Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 109329 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 547(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109329 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 547(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
I then explained to Tristan what I’d explained to Austin. The horror of not knowing someone had been killed. How callous bystanders must’ve thought I was. How I’d been distanced from the pack I was supposed to be leading.
“And none of this addresses the state of the territory when I finally got out there. We still don’t know if someone unwanted slipped in during the turmoil because no one was at their post. No one was doing their job. That’s so incredibly dangerous. It puts everyone at risk. We have children here, Tristan. Elderly. They need us to do our best. Their wellbeing—their lives—depends on it.”
He let out a slow, deep breath. “I’m sorry I asked.”
“Yeah. I’m sorry I had to spell it out.” I turned to push the door.
“Wait, wait. Jessie, please. Wait.” He kept his hand in the air for a moment and then put it to his heart. “Man, that hits me right here.” He paused for a moment. “It was a shifter face-off, and the way Sue was acting, things were about ready to explode. Maybe…I should’ve gone in, too. Keeping the gargoyles away certainly wasn’t doing much good. I apologize. I was swept up in everything. I was trying to get my bearings within the shifter world. I wasn’t thinking. I should know better. I should’ve trusted you with what was going on, and I didn’t.”
I put my face in my hands, relieved to hear him say that. “This is all so much.”
“It is. It feels like we’re juggling a lot of balls here. But if we can manage, we’ll bring it all together.”
I nodded slowly. He had a point when it came to shifter matters. I usually handled my team and Austin handled shifters. In this instance, my team wasn’t needed in the way they usually were. I could see how it would be confusing, especially when the guy who should know shifters best told everyone to get away.
“When it comes to danger, please just keep me in the loop,” I finally said. “I can’t lose him, Tristan. I can’t lose any of you. I’d never forgive myself if something should happen to you while I’m having a lovely lie-in within a quiet house.”
“I bet you’re rested now, though.”
I scoffed. “If only.”
“You know, I thought I was pretty hardcore in the air. Strong, fast. I fly you around, I see what you can do, but in the back of my mind, I thought I wouldn’t be as affected. Magic slides off me to some degree. I thought I was stronger than most.”
“You are.”
“Yeah. Except you blasted me out of your way without breaking a sweat.”
“Well, yeah. You can shrug off magic, but I affected the air. When you have wings, you don’t have a lot of choice in how things go when the air currents get wonky.”
“Yes. Something I was humbled to learn earlier today.”
I laughed softly. “I’m sorry I hung up on you. And ignored your attempts at chatter before training. And your attempts after training. And during the car ride.”
“I don’t hear an apology for humbling me.”
“Correct.”
He laughed and put his hand on the door handle. Before he got out, he sobered. “Please keep me in the loop, too, Jessie. I’m still learning. I still need guidance. I need to know when something isn’t working.”
“I know. We’re all still learning, I think.”
“Are you going to give Sue the disappointment spiel?”
“Maybe he’ll get my anger instead.”
“Lucky bastard.”
I nearly bumped into a shifter as I got out of the car. He stared me down. Power swirled all around him.
“Oh my God, please spare me the posturing.” I rolled my eyes at him. “You guys are exhausting.”
He gave me a funny look as I shut the door. I met Tristan at the front bumper.
“And now I should probably sequester myself away from people. I’m getting a little too blunt.”
“It’s good for them.”
“Right. So, am I reffing or just watching?”
“Reffing for Aljoe—”
“Someone challenged Aljoe? Are they out of their mind?”
“Mindzzz, plural. Two shifters who don’t believe Aljoe is what they’ve heard. Three gargoyles. He decided to take them all on.” He paused. “At the same time.”
“What? No. Are you serious?”
“Yeah. He’s incredibly blasé about it. He even agreed not to mess with the gargoyles’ wings. You’ll need to pull people out as they tap out. Sue will be helping. Aurora says that once Aljoe’s beast takes hold, he’s…wild. She used a lot of expletives.”
“Who else?” I asked.
“Sue, a bit later on. He’s got another alpha challenging him. Pissing match, I think. Me.” He preened. “I finally got challenged.”
“Do you get to fly?”
“Of course I get to fly. He can go for my wings, though.”
“Is he powerful?”
“He’s a beta, but it’s something.”
I chuckled.
“Cyra,” Tristan said.
“No.” I looked at him with wide eyes.
He stopped at the edge of the field and motioned me right to walk around. “Yeah. One of the alphas. Everyone says he’s half mad. If they can’t talk him out of it, you’re going to earn your keep with that one. Getting her to stop, I mean.”