Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 95196 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95196 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
“Nightfall, after I tuck Mirren into bed. I’ll be gone three days.”
Three whole days? Both an eternity and a too short blip. But also good for my cause. Maybe. Probably. If I was right about Tavish. If the wolf came to visit me and offered to switch me back…
“You’ll be guarded at all times,” Callen assured me.
Ugh. And yay! Safety—good. Being constantly watched—not so much. But I would find a way to accomplish my goals. I must. “I’ll need money.” Might as well go for gold while I had the opportunity.
He drew in a deep breath. “I’ll leave you a card.”
A card was traceable, but okay. All right. This was an excellent start. “What’s my limit?”
“No limit.”
Whoa! Why would he do something so foolish? Did he not understand Isobel planned to drain him dry?
Mirren cried harder, breaking my heart. “Don’t go, da. Stay.”
“I do what I must, and this I must do,” he replied, a catch in his voice. It, too, threatened to break my heart. “You can use the time to get to know Elle.”
I didn’t understand. He now trusted me with the child? But why? Why?
I considered our past interactions. The time I’d accused him of buying and kidnapping a bride. Barged in on his solo breakfast—twice. Looked up details about him online. Broke into his bedroom. Cried in front of his men.
His words must have irritated Mirren. She stopped wailing and wiped her nose on his shirt. “But I donna want to get to know her,” she said between sniffles. I took no offense.
“Yet you will do so,” he informed her in an intractable tone. “Won’t you.” A statement from a king, not a question from a father.
Her bottom lip trembled, but she nodded, clearly recognizing the difference between her parent and her sovereign. “Aye.”
“And you,” he said, peering at me. Smoldering at me. “Though it goes against my instincts, I won’t give you the mark until you agree. But we will continue its discussion upon my return.”
Anticipation overpowered my nerves. An unacceptable reaction. Not that it mattered anymore. I should be long gone before his arrival, forcing Isobel herself to take the mark. “Be safe,” I rasped.
He dipped his chin. “Nothing will keep me from you, lass.”
Chapter
Sixteen
FROM A BEGINNERS GUIDE TO BERSERKER BLISS
Raising the Berserker Brood: Ace Parenting Even the Littlest Warriors
From A Beginner’s Guide to Berserker Bliss
Author Unknown
Ispent the night tossing and turning with Thora curled close. Though I hated to admit it, I missed Callen. Eventually, I gave up and grabbed my cell. The berserker’s incredible scent enveloped me as I attempted to get answers out of Isobel via text.
Me: Forget our personal war. You want money? Fine. In return, you leave my mother alone and tell me what I want to know. What is a berserker’s mark?
To my surprise, she responded right away.
The Worst: Send the money, then I’ll answer.
Yes, I’d titled her “the Worst” in the address book. It fit. And I would not be sending her the money. Instead, I would give her the card only after we traded places.
Me: You aren’t making the rules anymore. I have what you want. Tell me about the mark or go without. What will Callen do to me? And what are you doing about my classroom, or did you finally get me fired?
No response.
Me: TELL ME!
Nothing. I should stop. My desperation was showing, stoking her power rather than my own. But…
Me: I’m not gonna stop until things are set right, so you’re the one who’s gotta live with whatever I let him do to this body.
Zilch.
Me: Are you being nice to the greatest mother on the planet at least? Because she’s done nothing to hurt you.
Nada.
Me: Why can’t you keep your misery to yourself?
Nil.
Wait! Text bubbles! I held my breath, my nerves fraying.
The Worst: The job is history, okay. If you want to know anything else, pay me double, delivered in three days. Otherwise your sweet mama will rue the day she was born. Tick tock.
Guilt and anger collided. I’d known Isobel planned to demand more. But my job. My shoulders rolled in. I would’ve had to quit to go into hiding, but still. Who had taken charge of my precious students?
Focus on what you can change. Right. I had to do something about Isobel’s threat. Today. Now. She’d finally delivered a timeline. Three days. Exactly what Callen had given me. Coincidence? Or was she in communication with someone here at the castle? The mole, perhaps?
It might be the middle of the night for me, but it wasn’t for my mother.
Finally I did it. I dialed her number, determined. I would tell her the truth. Rip off the bandage and let whatever happened happen. She might not believe me at first, but maybe, just maybe, she would start.
“Hello,” she said in greeting.
Her voice! Tears singed my eyes, blurring my vision. “Sorry, wrong number,” I mumbled and disconnected the call. I couldn’t upend her life with this mess.