Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 151384 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 757(@200wpm)___ 606(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151384 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 757(@200wpm)___ 606(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
Immy let out a startled cry and the book she’d been reading slid off her lap onto the floor. He walked further into the room and picked it up.
“The Spell Book: A Book of Dastardly, No-Good Spells,” he read. “Good title. Tells it to you straight.”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought too.”
“What are you looking for?” he asked.
“Oh, you know. I thought maybe a spell to make someone’s hair fall out. Or an itching spell.”
“And who are you going to aim those spells at?” he asked.
“I don’t know. Someone.”
He studied her closely. “Someone?”
She wouldn’t look him in the eyes and she was shifting around on her seat like she needed to pee.
Clear signs that she was lying. Immy always needed to pee when she lied.
“You’re lying to me, Immy,” he said in a quiet, stern voice. “I didn’t think we lied to each other.”
Her gaze rose to his. “Sorry.”
He settled next to her on the sofa and placed the spell book on the coffee table. All of the drapes were pulled and she had the lights on.
Jenner drew her close, wrapping his arm around her and drawing her scent into his lungs. God, it felt like he hadn’t been this close to her in so long.
He’d been working so hard to make sure they were secure, but he was starting to wonder if it was worth it.
Not when it meant he barely got to see her.
Everything he did was for his girl.
Even if she didn’t know it.
Even if she could never fully be his. But became someone else’s.
That was a bitter pill to swallow.
Grabbing the soft blanket she had over herself, he drew it over his legs.
“Tell me what’s going on, baby,” he murmured.
Immy would always be his baby. No matter what.
God, he loved her. He loved her with everything he was. But he couldn’t trust himself with Immy.
“I was looking for a spell that might show who the new Deity is.”
Jenner stiffened. Shit. He’d thought that he’d managed to allay most of her fears. But he should have known.
Fear like that didn’t just disappear.
The Deity had been the bogeyman in their lives for a long time. Unfortunately, that had continued even after he’d died.
Sometimes it felt like he always would be.
“We’re gonna keep you safe, Immy. No one will touch you.”
She shifted around so her legs were bent up against her chest and stared at him incredulously. “I’m not worried about me!”
Of course she wasn’t.
His girl would put the world before herself.
“I’m worried about Maeve. What if someone else comes after her? Or Cat? Or what about one of you? You’re all so focused on protecting us, what about if one of these guys comes after you?”
“First of all, both Cat and Maeve are well-protected.”
He knew that Sampson would prefer that they were all under one roof so that he could protect them. But Jenner thought it was better this way. Gray wouldn’t let anything else happen to Maeve. And Alejandro had Cat protected. Cat was a wildcard. No way they could keep her safe here.
Immy had always been more cautious. She would listen to their orders.
Mostly.
Sometimes it seemed that all he did was worry about her.
Day and night.
His thoughts were constantly filled with his girl.
“And we’re going to keep you safe. And ourselves. You’re safe here. In the house.” Isaiah had bumped up their security.
“I can’t stay in the house all the time.”
“Sure you can.”
“Jenner, I’ll go crazy.”
“You like staying at home, though,” he pointed out.
“Not all the time. Besides, you have some more concerts coming up.”
“I’m thinking about canceling them,” he admitted.
“You can’t cancel them. They’re booked out. Jenner, you’ll disappoint your fans.”
He knew that. And he hated to do it. But he couldn’t imagine going to these concerts while there was this threat hanging over their heads.
“I think you and Tobias should stay here,” he told her.
“You don’t want me there?”
Shit. Fuck.
Why didn’t he think before he said shit like that?
Jenner cupped the side of her face and tilted her head back. “I always want you with me. Understand? Always. You’re my light. The sweetest thing in my life. And I can’t be without you.”
Shit. He needed to be careful.
“But what I want most in this life is for you to be safe. More than I want my own happiness and safety. You have to be protected, Immy. And if that means staying here, then here is where you’ll stay.”
Immy didn’t like that at all.
Not that he didn’t want her to be safe. But that he prioritized it above everything else.
Including his happiness.
He shouldn’t do that.
“I want you to be safe and happy, though,” she whispered.
Jenner gently brushed her hair off her face. “I’ll be fine, baby. You’re what’s important. It’s always been you.”
Immy sucked in a breath. Was this what she’d been waiting for? Was he going to make a move on her?