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)
“Both?”
“Yep.”
Sebastian paused for a beat, letting the other shifter struggle to his feet before delivering four more spells. He didn’t put any bravado into it. Didn’t grunt or show any effort. Simply delivered his magic and then ran his fingers through his hair.
He looked around. “Now what?”
“We go home, I think?” I turned back to Sue with raised eyebrows.
“Cyra’s challenger backed out,” he said, “so yes, you’re done for the day.”
“Oh.” Sebastian shrugged. “This wasn’t bad. I was expecting Austin’s caliber of attack. This was just…” He turned his lips downward. “This would’ve made me feel bad if that guy wasn’t a horrible person.”
It was now very clear what Niamh had been saying about being offensive. Too bad it was the truth. I guess they were learning the hard way.
20
Austin
A hush fell over the speakeasy as he walked in. He’d opened up the invite to this dinner to more than just the generational alphas he already knew. Only shifters, though. Gargoyles were finally, irrevocably onboard. Sure, there were various cairns that wouldn’t join up or might drag their feet, but Jess’s status in the community was as high as it could be. People were excited by her, honored to fight with her, and rooting for her to take on more shifters in an extravagant, gargoyle-style fashion.
Tristan, of course, had already been a favorite because of his flight plans and battle know-how, but leaving a shifter in a tree to end a fight—the height of gargoyle-style fashion, they thought. They hadn’t known what that was before today, but now it was a thing.
Austin had to admit, the last was funny. And maybe Jess’s antics might’ve been funny if they hadn’t been against Yazanth. That lion was every bit as exacting as Austin had always heard. Every bit. Each movement was targeted. Each strike was precise. He worked hard and fast and calculated.
But Jess was right—he was easy to anticipate. He fought to kill, and if you knew the pressure points, you’d know where he was aiming for next. Aurora didn’t seem to have realized that. She’d probably grow by leaps and bounds now that she did. At least when fighting him. Maybe when fighting anyone, looking for those patterns, fighting the man and not the skill. Clearly, it was something Jess did without being specifically taught how.
That did not make it any easier to bear seeing her battle that beast without being able to get in and help her. When he flipped her onto her back and went for her—
Austin broke out in a cold sweat. He paused before the crowd of people, larger than he’d anticipated. Kingsley or someone else must’ve invited more than he had originally. He didn’t even know if they would fit at the tables he’d had set up. This place, newly up and running, had been closed tonight for this dinner.
After a deep breath, he kept going, trying to slow his raging heart. Jess took too many risks. Always had, yes, but…none of this mattered more than she did. If this got too dangerous, any of this, he’d find a cave, take her away, and live his life with her in seclusion and relative safety. If he had to hide her to protect her, he would.
Which was a very lovely fantasy she would never allow.
Kingsley walked forward, putting distance between himself and the others. His expression was hard, but his eyes were wary. He looked a little shaken.
“You good?” Austin asked him.
Kingsley put out his hand to shake, his palm clammy. “I saw that beast fight, same as you. I just keep wondering if Yazanth is going to lose himself and kill my little girl.”
Austin gripped his brother’s hand a little tighter, comfortingly, before letting go. “No. He was battling today. He let himself get deep under. I’ve sat in on a few sessions with him and Aurora. He lets it go longer than you would, but not as long as she wants to. Not to mention, he didn’t get a chance to get his head straight today. Jess…”
A glimmer of laughter sparkled in Kingsley’s eyes. “It’s not funny, because I feel your terror when a loved one is against him, but…it was funny. She jumped on the guy’s back and clearly intended to ride off into the sunset.”
Austin let go a breath. “When that gargoyle takes the wheel, she really runs with it.”
“Clearly.” Kingsley dropped his head forward for a moment, taking a breath. “Okay.”
“He didn’t kill his sisters. We both saw their challenges today. They are exceptional.”
“True. It’s just that logic takes a back seat when it’s my child, you know?”
“I get it. He’s taking good care of her, though. She’s in good hands.”
He paused for a moment longer. “Thanks.”
“Yup.” Austin clapped his brother on the shoulder. “Thanks for earlier today. Against that weasel Armendale.”