Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 144404 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144404 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
Had I brought him here and put him in worse danger than he’d been in Frelsi? Would Lucifer let his friend know where his son was? A million things could go wrong with our plans.
“He didn’t mention monetary payment. He mostly talked about how hard it is to be a father.”
I had to stop my eyes from rolling to the back of my head. Fucker. He would probably be writing a parenting advice blog soon. So he wasn’t declaring war. Yet. “You reacted to the idea of the Uro spell.”
Her shoulders rounded as though she needed to protect herself. “It is a punishment spell here. It makes you feel like you’re burning from within, but you can’t move or speak or scream. It is a form of prison.”
“How do they reverse an Uro?” If there was another way, I would take it.
“Eventually the demon can break free, though it takes longer for someone of my class. It can be hard to override our need to serve. When our masters tell us they are punishing us, we are trained to agree with them on everything. So we have to find a way to override the impulse to keep ourselves in torment for the master’s pleasure.”
“It’s part of her class. They’ve been bred to be submissive,” Lee pointed out like he wasn’t describing a fucking crime against…well, everyone.
“Bred?” The tea sat in front of me, but I wasn’t about to drink it until I was sure it wasn’t poisoned. I learned from past experiences. Even when they weren’t my own.
“Yes, one of Lord Sloane’s duties is to match up the servants so they can breed a new line,” Crizz said with a nod. “I am old enough this cycle. I am not looking forward to it, but I will do as the master wishes.”
“He doesn’t wish, Crizz.” It didn’t matter what Gray wanted, though in this case I couldn’t see him setting up his whole staff to basically rape and be raped. That wasn’t happening on my watch. “There will be no forced matings this cycle.”
Or any other.
“Are you serious?” Crizz had gone still.
“You mate with whoever you like, whenever you like. That bod is yours, girl. I know Gray is the king here, but I’m the queen. Bodily autonomy for all,” I declared.
“The butcher’s son told me he would pay the master to pair us together and that he would do whatever he liked with me since all my parts will grow back. I don’t have to endure this?” Crizz proved that demons could do anime eyes, too.
I reached out and put a hand over hers. “You do not have to endure this, and you tell the butcher’s boy that I know how to slice off a set of balls, and he’ll find that out if he threatens my staff again.”
Her eyes shone with tears, and her whole body went soft as she squeezed my hand. “Oh, Lady Sloane, we’re so lucky to have you here.” She sniffled. “But I’m afraid there is not much that can be done for the wizard boy. There is only one spell to reverse an Uro, and it requires an item that is not available. It would be dangerous to even ask about it. I’m so sorry.”
I patted her hand. I knew what she was talking about. “Thank you for your wisdom. Now run and get me a couple of napkins. I can be a messy eater.”
She took off like a rocket.
I turned to Lee. “Can you check this for me? I assume Evan gave you a couple of charms. I used my last one earlier at breakfast.”
Because if it didn’t come right out of Eddie’s hands, I was being careful.
Lee was already in motion. He pulled a small charm out of his pocket. Fae magic. Evan was good with it. She had charms and talisman she always traveled with. This one in particular I found useful. It could tell when there was something dangerous in food. It would glow in the presence of anything that could kill or harm anyone in our group.
It was perfectly flat and unshiny.
I reached for one of the sandwiches as Lee sat back.
“We waiting on Fen?” Lee propped his feet up on the seat across from us.
“I’m worried they’ve been gone so long.”
“The moon’s full,” Lee pointed out. “It’s hard for them to resist. It’s okay. I’ll stay with you.”
“I don’t need a bodyguard.”
“I would disagree with you, but I’m not going to bother,” Lee said with a placating smile. “We’ll just call it a fun hang.”
I had to get used to the whole males-watching-over-the-pregnant-lady thing. “I thought you would stay near Dean.”
“Evan’s with him. At least now we know Liv isn’t lying to us.”
“She wouldn’t… I guess I don’t know what she would do now.” I stood because my restlessness was back. I looked to the tree line and saw a big figure stalk out.