Page 54 of Knot Quite Ready

Chapter28

Casimir

The sight of Aneira on top of my father’s mangled corpse finally processes and I rush forward to pull her into my arms, capturing her lips with mine.

She pulls away breathlessly with a laugh, “You’re all covered in blood now.”

I laugh as I look down at her. Even covered in blood, chest heaving, and dressed in a torn, bloodied wedding gown, she is absolutely breathtaking. A vision in red. Literally, as blood drips into her eyes.

“I can’t miss the opportunity to kiss the bride,” I tease.

She shrugs, “The artistic thing is totally Vogue now. We are ahead of the curve.”

“Okay, I got all the murder pictures! Annie, let’s get you changed so we can go kill your grandfather and go the fuck home, okay? I need to snuggle with my Thoroughbred Throbber. And I would like to point out, you ruined my majestic entrance. So now I need to make sure that the next venue can accommodate my requests.” She cackles.

Calian sighs and leans forward to place a kiss on Storm’s head, “I love you very much, Mate. Go help Aneira get cleaned up. We will handle things here.”

Storm beams at him and pulls Aneira away.

“You did a beautiful job. The brain paint? Perfect touch,” Storm says as they head up the stairs.

I shake my head with a laugh and look at Casimir, “Do you think we will ever have a moment of peace?”

He shakes his head with a sigh, a smile on his face as he looks at the direction that Storm went, “Not at all, but fuck if the thought doesn’t make me happy as hell.”

I laugh and he claps my shoulder, “I’ll call a clean-up crew, and post guards so we can head out. The Council also wants to follow through with the rest of the evening, we move out in thirty.”

I nod gratefully. I look down at my father’s body and feel absolutely nothing but joy that he is finally gone.

I turn away as a body barrels into mine with a happy laugh that I haven’t heard in a long time, “Casi!”

“Aoife?” I marvel as she wraps her arms around me and squeezes. Taking her into my arms, her 5’ 2’’ frame dwarfed by mine as I spin her around.

“You look absolutely beautiful,” I say with a laugh as she pulls out of my arms with a scowl.

“I still don’t like being spun around,” she frowns. The familiar made my chest ache. Two years lost, two years with a monster where I couldn’t protect her.

“Hey,” she says softly, “you’re back now. That’s all that matters.

“Family funerals and family reunions all on the same night? This is the stuff hallmark cards are made of.” Storm says as she comes down the stairs, and she wipes a fake tear from her face.

“Aoife, Aneira wants to know if there is anything here she can change into for her grandfather’s funeral?”

Aoife laughs and races up the stairs, “ I know just the thing!”

As I watch them run up the stairs, I sigh. Only one thought crosses my mind.

They are going to corrupt her.

ChapterTwenty-Nine

Aneira

Acouple of hours later, I’m being driven through a town that smells like rancid memories and my stomach drops as we pull into a long, sweeping driveway I’m very familiar with.Home Sweet Home.

The plan we have is solid. Tristan would drive me and the Council, a few of their guards, Casimir, and Storm would all wait in the woods, undetected under a spell, while I go in alone. I will tell my grandfather that Casemiro sent me ahead while he handled pack matters and will be along momentarily. The witches cast a charm on my bracelet, and the entire ‘murder’ party will be able to hear the conversations held inside. Then, once they get what they need, they will move in. And, as I take in the number of wolves on guard, I am grateful they are hidden—one less thing to worry about.

I press my hand to my belly, willing the nausea to go away. Whether my pregnancy sickness is making a permanent appearance or the thought of being back here is getting to me doesn’t matter. I don’t have time to vomit, nor do I have another outfit. While, luckily, Miro had an entire closet full of gowns that fit me,fucking creepy,I didn’t bring a spare, so I have to reign it in.

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