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)
Ulric and Jasper’s expressions matched mine: lots of grimacing.
It was clear the basajaun had an agenda of his own. He wanted more of his kind to venture out of the lands and to join him on his journey. I couldn’t fault him for that. And honestly, it would help us greatly if they did.
However, if we omitted key details from our story to the elders, we’d be lying. If we were caught doing so, it could mean death. Basajaunak were temperamental, prickly creatures. I knew that from my acquaintance with the basajaun. Now he was telling us he was on the younger side, a little wilder and not as much of a stickler for the rules as the rest? What the hell would we be walking into?
“No,” I started, “this is just too dangerous—”
“What choice do we really have?” Niamh asked. “We either take a risk with the basajaunak or we stay here. We stand to gain more with the basajaunak than we would here.”
“Or we head out to some nondescript place,” Nessa said, “with very little time to prepare, and hope we’re better and more experienced than we think.”
“I still do not see much of a risk in my territory,” the basajaun said. “A slap on the wrist, maybe, but we have seen worse.”
I looked at Austin, who was looking at the basajaun. He swung his gaze slowly to Niamh in the corner before moving on to the mages. Finally, it landed on me, and his eyebrows inched up. He wanted to know what I thought.
I shook my head. I didn’t like any of our options. In the past, we’d taken a stand on Ivy House soil, but that was before Austin and I were alphas and had the welfare of the pack to worry about. Taking a stand in some nondescript location wouldn’t work, either. It seemed like the best option was the basajaun’s lands, a decision made more promising by his obvious confidence.
I swore under my breath, then braced my hands on my hips and turned to look out the window. “We could just kill the trespassing mage. It would buy us some time.”
“Not enough,” Nessa said.
“I really don’t want to take the basajaun up on his hospitality, though,” Sebastian murmured. Then glanced at the basajaun. “No offense.”
“Miss,” Nathanial said, leaning forward with his elbows braced on his knees and his fingers entwined.
“Yes, Nathanial, go. What are your thoughts?” I said.
“We don’t want the resident gargoyles to see us…scramble, I think the word was. We certainly don’t want them to see us falter. We’ll have prestigious cairns coming. Cairns that are used to being the top of the social hierarchy. They will look for ways to diminish your standing so as to keep their perch at the top. If you falter here, it’ll affect your standing with them.”
“Jesus, you guys aren’t making this easy on me.” I blew out a breath. “Fine.” I turned to the basajaun. “Thank you for your offer. It seems you’re giving us a way to help Austin and me both. To help this territory. I only hope it doesn’t jeopardize yours.”
“Well, then, I guess we’d better get flea spray,” Mr. Tom grumbled.
SIXTEEN
“Magical secrecy, please,” Nessa whispered as she and Sebastian made their way to the front door of Ivy House.
He looked behind them to make sure no one else had come out of the meeting room. The others were staying to plan for the trip, but Sebastian and Nessa had been in a hurry to leave. They’d given the excuse of needing to take stock of their supplies before the trip, but truthfully, he had wanted out from under the intense alpha’s gaze.
Austin had been shaken to hear what was in store for Jessie. He’d been much more terrifying than usual, and for him, that was saying something.
Sebastian cast them into a soundproof bubble that not even Ivy House could splinter. “You’re good,” he said. “What’s up?”
“Are we going to talk about the puca or what?”
“Talk about Niamh?” he replied. “I can’t talk about her. I’m too busy wetting my pants about the prospect of trekking into the basajaunak lands. Did you hear what he said? We’re practically going to our deaths. If someone lets slip that the danger we brought was intentional, the basajaunak are going to take offense, and we’ll pay with our lives.”
“Yeah, and all because of Niamh. She had this whole situation on lock, did you see that?” She pulled a piece of hair behind her ear. “From perfectly orchestrating the interrogation—she clearly knew what spell you were planning, and you didn’t discuss that with her—to goading us all into the basajaunak lands. She was one step ahead of this whole situation, and the crazy part? No one realized it. They chose me or Edgar for their torture teams, not the mastermind behind tonight.” Nessa shook her head. “She’s good, Sabby. Really good. I have a lady crush, but more importantly, I’m worried what this will mean.”