Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
“You probably won’t,” Austin said and I mock-frowned at him.
“Here we go, miss.” Mr. Tom was back, handing over a little plate with a croissant and a fresh travel mug. Once I’d taken it, he handed in a napkin and hurried off, calling out offers of food to the others.
I rolled the window back up.
“Should I give you guys a sec?” I asked. Tristan’s frown was clearly visible in the rearview. “What?”
He shook his head a little, glancing at Austin and then away. “I beg your pardon, miss—”
“You don’t have to be so formal with me, Tristan. I’m not from a long line of alphas like Austin.”
“Right.” He rubbed his chin, a scratchy sound. “Sorry, it’s just…I’ve never heard a leader ask if he or she should remove themselves from a meeting of minds. Usually they do everything they can to listen in.”
“I trust my people,” I said simply. “Even the sneaky ones, like Niamh. I trust them to do what is in my best interest, and they trust me to do everything I can to make sure they’re taken care of. Most of all, I trust Austin. If he wants a heart-to-heart with you and it would be better for him to do it without me here, that’s fine by me.”
“What she really means is, can she be excused so she can eat her second breakfast.” Austin ran his hand along my thigh, smiling at me. “Tuck in, Jess. Save me a bite, though.”
“I’m going to tell Mr. Tom you’re having second thoughts about more food.”
“How dare you,” he joked, taking up the saying Mr. Tom had grown fond of lately. Then he leaned back, looking at Tristan. “I was going to take a spectator role on this one to see if you could figure things out, but it seems like you’re reeling. Should I step in?”
Tristan considered the offer in silence. I appreciated his willingness to give it real thought. It meant he wasn’t the type of guy to give false assurances or back down immediately when things got rocky.
I couldn’t fathom what was so hard about accompanying my team, though. They were chatty and disorganized, sure, but they weren’t completely crazy. Not usually. And as Austin had said, it was just a flower show. A flower show in a mostly non-magical county. The plan was to show up, have a look around, wait for the judges to make their ruling, and leave. Sebastian and Nessa had assured us the mages would be tucked away, gearing up for the battle with Kingsley, and we had a large team with us. What was the big fuss?
“I’ll keep my position as point,” Tristan finally said. “It’s a good exercise. Would you mind…Jessie, if I spoke to Nathanial about the crew? It might be nice to get a little more input from someone who doesn’t know you as well as Austin Steele.”
“Sure,” I said through a full mouth, flakes of croissant stuck to my cheeks. I offered him a thumbs up before I took a sip of coffee. Once I’d washed the bite down and wiped my face, Austin grabbed the pastry for a bite. “Feel free to make yourself at home with them,” I added to Tristan. “With us. Ask questions, hang around the house, whatever you need.”
He nodded, studying me in the rearview mirror for a second. Maybe to determine if I was serious. Apparently realizing I was, he nodded a second time and looked away.
Austin handed back the croissant he’d taken more than one bite of and reached for my coffee.
“How dare you,” I told him, allowing him to take it anyway.
Tristan reached for the croissant next.
I pulled it away. “We’re not that friendly.”
He laughed and faced front again. “We’re not chocolate-sharing friends yet, got it.”
“While you’re both here.” Austin sobered. Tristan immediately did as well. I finished the croissant as Edgar loomed near our car, peering in the windows with an anxious expression.
“We need to get going,” I murmured.
He nodded. “The territory breach this morning was fairly well organized. They’ve been happening more often of late, shifters all. I’m not sure yet, but I’m getting the feeling it’s the same pack. The style of attack is too eerily similar for it to be various packs. It’s nothing we can’t handle, but if the breaches get any bigger, or they don’t start tapering off, I’ll be using your crew, Jess, and the guardians, Tristan, to make a statement. I want this place quiet when we leave. That might take a little bloodshed.”
“Send the basajaunak after them.” I wiped my fingers on the napkins. “They’d be more than happy to handle the situation in a spectacular fashion.”
“They aren’t technically part of your crew, right, Jessie?” Tristan asked, still trying to make sense of everything. He was using too much logic, that was the problem.