Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 113319 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113319 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Sebastian couldn’t help but chuckle a little. That vampire was so nuts.
“Wait, wait…” Nessa pointed at the screen again, and they watched Cyra be…well, Cyra. Zany and crazy in her own way.
“This place is worse than the old Ivy House. Badly in need of a makeover.”
“Another incredibly rude comment,” Nessa said as though keeping track.
Tristan entered next, moving with the swagger and poise of a GQ model but ten times more graceful, as though he were gliding across the floor. The air around him darkened before the sheen in the doorway visibly melted away.
“Holy—” Sebastian leaned forward to get a better look. “I knew he could withstand spells, but melting them away is on a different level… Did you know he could do that?”
“No, I didn’t,” she said, watching closely while chewing her lip. “I’ve added it to the list of his traits. Which are incredibly perplexing, because I have a decent list, and he’s not matching any of the beings I’ve looked up. He has attributes of several different magical creatures, but no overall profile fits. I can’t figure him out.”
“In more ways than one, huh?”
She fast-forwarded, ignoring that comment. There was something in her that was drawn in by that gargoyle, but she wouldn’t admit it, not even to herself. Sebastian had tried to pry a little, but she wouldn’t open up. He knew from experience that she wouldn’t fill him in until she was ready. Whatever was going on was shoved down deep, where she didn’t have to deal with it.
“What’s next?” Sebastian asked to let her off the hook.
Broken Sue came through, another terrifying sight, followed by Mr. Tom with his box of disguises. It was entirely clear the host mage was beside himself with wariness. There was no mage group, not even Elliot Graves himself, who was this eccentric and this obviously dangerous all at the same time. Jessie was making a statement unlike any other mage Sebastian had ever heard of.
Unease pinched his gut again.
“Missus Smith,” Jessie said, holding out her hand.
Nessa started to chuckle again. In walked Dave, for all intents and purposes a bigfoot. His outfit was stolen from Phil and utterly ridiculous, the braids were insane, and his sheer size, topping even Tristan, was incredible. Terrifying. He was an actual urban legend walking in through the door. It was so over the top.
And then Edgar whispered, “Did we break him already? Because usually it takes a little chatter to get to that point.”
Nessa guffawed again, and Sebastian had to join in despite his misgivings. Jessie’s team was so unbearably absurd. But they were also incredibly scary. And powerful. Still…so, so absurd.
They watched a little more, the laughter continuing to come because of that train wreck of a dinner. After, Sebastian sat in silence for a moment.
“What was the outcome?” he finally asked.
“Good. Arthur and his cronies are spreading the news about the dinner and her ensuing battle with Elliot Graves. Jessie now looks like she has no powerful mage allies. She’s adrift. And Arthur or whoever said it right—she had an excuse for standing against Momar. Momar won’t extend a hand to her because of her affiliation with the shifters, but the Guild might. Momar is growing more powerful than them, and they need a little might in their corner. She’s inexperienced and malleable. She could be that might. They just need a little nudge to seek out the acquaintance.”
“And we need to steer Jessie toward them.” Sebastian’s stomach churned. “I’m…reluctant. I don’t want to steer her directly into harm’s way.”
“It’s my turn to be tough guy, is it?” Nessa sagged a little. “You’ve said it yourself, repeatedly—we don’t have a choice. You’ve made that clear. We’re in it too far now. This is who we are. It’s what we do. We survive.”
Tears filled his eyes, and he stood. “I don’t know if that’s who I am anymore. They changed me.”
She stared down at her hands. “Me too, but you’ve assured me that we have no choice, right? This was the way forward that you Saw. I’m just seeing it through, like you asked, Sabby. I’m taking your lead and making it work, like I always have. I don’t know what else you want from me.”
Guilt ate at him. He put his hand on her shoulder. “I know. I’m sorry. It just hurts.”
“I know,” she whispered as a tear trailed down her cheek.