Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 112089 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 560(@200wpm)___ 448(@250wpm)___ 374(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112089 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 560(@200wpm)___ 448(@250wpm)___ 374(@300wpm)
Though yes, I also knew this couldn’t last forever. I’d have to return eventually. Mr. Tom had made that abundantly clear, often from just off Austin’s kitchen balcony, where he waited for me every morning.
Austin, half-dressed because he knew I liked to watch his bare upper body when he cooked, turned me toward him and braced his hands lightly on my cheeks. I looked up into his eyes.
The turbulence raging through me eased…and then dimmed…and then fell away altogether.
“I love you,” he said, his gaze rooted to something deep inside of me. “I will protect you. I will make sure nothing happens to you.”
I melted against his touch. “I know,” I whispered.
He held our gaze—our connection—for another moment before kissing my forehead and stepping away. “I’ll get breakfast started. No need for that bra.”
“There is definitely a need for this bra. It’s morning. Mr. Tom is already waiting for me, I can feel it. Along with Edgar and, for some reason, Ulric.”
I could feel them through the magical bond created by Ivy House. They were all gathered outside Austin’s house in Mr. Tom’s usual spot.
Usually, it was just Mr. Tom waiting below the balcony off the kitchen every morning. I wondered what was up with the others.
Austin headed down before me, leaving me to finish getting dressed, and I followed him a few minutes later with a shirt on but no socks or slippers.
He’d already set to work in the kitchen, pulling out eggs and sausages from the fridge. There was a cluster of fruit on the counter, waiting to be cut up. I grabbed a couple of mugs from the cabinet, laughing when I noticed his apron—a large arrow pointed up to his face, followed by This guy rubs his own meat.
Austin noticed and grinned. “Kingsley sent me a care package. He said Earnessa has some things for you, but you’ll have to retrieve them in person. It’s his way of inviting us to his territory.”
I set the mugs onto the counter before lifting the pot filled with freshly percolated coffee. Austin was excellent at timing his morning routine.
“Did you tell him that Sebastian thinks Momar plans to wipe him out? Soon, I mean.”
Momar was a big-shot mage in the magical world who was currently trying to take out shifter packs. We’d heard Kingsley was next on the list, but we didn’t know exactly when he planned to attack.
Austin didn’t respond for a long moment. I felt his unease through our bonds.
“Not in so many words,” he finally said. “He’s seen the signs, though. Mages have been skirting the periphery of his territory. He thinks they’re assessing his sentries. Based on what he’s heard from the shifter community, next they’ll assess his defenses. After that…”
“They’ll attack.”
A huge swell of power filled me, darkness swirling within the magic. My anger heated to rage, my frustration only making the mixture more combustible. My vision blurred, and my head went light. A loud crash had me stepping back. Scalding liquid splashed across my front, but I barely felt it. My gargoyle pounded inside of me, feeling the call of war—wanting to rush to the aid of an ally in danger.
“Whoa, whoa. We have a bit of time.” I felt Austin’s hand smooth down my back and then over the area where wings would sprout in my gargoyle form. “Sebastian confirmed it, remember? Not much, but we do have some time. It’s okay.”
“I know.” I squeezed my eyes shut, tempering the surge of power. “I’m good.”
A bit of an overstatement. My gargoyle was soothed in Austin’s presence…until incited. That was where the mostly part came in. Unfortunately, inciting it was pretty easy, I was discovering.
“I’m good.” I breathed deeply, focusing on his touch. “I’m good.”
I took another couple deep breaths until the power and strong emotion started to ebb, and then I let my eyes drift open.
The mug lay in pieces on the floor, resting in a puddle of steaming coffee. The liquid surrounded my toes and most of my right foot, but it still didn’t hurt. More coffee had splattered the counter. The mug must’ve hit the edge and shattered before continuing to the floor.
“Careful, there.” Austin hooked his hands under my arms and lifted me like a child, swiveling and depositing me out of harm’s way. “You don’t want to step on one of those shards. It’ll take me forever to get the glass out of your foot.”
“Sorry,” I said. “Here, I’ll get—”
“No.” Austin stopped me with a hand on my shoulder. His eyes were so warm, so kind. “Why don’t you head outside and talk to your people? I’ll bring out a fresh cup, okay? Take a breather.”
I couldn’t stop the thankful tears welling in my eyes. I rested my palms on his hard chest. “Why are you so amazing?”
His thumb traveled lightly across my chin. “Only you think I’m amazing. Everyone else thinks I’m a stone-hearted SOB.”