Chapter 77

  Queen of Ruin

  Jessica White

  Showtime

  The tick of the Grandfather clock synced up perfectly with the tap of Jasper’s shoe against the black-and-white checkered floor until he finally shifted his eyes to the stairs. “Hurry up, Sugar!”

  After he tousled the dark curls on his head in the mirror, his eyes dropped to Teddy’s reflection. “Will you go drag your sister down here, please? She’s going to be late for her own goddamn birthday party.”

  From the warm, burgundy wall he leaned on, the young warlock pulled his hand from his pocket and pointed his finger gun at his father. “Don’t you worry about a thing, Daddy; I’m on it.”

  The ting of his fingers bouncing off the cast-iron spindles of the staircase kept time with his shoes as they slid across the Oriental runner that led to Tessa’s room.