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)
“Dave’s at his mother’s camp,” Nathanial said. “She called him there to speak with him last night. From what I gather, she insisted he stay there for the night and not head back to the party.”
“See? It’ll be grand,” Niamh said, taking one of the mugs from Mr. Tom. I was starting to think she was bionic.
I shook Austin’s arm a little, bringing his cobalt gaze to me. I didn’t have time for the resulting stomach flutter, especially not with all the nervous churning and pulsing panic I already had going on.
“Can you send someone to ask for that escort she promised us? Tell her it’s urgent. We need to get out of here and get set up elsewhere. Then I need you to get everyone ready. Try not to be distracted by all the weird things everyone says. I need to go find Sebastian.”
His eyebrow quirked, but he nodded. “I’ll send Brochan with you.”
“There’s no need. If Sebastian tried to run and got caught, which is doubtful, the basajaun would handle it. I’m sure there’s a good explanation for his leaving early.”
Austin shook his head before lifting his hand, presumably for Broken Sue. “Just in case.”
Broken Sue caught up immediately. He stayed slightly behind me, giving me the prominence of an alpha, a status I didn’t at all care about. Our connection was open because of my gargoyle’s rising magic.
“Are you afraid of what will come?” I asked him quietly. I wasn’t sure why I asked—I could feel his confidence. But his answer surprised me.
“It’s not my job to be afraid. That job belongs to you and Alpha Steele. My job is to follow orders, trust in my alphas, and believe they will ensure my safety. With that trust, there’s no point in fear.”
I glanced back with a grimace. “Yuck. Thanks for the added pressure. I appreciate it,” I said sarcastically.
I felt his humor, even though I didn’t see it in his eyes or expression.
“And what happens if power corrupts?” I asked, nodding to a basajaun who’d emerged from the trees to my left. He put up a hand in salute. “What happens if blindly following orders leads you into murky territory? You might resist your fear right until the moment we get you killed.”
This time, he huffed out a laugh, and I was surprised he’d allowed himself that much leeway outside of the bar and a few whiskeys. “I’m not scared to die. My family is waiting for me when I do.”
Not to be a jerk, but I really didn’t need the heart squish with all the other stuff going on inside me.
He continued, “Besides, I might have my reservations about a good many people—most people, actually—but I’ll follow you and Alpha Steele into hell if I have to, just to pull you back out when we’re all on fire.”
“We’ll probably have gone there to visit Niamh.”
More basajaunak were on the path now, many headed in the same direction as us. Around a bend and beyond some trees, I saw why.
A large fire licked the bottom of a black cauldron, which was braced on thin iron legs over the pit. A camping stove had been set up beside it with pots and pans steaming away on the burners. A heavy volume sat on a tall book holder, opened to one of the last pages of a large tome. Off to the side, various ingredients had been spread around a rough-hewn stump the size of a coffee table. In the middle of the melee stood Sebastian with his hair sticking out at all angles.
Basajaunak of all ages formed a very large circle around the setup, watching him mutter to himself, scratch his head, and then shuffle over to the camping stove and stir in some sort of leafy plant. Nessa, Edgar, and Hollace sat at the edge of the circle, munching on something while they watched the show.
“Oh, Brochan!” Nessa raised her hand to us, drawing Sebastian’s attention. “I’ve learned that feeding chunks of meat to someone is very erotic for shifter types. It sounds caveman-esque to me, but that could be hawt. Want to give it a try? I’ll let you club me and then drag me back to your cave by my hair. I do like a good hair tug.”
Her eyes danced above her wide smile. The basajaunak laughed around her.
“That woman,” Broken Sue muttered.
“Ah. Jessie. Good, you’re up.” Sebastian motioned me closer. “I could use your help. I’m tired, and my magic is flagging a little. Can you help me with this potion? It’s almost done.”
“Nessa said we couldn’t disturb him yet,” Hollace told me as I crossed to him in a daze of competing emotions.
“Don’t worry, Jessie,” Edgar said. “I’ve had my eye on him since he dosed the mythical creatures with magic and sneaked out of that tree trunk like a thief in the night.”