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)
“But you got away?”
She nodded solemnly. “They dismembered him and buried him deep in the earth, sentenced to wait out the healing process without blood or water. Dane’s existence warned me of Cer’s return, but we can assume he was trapped in the earth for more than a century.”
“Are you telling me you buried him alive, and he was rotting in the ground for over a hundred years?”
“I imagine the slow passage of time was an intolerable sentence, but without his limbs, he’d have no way to escape. The elders believed it would give him time to think and repent.”
“The elders are fucking idiots.” She blew out a breath and plopped down on the bed. “No wonder this guy wants to hurt you. Fuck, Adriel.” Juniper rubbed her head. “I really need to expand my skillset if this guy’s as strong as you claim.”
“He’s terrifying. I’m not sure we can—”
“Stop right there. He might be terrifying, but we have to keep an optimistic attitude. We just need to think up a brilliant plan.”
Should she tell her about her father? Perhaps there was some special key to unlocking whatever half-breed powers she possessed. “You helped Dane when you discovered he was part immortal?”
“I offered some guidance and always answered his questions as truthfully as possible.”
“Was that because he’s related to your ex?”
“No, it’s because I consider Dane a friend.”
So did Juniper, but she wasn’t sure if Dane saw her the same. She did know that he trusted Adriel, however.
“Do you see me as a friend, Adriel?”
She studied her for a long moment. “Yes.”
Then maybe she could help her the way she helped Dane. “Then I have to tell you something.”
Adriel lowered to the vanity chair. “Go ahead.”
“My father was immortal.”
Her posture noticeably tightened. “Who was he?”
Juniper shrugged. “I don’t know. He lives in Europe, and his name’s Niro. He and my mother abandoned me when I was still a baby. That’s why my aunts raised me.”
“And now your aunts are both gone.”
She nodded. “Along with any information about my lineage.”
Adriel frowned. “That’s why you were asking about Dane?”
“I figured if you helped him, you might be able to help me.”
“But you’re nothing like Dane.”
“Why? We both have immortal fathers.”
“Juniper, when two forms of supernatural blood blend, they veer into the unknown and create a sub-species. Dane had a mortal mother. You did not. Your mother was a witch.”
“So what the hell does that mean? Am I, like, some supernatural freak?”
Adriel laughed. “Not at all. It means you’re far more powerful than you probably realize.”
CHAPTER 13
The following days were spent resting, researching, and putting out fires—literally.
“Try it now,” Adriel yelled from the foot of the stairs.
Juniper released the pendant necklace over a sketched blueprint that crudely depicted the floorplan of Ruth’s house and concentrated, holding the chain in her fingers several inches above the paper. The pendant swung chaotically at first but then settled into a rhythm that pulled toward the drawing of the kitchen.
“It’s somewhere in the kitchen,” she yelled.
“Where? You have to be more specific.”
Juniper shuffled through her drawings, locating the one that included a layout of the counters and appliances. They had been practicing locator spells all morning.
Juniper had a hunch Dane left the farm, which would have been smart, but Adriel had concerns. Apparently, Dane and Juniper’s similarities didn’t stop at being half-breeds. He also had no family, money, or place to call home.
As soon as Juniper learned this, she insisted they find him. If he was still at the farm, they would leave him be. But if he wasn’t, he might need help.
Stationed on the second floor, utterly blind to what Adriel did below, Juniper had only her instincts to guide her through the spell. They spent the morning making a game of the practice. Somewhere in the house, Adriel hid a tiny crystal bird that belonged to Ruth, and then Juniper had to use her instincts to find it.
The pendant pulled toward the corner of the blueprint where the oven was drawn. Then it veered left. “It’s in the refrigerator!”
“Where in the refrigerator?”
This was the tricky part. Juniper shut her eyes and visualized the crystal bird. She recalled the weight of it in her hands and the smoothness of the glass. Various distracting thoughts tried to intrude, but she pushed them all away, allowing only intuition to guide her.
“The butter dish!” she yelled, jumping up from the floor to run to the steps in the hall. “It’s next to the butter dish!”
Adriel’s laughter validated her accuracy.
Racing footsteps moved swiftly through the house as Adriel bolted onto the second floor with immortal speed. She triumphantly held the crystal bird in her hand and smiled. “That was incredible! Your accuracy has improved greatly!”
Lowering back onto the hardwood floor with her legs crossed and her feet tucked under her knees, Juniper smiled. “The visions are coming easier now. I hardly had to put any effort into it that time.”