Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 125083 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125083 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
“And that part of me is as mentally sadistic as you, so I discount everything it wants and feels.”
He chuckled. “You’ve surprised me yet again, little witch. I expected you to deny it. In fact—” He cut off as knuckles rapped on the door. “Yes?”
Maxim stepped inside, his expression apologetic. “Sorry to disturb you, but Seth would like to see you. He says it’s very important.”
Sighing, Cain stepped away from Wynter. “I’ll be back in a moment. Wait here for me. Don’t leave.”
“Oh, you don’t have to worry that I’ll go anywhere.” She gave him a look that said she wouldn’t be moving from that very spot until he’d done as she ordered. Something he absolutely could not do—his creature wasn’t ready to let her go yet; it would take the matter into its own hands if Cain refused to ensure it had what it wanted.
Putting the matter aside for now, Cain crossed to his aide. “Where is my brother?”
“The manor,” replied Maxim. “He said you’ll find him in the main parlor.”
Cain headed upstairs to his chamber and over to the life-size mirror. He splayed his hand on the glass, and it instantly turned to rippling black water. He stepped through it and, utterly dry, stepped out of an identical mirror in one of the manor’s bedrooms.
He made his way downstairs and into the main parlor, not bothering to first knock on the door.
Sitting on one of the sofas with his aide at his back, Seth tipped his chin at Cain. “Hello, brother. I’ll be with you shortly. Although you’re welcome to stay and hear their story.” He gestured at the two men seated on the opposite sofa. “This here is Ed and Artie. They’re bounty hunters.”
Not yet sure why Seth was acting as though he hadn’t called for him to come, Cain chose to play along. “Is that so? And just what would they be doing here?”
“Me and Ed were hired by people from Aeon,” the one who had to be Artie said. “They sent us after a witch. They want her brought back alive.”
“We’ve been on her trail for a while,” said Ed. “We caught up to her once. She killed two of our group. And I mean eviscerated them. She got better at covering her tracks after that, but we’ve been at this a long time. We managed to track her down.”
Cain looked from one male to the other. “I’m guessing you believe she’s here.”
“We do,” Ed confirmed. “It makes sense that she’d come here. You offer sanctuary to people on the run.”
“If you know we offer sanctuary to such people,” began Seth, “you must also know we don’t give them up.”
Artie gave a slow nod. “We do know that. But we figured if we explained that the Aeons want her, you might be inclined to hand her over. I mean, they were once your people until …” Until you lost to them in a war, he didn’t add but left implied.
Seth looked at Cain. “Her name is …” Trailing off, he cut his gaze to Artie. “What did you say it was again?”
“Wynter Dellavale,” the bounty hunter replied.
Everything inside Cain went very still, including his monster. He didn’t allow his expression to alter, not yet certain he wanted the hunters to be aware that she was a resident here.
Now understanding why Seth had called for him, Cain asked, “Why do the Aeons want her?”
“We don’t know,” said Ed. “They didn’t say. At first, they wanted her dead. But that changed. They didn’t explain why.”
“I got the impression they want her badly,” Artie added. “Look, we asked to speak with an Ancient because we know better than to touch the property of one without first seeking permission.”
Cain raised a brow. “Did you believe that wish would be granted?”
Artie sighed. “I heard that Ancients sometimes grant that permission, depending on the circumstances.”
“We do indeed. As for this particular circumstance …” The way Cain saw it, he had two choices. Deny she was here, or make it clear that she was under his protection and that any hunters who came for her would die—that would make the price on her head invalid. People from Aeon might come for her, but that would be something he’d welcome.
Cain chose the latter option. “This is what you’re going to do. You’re going to leave Devil’s Cradle. You’re going to spread the word that Wynter Dellavale is in my service and under my protection; that I will kill anyone who tries cashing in on the bounty. And, no matter what the people of Aeon offer you, you will cease trying to capture her. You may, however, pass on her location to them. If they want her, they’ll have to come get her.”
Artie nodded. “We’ll pass on that message.”
Once Seth’s aide guided them out of the parlor, Cain turned to his brother. “Azazel’s source informed him that a witch was recently exiled from Aeon. I hadn’t suspected it was Wynter—she came here as part of a coven. Although, to be fair, she never once claimed they were a coven.” In fact, she’d repeatedly told him that they weren’t. “The others made that claim.”