shop, she could only praise him with a whisper under her breath. "You didn't do just good. You did great!"