Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 126030 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 630(@200wpm)___ 504(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126030 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 630(@200wpm)___ 504(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
“Huh.” She grabbed a small shopping cart. “That was a lot of very fast deduction followed by excellent decision-making.”
“And that is why I am an alpha.”
“It seems so.” She led the way, starting at the aisle to the far right. The other patrons made themselves scarce, leaving the way clear.
She collected a few ingredients, her mood obviously pensive, and he followed in silence. Halfway through the store, she took out her phone and looked at the screen.
“Zero service,” she murmured, slipping it back into her pocket. She chewed on her lip. “There are not a lot of high-profile female mages.”
“Oh?” He pointed at a box of brownie mix and raised an eyebrow.
Her expression soured. “How dare you,” she said, mimicking Mr. Tom. “I do not make things from a box. What do you take me for? Oh! We should get some good coffee. Mr. Tom brought his French press.”
They turned toward the next aisle.
“I should say there weren’t a lot of high-profile female mages,” she amended. “In the Guild there still aren’t. Much like the Dick world, where there aren’t nearly as many female CEOs and VPs and all that, the Guild tends to elevate men. There is a lot of misogyny.” She chewed her lip again and put a couple more items into the cart. “The females that do get elevated tend to be tough and great at their trade.”
“Their trade?”
“Yeah. If a mage is lower powered, they still have options. They can excel in certain types of magic. If Sebastian was a lower powered mage, for example, he could still get placement in engineering new spells and potions. He’s a genius at it. I could get placement at the admin level, organizing teams for extractions or attacks or whatever else.”
“What does that have to do with high profile female mages?”
She glanced around. “Let’s finish up.”
He nodded without comment and did just that, grabbing enough for a few meals, including something for breakfast tomorrow. If they needed more, someone could be sent to grab it. He did not sense any danger in this place, not at all. Despite the mage attack, this felt like a sleepy town. A forgotten town. The residents seemed fragile, almost, like they’d had a hard time of it and could finally take a peaceful breath. It was in the way they carried themselves before and after they spotted strangers in their midst.
O’Briens had felt like this in the beginning of his time there, right after he’d made his stand and backed up his claims to provide safety for those who needed it. Drex had created a force of fighters to secure this place, and he was doing so ruthlessly, like Austin had.
“Alpha Ashvale would be happy to pick up the tab,” the store clerk said after scanning all the items.
“Give him my thanks,” Austin replied.
“And I’m sure someone could deliver food from the restaurants in town, if you like. The fried chicken here is the best you’ll have.”
“I thank you.” Austin inclined his head and wheeled the cart out.
It wasn’t until they were underway that Nessa continued. “The Guild still doesn’t make a habit of elevating female mages, but Momar does. He used a lot of them at Kingsley’s, and he did so marvelously. Did you notice she said she wouldn’t work for him or them?”
“Momar or the Guild,” he surmised.
“Who else. Momar tries to poach only the most valuable players, and she doesn’t have enough magic to be desired by the big dogs in the Guild, so she must have some other trait that makes her valuable. Very valuable if she’s this worried about it. She seemed afraid she’d be dragged back and forced to work.”
Austin didn’t bother asking if they really did that. From what he knew of each of those organizations, they’d do that and worse. Much worse.
“And she knows Elliot Graves,” he said, driving through downtown and finding two bars. Both were welcoming, but one was a little rougher than the other, with a lone smoker outside. That’s where they’d find Niamh.
He looked for a parking spot.
“She does,” Nessa drew out, her eyes far away. She wasn’t just good at organizing; she was incredibly intelligent and great at problem solving. “She knows him even though I’d hardly know him when he’s looking like this. He is only ever Sebastian when he’s with family. In a professional setting, he is always Elliot Graves. Always. That includes dress, hair, posture, everything.”
“She didn’t know him at first. She suspected, but she wasn’t sure. She was trying to figure it out.”
“She suspected. That’s more than anyone else in the mage world would have, not in this setting.” She shook her head and looked out at nothing, back to chewing her lip.
“Momar found you guys, and he has people in the Guild. He must know your connection to us. Niamh is sure he does, even if he doesn’t advertise it. Is she still working for them? Or maybe was until a month or so ago?”