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)
He released her hand and cupped her elbow. ‘You ready for this?’
‘Yes. I’m interested in how it’s going to play out,’ she replied.
As they crossed to the town hall, Kerr, Logan and Crew slipped out from behind the shadowed columns.
‘The hall is packed, but our wolves are keeping some space free on the front row for us,’ announced Kerr, opening the glass door. ‘The only council member who hasn’t yet arrived is Reena.’
‘She’s usually the first here,’ Ripper absently noted, urging Emberlyn into the building.
Then . . . it was like they were a bridal party ready to march down the aisle, because the other wolves gathered at his and Emberlyn’s backs as, side by side, they walked into the grand hall.
The large space was crowded. Many people sat. Others stood behind the benches or leaned against the walls.
The coven and Carver’s clan had taken up one column of benches – among those on the first row were her family, Tyra and Sera. The other two werewolf clans had taken up the second column of benches.
Catching sight of Paisley and Kage on the third row, Emberlyn gave them a quick smile as she walked by.
Ripper guided her straight to the front bench. The wolves there scooched all the way over to make room. Once Logan slipped in, Ripper gestured for Emberlyn to take a seat, after which Kerr and Crew joined them. As such, she ended up safely sandwiched between several wolves – no doubt by design.
Being made to feel ‘part’ of a group was . . . strange. A little too foreign to be comforting just yet. It would take some getting used to.
After giving her a long look, Ripper climbed the steps to the platform and took the empty seat between Shane and Carver.
Kerr bumped his shoulder into hers. ‘Your cousin Ames is trying to get your attention.’
‘I know,’ said Emberlyn, keeping her gaze forward as she placed her purse on the floor. Her peripheral vision had caught him waving his arm from the parallel bench.
‘You ignoring him for the fun of it?’ asked Kerr. ‘Because I get it.’
‘There’s just no point in giving him my attention. All he’ll do is make some silly comment designed to get a reaction. The thing about Ames is that he’s average in most respects. Nothing about him stands out, so he uses other people to gain attention and seem relevant. And since he’s probably still feeling sour about what happened at the last meeting, he won’t have anything nice to say to me.’
Seated on her other side, Logan looked her way. ‘You mean that thing where you caught and crushed his magick?’
‘For Ames, who links his power to his physical prowess, it was the equivalent of me stomping on his dick,’ she explained.
Logan grimaced. ‘Gotcha.’
‘Out of curiosity, who’s trying to burn holes into my back with their eyes?’ She could feel someone glaring at her.
Logan cast a furtive glance behind her. A sigh rattled his lips slightly. ‘That would be CeCe. Ignore her.’
‘I intend to. She bores me.’
Kerr snorted in amusement.
‘I’m wondering what her issue is, though. From what I’ve heard, she doesn’t believe that I’m actually sleeping with Ripper.’
‘She doesn’t,’ confirmed Logan. ‘But it’ll still annoy her something fierce that you wear his scent and he walks around smelling of your magick. The longer that goes on, the more worked up she’ll get. Don’t be surprised if she approaches you about it.’ He paused, his expression turning sober. ‘If that happens, you call Ripper; he’ll deal with it.’
Emberlyn couldn’t help but chuckle. ‘You’re cute. Call Ripper; he’ll deal with it,’ she mimicked before shaking her head. ‘It’s like you’re new around here.’
A snicker popped out of Kerr. ‘Yeah, Logan, she’s no damsel. Just sit back and enjoy how much it both frustrates and turns on your brother that this woman does not need him.’
Emberlyn felt her lips bow up.
It was minutes later that Reena and Ward arrived. Ward took a seat between Tyra and Sera while the High Priestess headed for the platform. More townspeople filed in a little at a time, until the entire hall was jam-packed.
When seven p.m. hit, Shane cleared his throat and said, ‘Let’s start, shall we? Firstly, for all those wondering how Lincoln is doing, things are progressing well. His family is delighted to have him home. But they’re also furious on his behalf. Why? Someone placed a spell on him that trapped him in a state of bloodlust.’
Gasps and mutters sounded throughout the hall while several voices loudly burst out comments . . .
‘What?’
‘You must be joking!’
‘Bloodlust?’
‘That’s not possible!’
‘You can’t be serious!’
Ripper raised a hand for silence, and everyone immediately quieted.
Emberlyn half-turned in her seat, wanting to better observe the room.
‘You are sure that Lincoln was bespelled?’ Reena asked Shane, seeming genuinely disturbed.
‘Positive,’ he replied.