Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 121324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 607(@200wpm)___ 485(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 607(@200wpm)___ 485(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
Impatience glimmered in Lilith’s vivid green gaze. She had little tolerance for Ishtar. In terms of clothing, the women went for the same style—classy, formfitting, partially revealing. But whereas Lilith dressed stylishly for herself, Ishtar dressed to impress others.
“It’s one thing to be able to kill an Aeon,” Lilith said to her. “It’s another to successfully manage such a thing. Saul in particular is a tremendous fighter—hence why he survived the last battle against us.”
“He also sees no shame in running to fight another day.” Seth scraped his teeth over his lower lip. “If Wynter’s monster dealt him a deep injury, he could have decided to flee and give himself time to heal rather than push his luck.”
That seemed the most likely situation to Cain.
Ishtar sniffed. “Hmm, well, I still say that her monster should have done more than injure him. Kali obviously lumbered Wynter with one of her weak pets. How disappointing.”
Azazel cast her a droll look. “If it was weak, it would have been killed.”
Ishtar’s cornflower-blue eyes flared. “And if it was strong, it would have—”
“Sister, please,” said Inanna, placing her hand over Ishtar’s. “This is hardly helpful. Let us not argue.”
“I am not looking to argue with anyone,” began Ishtar, “I am simply offering my opinion. It is not my fault if others do not like that opinion.”
“Be that as it may, I suggest that we drop the subject of Wynter and her monster,” Inanna proposed. “It is Saul and the other Aeons that we need to focus on.”
Clamping her lips shut, Ishtar inched up her pointed chin. “Fine.”
“Thank you.” Relief flashing in eyes the same shade of blue as her sister’s, Inanna gave Ishtar’s hand a pat. “Sad to say, Saul won’t be easy for our search parties to track.”
“No, he won’t,” Cain agreed. “We could try tracking him ourselves, of course—”
“I vote for that,” Ishtar piped up.
“I don’t,” said Cain. “Because drawing us all out into the open could be his aim. After all, although I doubt it, it is possible that he’s not here alone. There could be others waiting for us to show ourselves so that they can blindside us.”
Seth made a sound of agreement. “It might not even be that they’re working with him. Saul could simply be bait and may not know it.”
“One thing is for certain,” said Inanna. “He would like the thought of making us chase him, and I am in no mood to humor him. I say it is best that we do not allow him to draw us into his game. If he wants us, he must come for us.”
“My thoughts exactly,” said Lilith. “I dance to no one’s tune. And I didn’t survive living in a cage all this time just to go and take risks that could very well leave me open to an attack.”
Dantalion tapped his fingertips on the table. “It is better to play it safe. It’s very important that the seven of us are alive and fighting as one if we’re to defeat the Aeons when they return. And they will return.”
“Then it is agreed,” began Cain. “We will leave the tracking of Saul to our search parties. At the very least, they’ll keep him occupied.”
The other Ancients nodded or murmured their agreement.
“How long do you think it will be before the Aeons invade our town again?” Seth asked no one in particular.
Scratching at his light blond stubble, Dantalion said, “They won’t rush. They’ll make us wait as part of some psychological warfare, believing that we will all be on pins waiting for them to appear. But they also won’t take too long. Not when their priority is getting their hands on Wynter so they can force her to stop the environmental erosion from spreading any further.”
“We should consider that they might one day decide to instead kill her, hoping that her death will be enough to cut the head off the rot,” said Seth. “Their land is wasting away. They won’t want to believe that they have no hope of returning their home to its former glory. They won’t wish to face that they may be forced to relocate. But when it reaches a point where the damage is too great and they feel they have little to lose, they might be prepared to try anything to save it.”
“Even obliterating the source of the decay,” added Dantalion, to which Seth nodded.
Such an attempt wouldn’t work. The Aeons wouldn’t get the chance to learn that for themselves, though—Cain would allow them nowhere near Wynter, let alone permit them the opportunity to end her life.
“Who do we think will lead the attack when they come?” asked Inanna. “It would be unwise for either Abel or Adam to show up here when they are quite aware that they need to live if we are to remain imprisoned.”