Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 131708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
Gnashing her teeth together, she tore the note in two, deactivating the snare. She so didn’t have time for this right now.
Putting a pin in the matter, she drove to the coffee shop, half-expecting to find no sign of Jacques. But he was sulkily slumped on a chair at one of the outdoor tables. Once she’d parked her car, Ella joined him at the table.
It was no more than thirty seconds later that two familiar imps from Jolene’s lair came striding out of the nearby alley. Ella was guessing one of them could teleport, because no cars had driven down there, and it was a dead-end.
The siblings—who were also Jolene’s grandchildren—greeted her with chin-tips and then moved to stand in front of Jacques, their faces molding into masks of disappointment. He all but shrank under the weight of their disapproval.
Khloë shook her head. “Dude, I’m all for rebelling. But imps don’t run. We stir shit, we break bones, we set fires, we bathe in the blood of our enemies. But running? Never.”
Jacques grimaced. “I know. Sorry.”
“Great pep talk,” Ella deadpanned.
Khloë smiled, smug. “I thought so. Thanks for bringing this little matter to my lair’s attention.”
“No problem.”
“Jacques, over here,” Ciaran ordered.
The teenager didn’t hesitate to obey, his metaphorical tail tucked between his legs.
“We’ll see you around,” Khloë said, saluting her.
“Take care,” Ella told the three imps.
Ciaran responded with a chin-tip while Jacques just glowered petulantly.
Ella might have smiled at the latter if she wasn’t feeling ready to murder the crap out of someone. She returned to her car, pulled out her phone, and called her sister.
“Greetings, bitch,” Mia answered so lovingly.
“I got another note,” said Ella, the earlier sparks of anger rekindling in her belly.
“What?”
“It was left under my windscreen wiper, just like the last one. It has a similar tone, too—threatening, yet in a non-scary way.” As she’d deactivated the snare, Ella was able to say aloud: “You know what happened to the curious cat.”
Mia let out a dark hum. “The first note mentioned sleeping dogs. Now curious cats. Maybe our boy is an animal lover.”
Rubbing at her temple, Ella let her head tilt back to hit the headrest. “It feels like this is some sort of game to him.”
Mia made a speculative noise in the back of her throat. “Was there power embedded in the ink?”
“Yes.”
“Then I don’t think it’s a mere game. He has a purpose here.”
Ella righted her head. “But the compulsion could be something minor, like to make me shave off a chunk of my hair for his own amusement.”
“He could be having fun, but I don’t think the compulsion is something as innocuous as that. Neither do you.”
As it happened, no, Ella didn’t think so either. She’d just prefer for that to be the case. “My demon is raging right now.”
“I’m raging. He must be following you. That takes the threat level up a notch, because it’s stalkerish behavior. Not that I think he’s what you would call a typical obsessed stalker, but he’s certainly employing dark tactics.”
Yes, but why?
“We should lay some kind of magickal trap for him. Bespell your window wipers, maybe.”
Ella’s demon perked up at the idea. “Ooh, I’m liking the endless possibilities sifting through my brain right now. We’ll definitely get on that.”
“In the meantime, be careful, Ella,” Mia half-pled, half-warned. “Seriously careful.”
“I will. I’m not dismissing this as a silly prank, I promise.”
“Good. Now I’m wishing I went with you. I don’t like that you’re alone right now.”
“I’m fine. Not hurt, not scared, just pissed.” Ella wasn’t about to allow this idiocy to ruin her day, though it would for sure play on her mind if she didn’t distract herself. On that note … “You up to anything later?”
“Actually,” began Mia, a mischievous note lacing her voice, “I’m thinking of venturing to the Red Rooms.”
Ella blinked. “Seriously?”
“Why do you sound so surprised?”
“It’s owned by the Black Saints. You know that, right?”
“It’s not as if the Fallen are the only people who go there. Demons are regular patrons. So are oblivious humans. I’ve heard it’s the kind of club where a person can go get laid right there on the dance floor and then head on home. I prefer that over the idea of taking someone home with me. I just want to get fucked—no conversations, no aftermath, no exchanging numbers.”
“And they say romance is dead.”
Mia barked a light laugh. “I’m done with romance for a while. But that doesn’t mean I should have to forgo sex, does it?”
“There are similar clubs in the Underground. Why not head to one of those?”
“Because I want to go somewhere different. And I’m curious to see if this place really lives up to its hype.”
“You’re not going there alone, are you?”
“No. You’re coming with me.”
Ella snorted. “I am?”
“Yup. You’re my wing-woman, remember? And you need a release valve, too. Come on, wouldn’t you like someone to fuck the annoyance you’re feeling right out of you?”