Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 137871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 689(@200wpm)___ 551(@250wpm)___ 460(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 689(@200wpm)___ 551(@250wpm)___ 460(@300wpm)
His love for his mate had never been more evident. “If that’s what you want.”
“Her safety is always paramount.”
“I won’t let anything happen to her.”
“Thank you.” He glanced at the book he’d given her. “As you get older, your powers will become more defined. Kitsune are of fox and Asian descent. Once they reach their full maturity, they become tenko—celestial beings able to commune with the heavens. They’re patron thieves, so they have a reputation for stealing.”
“Swiper no swiping,” she muttered under her breath. Her fox knowledge was limited to cartoon characters. “How do I do it?”
“Shift?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s one area where I have very little insight.”
“Well, this helps.” She patted the book. The weight of his grief shrouded the home. She looked up at him with concern. “Are you okay?”
“I regret that I’ve lost my sons. They would have fought for their sister.”
“You’re afraid we can’t beat him?”
“I’m also concerned with the cost of victory.”
He meant they weren’t going to walk away unscathed. If a big old bastard like Lazarus was concerned, the rest of them should be shitting their pants. “There is someone who might be able to help.” When he met her stare, she explained. “Adriel had a son.”
“A son?” His eyes lit with wonder. “We have a grandchild?”
“A very old grandchild.”
“Who is his father?”
“Cerberus, but—”
“Then no.”
His rejection of Adriel’s son brought instant relief, but logic set in. Damn her for opening her mouth. But Adriel was in trouble, and the only thing that mattered was getting her out safely.
Putting her personal feelings aside, she said, “Christian is a Schrock. Adriel raised him with her values, and I’m sure he would do anything in his power to help his mother.”
“How are we to know his loyalties don’t lie with his sire.”
“Because Cerberus already tried to kill him and his mate to get to Adriel.” She thought about Dane and how he feared others would judge him. “We can’t hold sons and daughters accountable for the sins of their father.”
“You’re very wise, little witch.”
She grinned. “It must be my kitsune showing.”
Lazarus chuckled. “Lilias will be happy to meet our grandson.”
Juniper’s heart jolted. Contacting Christian meant returning to the farm and facing The Order again, something she vowed never to do, but as she’d already decided, for Adriel, she would do anything.
CHAPTER 32
Flying with vampires as old as Lilias and Lazarus was wild. They did not belong to a cult or society that rationed their use of power, so once they were going, it was a balls-to-the-wall compulsion for all.
If there was a chance for an upgrade, they got it. If they wanted silence, it happened. There were no primitive limitations, religious rules, or forced modesty cramping their style. And it was something to behold.
Once on the plane, Juniper wrapped them in a protective spell that gave them privacy to speak freely without the worry of others overhearing.
“How is it you didn’t know about The Order when you seem to know so much about everything else?” Dane asked.
“Just as mortals break off into religious sects and small societies, there are countless covens around the world,” Lilias explained. “Lazarus and I never wanted to give anyone that sort of authority over our lives.”
“Why should we, when we were born superior?” He spoke factually rather than arrogantly, and Juniper hoped that once this was over, their way of thinking would have a positive influence on Adriel.
Adriel should’ve trusted her own instincts more than her Bishop’s, but she had been indoctrinated for centuries, and meek pacifism was the result. Now, after meeting her parents, Juniper realized just how strong Adriel could be. She wanted her to step into her power and grow her confidence as high as possible.
The elder Schrocks weren’t afraid of the modern world. Lazarus didn’t hesitate to feed when it came to meeting his and his mate’s needs. This would have deeply troubled Juniper a few months ago, but now it only helped her cause. They needed all the strength they could muster.
Lazarus fed off the vein of the Uber driver, not explaining his choices, just as mortals offered no apology to a fish hanging from a line. He acted with respect and civility, taking great care of the donor and even displaying gratitude for his service.
The driver was fine, just slightly lightheaded and dazed, but fully able to continue his day. Taking pity on him, Juniper doused him with a quick abundance spell.
Lilias then drank from Lazarus’s vein in the back of the SUV, which reminded Juniper of how much she missed Adriel. She closed her eyes, quelling the anxiety pumping through her veins and focusing on the happy outcome. They would collect Christian, find Adriel, and then kill Cerberus.
That seemed straightforward enough.
The closer they drove to the farm the more anxious Juniper felt. After vowing never to return, she wasn’t sure she had the strength to visit again. Her eyes found Dane’s, and they exchanged a nervous glance.