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)
The pulse of power from Jess stole Austin’s breath. Sound and movement within the bar ground to a halt. Another pulse of power raised his small hairs.
Brochan, standing beside him, shivered. His drink sloshed over the side of the glass.
Ulric and Jasper pushed through the throng of people, all of whom had suddenly gone still, and Mr. Tom stepped into the bar a moment later, followed by Hollace. Jess was calling her people and had encouraged the bystanders to freeze so her foot soldiers could get to her more easily.
The gargoyle had been roused. She was preparing for battle.
The darkness within her swirled, calling to him, whispering of the power he could wield if he accepted the protector’s magic. With it, he could easily sweep all the nation’s shifters under his umbrella of dominance. He’d own them all.
He shuddered and ran a hand down Jess’s back, wrestling away those enticing, manipulative whispers. He shifted his attention to Sebastian.
Then he couldn’t contain his shock.
A moment ago, the mage had been slouching beside Brochan, wanting to be anywhere else but here. Now his eyes gleamed, even through the magical mask, his posture straight and his shoulders squared. He regarded Austin with a direct gaze that wasn’t a challenge.
“All due respect, alpha,” Sebastian said, “this is a job for me. I know all the players, which will help me figure out which questions to ask. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that I can handle magic better than any of your people.” He dragged his phone out of his pocket and looked at the screen. “I’ll need to know a few things from you, though. A photo of the mage. Where they likely entered your territory—alone or with friends?—where they’re staying, things like that. I’ll need all that before I go into the interrogation area. Or the…storage place? Wherever the mage is.”
Sebastian looked up from his phone and paused for a response.
The silence of the bar rang out around them. Austin could feel the nervous wariness suddenly crowding the room. Mages had ruined the lives of many in this territory. They’d torn apart or crushed packs. And now they were showing up here, in their new territory.
“This is what you’re here for,” Austin replied. “Brochan, get him what he needs. Gather some people together. We’ll be Jess and Sebastian’s backup. We’ll leave as soon as we’re ready.”
Sebastian nodded, just about ready to tap the screen of his phone for a call when he paused and looked at Jess. “I know you’re grappling with that gargoyle, but if there was ever a time to let her out to play, this is that time. You remember what mages are like from Graves’s meetup?” He paused for Jess to lick her lips and then nod. “Well, those mages were upstanding citizens in comparison to what we’re very likely about to deal with. Things are about to get gruesome. Prepare for it now so that you don’t shy away from it later. This is when it gets real. Okay?”
Jess smiled thinly. “Haven’t you met the basajaun? He literally spikes heads like footballs. It’ll be fine.”
Sebastian’s smile was lopsided. “That’s true. Okay. I need to get Nessa. She’s the captain in these matters. I’ll meet up with you at Ivy House so we can all go together.” He tapped his phone and put it to his ear, already turning for the door. “Nessa? Yeah, the pack found one… One, yeah.” He paused for a moment, nodding. “I know, me too. It looks like the games have begun. Remember what we talked about. I’m going to get you a picture in a minute. I need…”
His voice drifted away as he left the quiet bar.
“An’ here I was trying to give him a pep talk and support him and all that bollocks.” Niamh huffed. “All he really needed was an enemy to focus on. He came to life like one of those Ivy House dolls. Let’s hope he’s as mean as them. Well, c’mon, Jessie, let’s get ready. We need to change and grab the others. I can’t wait to see how he handles that mage. This’ll be good craic.”
Austin wasn’t so sure.
He waited until the others had left before leading Brochan and Kace from the bar. “If I’m reading this situation right, this is only the beginning,” he said in a low tone so no bystanders would hear. They paused by Austin’s Jeep.
“He seemed relieved to just have the one,” Kace said.
Austin nodded, looking out at the night. “That means it could’ve been worse right out of the gate. It also means he’s been keeping information from us. Keep your eye on him. I don’t want any more surprises.”
“Yes, alpha,” Kace replied.
“We might be starting more slowly in this thing than what we could be,” Austin said, hand on a roll bar, “but only a fool would think it won’t speed up. Learn all you can from this encounter. I have a feeling it’ll only get harder from here on out.”