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)
Ella gently bumped Mia’s shoulder with her own. “It’ll all sort itself out eventually. I truly believe that.”
“I hope you’re right. I really do.”
At Ghost’s telepathic news, Viper felt his hand flex around his mug. What do you mean, Neta approached her?
It didn’t seem that she was being confrontational or rude, Ghost replied. I couldn’t hear any of what was said, I wasn’t close enough. But Ella didn’t look upset or rattled. More like … inconvenienced.
Viper clenched his jaw, biting back a curse.
At the breakfast bar, Jester caught his eye and flicked up a questioning brow.
Viper raised his forefinger, wanting more information from Ghost before he relayed the conversation. You’re sure Ella ain’t upset?
She doesn’t look it. She waltzed off with her sister, shrugging off the whole thing with Neta easily. She seems more focused on Mia.
That was something, at least.
Want me to nab Neta?
No, stay on Ella. I’ll have someone else do it. Focusing on Jester, Viper informed him, “Neta spoke to Ella in the Underground just now.”
Jester’s brows slid together. “Spoke to her about what?”
“Ghost doesn’t know.” Viper set his cup down on the counter. “He says Ella doesn’t seem fazed or upset. While I’m confident she can handle Neta just fine if need be, I still don’t like it. And I want to know what was said.”
“It could be that Neta simply asked her if you two are seeing each other. Maybe talk to Ella first. She’s more likely to spill all.”
Viper rolled his shoulders. “Not really feeling in the mood to delay—” He cut off as Darko teleported into the kitchen of the clubhouse, the light of urgency in his gaze.
“Hudson, we have a problem,” Darko announced.
“You mean Houston,” Jester corrected.
Darko shrugged. “Whatever. There’s a problem.”
“Which is?” asked Viper, pushing away from the counter.
Darko planted his feet. “I tracked down some strix, but they’re in a pretty public place.”
Viper felt his eyes narrow. “How public?”
“They’re at a damn carnival.”
Shit. “Coordinates?”
After Darko rattled them off, Viper telepathically sent them to each brother along their club’s ‘channel’, adding, Other than Ghost—you need to stay on Ella—I want everyone to teleport to this spot. There are some strix there. He refocused on the angels in front of him. “Let’s get gone.”
As one, they teleported to a shadowed spot among the trees at the carnival’s perimeter. It was like walking into a wall of noise. So much talking, laughing, circus-like music, chugging machinery, screams of riders, and the spooky theatrical sounds filtering out of the haunted house.
“They’ve separated into groups,” said Darko, who then pointed to the clusters of strix that were hovering out of sight near amusement rides; watching the children with a predatory gaze.
In quick bursts, more of Viper’s brothers materialized, gathering into a tight huddle as they spied on the demons.
“There’s, what, twenty of them?” estimated Omen, a slight question in his tone.
“Looks like it,” replied Razor.
“We can’t really afford to have our usual fun,” said Viper. “Too many people would see things they shouldn’t, not to mention get hurt.”
Jester cocked his head. “What are you thinking we should do?”
Viper pursed his lips. “I’m thinking we teleport behind each of them, snap their necks, and then whisk their corpses out of here.”
Rebel frowned. “Do we really have to make their deaths fast? They’re about to snatch kids. They don’t deserve quick and easy.”
Viper sighed. “Fine. We teleport behind them, grab them before they can act, and whisk them away from here so we can kill them in privacy.”
Darko grinned. “I like that plan better. Where do you wanna take them?”
Viper chewed on the inside of his mouth, pensive. “Strix hate water, right?”
A smile curved Omen’s mouth. “You’re thinking the small stretch of beach where we once had that party.”
“No one goes there, and it’s far away from everything.” The perfect spot.
“The beach it is,” decided Merchant, who’d been out of isolation for a few days now. He pointed at a particular strix. “I want that one in the green jumper. Which one do you want?” he asked Sting.
At that, each of the brothers chose their own target. Several of the angels would return for the last cluster of strix before they could notice their brethren had been taken.
“Right, let’s move,” said Viper. He teleported to a particular demon, grabbed it from behind, and teleported it straight to the destination in mind.
As he and his brothers all stood in a long line on the shore, they became instantly smothered by the scents of salty air, brine, and seaweed.
Release them, Viper telepathically ordered.
As one, the club let go of their captives, who all lurched forward and then spun to face them. The strix’s gazes darted around, taking in their new surroundings.
It wasn’t a pretty beach. There was no white sand, no turquoise water, no seagulls crying overheard, no signs of human life.