Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 134501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 538(@250wpm)___ 448(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 538(@250wpm)___ 448(@300wpm)
‘All the more reason for you to leave her alone, wouldn’t you say?’
‘I’m telling you, she’s not right in the head, and neither was her grandmother. Her family will prove Millicent wasn’t sound of mind when she wrote that will. They’ll get the conditions overturned, and you’ll lose the land anyway. You might as well just give it up now so plans can go ahead as they should.’
‘You’re not listening to me. I don’t like it when people don’t listen to me.’ Dropping his hands back to his sides, Ripper stepped right into his personal space. ‘And I really don’t like hearing you call someone under my protection “not right in the head”.’
Carver’s eyelids fluttered, his Adam’s apple bobbing. ‘I’m only telling you what I was told.’
‘I don’t need to hear anymore. All I need is for you to get into your truck and get the fuck away from here.’
His nostrils flaring, Carver flushed. ‘Dammit, Ripper, things don’t need to be this way.’ But he tromped over to his vehicle and jumped inside. Moments later, he was speeding off.
‘Did I hear right?’ asked Crew. ‘Millicent’s family’s planning to claim that she wasn’t sound of mind and so her will should be declared invalid?’
‘Yeah, you heard right.’ Ripper sighed. ‘Their little plot might even work. The conditions of the will don’t exactly speak of someone whose thought processes were normal. But that was normal for Millicent. Still, it doesn’t mean their lawyer won’t manage to have it overturned.’
‘The coven’s lawyers are good, but so is Millicent’s. He’ll probably handle it.’
Ripper grunted in agreement. ‘I’d hoped that they’d all back off once they realized that neither me nor Emberlyn were going to give in. Like I pointed out to Reena, she doesn’t need the manor or the land. She just wants it.’
‘Maybe Reena isn’t behind this. Maybe it’s Gill or Dez or both.’
‘That’s what I’m thinking. The way they speak about Emberlyn . . . I used to think it was because they disapproved of the types of magick she dabbled in. But you know what I hear in their voices each time they talk to and of her? Resentment.’
‘You think they’re jealous that their niece is more powerful, or that Millicent raised her but not them?’
‘Could be both, but I’m mostly leaning toward the first. It never occurred to them that the manor would end up in her hands, because Millicent told them she didn’t want Emberlyn to inherit anything. They weren’t prepared for this scenario, and they’re scrambling to come up with a way to get the house from her.’ He paused. ‘I need to warn Emberlyn what they’re planning. I don’t want her blindsided by it.’
‘I just saw her parking outside the Danvers’ place.’
The Danvers, a mated couple from their clan, lived here in Ashwood. ‘She was probably dropping off laundry.’ She regularly did that for clients.
‘She would be gone by the time you drove over there, but you could call their house now and ask to speak with her. She might not have left yet.’
‘Only one way to find out.’
CHAPTER NINE
‘Thanks, Emberlyn, we really appreciate this.’
Folding the now empty laundry bag, Emberlyn smiled at Mrs Danvers. ‘It’s not a problem.’
Both the female werewolf and her mate were in their eighties, and the sweet couple didn’t venture out much. Emberlyn regularly picked up and dropped off their laundry for them – a free service for customers past a certain age.
‘Maybe not in your opinion,’ said the she-wolf, ‘but not a lot of businesses round here do home deliveries or pick-ups. They’re not interested in making things easier for their customers, so don’t think we don’t appreciate that you do.’
‘Well, it’s always nice to be appreciated, so thank you.’
‘Emberlyn?’ Mr Danvers called out, his telephone receiver in hand. ‘Our Alpha needs to speak to you. He was wondering if you could either wait here for him, meet him somewhere or drive to his home. He says it’s important.’
Emberlyn blinked. Mostly at the option of her heading to Ripper’s house. She wouldn’t have thought he’d extend such an offer, alliance or not.
‘He said you’ll want to hear this,’ Mr Danvers added.
Hmm, her curiosity was officially peaked. ‘I’ll be passing the lake on my way out of Ashwood, so tell him I’ll stop at his place.’ She wouldn’t say it aloud, but she wanted a little peek at it.
Minutes later, Emberlyn was driving down a narrow road approaching a large two-story house that had a mountain-modern feel. It was moody. Rustic. Earthy.
Both levels featured reflective floor-to-ceiling windows that allowed for a panoramic view of the lake. A sheltered seating area had been added to the flat roof as well as to the side of the house, where there was also a firepit.
Best of all, it overlooked a rocky shoreline, lush forest and the crystal clear-as-glass lake. Yellowy-orange beams of light from the gradually setting sun glittered off the water. A family of ducks floated along the surface. Geese could often be seen further along the shoreline’s grass slope, but Emberlyn couldn’t spot any here.